A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
Follow the links to see the latest updates from the Government on working safely here and find financial support for your business.
The Government has set up a general business support helpline on 0800 998 1098. This is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.
Visit the Malvern Hills website for the latest Covid business advice. If you are not receiving this newsletter directly, please sign up to our regular email newsletter for the latest updates on business support.
Malvern Hills District Council has been allocated £2.5m of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the period 22/23 – 24/25. The fund will focus on three distinct but related themes; Communities and Place, People and Skills and Business and effectively replaces the type of initiatives previously funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Business activity is likely to include ongoing support for the Worcestershire Growth Hub as well as programmes focussed on business enterprise and business growth.
Working in partnership with colleagues in the public, private and third sectors, officers at Malvern Hills District Council are currently developing an Investment Plan for submission to Government in early August.
Further information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund can be found by following the link below:
After successfully winning at the 2021/2022 Visit Worcestershire Awards, the winners went through to the national 2022 VisitEngland Awards.
Two business from the Malvern Hills district were through to the finals - Rowley Farm Holidays and Treeopia, as well as the Severn Valley Railway from wider Worcestershire.
Congratulations to Treeopia who took home Gold in the Self-Catering Accommodation category. Rowley Farm Holidays received bronze in the New Tourism Business of the Year category and The Severn Valley Railway also took bronze in the Resilience and Innovation category.
If you are a local tourism business applications are now open for the 2022/23 awards and close on 29 July 2022.
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Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your business with £25,000 worth of support from Bloom.Space across July and August. Whether you're looking to start up a business or grow an existing one this FREE package of support will give you the boost you need. You will receive 1:1 mentorship, a free office for the duration of the programme, workshops with industry professionals and much more.
Help people suffering with loneliness in Worcestershire and take the Stay Connected Pledge developed by Worcestershire Steering Group. Sign up to be a provider of inclusive and welcoming activities which show the community that you are committed to tackling loneliness and supporting people to stay connected. As organisations you will be provided with signposting information, access to MECC e-learning and awarded the Stay Connected Logo.
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Cohort members can access a package worth £50,000 to develop game-changing technology with Worcestershire's leading tech accelerator. Running for 6 months from September 2022 cohort 6.0 will give 7 businesses dedicated mentoring, a £2,000 marketing fund and a £10,000 proof of concept grant as well as an extensive package of support. |
Help boost campaigns that enrich communities in your local area. Donations from local businesses are gratefully received to help these projects reach their targets.
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Boost Biodiversity at Powick & Callow End- Powick Parish Council wish to enhance the biodiversity at Powick Sports Ground and Callow End Playing Field. These two recreational sites are well used and enjoyed by the local community.
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'Give us a Lift!' at Malvern Cube - Help make thriving community centre Malvern Cube accessible to the whole community by installing a platform lift and renovating the foyer.
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Suitcase Stories: The Play Malvern - Based on real-life events, Suitcase Stories The Play will be an exciting theatre production about a Worcestershire woman’s journey through the diagnosis of dementia, using local actors.
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Welland Youth Arts Club - St James Church in Welland would like to offer a series of taster arts activities (e.g. drama, music, film-making, creative writing) for children and young people in the area as there are no such groups currently.
Is your business based in Worcestershire and less than 5 years old?
- Do you employ fewer than 250 people?
- Do you trade at least 70% Business to Business?
If so, there has never been a better time to live in Worcestershire; achieve new levels of business growth on this Enterprising Worcestershire Early Stage Coaching Programme by working with one of the Real World Consultancy Business Growth Coaches whilst receiving:
-12 hours one to one business coaching -DISC Assessment -Business Assessment -Online community -Meet up's in Worcester -Online and Face to Face options for coaching
25 businesses have already been successfully accepted to receive fully-funded digital technology consultancy through the Elevate Technology programme. Elevate Technology offers 12 hours of consultancy to help you identify and implement digital and technology projects that will improve your business performance. They've helped businesses improve their online presence, generate more sales and streamline their operations. Whether you have a digital project already in mind, or you don’t, Elevate Technology can help you be more efficient, more effective and more profitable. Contact the team for more information: tyoung4@worcestershire.gov.uk
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The Specialist Advisor Programme is back for a third wave of giving businesses access to expert advice on topics like financial strategy, the green agenda and sustainability and much more. Over 300 businesses benefited from the first two waves of this programme and spaces will fill up fast. So if you want to receive this FREE expert advice please register your interest now on 01905 677888 or info@business-central.co.uk |
In July 2022 the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and its partners will be offering courses designed to upskill employees in digital professions. Businesses and employees will be able to access courses in Networking, Network Security, HTML 5 Application Development, Software Development, Microsoft Office Specialist routeways or the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing.
For more information contact Ria Hale on 01905 845950 or rhale@worcestershire.gov.uk or contact the Growth Hub team for more information on 01905 677 888.
Worcestershire County Council is working with the National Autism Society to offer free online training modules to businesses and learners across the region. The modules aim to give learners a better understanding of Autism in order to best support autistic customers and colleagues. Each module takes around 40-90 minutes to complete and is designed to be engaging.
If you have questions about employing new arrivals from Ukraine there is plenty of information available. Check the government departments for all the latest updates: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities , Home Office, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, and Department for Work and Pensions
If you are offering employment to a Ukrainian arrival, please fill in this Vacancy Information Questionnaire so that the UK Government understands your offer. Return the questionnaire to offerwork@homeoffice.gov.uk and you will be contacted within 5 working days by the National Employer and Partnership Team to discuss the roles you have available.
