Businesses are invited to come along and have their say on Somerset Council’s budget as the authority faces a financial emergency.
The public consultation is now open until 22 January, with the results used to help influence Councillors as they look to set a balanced budget in February 2024.
As part of this process, we have arranged in-person events for the business community to meet and engage with Councillors and Staff, both on the budget and key issues such as the future of business engagement and support as the Local Enterprise Partnership transitions functions into the Local Authority.
Four events are being held around the county:
• 8 January: 9:00am - 10.30am Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR
• 9 January: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome, BA11 1EB
• 15 January: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, TA1 1HE
• 16 January: 8.30am - 10.30am Yeovil Innovation Centre, Barracks Close, Yeovil, BA22 8RN
Places are limited so please book today at: Somerset Council event tickets from TicketSource.
Alternatively the consultation can also be completed online until 22 January via:
 If your New Year’s resolution is to seek new local contracts and win new business, January is the perfect month to find out more about the opportunities being created by the Bridgwater and Glastonbury Town Deal regeneration projects.
Remember, by signing up to Somerset Chamber’s Supply Chain Portal your business could benefit from the £46+ million worth off new development projects collectively.
 New business mentors are needed this New Year from the county’s most knowledgeable business people to help grow business across Somerset.
The Somerset Business Mentors scheme is now seeking five new business mentors to receive free training to join the highly regarded programme which has been receiving praise across the county from mentees receiving support. Executive and senior management level business leaders, successful entrepreneurs or business consultants, who understand the challenges associated with running and growing a business and the value of impartial advice, are encouraged to get in touch.
Potential mentors might offer sector experience or a specialism such as finance, marketing, HR or e-commerce; and above all, have a desire to make a difference.
Those trained and funded under the Somerset Business Mentoring Programme will need to deliver 12 hours of mentoring support in Somerset to businesses, social enterprises and/or charities.
 2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Somerset businesses winning awards with some outstanding examples of excellence in Somerset tourism and hospitality among the winners and finalists at the recent South West Tourism Awards.
As excitement builds for the 19th anniversary of the Somerset Business Awards 2024, Somerset Chamber has recently announced the shortlist of finalists for this major event, due to be held at the Grand Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare on 22 March.
Yeovil businesses are also preparing to enjoy their moment in the spotlight, as the Yeovil Chamber Awards take place on 12 January.
So if all that has sparked your competitive edge then why not get ready as the Federation of Small Businesses gets ready to launch their 2024 national small business awards on Monday 8 January. Applications are open to any UK small business.
 With a welcome from the new Chief Planning Officer, you can find all the latest planning policy news on Neighbourhood Plans, the Local Plan timetable and biodiversity net gain (BNG) developments with the Plan-it newsletter.
 Following the a successful annual conference last Autumn, Visit Somerset has been working with a variety of local businesses and stakeholders to consider both the social and economic case for investing and strengthening accessibility measures for visitors. This offers benefits to both customers as well as increasing financial returns for local businesses while creating a welcoming environment for all Somerset visitors.
As part of this work, Visit Somerset is now encouraging local businesses to explore a brand new Visitor Accessibility Toolkit promoted by Visit England to help assess and consider how potential improvement measures to enhance their visitor experience.
 The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW) are taking part in a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Test & Trial project to understand how green finance and funding can support sustainable environmental land practices across Somerset.
We would like to engage with local businesses of varying sizes to complete 1:1 meetings to help us to establish your current understanding, your appetite and the needs of your business on this subject.
If you would like to take part or would like further information, please contact Mandy Lowe at mandy.lowe@fwagsw.org.uk
FWAG South West have engaged Terranomics to carry out this part of the project. For further information:
 Social Enterprises across Somerset are encouraged to apply early for a brand new grant scheme which has opened across the country. Free independent energy assessments and/or capital grants
are available for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations delivering frontline services in England to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.
This scheme offers voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSEs) the opportunity to apply for a free Independent Energy Assessment (IEA), including a comprehensive evaluation of their building’s energy usage, efficiency and potential for energy savings.
The IEA will be carried out by a team of independent energy assessors who will work with successful applicants. Those who qualify may also apply for a capital grant which can be used to install the recommended capital energy efficiency measures.
Applications are now open until 30 August 2024
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