Weekly newsletter for North Worcestershire businesses

NWedR supports and promotes economic development and regeneration across North Worcestershire

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connected

Staying Connected

The NWedR team delivers support and services to businesses across North Worcestershire. Email us on info@nwedr.org.uk Call us on 0845 6015953 or visit our NWedR website to read our news and sign up for our weekly newsletters for North Worcestershire businesses. Connect with your local council on social media Bromsgrove DC Twitter, Facebook, Redditch BC Twitter, Facebook, Wyre Forest DC Twitter, Facebook. NWedR social connections are shown at the top of this page.

For regional Worcestershire business advice, grants and support go to Worcestershire Business Central or The Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP Growth Hub. In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, a full range of business support is available to UK businesses and employees.  See the latest updates from Government. The business support helpline is 0300 456 3565 - available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.


Rishi Sunak

Spring Budget 2021

On Tuesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, delivered his Budget to Parliament.

The Chancellor confirmed extensions to the furlough scheme and support for the self-employed until the end of September, and business grants, loans and VAT cuts – bringing the total fiscal support to over £407 billion.

The Budget confirmed support for businesses through business rates reliefs, VAT reductions for tourism and hospitality, a VAT deferral scheme, a new loan guarantee scheme supporting businesses’ access to loans and overdrafts, Restart Grants and an additional £425 million of discretionary business grant funding for councils to distribute.

HM Treasury has made available a factsheet which includes further measures announced by the Chancellor. Read the factsheet.

Read the Government announcement.


Midlands Engine

Midlands Engine – latest newsletter

The latest issue of the Midlands Engine newsletter is out now. Find out:

  • How businesses have been coping with the latest lockdown
  • The renewed optimism amongst our region's employers for the future now that the vaccine programme is in full swing
  • Why a report from the Centre for Cities suggests that the UK will make a quick recovery from the current recession
  • Plus all the latest intelligence from our region

Read the Midlands Engine newsletter


Furlough

Coronavirus Job retention Scheme extended

The scheme has been extended until 30 September 2021. From 1 July 2021, the level of grant will be reduced each month and employers will be asked to contribute towards the cost of furloughed employees’ wages. There is new Government guidance on claim periods from May 2021.

Find out more


Business support overview

Overview of grants and business support

NWedR has collated information on the current grants and support available to North Worcestershire businesses. This ‘at a glance’ summary has been designed to provide a quick overview for business leaders across the area.  This is being updated regularly and displayed on the front page of our website.

 

Read the summary


Diverse business

Workforce and labour supply handbook

The Home Office in partnership with the Association of Labour Providers (ALP) have created a handbook intended to help employers and providers of contingent labour to understand the new immigration system and ensure compliance with right to work legislation. The handbook covers existing workers and new applicants and determines what actions to take to help secure continuity of labour supply. The handbook can be accessed from the ALP website here.


business grants

Grant funding available from IEFT

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) is holding a business briefing event to highlight a new £40 million competition. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in collaboration with Innovate UK, recently launched the next opportunity to bid for funding from the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and would like to invite you to join the IETF Phase 1: Spring 2021 competition briefing webinar on Thursday 11 March. The competition will open for applications on Monday 8 March and will run until Wednesday 14 July.

To register for the webinar, please visit the registration site.  To find out more about the £40 million IETF Phase 1: Spring 2021 competition and to view the applicant guidance, please visit the competition page.


online seminar

West Midlands Summit – focus on post-Brexit opportunities

Whilst Brexit poses some challenges to SMEs, there is a great opportunity for the region’s businesses to take advantage of the changes, as we prepare for a new relationship with the EU.  Join the West Midlands Growth Hubs, Findit, the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Department for International Trade for an exclusive summit on Tuesday 16 March, from 11:00am. Hear from our keynote speakers who will talk about the challenges faced by local SMEs in a post-Brexit and Covid-19 economy, opening doors to new markets and opportunities, positive stories of resilience and a discussion about how to adapt and plan for a brighter 2021

Find out more


tell us

Take part in the Chamber Survey

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has launched its 2021 Quarter 1 business survey.  The data collected from the Economic Indicator survey will be anonymised and shared with the British Chambers of Commerce to lobby government on key business issues. Take a few moments to take part in this survey and your business will be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win a pair of Apple AirPods!

Take part now!


empower me

Empower me – inspiring women in business!

On Monday 8 March - International Women’s Day, Worcestershire Libraries are celebrating the contribution of women in business and aiming to inspire, empower and support all those thinking about starting up or challenging the status quo. Join free for an inspirational panel talk featuring four incredibly talented women, chaired by the fantastic Angela Podmore.

Register here


Business hands

First West Midlands Business Expo – coming soon

This Spring, the Chamber of Commerce network is bringing something special to the West Midlands and the wider business community. Its first, jointly produced Business Expo, is set to present a week-long virtual experience enabling companies and organisations to meet new customers, prospective partners and suppliers from many sectors and discover new opportunities. To find out more and book a stand, visit the website.


Hogarths calendar 21

March 2021 – Celebrating North Worcestershire Calendar

Our winning feature this month is Hogarths Stone Manor.  The Hogarths team are seen here having fun in the spring sunshine for their photoshoot – before last year’s lockdown!  See the complete 2021 Celebrating North Worcestershire calendar photo gallery.

This year, NWedR and North Worcestershire Business Leaders (NWBL) have partnered once again to invite local businesses to submit just 50 words about the area for a chance to win a fantastic package of free marketing support. Now in its fourth year, the 2022 ‘Celebrating North Worcestershire’ competition provides the opportunity to win a valuable prize which will go to 12 lucky businesses.

The prize includes a spotlight month in the wonderful ‘Celebrating North Worcestershire Calendar’ with a dedicated company photoshoot, features in the NWedR newsletter, social media PR campaign, an online feature in Business and Innovation magazine and your company photograph highlighted for a year on the NWedR and NWBL website photo galleries. The competition winners panel judges are looking for the most memorable, clear and insightful descriptions of why North Worcestershire is the best location for business.

Entries for 2022 are open now and close on Tuesday 4 May 2021. 

Enter online now!


apprenticeship awards

The Apprenticeships Awards are back

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire County Council have announced that the popular apprenticeship celebration event, the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards are returning in 2021. Apprentices, employers, schools, careers leads and training providers in Worcestershire are being encouraged to submit their nominations via the new online nomination process, before the 16 July 2021 deadline.

Read more


covid testing

Book a personal Covid test

You can book a personal Covid test in Worcestershire as long as you are asymptomatic – not showing any symptoms of Covid such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough or any changes to your sense of taste and smell.To have a test you must be over 18 years of age.

Individuals and businesses are urged to take up the chance of free rapid tests at Wyre Forest House, the district council’s offices near Kidderminster. Rapid turnaround tests are supplied by NHS Test and Trace and will help identify people who are positive for Covid-19 but do not have symptoms.

Tests ests are taken using nose and throat swabs and the results are much faster than the standard test which goes to a lab. There are no costs but anyone getting a test will need to follow social distancing and wear a face covering. 

Tests can be pre-booked online by visiting Worcestershire County Council's website or individuals can use the newly introduced walk-in service across the county. Simply turn up at one of the sites listed on the County Council website.