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Small businesses and social enterprises are set to benefit from a simplified and more transparent procurement process relating to the supply of goods, works and services to public sector organisations, including Shropshire Council.
The Procurement Act 2023, which will reform the existing Procurement Rules, received Royal Assent in October last year and will come into force on 28 October 2024, replacing the existing regulations that derived from the EU.
The Act will create a simpler and more flexible procurement system, while remaining compliant with international obligations. It aims to embed transparency throughout the procurement lifecycle so that the spending of taxpayers’ money can be properly scrutinised.
From October, for larger contracts, the council will be obliged to publish additional information about its procurement process including an 18-month pipeline of upcoming activity and notices regarding the performance of supplier’s contracts, such as where there are performance issues and variations to contracts.
A central digital platform, operated by the government, will act as a ‘one-stop shop’ which should make it simpler for small business to access opportunities and it means they will only need to submit most of their organisational details once. The council will be encouraged to engage with the market of potential suppliers earlier in the procurement process to develop its requirements and aim to remove and reduce any processes that could be considered a barrier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate.
New law seeks to make it easier for small businesses to tender for council contracts - Shropshire Council Newsroom
Grow your business by protecting your IP, improving innovation management and accessing the innovation ecosystem globally through Innovate UK.
The scheme has been developed to ensure that businesses identified as needing specialist support in the management of IP-related issues receive the right guidance and advice through dedicated channels. This includes support in respect of IP management, commercialisation and marketing, to ensure that they can deploy their IP Assets into their wider business strategy and maximise their value.
IP Advance provides 50% grant (£2250) towards an IP Audit.
Contact Innovate UK to find out more:
Business Growth - Contact - Innovate UK Business Connect (ktn-uk.org)
*There are a limited number of IP Audit and IP Access grants available, and applications that do not meet the specified criteria will not be accepted*
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The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is now OPEN! Run by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) collecting opinions from thousands of businesses across the country to help shape Government business policy. Your completing a simple online anonymous survey, will add to this volume of fact, a strong negotiation tool.
Please consider taking a few minutes to offer your perspective on business matters - every voice matters, large or small. We understand not all of the sections will be relevant to your business, so feel free to skip those sections to focus on the things that are relevant to you. TAKE THE SURVEY TODAY!
QES-Q3-2024 Survey (surveymonkey.com)
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The taxman – HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – has launched a digital tool to help businesses estimate what registering for VAT may mean for them.
The VAT Registration Estimator has been developed after feedback from small businesses suggested an online tool would be helpful to show when their turnover could require businesses to register for VAT and its effect on profits.
A business must register for VAT if:
- Its total VAT taxable turnover for the previous 12 months is more than £90,000 – known as the ‘VAT threshold’ – until 31 March 2024 this was £85,000
- It expects its turnover to go over the £90,000 VAT threshold in the next 30 days
- It is an overseas business not based in the UK and supplies goods or services to the UK (or expects to in the next 30 days) – regardless of VAT taxable turnover
A VAT-registered business must charge VAT on eligible sales and can usually reclaim it on eligible purchases. There are around 300,000 new VAT registrations each year.
The estimator can help any business to see what registering for VAT could mean, as well as linking to further information about the registration process. It is also a useful tool for businesses operating below the threshold and for those considering voluntary registration.
HMRC will host a live webinar on 14 August 2024 to explain how to use the tool.
Details of the live and recorded webinars will be available from the help and support for VAT guidance pages on GOV.UK.
Licensing can be a powerful strategy for expanding your brand and entering new markets.
Industry experts, Louise Welsby and Meg Hawkins, will guide you through the complexities of brand licensing, covering essential topics such as:
- What is brand licensing?
- Benefits of licensing
- Steps to start licensing
- Dos and Don’ts – the things I wish I had known before I started licensing
- Next steps
Whether you're an artist, designer, or illustrator in Shropshire looking to license your work, this workshop is for you.
Brand Licensing Workshop Tickets, Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite
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A session where Emma Alston, a professional voice coach will expertly guide you through enhancing your communication skills, covering aspects like vocal clarity, volume and intonation, along with identifying potential areas for improvement......
The fun and interactive session aimed at female entrepreneurs and women in business will focus on how a well-modulated voice is more compelling. .... pace, tone, and pitch can enable us to speak with clarity and impact. The more prepared you are, the more confident and effective you will be... Plus Emma will enable you to understand how posture and stance affect our vocal delivery allowing us to communicate with impact and gravitas.
Own the room with poise and purpose.
You’ll come away from the day
- Armed with strategies to help you overcome nerves and fears of speaking up
- Feeling empowered and more confident to use your voice and be heard
- Inspired and excited to share your message
- Feeling more assertive in high stakes meetings
Communicate with Confidence Tickets, Mon, Sep 23, 2024 at 9:15 AM | Eventbrite
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Selling a product or service to the public can be one of the most stressful activities business owners and entrepreneurs undertake. But whether you favour a gentle sales approach or greet every client with a handshake and cheeky joke, everyone can develop their own natural way of selling.
In this session. Peter the Speaker, the man named by the BBC as “The Entrepreneur who Floored the Dragons” in Dragons’ Den, will explore the differing styles of selling. You’ll master how to identify and greet a potential customer; ask the right questions; recommend a product or service, and how to close. This session will include the practical tips and advice to take your selling skills to the next level.
From Exhibitions to Markets - The Art of Selling to the Public Tickets, Thu, Sep 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
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