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Welcome to the November edition of Test Valley Business Matters.
We're updating you this month on the regeneration projects for Andover. We'd also like Andover businesses from across the town and the business parks, to save the date for a business breakfast on Wednesday 29 January. Exciting times are ahead and we very much want to engage with businesses. Leader of the council, Cllr Phil North and a regeneration project member will attend.
We're also highlighting free Google training, including one-to-one mentoring sessions with Google advisors. Finally, there are some legislative updates concerning sexual harassment and recycling.
 Andover Vision business event
All businesses from across Andover are invited to attend a business event on Wednesday 29 January at the Andover College business centre from 7.15 am. We are hosting this event as part of Andover Vision – a partnership of Andover’s residents, community groups, businesses and public bodies. The purpose of Andover Vision is to help the town fulfil its potential and, in doing so, raise aspirations, promote a sense of pride in our community, and support the development of an enterprising town. We are keen to develop and promote awareness of Andover Vision and broaden its business representation, with the purpose of sharing information, such as on the regeneration plans, and of providing a forum for consultation and networking.
At the event, the Leader of Test Valley Borough Council will introduce Andover Vision, and a member of the team responsible for the Andover regeneration projects will provide an update. We will then have time for business discussion and input. To help us to cater for numbers it would be helpful if you could register via Andover Vision Business Breakfast 29 January.
For further information on Andover Vision, please see: Home | andovervision.
Andover regeneration projects
The Western Avenue redevelopment project will transform the area around Western Avenue, creating a park and a riverside walk alongside the River Anton. Survey work to assess the ground conditions is underway for this project, affecting Western Avenue, West Street and Waterloo Court. One lane along Western Avenue may be closed for short periods of time but there will be no full road closures, and the car parks and bus station will remain fully accessible. There will be more surveys over the coming months.
On Friday 15 November, Test Valley Borough Council submitted a planning application to demolish the former Poundstretcher Unit, at the entrance to the Chantry Centre, which will become the new home for The Lights theatre. This is an exciting time for the town and the first step in delivering regeneration projects in line with the community-led masterplan which the council adopted in 2020.
The demolition work is likely to commence in late spring 2025, once the council has appointed a contractor. The work will be contained within the site and the current entrance to the Chantry Centre will be maintained throughout the process.
You can find out more about the application here and keep up to date with Andover town centre regeneration projects at thinkandovertowncentre.co.uk
Markets in Andover, Romsey and Stockbridge
If you are interested in trading at Test Valley markets, please keep an eye on our Market Trading website page. Many of the dates for 2025 are now available and local traders are prioritised. Please see Market trading | Test Valley Borough Council for details.
 Free Google training and mentoring
Google offers a range of webinars on topics including AI, digital marketing, and selling online via Online Courses and Digital Marketing Training - Google. Business owners can also sign up for a free one-hour mentoring session with mentors from BT and Google: Sign Up to 1-to-1 Mentoring with BT and Google . You are asked to indicate your preferred area of focus, which might be:
- becoming more discoverable on Google search and maps
- creating a digital marketing strategy
- setting up a social media strategy
- how to sell products online
- building or optimising a website
- Google analytics.
Help to Grow: Management
Winchester University will be starting their next Help to Grow Management course in December. The programme helps leaders of small and medium sized businesses to boost their business performance and growth potential, and to develop strategic skills. The course is fully funded and comprises of short, focused sessions over a 12-week programme which are designed to fit alongside the running of your business. It includes online and face-face sessions, and one-to-one mentoring.
Further details and a registration link can be found here: Help to Grow: Management Course at Winchester Business School. The course timetable is here: H2G course timetable
Bespoke AI adoption advice
If you are a small or medium sized enterprise and you think AI should be able to help you to solve a problem, but you can't find a standard programme that seems to address your need, you can apply for up to 16 hours' worth of bespoke advice from a team of independent scientific advisors from The Alan Turing Institute. You need to register your interest by 29 November. Bespoke AI and Data Science Advice for SMEs - Innovate UK Business Connect
 The next meeting of Andover's manufacturing and engineering companies will be on 21 January at Andover College. The college has recently purchased a range of engineering equipment on which to train the next generation of engineers. This meeting will enable employers to see the equipment that the students will be learning to use. If you are interested in attending, please contact econdev@testvalley.gov.uk
 Grants for black-owned restaurants
NatWest research has shown that black business owners face significant barriers in accessing finance. The Black Business Fund sponsored by Enterprise Nation and Uber Eats is offering grants of up to £10,000 for black-owned restaurants with fewer than five locations that have been trading for at least 12 months. Applications close on 12 December. The link to apply is here: Black Business Fund: Support for Black-owned businesses
 Big Retrofit Challenge
Innovate UK, in partnership with the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) and Futurebuild, has launched the Big Retrofit Challenge. This is a competition for UK businesses with an annual turnover of less than £15 million to showcase their cutting-edge solutions to home decarbonisation. The application window closes on 28 November. More information can be found here: National Home Decarbonisation Group: Big Retrofit Challenge - Innovate UK Business Connect
 PAYE - early Christmas payments
HMRC has put out guidance for employers who pay their employees earlier than usual in December. This is to protect employees' eligibility for benefits such as Universal Credit. The guidance says the following:
'If you do pay early over the Christmas period, you must report your normal or contractual payment date on your Full Payment Submission (FPS).
For example: if you pay on 20 December but your normal payment date is 31 December, please report the payment date as 31 December. In this example the FPS would need to be sent on or before 31 December.'
If you are an employer, it is worth signing up for HMRC's employer bulletins to get information directly. You can do this here: Help and support email service
New protections from sexual harassment
Employers have a new duty under the Equality Act 2010 to take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment of their employees. The FSB is holding a one-hour webinar, open to all, to help you navigate this. It will be on 26 November from 11am. Register via this link: FSB | Changes to sexual harassment legislation.
ACAS have produced guidance which includes:
Simpler recycling
'Simpler Recycling' legislation affecting businesses with 10 or more full-time employees comes into force on 31 March 2025. Businesses will be required to separate out dry recycling, which includes paper, card, plastic, glass, metal and cartons, from food waste and general waste. It is worth approaching your waste management provider now about changes to their processes.
Budget changes for employers
HMRC has produced a short summary of budget changes that will significantly affect employers: HMRC summary of employer budget changes. The details on specific tax changes can be found here: Autumn Budget 2024 tax related documents - GOV.UK
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