Sustainable Hospitality Business Webinar
 You can now watch our Sustainable Hospitality Webinar on Youtube!
As the energy costs amongst businesses continue to rise, we want to share the best practices for businesses to be more sustainable, but also save on their essential costs in the long run.
This webinar brings together experiences from other businesses already on their journey to become more sustainable, so that you can learn directly from them and pick up some hints and tips.
Andy Kershaw, Director of Property at Marstons and Colline, from Colline’s Kitchen, talks about their experiences in the hospitality field. Topics includes energy, transport, supply chain, funding, and the lessons learnt from navigating these areas.
Sustainable Business Case Study: Cheese Etc, Pangbourne
 We’re delighted to have visited one of the local shops featured in our Shop Local Shop Green magazine last Christmas to find out more about them.
Cheese Etc is a cheese mongers in Pangbourne that focuses on sustainability and provides award winning cheeses! Watch the video to understand how they and their sister shop The Loose Larder keep green!
If your business cares about the environment and values sustainability, then you can appear on our business website.
VAT Registered Companies: Annual Return
We would like to remind businesses who are VAT registered that the deadline for submitting VAT returns online is usually one calendar month and 7 days after the end of an accounting period. This is also the deadline for paying HMRC. For example, for January to March 2023:
- The quarterly accounting period ends on 31 March 2023
- The deadline for submitting the VAT return online, and the payment deadline for that quarter, is 7 May 2023.
Businesses need to allow time for payment to reach HMRC’s account.
There has been some important changes to late VAT payment charges which can be found here. The new penalties will be fairer and more proportionate for businesses who submit their VAT returns or pay their VAT late. The first monthly returns and payments affected by the penalties are due by 7 March 2023.
High Growth Programme: Berkshire Growth Hub
 Does your business have high growth potential?
With every new business idea, comes new challenges. The Berkshire High Growth Programme aims to help you reach and exceed your business goals by putting those ideas into action. It’s designed to support small business owners who are ready to seize opportunities to grow by leading more effectively, generating more customers and turnover, scaling up, and bringing new products/services to market.
Funding and Support
 Innovation Grant
If you’re a UK-based business or research organisation, you may be able to compete for government backed funding to:
- research and develop a process, product or service
- test your innovation ideas
- collaborate with other organisations
Low Carbon Workspace
Low Carbon Workspaces offers small and medium-sized businesses in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes grants of between £1,000 and £6,750 to cover up to a third of the cost of making energy improvements.
Simply Business Blog: Funding for Businesses
Simply Business is an insurance broker but they have a good blog that is regularly updated with the latest UK grants and loans for businesses. It's worth while checking out to see if your business is eligible for any of the current grants.
Consultations
Local Transport Plan: Have Your Say
 We are inviting residents and businesses across West Berkshire to take part in our draft Local Transport Plan survey by providing your views on our draft priorities and objectives to improve transport facilities and travel options.
Over the past year, we have worked to understand travel patterns, trends and emerging opportunities resulting in our draft LTP focussing on the following priorities:
- creating places for people,
- providing sustainable access for all,
- decarbonising transport, and
- supporting sustainable growth.
Please allow 10-15 minutes to complete the survey and note we need your views by midnight on Wednesday 22 March 2022, when the survey closes.
If you have any questions or require a different version of the survey, please email our Transport Policy Team on: ltp@westberks.gov.uk.
Newbury Show 2023: Apply to be a trader
 After a 3 year break The Newbury & District Agricultural Society is thrilled to announce that Newbury Show is making a return in 2023, with Local business Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd supporting as the headline sponsor.
The 2019 Show attracted nearly 55,000 visitors and received excellent reviews. Newbury Show is widely regarded as one of the best County shows in the country with a steadily increasing profile.
The Show offers our exhibitors and traders a wonderful platform to promote, sell, raise profile and meet customers over two action packed days in September every year.
New for 2023 - Local Producers: Set in a designated area with other local producers, open space grass plots are available at a discounted rate of £300 + VAT. Plots are a fixed size of 3x3m.
Local traders must be based within a 15 mile radius of the Showground (RG18 9QZ).
So please come and join us and get involved. Our EARLY BIRD trade stand bookings are now open with a range of spaces available to suit any business.
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