Supporting businesses and the wider economy is one of our top priorities. The Economic Development team works to support businesses and the growth of the Malvern Hills district economy.
We offer a range of services to support businesses for example:
- we help to bring forward land and premises to attract investment
- offer advice on funding opportunities and business grants
- support training and apprenticeships
- supporting our town centres
- promote the district as a tourism destination
Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/business for more information or if you need help please email us at ecodev@malvernhills.gov.uk
Earlier this year MHDC were allocated £2,539,889 of funding from the UKSPF, split over this and the next two years. MHDC were then required to submit an Investment Plan to government in July that outlined how they would use the funding to deliver key interventions for the district covering Business Support, Communities and Place and People and Skills themes.
It has now been confirmed that this investment plan has been accepted. This means that £308,240 of funding for 2022/23 is confirmed and funding of £616,480 in 2023/24 and £1,615,179 in 2024/25 is allocated.
The programme will focus on delivery across 3 distinct areas as follows:
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Support for Local Businesses which includes grants, networks and specialist business advice.
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Communities and Place which includes actions identified in the recently approved Town Plans, promotional campaigns, active travel, community development.
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People and Skills which includes access to employment initiatives, workforce skills development and support for apprentices.
The Council is working with key local partners to design proposals and agree delivery mechanisms for support under the UKSPF programme which will start to be promoted from the new year.
In addition to the UKSPF, Malvern Hills were allocated £500,624 via the Rural England Prosperity Fund. This can be used across Rural Business and Communities themes in all parts of the district other than the defined ‘urban’ area of Malvern. Following discussion with key partners such as the NFU, Community First, Community Foundation and with nominated panel members MHDC has agreed to focus their submission on the following 3 intervention areas:
- Grants for diversification of farm businesses and rural enterprises.
- Support for community business and social enterprises.
- Grants to support development of the visitor economy.
The submission was sent in the first week of December and a response is anticipated early in the New year.
The consultation on the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan has been extended. You can now submit comments before the new deadline of 11.59pm on 23 December 2022.
The consultation has been extended due to some small misprints in the print version of the plan, the online version was not affected.
However, the three South Worcestershire Councils have decided having corrected the misprint, it is right to give the public more time to have their say.
You can comment by filling in the online comment form available on the SWDP website (linked below). Paper copies, including the correction, are available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.
After the consultation, all comments will be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan will then go for Examination.
The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire Growth Hub, have partnered with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and NFU to release “Strive and Thrive” – a consolidated collection of business advice. In response to the increasingly tough conditions faced by businesses the guide is available on the Worcestershire Growth Hub Website and brings together key advice in an accessible format.
Read the guide using the link below.
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Early stage businesses who are part of the BetaDen tech accelerator showcased their innovations in front of an audience of development partners, customers and investors at an event at Mazak. Cohort members showed how their rough ideas have been developed into polished products with the help of the accelerator. Seven companies pitched their ideas such as Omnis 7, a study skills app for children with learning difficulties or other challenges and Secure Socialising, a smart locker system for social environments.
The Worcestershire Education Business Partnership are looking for local employers who are able to offer work experience opportunities for students aged 15-17 years. Work experience is a vital way for young people to experience the world of work and find out what they want to do when they grow up.
Placements are typically between 3-5 days and usually take place between April – July each year. It is expected around 6000 students will go out on work experience in 2023 but to ensure this is possible employer support is needed.
If you can help by offering a work experience placement then please contact the WEBP team using the details below.
enquiries@webp.org.uk or call 0300 6663666
Share your feedback for the Local Skills Improvement Plan to help shape the skills and recruitment support available for businesses. The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a DfE funded project, designed to give local areas more say and control in how skills and recruitment are supported. It will bring together key stakeholders such as businesses and training providers to set out key priorities and changes needed in the area to ensure post-16 technical education and training prepares employees better for work.
This is your opportunity to have your say on skills and make a positive difference to the future economy of the county. You can take the survey or attend a discussion event, find out more with the link below.
The Great Malvern Christmas Festival took place on the 26 November, which saw the return of the Christmas lantern parade and the Christmas Light Switch On. Three schools took part decorating lanterns as well as Malvern Ukrainian Families. Thousands of people came to the town throughout the day for Christmas shopping and entertainment.
