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Welcome to the October edition of Test Valley Business Matters.
This month’s highlights include:
- free Google training on AI;
- small business grants from Enterprise Nation;
- water saving grants from Southern Water;
- funding for travel plan development through Hampshire County Council.
Our Test Valley Borough Council AI workshop to be held in Romsey on 23 October is now full, but there are often last-minute withdrawals, so if you are interested in going on the waiting list, please contact jhewson@testvalley.gov.uk.
Finally, there was a great range of applications to the Test Valley Business Awards. Congratulations to all who entered, and best of luck to the finalists for the awards on 24 October.
Small business grants
Enterprise Nation and VistaPrint are offering 20 small business grants worth £3k each, plus marketing and design support. To be eligible, you must be UK based, have a workforce of no more than 10 employees, have been trading for at least three months, and be looking to grow. Applications close at 23:59 on 31 October. Full details are here: Realising the Remarkable | Cash grants for small businesses | Enterprise Nation
AI training
Google is funding a pilot programme through Enterprise Nation to offer AI training to small businesses. The training will include:
- understanding how AI works;
- maximising productivity with AI;
- applying AI to your role.
The training requires a commitment to attend five hours' worth of live, virtual core modules. Participants can also sign up to additional webinars and 1:1 sessions. The modules will be delivered multiple times so there will be options around dates - participants sign up to their preferred sessions via a dashboard. Further information can be found here: Google AI Works | Boost AI adoption and productivity
 Unlocking Hampshire's Green Potential
The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is running a free event on the morning of Thursday 7 November on practical steps that companies can take to achieve Environmental, Social and Governance goals. The event includes exhibitors and guest speakers. Last year's event was very practical; the speakers provided advice and resources to help businesses make sustainable changes. If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact events.south@hampshirechamber.co.uk. For more information and a free ticket to attend, please visit Unlocking Hampshire's Green Potential event
Saving water grants
Southern Water business customers can apply for funding for projects to reduce water use. Southern Water can fund purchase or hire of equipment, building and installation of materials, training, and/or professional fees.
- You must provide a forecast of water saving in litres from your project.
- The total funding applied for cannot exceed £40k and cannot exceed £10 per saved litre of water per day.
- Businesses must make a financial contribution to the project.
Applications are open now and will close in December 2024. For more information, please see: Business Partnership Fund – Southern Water.
Travel plans
Hampshire County Council has funding available to help businesses develop sustainable travel plans. The focus is predominantly on commuting but there are initiatives that would be relevant to logistics and delivery operations too. Hampshire County Council is using the platform Business - Modeshift STARS. Businesses secure accreditation based on initiatives delivered. If you are interested in getting free access to the platform and support with developing your plan, please sign up at HCC Modeshift STARS Business.
 Funding for disease-resistant elm trees
Hampshire Forest Partnership has funding available to give away different variants of disease resistant elms (bare root and pot grown). Farmers and landowners are eligible to apply and can specify preferred tree sizes. The land need not be publicly accessible, but the Partnership prefers locations where people will be able to see the elms once they grow to maturity - for example in fields, hedgerows or boundaries viewable from a road, footpath or viewpoint. They prefer locations out of woodlands, and the trees must be allowed to grow to full maturity. Further information can be found here: Disease-resistant elm trials | Hampshire County Council. Please contact treeplanting@hants.gov.uk for an application form.
 Remembrance Sunday - 10 November 2024
In Andover, please note that there will be rolling road closures of Bridge Street and Eastern Avenue from 9.45am to 10.30am as the parade moves from the old Wilko premises to St Mary’s Church, and from 11.30am to 12:00 noon as the parade returns from St Mary’s to the Wilko building.
In Romsey, Love Lane will be closed from 8:00am to 9:10am. Latimer St, The Hundred, Bell St, Market Place, Church St and Church Place will be closed from approximately 9:00am to 9:30am and 11:20am to 11:40am. Church Lane, The Abbey and The Meads will be closed from 10:20am to 10:45am and again from 11:20am to 11:40am.
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