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Welcome to the March edition of Business Matters. We hope that you have a good Easter, whether it's a busy period for you or the opportunity for a break.
In this edition, you will find an update on the regeneration plans for Andover and Romsey town centres, an invitation for employers to see the construction and healthcare facilities at Andover College, as well as pointers to free resources on digital technology, AI and cyber security.
Remember that 2 April is the deadline for any comments on the proposed employment sites in the draft Local Plan. Details of the plan can be found here: Draft Local Plan 2040. We'd also like to flag new sections on the business pages of the TVBC website for Decarbonisation and Net Zero and Market trading.
A full Council meeting on Thursday 29 February approved a funding strategy to deliver priority regeneration projects in Andover and Romsey. These are: the redevelopment of the area around Western Avenue in Andover; the creation of the new theatre in Andover; and the regeneration of the bus station site in Romsey. The regeneration programmes for both towns follow extensive public consultation and should be transformative for the town centres.
The theatre will be situated at the entrance to the Chantry Centre, providing a new home for The Lights. The building formerly occupied by Poundstretcher will be demolished, a new entrance to the centre will be created and a completely new building will provide an auditorium and modern spaces to host a wide range of activities and creative classes. A comprehensive procurement programme is underway to recruit architects.
Plans to develop the area around Western Avenue are progressing, in partnership with Southern Water and Hampshire County Council. This will see the creation of a picturesque walkway, opening up the River Anton and redesigning the gyratory so that two-way traffic can run on the western side of the river.
Proposals to redevelop the bus station site in Romsey will see the provision of a new and improved hub for public transport in the area and a mixed-use development comprising community, commercial and residential uses.
There is a new Andover regeneration newsletter; please sign up at Andover regeneration newsletter. A Romsey newsletter link will be circulated shortly.
The Test Valley Business Awards were formally launched at Kimbridge Barn last week! Sponsorship has been secured for the following categories and entries are now open for these: Award Categories. Entrants will need to describe in 200-250 words the reasons for their nominations.
- Business in the Community (sponsored by Barratt David Wilson Homes)
- Sustainability (sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council)
- Business Innovation and Technology (sponsored by University of Southampton Science Park)
- New Business of the Year (sponsored by Access Care)
- Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Parker Bullen LLP)
- Young Business Person of the Year (sponsored by the Sparsholt College Group)
Sponsors for the categories below are still being sought - please email info@tvbawards.org.uk if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.
- Business Person of the Year (seeking a sponsor)
- Business Employer of the Year (seeking a sponsor)
- Corporate Business of the Year (seeking a sponsor)
- Rural Business of the Year (seeking a sponsor).
Businesses with an office based in the Central South region can enter the Central South Business Awards. A business can apply in up to three out of 15 categories; the deadline is 17 April. The award ceremony will take place on 4 July in Southampton. Details can be found here: Central South Business Awards 2024 - Platinum Media Group.
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is holding a networking event at Andover College on Wednesday 17 April from 9:30-11:30. This will provide the opportunity to meet other businesses and to see the College's vocational facilities in areas including construction, automotive and nursing. Register here: Andover networking.
FSB is holding a free bootcamp 'Make Your Business Fly' with expert speakers on marketing, social media and video to help you develop and grow your business. The event is designed to benefit self-employed people and small businesses. There will be the opportunity to network and to browse a range of exhibition stands; TVBC will have a stand there - please come and talk to us! The bootcamp takes place on Wednesday 24 April from 9:30-14:30 at the Army Flying Museum, SO20 8FB. A complimentary light lunch is included. Book via FSB Business Bootcamp.
Small Projects: Enterprise Nation has a launched a tech-hub that offers a free diagnostic tool to identify digital tools and technology that can boost your business. They are also offering drop in webinars on topics such as creating an effective company LinkedIn page, using Instagram for your business, and navigating Canva. Details can be found here: Tech Hub | Digital tools to boost productivity
Larger Projects: Innovate UK is offering grants from £25k-£50k to SMEs for feasibility studies to develop AI or machine learning driven solutions in the target industry sectors of construction, transport (including warehousing and logistics), creative industries (excluding marketing and advertising) and agriculture and food processing. Further details can be found here: Feasibility studies for Artificial Intelligence solutions.
Cyber security is an issue for all businesses that operate online in any capacity. The National Cyber Security Centre and The South East Cyber Resilience Centre both offer free resources to help small businesses take practical steps to protect themselves.
The National Cyber Security Centre has been set up by the Government and has pages targeted at the Self-employed & sole traders - NCSC.GOV.UK and Small & medium sized organisations - NCSC.GOV.UK. They also have a Small Business Guide which covers backing up data, protecting your organisation from malware, keeping smartphones safe, using passwords, and avoiding phishing attacks. Small Business Guide: Cyber Security - NCSC.GOV.UK.
The South East Cyber Resilience Centre is a police-led partnership with academia and businesses which has information on fraud and cyber-attacks. They offer a free information pack and a free 30-minute cyber health consultation. See Cyber Security Services | Fraud & Cyber Crime Reduction (secrc.police.uk) for more information.
The University of Southampton Science Park runs a Catalyst six-month business accelerator programme for early-stage innovation-led science and technology companies. It offers 1:1 mentoring, best practice workshops with experts, group cohort learning, a business review panel and pitching practice, desk space within the Science Park's Incubation Centre and links to the Science Park community. Entry to the programme is by application, but it is completely free if you are accepted. Details and a link to apply can be found here: Fast Track Your Business (science-park.co.uk)
Help to Grow is a business management course aimed at small business leaders to help them boost business performance and growth. It is open to businesses with 5-249 employees that have been trading for at least 1 year. It spans 12 weeks alongside full-time work and includes online sessions, practical four-hour case study workshops, webinars, peer sessions and 1:1 sessions.
The next cohort at Winchester starts on 16 April. The Government funds 90% of the cost and Winchester Business School covers the remaining 10%, so you pay just your time and commitment. Further details are given here: University of Winchester Business School | Small Business Charter.
A Help to Grow management course is also available at Southampton University starting on 1 May. A contribution of £750 is required for this: Help to Grow: Management | University of Southampton.
CITB and Andover College are hosting an employer's breakfast for construction businesses at the College on Friday 22 March at 8 am. We know recruitment can be difficult - this event will explain how you can use work placements to bring young people into your business. The Andover College Technology and Future Skills Centre has dedicated facilities for bricklaying and carpentry & joinery where the current students are learning hands-on. CITB will also give an overview of their grant schemes. Register here for tickets: CITB Employer Breakfast, Fri 22 Mar 2024.
Andover College is holding a launch event to showcase its new state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. Business professionals are invited to see the facilities, hear about the courses, explore potential partnerships with the College and help shape the future of healthcare education. The event is on Thursday 25 April from 17:00-19:00. Please sign up here: Healthcare Launch - Thursday 25 April at 17:00.
The Government has announced that it will pay the full cost of training for apprentices aged 16-21 in small businesses from 1 April. Previously, employers were required to cover 5% of the training costs.
The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates are increasing on 1 April 2024. Also, the National Living Wage will be extended to workers aged 21 and over - up until now it has only been for workers aged 23 and over. The new rates, including for apprentices, 18-20 year olds and under 18s can be found here National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates.
Guidance on issues including eligibility, and what counts and does not count as pay and working hours can be found here: Calculating the minimum wage - Guidance.
An overview of the tax legislation and rates set out in the Spring budget can be found here: Spring Budget 2024 — Overview of tax legislation and rates. The cut to employee National Insurance is being introduced from 6 April 2024.
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