Tenbury Mistletoe Festival and Tenbury Wells Christmas Markets were successful Christmas events bringing festive cheer as well as tourist and local visitors to the Tenbury centre for the market stalls, late night shopping and entertainment.
Get up to date for the festive season, follow the link below to see all the events, markets and activities planned in the Malvern Hills District.
Let us know if your business has anything planned for Christmas and we can add it to our events page.
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Worcestershire Ambassadors is asking for your help to raise £100,000 to provide a 3 day nutritionally balanced food parcel over Christmas for everyone who uses their nominated food banks. To cover the Malvern Hills area, they need to raise £14,000 for Malvern Hills foodbank. Just £20 will pay for the 3 day food parcel for an individual and £40 will cover a family. Thanks to those who have already donated, this has now reached just over 50% of its target. Many individuals and families turn to food banks over the festive season, so donations are gratefully received to reach the full amount.
If your business can help, please donate below.
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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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Upton Shuttle Bus - Inspired by the community spirit shown during the coronavirus pandemic the Upton Shuttle Bus will connect Upton and its surrounding villages. Run by local volunteers the bus will provide practical connection as well as community to residents.
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Malvern Link Community Fridge REVAMP! - Pressure on the Malvern Link foodbank continues to grow; they need to expand their facilities to continue to help struggling families and stop food going to landfill.
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Great Malvern Victorian Cemetery Revival - This historic cemetery is in need of support to restore graves, look after flora and fauna and maintain listed buildings. This will lead to enhanced opportunities for community involvement, tourism and education.
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Prevent Homelessness in Malvern - This project by Maggs Day Centre aims to raise over £30k to expand their services at the centre in Malvern.
The Spire Teacher Training Partnership is now a leading provider offering opportunities across Worcestershire. They offer an immersive, inspiring school based teacher training programme within vibrant and high achieving settings. 100% of trainees achieve employment at the end of their training and with starting salaries of almost £30,000 it’s an exciting time to be joining the profession.
The programme is tailored to the needs of trainees and elements such as locality and childcare are always carefully considered. Trainees are placed in appropriate schools across the County and would never be asked to travel too far.
If you know of any graduates or you are interested in a career in teaching please visit the link below or email ttenquiries@st-johns-bromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk
Are you an SME Manufacturer looking to grow your business? There is still time to access grant funding from the Manufacturing Growth Programme to support the implementation of a business improvement project.
Projects can include:
- Marketing
- LEAN Manufacturing
- Strategic Planning
- Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Productivity
- New Product Development
- Leadership & Management
- Finance
- Environmental & Sustainability
The grant will fund 31% of the project value up to a maximum project value of £10,000. Please contact your local Manufacturing Growth Manager, Catherine Bray, on 07790 358610 or catherine.bray@oxin.co.uk for more information.
The Governments Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides SME businesses support with the cost of installing electric vehicle charging points, you could get 75% of costs covered, up to £350 per socket.
Businesses, charities and public sector organisations can apply, follow the link below for full eligibility criteria.
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Get help hiring graduate talent with grants of up to £6250 from the Here2Help business support team. Graduates are a fantastic business investment with studies showing they provide a return of 500% to 800%. The grant will be used towards the graduate's salary. Businesses must trade predominantly B2B and be Worcestershire SME's hiring graduates from 2020, 2021 or 2022. |
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:
Delivered by an experienced founder and investor, this workshop will impart investment knowledge based on first-hand experience, as well as actionable advice on improving your chances of gaining investment.
On Wednesday 18 Jan this practical workshop will allow you to ask your questions of an experienced founder and investor, able to offer a unique perspective from both sides of the table. The EDGE Essentials Breakfast series is aimed at early stage innovative entrepreneurs who are beginning their funding journey.
Join the Agri-Tech Centre at Hartpury University on Wednesday 25th January 2023 to find out how you can bring the latest innovations to the here and now on your farm!
There are lots of considerations to make when looking at new technologies or innovations to apply to farming operations or planning.
Due to the ever-increasing amounts of new ideas, concepts as well as support opportunities for farming businesses in the areas of technology, it is often difficult to navigate and find out what you can engage and make decisions with now.
Join this unique event to see and learn about the Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre and hear about how its services can benefit you and your farm business now.
BIPC Worcestershire has plenty of support and webinars for businesses of any size.
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