The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme, funded through West Midlands Combined Authority, aims to provide information, expert advice and support to businesses, enabling them to make significant decarbonisation and money saving changes to their business. This programme is part of the wider West Midlands Business Support activity funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). For more information, click here.
Part of this support is a free energy assessment (which is also a requirement for any Net Zero grant application) and you can book your free energy assessment by clicking here
To support this programme a Black Country Decarbonisation Net Zero Workshop: ‘Creating a resilient future for your business’ will take place on 6th February from 8.30am to 11.30am, at Walsall FC, Bescot Stadium, Walsall. This is an in-person event hosted by Black Country Industrial Cluster at which you will hear advice from expert speakers on energy efficiency and decarbonisation, as well as the opportunities that the net zero transition presents for Black Country businesses.
Connect with like-minded professionals, industry experts, and influencers who share your commitment to a sustainable, decarbonised and resilient future. Includes expert speakers from: Black Country Industrial Cluster, Pro Enviro, CR Plus and Sustainability West Midlands. There are limited spaces available, so register quickly here!
|
 On 1 October 2023 the Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 came into force and it became an offence for businesses to supply, sell, or offer certain single-use plastic items in England. These include plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups, or food containers.
The ban on these items includes:
- online and over-the-counter sales and supply
- use of items from new and existing stock
- all types of single-use plastic, including biodegradable, compostable and recycled
- items wholly or partly made from plastic, including coating or lining
‘Single use’ means the item is meant to be used only once for its original purpose.
Officers from the Environmental Health Team will be checking levels of compliance during routine inspections. Further details on exemptions, inspections, fines, and alternatives to single use plastics, can be found here.
Please join us for any or all of the following free workshops and webinars funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Maximising the benefits of Google analytics
23rd January 2024, 10am - 1pm
Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG
Discover how to use Google Analytics to get actionable insights for website improvements. Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand your website visitors’ behaviour, the sources of their visits and their actions. You can use this data to enhance your website, increase visitor retention and conversion rates, and thus grow your business.
This workshop will guide you through the main reports in Google Analytics, what the metrics mean and how to navigate them, as well as how to set everything up. For more information and to book a place please click here.
|
Design a Carbon Accounting Framework
25th January 2024, 10am - 3.30pm
During this interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of a standardised carbon accounting framework for all UK manufacturers. You will also hear the latest on Embodied Emissions Reporting, Product Standards, and Carbon Leakage, from Tim Stock, the Head of Embodied Emissions Reporting at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. For further details and to book a place please click here
|
The Power of Effective Follow up – Convert sales into loyal customers
30th January 2024, 1pm – 2.30pm
When it comes to sales, it's all about the follow-up. On average, only 2% of sales are made during the first point of contact. That means if you don't follow up, even with a simple email, you're missing out on potentially 98% of your sales. That's no small amount. This webinar will help you discover how following up with your clients can turn them into loyal customers by creating a personalized follow-up plan that boosts your sales. For more information and to book a place please click here.
|
Investment Readiness:Workshop for Wolverhampton Businesses
31st January 2024, 10am – 1pm
SPEED, University Of Wolverhampton Science Park, Technology Centre PA104 Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, WV10 9RU
These free interactive taster sessions will give an overview of the funding options available to businesses and help to demystify the world of funding your business, including:
- Debt finance & understanding interest rates
- Alternative Finance
- Grant funding – is it free?
- Crowdfunding – reward, social and equity
- Angel Investment & Venture Capital – when is it right for you?
- The importance of creating a Pitch Deck or a Business Plan
- Financial forecasting and why it’s the narrative you need
Further support will be delivered by the Access to Finance team through a combination of workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one mentoring by finance specialists, all of whom have years of experience in unlocking funding and helping firms grow. For more information and to register for the workshop please click here.
|
 People in Wolverhampton have been invited to have their say about what the council’s budget priorities should be.
City of Wolverhampton Council has launched a survey for residents and businesses to complete so it can understand what matters most to the people of the city. The results of the survey will then be used to help shape the budget setting process for 2024 to 2025.The survey can be completed online at Your Priorities for Wolverhampton - City of Wolverhampton Council - Citizen Space
 If you’re self employed, HMRC’s online support can provide the support you need. Register today and join their live webinars – during which, you can ask any questions you may have by using the on-screen text box.
How to fill in your Self Assessment tax return if you’re self-employed
This will cover
> starting your Tax return
> a brief overview of the employment section
> the self employment section of your tax return
> other income to tell MMRC about
For more information and to register please see the following link
Register here
Record Keeping for the self employed
This will cover
> an overview of record keeping, and the importance of keeping good records
> unfamiliar terms
> information to record and using records to work out taxable profits
> records where there is business and private use
For more information and to register please see the following link
Register here
You can also choose from a selection of short videos on the following playlists – available on HMRC’s YouTube channel:
Self-employment tax return
Your Self Assessment tax bill - YouTube
|