If you do have roles within your business to offer, please let us know as we can help promote the opportunities.
Find out more about offering in work to people from Ukraine using the button below:
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Help is available for local apprentices and employees to access their workplace and training. Malvern Hills Car Clubs, with grant support from Malvern Hills District Council, has made available five new purpose built Ebikes and the option to convert applicants normal bikes to Ebikes. This scheme is designed to provide an alternative transport option for apprentices and other workers with their commute. The price is just £15 per week and funding to cover the cost is available for apprentices and trainees through the Training Cost Support Payment.
Further details below and please share this with your staff.
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After the success of the virtual awards last year, the popular event returns in its physical manifestation on 17 November 2022 at the West Midland Safari Park. Get your entries in for a star apprentice or excellent employer by 15 July 2022.
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MHDC and WDC have gained funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to support upskilling. The project has already funded 30+ businesses and 15+ apprentices in Malvern Hills and Wychavon and there is still grant money available for businesses who take on apprentices and trainees. We can offer you, if you are an employer with fewer than 250 staff, £2000 for each new apprentice or other trainee of any age, whether previously on the company pay role or not. The main requirement is that your apprentice must have started their training after 1st April 2021 and be currently enrolled on their course. Apply online today.
With our Apprentice and Trainee Support Grants we are giving new apprentices and trainees £500. They can also get help with the cost of travel, equipment and other costs related to their training up to a maximum of £1,000. This project is also funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund.
To qualify for the payments they need to: • live in the Malvern Hills or Wychavon postcode areas. • be a new apprentice or trainee of any age. • earn less than £15,000 a year.
For full terms and conditions and to apply please visit our website.
As part of the Upskilling programme, we are looking to provide support for local employers to develop age friendly working practices. The aim is to enable businesses to both recruit older employees and retain older employees by adopting new management practices and policies.
Helen Astill, of award-winning HR consultancy Cherington HR, is delivering this support to Malvern Hills and Wychavon businesses. Free 1:1 meetings with Helen for any businesses who would like support in implementing their age-friendly policies are available.
Malvern businesses including Morgan Motors and Russell & Co Solicitors have already benefited from this advice and there is space to offer this opportunity to others.
If you would like to take advantage of the free 1:1 sessions and access the free resources, please contact Helen on 01684 594773 or email helen.astill@hrsolutions-uk.com
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Don't worry about facing the dragons to secure funding for your early stage business. Enterprising Worcestershire offer grants between £1,000 and £15,000 to support local start-ups and entrepreneurs to invest in their business. Whether you need to purchase new equipment, build a website for your brand or invest in consultancy advice, these grants are designed to help you develop your business in the early stages. Eligibility criteria include:
- Be an SME with less than 250 employees
- Trading for less than 36 months
- Trade predominantly business to business i.e. a minimum of 70% B2B
For the full criteria and to apply click the button below:
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Sales & Marketing Growth Forum, Sponsored by EBC group. On the topic of marketing for growth this forum aims to provide a platform for sharing ideas and advice on topics such as innovation and overcoming barriers to growth. Speakers include Ruby Edwards, owner of You Do Better PR, and Dan Creasey, European Enterprise Marketing Manager at Panasonic TOUGHBOOK - 22 June 2022
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TYRO Summer Event, networking event for young professionals with speakers Chris Parkes, Director of Surfworks and Fiona Lock Founder & Chief Crafter at The Mindful Craft Company - 23 June 2022
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Virtual HR Forum in association with Hewett Recruitment, aimed at HR representatives of more than 10 employees, this confidential forum is designed to facilitate connections between peers. Speaker Darryll Thomas, Partner at MFG Solicitors - 28 June 2022
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Worcestershire Networking Breakfast, network with fellow Chamber members over a delicious breakfast and hear from a guest speaker - 30 June 2022
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Women's Business Forum, sponsored by Harrison Clark Rickerbys. Hear from Stefania Bennett, Director of Bennetts Farm and Pauline Tarrant, founder of Pauline Tarrant Consulting, on starting her business with just an old laptop and £150 in the bank - 20 July 2022
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Lunchtime Networking, raise your business profile and make an impression on valuable contacts - 21 July 2022
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Manufacturing Forum, a strategic group to promote the interests of manufacturers in our region - 26 July 2022
Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Growth Hub have announced registrations are now open for their upcoming Business Worcestershire Conference on 28 June at Sixways Stadium Worcester, 8am – 12:45pm.
The conference will look at how your business can tackle some of the biggest challenges businesses are facing and embrace opportunities to drive your business forward.
This year’s conference has been built around the key theme ‘Shaping Our Future’ and will focus on three hot topics: Innovation & Technology, Net Zero and Business Growth.
Through thought-provoking discussions and talks, attendees will hear the latest thinking from inspiring speakers, have the chance to take part in expert-led sessions and will have plenty of time to network and learn about the support on offer to local businesses.
The conference is open to all businesses across the county of all sizes, from Start-Ups to SMEs to large-scale corporations and is free to attend.
BIPC Worcestershire has plenty of support and webinars for businesses of any size.
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Intellectual Property 1-1 - 28 June 2022 (further dates available). Better understand how to identify and protect your intellectual property, understand its hidden value and avoid infringing others.
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Business Support Drop In Clinic at Malvern Library - 15 July 2022. Get help and advice with those first steps into business, no appointment necessary.
- See the full programme of in person and online events using the link below:
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