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Welcome to the February edition of Test Valley Business Matters.
This edition includes details of an in-person Marketing Masterclass, a webinar held by the Hampshire Growth Hub on transforming HR with artificial intelligence, and dissemination events on net zero.
It was fantastic to see businesses from across the town at the Andover Vision business breakfast on 29 January. Thank you to all those who provided feedback. The consensus was that breakfast is the best time to meet and that we should reconvene in around 4 months. Thank you for the suggestions for future topics.
 Andover regeneration
The plans for the new Andover theatre will be available to view later this month on the ThinkAndover website together with Frequently Asked Questions on the project.
Public sessions to see the plans for both the theatre and the Western Avenue riverside park will be held in the former O2 unit at the entrance to the Chantry Centre near the Guildhall on:
- Thursday 27 February – drop in between 2pm and 7pm
- Saturday 1 March – drop in between 10am and 1pm
Separate sessions are being held for town centre businesses to discuss plans for the theatre. Letters have been delivered to those businesses.
Planning permission has been agreed for the demolition of the old Poundstretcher unit. This is a concrete structure with pillars which was originally designed for commercial purposes and so it is not suitable for the new multi-level auditorium.
Planning applications for both the new theatre and the Western Avenue redevelopment will be submitted later in the spring. We will keep you updated.
 Smart Manufacturing Data Hub
The Smart Manufacturing Data Hub is part of the UK Government's Made Smarter initiative. It is designed to support small and medium sized manufacturers with digital solutions, guidance, and funding. It has a directory of low-cost data solutions, a virtual hub for data transfer, storage, analysis and dashboarding, and grant funding on a match fund basis for development of digital technologies. Project examples that they cite include visualisation and analysis of production processes, monitoring of machinery for preventative maintenance and to maximise productivity, analysis of costs, analysis of energy data usage, dashboards for job costs etc. Please see their website for further information: SMDH. There will be more news on the Made Smarter programme later in the spring.
 Marketing Masterclass
There will be an in-person masterclass held in The Lights in Andover on the afternoon of 20 March to help equip local companies with marketing knowledge, tools and strategies. A range of local speakers will cover marketing strategy, business websites, social media marketing, press releases, and building your personal brand. There is a small charge to attend; use the discount code TEN_OFF_FEB for 10% discount. The link for tickets and further information is here: The Local Marketing Masterclass.
Monzo/Enterprise Nation small business competition
Monzo and Enterprise Nation are collaborating to award three grants of £10k, £8k and £7k to young businesses with an idea they want to launch. You must be based in the UK and have been trading for between 3 months and 6 years, and you must apply before midnight on 28 February. Details can be found here: Win a grant for your small business
AI in HR webinar
Hampshire Growth Hub is holding a free interactive webinar on 7 March on using AI to transform HR practices. It will cover:
- How AI enhances recruitment and talent management
- Real-world success stories
- Practical tips to overcome challenges and ethical dilemmas.
The booking link is here: AI in HR - Shaping the Future of the Workplace
 Net zero dissemination events
There are two upcoming events to showcase net zero projects in action:
These were funded by the UK Government as part of UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Amazon sustainability accelerator programmes
Amazon is offering two sustainability accelerator programmes for early-stage businesses (less than 5 years old): the first is for developing sustainable consumer products; the second is for climate tech. The programmes are free, and Amazon does not take equity.
The Consumer Product accelerator will be offered to 8-10 companies who will have a product ready for sale to the public no later than 31 December 2025. It is a 10-week programme including workshops, mentoring, access to Amazon networks and £10k cash grants. It is run on a hybrid basis. Applications close on 7 March 2025.
The Climate Tech Pilot Challenge is for start-ups that provide building, circular economy, or packaging solutions. It offers a 4-week accelerator programme and the opportunity to pitch for a pilot project with Amazon. Applications will open on 24 June 2025 and close on 25 July 2025, but you can register your interest now.
More information can be found here: Amazon Sustainability Accelerator
 Transport Strategy consultation
Businesses are invited to comment on a draft Transport Strategy for the South East. The link to the strategy is here TfSE Framework and the survey is here: Draft Transport Strategy Consultation Survey The consultation period ends on 7 March.
 Recycling
This is a reminder that new recycling regulations come into force on 31 March 2025 obliging all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to segregate dry recycling, food waste and residual waste. Please talk to your waste collection service provider. More detail can be found here: Business of Recycling | WRAP
 Apprenticeships and the apprenticeship levy transfer
National Apprenticeship Week is a good time to highlight the free support with apprenticeships available through Hampshire Country Council. The Hampshire team can help smaller organisations access levy transfers provided by larger companies. Please contact carrie.shearing@hants.gov.uk.
The Government plans to broaden the current Apprenticeship Levy into a 'Growth and Skills Levy' which would allow levy contributions to fund a broader range of training. We will provide further details when they are available.
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