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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.
Pc Nigel Bolton, Pc Pete Meredith and Rural & Business Crime Officer (RABO) Mick Simpson work across South Worcestershire, as part of a larger dedicated problem solving team and are supported by Special Constables, police volunteers and members of the public.
They are able to provide support to Rural Businesses to reduce opportunities for them to become victims of crime.
They can undertake crime prevention surveys to help protect premises and advise on suitable security products. Where appropriate they can supply Smartwater forensic making kits. This serves as a prevention method and helps to identify the rightful owner of property.
If you would like to help with reducing crime in your area, contact the team at;
southworcestershireruralcrime@westmercia.police.uk
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The Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) and Low Carbon Opportunities Programme (LOCOP) offer free assessments and grants to help businesses save money and reduce carbon emissions. Grants (£20,000) from BEEP include LED lighting, heating, equipment, compressors etc. For businesses interested in solar or other renewable technologies, LOCOP offers grants of up to £100,000. LOCOP advice and grant funding up to £30,000 is available for businesses developing an innovative low carbon product or service that helps others to be green. Both programmes are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Eligibility criteria applies.
Zero Carbon Ready Worcestershire - If your organisation is not eligible for support from BEEP or LOCOP, you might benefit from the support available from Zero Carbon Ready Worcestershire, a pilot scheme to help businesses in Worcestershire reduce greenhouse gases and move towards net zero targets. The programme offers free decarbonisation advice and 100% grant funding for smart monitoring systems to organisations in Worcestershire.
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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, 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 |
All Worcestershire employers are eligible to benefit from the Skills Bootcamps programme which offers flexible courses of up to 16 weeks. Employers contribute a small amount to the cost of training their existing employees; larger employers with over 250 employees need to contribute 30% of the cost and small or medium employers with 3 - 249 employees just 10%. For individuals accessing the programme it is completely free.
For more information get in touch with the Worcestershire Growth Hub on 01905 677888 or by email: info@worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk
Last few places available! The Elevate Technology programme has less than 10 places left on its consultancy support programme. The programme offers 12 hours of fully funded consultancy to help established SMEs identify and implement digital and technology projects.
On completion of the consultancy support, clients will have the opportunity to apply for a 40% match-funded grant of up to £4,000 available to support the implementation of any improvements identified.
Less than 10 places left for businesses to apply to the Elevate Growth programme. The programme offers exclusive specialist business support and optional grant funding to help established SMEs develop bespoke growth plans.
To date, the programme has received exceptional feedback from those who have completed the support, which will reach over 150 businesses by the end of this year. The Elevate programme is aimed at established SMEs in Worcestershire that trade more than 70% B2B, have been trading for at least 3 years and with 5+ employees.
On completion of support, there is the opportunity to apply for a match-funded grant up to a maximum of £10,000 which is awarded on a competitive basis and subject to availability. Spaces are expected to be fully allocated by the middle of August for the next cohort of businesses so ensure your business takes one of those places, register your interest by calling 01905 677888 or emailing info@business-central.co.uk.
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
Find out more and apply using the link below:
We recognise the impact COVID-19 continues to have on businesses and their employees. This has had a significant impact on staff recruitment and retention and businesses are now operating differently in terms of working patterns and employee expectations.
This survey aims to gather feedback on Worcestershire’s current workplace health programme, Worcestershire Works Well, and gain an understanding of what support businesses would find most beneficial in improving employee health and wellbeing. In completing the survey your business details will remain confidential and the survey results will be analysed anonymously. The closing date for responses is Monday 12th September 2022. Thank you for your time.
Worcestershire County Council want to support you to access this untapped talent and have a more diverse and productive workforce. The skills and abilities of autistic people are being overlooked by employers with only 22% of autistic people in paid employment. People with autism have a great deal to offer the world of business and many have unique skills and abilities that will help an organisation to thrive. Autistic people often demonstrate above-average skills in areas like:
• Problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• High levels of concentration
• Reliability and loyalty
• Technical ability and specialist skills and interests such as in IT
• Detailed factual knowledge and an excellent memory
Free Autism Training is available to support you to have a better understanding of autism and to help you implement easy and effective adjustments to create a autism-friendly workplace, we have worked with the UK’s leading autism charity, The National Autistic Society (NAS), to offer you and your workforce, free online ‘Autism Awareness’ and ‘Autism In the Workplace’ training. Click the button below for more details:
Worcestershire County Council’s Supported Employment Service offers businesses support to match suitable candidates to employment opportunities. They work alongside businesses to understand their recruitment needs and to develop work-based and employment opportunities. Please contact the Supported Employment Service to find out how they can support you.
