Start the year strong with a business health check! The Somerset Business Mentoring Programme supports businesses with 2+ employees to review, refresh, and refocus with guidance from an experienced mentor. Whether you want to grow, streamline operations, or explore new opportunities, a mentor can help you set clear priorities and goals.

This free programme offers practical advice, confidence, and a roadmap for success. Spaces are limited, so sign up today!

Get free access to COBRA (Complete Business Reference Advisor), a powerful online resource with how‑to guides, reports, checklists, and fact sheets. Many business advisors use COBRA – and you can too.

COBRA supports key business needs, including compliance, finding customers and business planning. Access it from home with your free library membership or on any library computer.

Somerset Start Up and Grow is a fully funded programme providing up to 6 hours of free, tailored one‑to‑one support to help eligible Somerset SMEs grow with confidence.

Delivered by experienced local advisors and funded by Somerset Council through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme helps you overcome challenges, identify opportunities, and create a clear action plan covering strategy, marketing, finance, operations, innovation, HR, and more.

Farmers and land managers in the Mendip Hills can now access expanded support through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, delivered by the Mendip Hills National Landscape Team.

Defra has committed funding until March 2029, enabling around £270,000 in grants each year for projects that help farms adapt to climate change, support nature recovery, protect the landscape and improve public engagement.

Somerset employers are invited to help shape the future skills and training our county needs. Your insight is essential. The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) ensures post‑16 education and career pathways align with Somerset’s economic needs by bringing together employers, training providers, and local partners to identify current and emerging skills demands.

Sector‑specific focus groups are running online and in person throughout January and February across Advanced Manufacturing, Health and Social Care, Digital and Professional Services, Transport and Logistics, Creative Industries, Visitor Economy and Hospitality, Construction and the Built Environment, Clean Energy, and Agri‑Food and Land Stewardship.

On Wednesday, 11 February, 12pm to 1pm, we’re hosting a free Cyber Security and AI: Safeguarding Your Business workshop at the Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation in Taunton.

We’re inviting Somerset businesses to join us for Coffee and Collaboration for Inclusive Recruitment – a relaxed, interactive session exploring how inclusive hiring can help organisations tap into the county’s wide pool of talented people who are ready to work with the right support.

Held at Taunton Rugby Club on 24 February, 9.30am to 12pm, the event is ideal for HR leads, hiring managers and business owners. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to make recruitment more inclusive and how these approaches benefit both businesses and the wider community.