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Are you ready to take your business to the next level?
The Somerset Business Mentoring programme offers personalised guidance from industry experts to help you overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve your goals. Whether you need support with marketing strategies, financial planning, scaling your operations, leadership skills or anything else, our mentors are here to provide the insights and tools you need.
Enjoy 6 hours of free mentoring over 6 months, funded by the UK government, to kickstart your journey!
With only 15 spaces available for this cohort, now is the time to invest in your future. Join Somerset's elite entrepreneurs and start your journey to success today!
We’re relaunching our share of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), with £1 million of funding available to support businesses and community projects across the county.
This initiative aims to bolster the rural economy and foster growth for micro and small businesses in Somerset.
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The Salt Path: Starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs
Tourism in Somerset and Exmoor is set for a major boost with the upcoming adaptation of Raynor Winn’s best-selling memoir, The Salt Path, which is due to be released in UK cinemas on 30 May.
Minehead, Porlock, Porlock Weir and stretches of the Exmoor coast all feature heavily after being filmed in 2023 with the help of our film office, Screen Somerset.
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Bath University offers MBA Projects which bring cost-free external perspectives to address business challenges. A team of 5 MBA students with diverse international backgrounds and an average of 6 years of industry experience will help explore a specific question or challenge.
Students will conduct primary and secondary research, provide recommendations through a presentation and a commercial report. All projects can be protected by an NDA for confidentiality.
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UK businesses can benefit from the world’s largest research and funding programme – with £80 billion available from 2021 – 2027 through Horizon Europe to help them develop ideas, innovations and further their research to power commercial opportunities and growth.
Businesses of all types and sizes can apply across the many different funding opportunities. Please do share this information widely with your clients, contacts and networks. There’s much more including the various funding streams, eligibility criteria, support and guidance on applying for research and innovation funding on the Horizon Europe Hub website.
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The Made Smarter Adoption Programme South West, delivered by the Heart of the South West Growth Hub, offers fully funded support to help small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses adopt Industry 4.0 digital technologies.
Running now until March 2026, the programme provides localised expert advice, 1:1 digital acceleration sessions, leadership and skills assessments, and match-funded grants ranging from £1,000 to £20,000. It aims to help manufacturers overcome operational challenges, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and boost competitiveness through digital transformation.
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The SWEF Enterprise Fund, provided by the Somerset Community Foundation, offers grants of up to £2,000 to support young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 in Somerset, North Somerset, and BANES.
Aimed at individuals whose businesses have been trading for less than 2 years, the fund helps with growth and development activities such as expanding product lines, upgrading equipment, or launching new services.
Applications are open year-round and assessed monthly, with successful applicants potentially invited to an online meeting to discuss their business further.
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The UnLtd Awards is offering funding and tailored support to social entrepreneurs across the UK. Designed to help individuals start or grow their social ventures, the programme provides up to £8,000 for start-ups and up to £18,000 for more developed initiatives, along with access to a dedicated support manager, expert mentors, pro bono services, and learning workshops.
Applicants must be UK residents aged 16 or over and founders of ventures with a clear social purpose and growth potential.
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The Marketing Essentials Skills Bootcamp, offered by Justelle Marketing and Media, is a 10-week, part- or fully-funded training programme designed to equip participants with essential marketing skills.
Delivered at the Yeovil Innovation Centre, the course includes 60 hours of direct learning and is ideal for new marketers, small business owners, and professionals seeking to enhance their marketing expertise. Participants gain practical tools, strategic thinking skills, and insights into emerging technologies such as AI and data analytics, enabling them to plan, manage, and evaluate effective marketing campaigns.
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The Sedgemoor Business Expo 2025, hosted by the Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Friday, 13 June at The Canalside in Bridgwater. Formerly the Bridgwater Business Expo, the event has been rebranded to reflect the Chamber’s wider regional focus.
It will bring together local professionals for a day of networking, keynote talks, workshops, and panel discussions aimed at supporting business growth. Expo stand bookings are now open on a first-come, first-served basis, and a Headline Sponsor package is available, offering enhanced promotional and networking opportunities.
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Running a food business can be complex, but staying compliant doesn’t have to be. The Food Standards Agency is here to help with free training, checklists, and the latest guidance to keep your customers safe.
Don’t miss out on these free resources. Visit food.gov.uk/here-to-help.
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The ADOPT programme (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies), provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered by Innovate UK, supports farmer-led on-farm trials to develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to agricultural, horticultural, and forestry challenges.
Through the ADOPT Support Hub—run by ADAS, the UK Agri-Tech Centre, and the Soil Association – farmers, growers, and foresters in England can access expert guidance, funding opportunities, and collaborative tools to test new methods, technologies, or practices. The programme aims to improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience on farms, while also sharing insights and lessons learned across the wider farming community.
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Stock image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
A recent blog post by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) highlights a series of cyber incidents that have significantly impacted UK retailers, disrupting operations and affecting customer trust.
In response, the NCSC urges businesses to strengthen their cyber resilience by adopting robust security practices, improving incident response planning, and fostering collaboration across the retail sector.
Image courtesy of Great South West Partnership
The Great South West Partnership is calling on the Government to deliver a multi-port solution that would unlock major investment opportunities, harness the full economic potential of the region’s ports, and support UK priorities in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
The Partnership has published a Multi-Port Statement, delivered by Celtic Sea Power in collaboration with the region’s ports, which sets out how a coordinated, multi-port investment solution across the South West and South Wales could unlock the UK’s £47 billion floating offshore wind (FLOW) opportunity.
Image courtesy of Tech South West
The Tech South West Awards 2025 are officially open for entries – and this year’s celebration of innovation, talent and impact is set to be bigger, bolder and more brilliant than ever.
From trailblazing startups and game-changing scaleups to inspiring leaders and teams driving global impact, the awards spotlight those pushing boundaries, solving real-world challenges, and putting the South West firmly on the map.
 Distil Coworking Somerset is a newly opened shared workspace at Kilver Court, Shepton Mallet, supported by match funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
Thoughtfully designed and independently run, the space offers a calm, contemporary environment for freelancers, small businesses, remote teams and creatives to focus, connect and thrive. Whether you’re looking for regular desk or a peaceful spot to work for the day, Distil delivers flexible working for all.
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 Check the following websites for a series of insightful upcoming business events, ranging from online networking to in-depth workshops and in-person training sessions.
Whether you’re looking to expand your network, gain new skills, or explore new opportunities, there’s something for all business types.
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