Take part in this new survey to share how valuable digital skills are to your business. Evidence from the survey will help the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Worcestershire County Council to built a strategy around digital skills to ensure that employers demands for technology confident staff can be met.
The Governments Help to Grow: Digital Scheme, which gives discounts of up to 50% to businesses buying approved software, has been expanded. Previously only businesses with more than five employees could benefit from the discounts however now the scheme covers all businesses with at least one employee. A type of Ecommerce software has also been added to the list of eligible digital technologies.
The Enterprising Worcestershire programme, have announced there are a limited number of grants up to the value of £30,000 on offer to help start-up businesses in Worcestershire.
The grant is designed to give eligible SMEs that are less than three years old a significant helping hand. Grant funding can cover multiple capital and revenue expenditure items such as, but not limited to, equipment, machinery, website construction and logo design.
There are only a limited number of these matched funded grants available so eligible businesses will need to get their application in quickly. Smaller grants of £1,000 to £15,000 will still be on offer to start-up businesses through Enterprising Worcestershire.
For more information, and the full list of eligibility, please click the button below:
MHDC and WDC have gained funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to support upskilling. The project has already funded many businesses and 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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Join BetaDen for the second instalment of Tech Tuesdays. Take a deep dive into Web 3.0 and AI at this technology focussed online event. Industry thought-leaders will provide their specialist knowledge and insight.
6 September 2022 from 12:00pm till 1:00pm. Register for your FREE place by clicking the button below.
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Driving Down Compressed Air Costs & Five Levels of Sustainability
Thursday 8 September 10:00-11:00am
Speakers:
Marcus Howarth, Managing Director at Industrial Air Power
Compressed air is an important utility for many businesses and over 10% of electricity supplied to industry is used to provide compressed air. Marcus will highlight some of the savings opportunities available to business around their compressed air usage. With recent rising electricity prices there has never been a better time to optimise efficiency in this area.
Matt Thomas, Principal at ESG Partners
Matt will provide an overview of how SMEs can use the ESG (Environment Social Governance) framework for risk management and commercial decision making.
ESG Partners support SMEs in their adoption of essential ESG practices into their businesses using a straightforward and cost-efficient system.
The Careers Hub team are holding a virtual coffee morning share more about volunteering with the programme and becoming an enterprise advisor. As skills and recruitment continues to challenge businesses, Enterprise Advisors can help bridge the gap between schools, colleges and businesses and ensure future talent can meet business ambitions.
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BetaDen beers returns at 5pm on 29 September 2022. Join this informal event and network with fellow industry professionals.
You will also have a chance to meet the new Cohort 6.0 founders and learn more about future BetaDen opportunities.
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Rethinking Mens Mental Wellbeing Webinar, Matt Lock from Outliers Wellbeing discusses how men and those around them can deepen their understanding of men's wellbeing - 25 August 2022
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Women's Business Conference 2022, hear from inspiring and knowledgeable speakers, network and enjoy a two course lunch - 7 Sept 2022
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Virtual Sustainability Forum, in association with the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP). A series of workshops and talks aiming to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices - 8 September 2022
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E-commerce Growth Forum, Sponsored by EBC Group, aimed at business owners, directors and senior managers of high growth businesses. Speaker: Trudy Macklin, Director of We are the Missing Link - 20 Sept 2022
BIPC Worcestershire has plenty of support and webinars for businesses of any size.
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Businesses are invited to meet some of The University of Worcester's most promising students at their upcoming Business Careers Fair and lunch. Stands are free to businesses offering roles for graduates as well as placements, internships and casual work opportunities and a buffet lunch is included. Meet this new pool of talent from a range of courses including Business Management, Computing, Accounting, HR and Marketing, PR & Advertising, as well as International Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
If you would like to find out more about this event with the University and book a table please RSVP by reply to Sally Docherty (s.docherty@worc.ac.uk) to receive a booking link.
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