Wokingham Borough Connect
 Announcement - New Head of Economic Development
We are delighted to welcome Jeannie Satchell as our new Head of Economic Development. Jeannie joins us from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) where she was the Head of Growth Hub.
Jeannie was on board earlier this month and since then, she has visited a number of companies and organisations to understand how we can better support the business community in Wokingham Borough.
 Volunteer Recruitment Fair
Wokingham Volunteer Centre is holding a recruitment fair to help local businesses understand more about the work of community-voluntary sector and the volunteering opportunities available in the borough:
Date: 28 January (Saturday)
Time: 10am - 1pm
Venue: Wokingham Town Hall
Entrance is free and no booking is needed.
The charities attending are very varied, as are the roles, which can fit around work, family and other commitments. It can be as little as a 30-minute befriending phone call.
Visit the Wokingham Volunteer Centre website to learn more about the event and the list of charities attending.
 Roundabout sponsorship for brand exposure
According to the latest report from Legatum Institute, Wokingham Borough is one of the most prosperous areas in the UK. The borough's population also increased by 15% from 2011 to 2021 and is set to increase further.
Our borough is located strategically with excellent transport links into London and on the doorstep of Heathrow Airport. Around one million cars and bicycles travel through check points every day and Wokingham has become a highly sought-after area for families and professionals alike.
Sponsoring a roundabout in the borough therefore has many benefits:
- Increased awareness of your brand to a wide number of residents, visitors and business professionals
- Year-round visibility and exposure in a busy and affluent borough
- Alignment with local environmental improvements
Strategic placement of your branding on roundabouts and open spaces in the borough provides perfect opportunities to raise your brand profile.
Additional focus can be achieved by enhancing these areas with eye-catching floral displays and landscaping that can be tailored to fit your brand identity.
Get in Touch
If you are interested in sponsoring a roundabout or want to discuss with us your requirements and get a quote, send us an email to provide information about your organisation, business objectives and any specific areas of interest.
 'Energy Bills Discount Scheme' for businesses
The government has recently announced the new 'Energy Bills Discount Scheme' for businesses, charities, and the public sector, ahead of the current scheme ending in March.
The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.
This will help businesses locked into contracts signed before recent substantial falls in the wholesale price manage their costs and provide others with reassurance against the risk of prices rising again.
Customers do not need to apply for their discount. As with the current scheme, suppliers will automatically apply reductions to the bills of all eligible non-domestic customers.
Read the government announcement and the fact sheet about the new scheme for more details.
 Webinar on workforce resilience
The South Central Cluster of Growth Hubs, which includes the Enterprise M3, Coast to Capital, Solent and Berkshire Growth Hubs, are holding a series of three 20-minute webinars to help businesses during these financially challenging times.
The webiners will explore with you how to prioritise wellbeing and development with financial constraints, covering:
- Retention through prioritising wellbeing
- Expanding your talent pool
- Investing in leadership and management
- Efficient training options
- Where to go for help – provided by Growth Hub Host
This webinar is open to business leaders and those responsible for people strategy.
To learn more or sign up, visit the Eventbrite website.
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