We are happy to be supporting another Jobs Fair at Great Malvern Library in collaboration with Malvern Job Centre. There is usually a very good turn out and a buzz around the event. This year refreshments will be provided from the new café in the library, and there will be private rooms available if you would like to conduct interviews on the day. Free and open to all from 10am - 1pm. 

If you are interested in having a stall, please contact Charmaine Gaitskell on 07899 114838 or charmaine.gaitskell@dwp.gov.uk

The Now We’re Talking Partnership, led by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust alongside other local organisations, has launched a new ‘Professionals Portal’ which hosts resources to help people who may come into contact with staff or clients struggling with mental health or suicide.

It includes free training resources and tips and tools to help start a conversation. It also includes advice and signposting to more practical support with concerns such as the cost of living crisis, domestic abuse, housing issues and relationships.

Help to Grow is offering SME's a management course to boost business performance, delivered by industry experts at world class business schools. Running over 12 weeks with online and face to face sessions participants will receive business focussed learning with modules such as employee engagement, strategy and innovation. Business mentors will work with you to tackle business challenges and develop a plan for growth. The course is 90% funded for up to two participants, find out more by following the link below. 

Multiply is the new numeracy project from HWGTA. This is FREE training for anyone 19 and over who lives in Worcestershire with no formal level 2 maths qualification. The training will be 10 weeks of 3-hour sessions in a blend of formal teaching and independent study. If you have staff that could benefit from additional numeracy skills then find out if this free training is for you. 

To find out how your business can benefit complete this registration form or contact skills@hwgta.org.

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. Attend one of the consultation events, see our events section for more details, or take the survey with the button below. 

Applications to be considered in this annual celebration of businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are closing soon. There are 16 different awards up for grabs and businesses can self-nominate or be nominated by another business. Categories include Employer of the Year, Excellence in Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace. 

Becoming a finalist or winning one of these awards can be great for brand exposure and provides a boost to staff morale. The awards will take place at Worcester Arena on 15 June 2023 and the deadline for entries is March 20 at 4:00pm.

Malvern Hills Volunteering has compiled a list of current corporate, financial and managerial volunteering opportunities within the community. 

They are also investigating group and team-building volunteering opportunities for local businesses to take part in. 

If this is something your business would be interested in please contact:lizr@communityaction.org.uk, 01684 892381

There are various rural funding schemes running alongside the Rural England Prosperity Fund, click the links to find out when applications open and eligibility criteria.  

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2023 – smaller scale farm improvements of £1,000 - £25,000 to contribute up to 40% of the costs of the equipment to help improve farm productivity, the environment, animal health and welfare and/or management of slurry. Open until 4 April.

Future Farming Resilience Fund – to provide free advice to farmers, particularly those currently in receipt of Basic Payments which will end 2025. New Entrant pilots are also being run through this fund – which seek to support young people trying to enter the farming sector.

Farming in Protected Landscapes – for farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England and those that manage land eligible for the funding. Funding for projects that provide value for money and result in at least one climate, nature, people or place outcome.

Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund – a capital grants programme for between £7,500 - £75,000 to contribute to up to 20% of the costs of the project which will support the improvement and modernisation of village halls in rural areas. 

Following on from the successful Community Renewal Fund backed Upskilling Project, which concluded in December 2022, we are relaunching the Upskilling Grant for businesses. 

We will provide funding of up to £1,500 to help with the business cost of training new staff (i.e. apprenticeships, trainee or other). In order to qualify the business must be based in the Malvern Hills district postcode area, employ fewer than 250 people and pay at least the Minimum Wage to the trainee for a post of at least 20 hrs a week including training leading to a recognised qualification.

For more information and to apply please see our website or contact us on ecodev@malvernhills.gov.uk or 01684 862185

Businesses, voluntary organisations and charities in Malvern Hills are being invited to a free breakfast event in Malvern, on Tuesday 25 April from 8.30am at Barnards Green Cricket Club. Hosted by Malvern Hills District Council, Worcestershire Ambassadors and Malvern Hills Volunteering and with a keynote address from Hewett Recruitment; the event will be a great opportunity to make new connections with other local businesses, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. 

Registration opens for this event on 9 March via Eventbrite on the link below. Numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

For further information about the event, please contact Pete Smith, Community Builder peter.smith@malvernhills.gov.uk