Dine Out Sustainably in West Berkshire
Calling all eco-conscious independent cafes, restaurants and pubs! We would like to hear from you if you are a local business with strong environmental values who could be part of our sustainable eateries campaign.
We want to showcase our best independent dining places with green agendas to help encourage residents to consider more eco-friendly places to eat and drink. So whether you are a green-certified restaurant, solar-powered pub, or a café sourcing from locally-sourced produce, get in touch!
To find out more, and to apply, visit our webpage here. Deadline for application is 5pm 27 June 2022.
London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE)
A London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) Project Refresh report, setting out the next stages for delivering regeneration on the site on the outskirts of Newbury Town Centre, has been approved by Executive at a meeting on 9 June 2022.
The report, which supersedes a development brief approved by Executive in November 2020, outlines a fresh approach for the site which focuses on job creation, attracting investment to Newbury and achieving carbon neutrality.
LRIE, which is currently home to around 36 businesses and 300 jobs, is set to welcome additional employers and investment as well as at least 200 new jobs.
The approach was developed following a review of the project which took into account the post-pandemic economy, market demand and the district's ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. This marks a move away from the previous mixed-use approach and instead will unlock the site's potential as a sustainable, high quality employment site and business destination.
Under the delivery strategy, it is expected that site-wide improvement works will commence and a planning application will be submitted for the former depot site within the next 12 months. Environmental improvements, flood prevention works and negotiations with leaseholders to provide the certainty needed to stimulate private sector investment will get underway.
In the long term, the former depot and playing field will be redeveloped for employment use, with at least £250,000 of private sector investment being brought forward by the estate's existing businesses, seeing an increase in council income from rent and rates, which will in turn be invested in vital public services to benefit residents.
Find out more on our council website.
Start-up business event
Back in February this year, West Berkshire Council sponsored Rebel Business School to roll out a business course for anyone with a business idea to start up their own business.
The course was attended by people across Berkshire and we had budding entrepreneurs with business ideas spanning from food and drink, photography, and design to diversity and inclusivity training and professional services.
This course aimed to highlight the fact that you can start a business without the traditional methods of borrowing money and business plan writing and encouraged everyone to try it out.
At the end of the course, West Berkshire held a networking and trading event for the businesses involved, in which our main business stakeholders including the BID and Chamber of Commerce attended as well our Councillors.
Website Development
The West Berkshire Business website has all the latest information on there to support businesses in the district as well as for anyone looking to relocate or start a business in West Berkshire. If you haven’t had a look yet, take a browse to see the commercial spaces in West Berkshire, current projects and our local economy information.
Since launching in April, we have now added a news section which keeps you updated with the latest business information in the council and the projects we are working on. We have also added in one of the campaigns we ran at Christmas to promote our local sustainable retail businesses called Shop Local Shop Green.
Saving Energy Cost: Low Carbon Workspace Grant
As the energy costs are a main concern in all our minds, we would like to share the low carbon workspace funding opportunity that match funds a business project to reduce carbon emissions and implement energy efficient systems.
Their funding runs from £1,000-£5,000 and they have helped many businesses to put in measures that will cut their energy bills as well as their carbon emissions. If you would like to see some of their case studies, please visit their website and get in contact to see how your business could save money and save the planet.
Help to Grow Scheme
Ministers have amended the rules for the Help to Grow: Management Programme to enable businesses with ten or more employees to have up to two participants join the scheme, where previously businesses could only have one participant on the scheme. In addition, previous participants on the Small Business Leadership Programme will now be eligible to join the scheme.
Help to Grow: Management offers business leaders 50 hours of leadership and management training across 12 weeks, and now includes mentoring from the likes of Santander, Google and award-winning mentor Herman Stewart.
More information about the schemes and how to apply is available on the dedicated website and in the press notice on GOV.UK
Recruitment Support
An ongoing challenge that businesses face is with recruitment and we have compiled a list of external sources that could support with your recruitment for future talent.
West Berkshire Training Consortium - They work with employees to offer apprenticeships to young people in West Berkshire. If you are currently looking for an apprentice or to train up a young person then get in touch with them and see if there’s any potential fit for your organisation!
Berkshire Opportunities - They are a part of the Local Enterprise Partnership which looks after all of Berkshire. They advertise job opportunities in different sectors to make it easier for the young people wanting to pursue a career. They are still primarily aimed at providing young people with job opportunities and career paths but they can feature employers if you would like to get involved, or simply advertise your vacancy with them!
Newbury College - Newbury College has a university centre which focuses on providing students with real employable skills in their courses and they are keen to work with local employers both in terms of skills that are required as well as any opportunities for students or graduates from the college.
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Date & Time: 29 Sept, 10:00-12:00
Place: Chequers Hotel
Price: FREE
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Date and Time: 5 August, 8:00-9:00
Place: Online
Price: FREE
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Date and Time: 19 October, 10:00-15:00
Place: Green Park, Reading
Price: FREE for attendees
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And finally...
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