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Welcome to the May edition of Test Valley Business Matters.
We are excited to announce our next Andover Vision Business Breakfast. It will be held at the Business Centre by the 6th Form Academy at Andover College on Wednesday 4 June. We invite you to arrive from 7:15am for a 7:30am start. We will discuss the new TVBC grant schemes, provide an update on Andover regeneration, and seek your views on what you most need from local government in the future, so we can feed that into the wider discussions on devolution and local government reorganisation. Please book your free ticket here: Andover Vision Business Breakfast Tickets
We have launched a new tranche of Rural England Prosperity Fund capital business grants for 2025-26, and a new grant scheme to provide a contribution towards the costs of installing solar PV arrays on commercial premises in the borough's business parks and industrial estates. Further details of these schemes are provided below. Guidance and forms for all our business grant schemes can be found at Grants & Funding | Test Valley Borough Council
 Solar grants for commercial premises on business parks
Our grant scheme provides a one-off contribution of 20% of the costs of solar installations to a maximum of £5000 for commercial premises on the borough’s business parks and industrial estates. Our aim is to reduce the initial outlay costs and the payback times of solar installations and so help small and medium sized businesses to decarbonise. Landlords, leaseholders or occupiers can apply. These grants follow on from the remote solar surveys sent out to commercial premises last summer.
The grant scheme is being funded using part of TVBC's 2025-26 allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund provided by the UK Government, and supports the Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan. All installations must take place this financial year to be eligible.
Full details and the application form can be found here: Business Solar Grants | Test Valley Borough Council
 Rural England Prosperity Fund grants for 2025-2026
TVBC has received a small REPF allocation for 2025-26 for rural business grants. Our priorities are as follows:
- Growing the local social economy and supporting innovation (open to all SMEs)
- Small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas (fewer than 50 employees)
- The development and promotion of the visitor economy (open to all SMEs)
Grants will have a minimum value of £10k and a maximum value of £20k. There is a requirement for minimum match funding of 50% of total project costs from other sources, so applications should relate to projects of minimum cost £20k. They will support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities for their enterprise that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams outside of agriculture. Projects must be deliverable by 20 March 2026.
The full guidance and application form can be found at Rural England Prosperity Fund | Test Valley Borough Council
 Cyber Security
Business cyber security has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. The South East Cyber Resilience Centre is a police-led partnership which offers free membership and resources to businesses. They also offer paid-for services such as website and network vulnerability assessments. Further information can be found here: About Us | South East CRC
AI support
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has teamed up with the Code Institute to offer a free AI Maturity Assessment to businesses in Hampshire (You do not need to be an FSB member to take advantage of this). This will help you to understand your AI readiness and identify next steps in AI adoption. Interested businesses should register for an initial briefing session. You will then be invited to two workshops at the beginning of June, and complete the Assessment across six areas: Strategy, Value, Governance, People, Technology and Data. The Assessment will identify your business's current stage in each area and provide practical steps of what to do next. See Code Institute - AI Maturity Assessment - UK for more information and to register.
Hampshire Growth Hub is hosting a free AI Agents webinar on Wednesday 28 May, from 12pm to 1pm on Microsoft Teams. It will focus on how AI can streamline tasks and save time for small businesses, by generating leads, drafting emails, managing projects and writing reports. Places are limited; register here.
Business Growth Accelerator
The Growth Hub is holding an in-person Hampshire Business Growth Accelerator 1.5 day workshop with sessions on 3 June and 23 June at Balmer Lawn Hotel in the New Forest. It is designed for businesses with a minimum of two employees who are committed to growth, and it will provide hands-on support in strategic planning, customer acquisition, marketing, and leadership development. It is funded for any Hampshire business except for lunch costs. Details can be found here: Growth Accelerator Workshop
Digital tools email course
Enterprise Nation is offering a 4-week email course on harnessing digital tools.
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Week 1: How to scale your business using smart tech
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Week 2: Boost your marketing with digital strategies
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Week 3: Save time and increase productivity through automation
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Week 4: Improve sales with the right online tools and platforms
You do need to register as an Enterprise Nation member, but the course is then free. Details can be found here: Tech Hub | Digital tools to boost productivity
 Lights Theatre project update
Planning permission has been granted to demolish the former Poundstretcher Unit in the Chantry Centre in preparation for the proposed new Lights Theatre.
Over the coming weeks, hoardings will be installed around the site and initial site work will begin. The Chantry Centre entrance next to the site will remain open throughout the work although there will be a short-term narrowing of the Lower High Street entrance while the structural supports are put in place.
The project team will engage directly with the business that are likely to be affected by this phase of the project.
An update will be provided at the business breakfast on 4 June. Andover Vision Business Breakfast Tickets
 Andover Young Trader Market
There will be a market in Andover on Sunday 8 June from 10am-3pm dedicated to young entrepreneurs aged 11-25. There is no charge for a pitch at this event. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Further information can be found here: Andover Young Trader Market 2025 | Test Valley Borough Council
 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced grants to:
- improve productivity
- manage slurry
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improve animal health and welfare (cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens)
Farmers, horticulturists, forestry owners or contractors providing services to these sectors can apply for all themes, though can only submit one application for each theme. Funding requests must be in the range £1000-£25,000 for 40-50% costs. Further details can be found here: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 - GOV.UK
Farming Innovation Programme - R&D
DEFRA has launched a number of R&D grant competitions in partnership with Innovate UK under the Farming Innovation Programme. Funding is available to support:
To keep up to date with DEFRA funding schemes, sign up to Farming – Updates from DEFRA
 Making Tax Digital for self-assessment
HMRC are introducing changes to the way that self-employed workers report income and expenses for tax purposes.
From 6 April 2026 you will need to use the 'Making Tax Digital' (MTD) system if you are registered for self-assessment, receive income from self-employment and had a qualifying income of more than £50k in the 2024-2025 tax year. You will need software that is compatible with MTD. From 6 April 2027, the income threshold drops to £30,000.
Once you have moved to the MTD system, you will no longer need to complete self-assessment returns. You can potentially sign up early to test the system and check you are ready. See further information here including on compatible software: Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - GOV.UK. If you use an accountant or bookkeeper, it would be sensible to have a discussion with them about this.
 Hampshire County Council has announced new Skills Bootcamps for 2025-26. Employers can use these to upskill existing employees at a heavily discounted rate. Employers can also interview individuals who are seeking employment on completion of their bootcamp - see Skills Bootcamps for employers.
Confirmed courses for 2025-26 include:
Heat pump training
Heating engineers can receive a discount of up to £500 towards the cost of heat pump training, plus support and advice when installing a heat pump for the first time. Apply for the Heat Training Grant: discounted heat pump training - GOV.UK
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