Weekly newsletter for North Worcestershire businesses

NWedR supports and promotes economic development and regeneration across North Worcestershire

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Show of hands

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.


social distancing

Stepping out of lockdown

From Monday 12 April we moved into step 2 of the easing of lockdown. Some of the rules on what we can and cannot do changed on 12 April. However, many restrictions remain in place. If you can you should continue to work from home, minimise the number of journeys you make where possible, and follow the rules in the Coronavirus Restrictions guidance.

Step 2 has seen the opening of non-essential retail, personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons, public buildings, libraries and community centres. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms have also opened (only for use by people on their own or in household groups) as are most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.

Hospitality venues can now serve people outdoors. There is no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

See the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown


B&B sign

In hospitality?

If you are running a hospitality business, Worcestershire Regulatory services have a webpage highlighting operational guidelines including details of what you can offer to your customers and how you can do it to meet with current covid guidelines.

See the website.


tourism seminar

Are you in the tourism sector in Worcestershire?

If so, join us for a look at the future of tourism and hospitality in Worcestershire!  This free event will be held on Thursday 29 April from 9.30am to 11.00am and is open to businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector and will include a choice of workshops run by @TheHospitalit10

Sign up here by Friday 16 April


Birmingham 2022

Business opportunities at Commonwealth Games

The search is on to find suppliers who can deliver nearly £5million worth of catering services for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.  With just over 500 days to go until the start of the Games, the official procurement process to find catering suppliers of all sizes to provide services to spectators, athletes, officials, volunteers, and workforce, is now open. Catering contracts are expected to support approximately 2,000 jobs during Games time and will be a much welcome boost to a sector that has suffered during the global pandemic.

The successful suppliers will have proven experience of delivering high quality catering operations and share a passion for providing relevant, high-quality food and drinks as well as exemplary levels of customer service. Suppliers will be expected to demonstrate initiatives that deliver social value and support the local community.

The first procurement for these catering services is now open and businesses are invited to complete a Selection Questionnaire (formerly known as PQQ). The invitation to submit initial bids is April 2021, with the final tender in May 2021. The contract will be awarded in the summer of 2021.

Interested businesses are encouraged to apply via the procurement portal:

Birmingham 2022 Business portal


Community phone handset

The UK Community Renewal Fund – open for bids

The Government is providing £220 million of additional funding for 2021/22 through the UK Community Renewal Fund (CRF) to support people and communities most in need. It also intends to help the UK move smoothly away from the EU structural fund programme and is a pilot programme to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Worcestershire County Council has been nominated by government as the lead authority and is now inviting organisations to submit applications that deliver on the priorities identified in the Community Renewal Fund prospectus and Worcestershire’s local Priorities as detailed in the Invitation to Bid Document .

To help people find out about more about the Worcestershire Community Renewal Fund, there is an online event on Friday 23rd April 10am -11am. Sign up here.

The event will explain the bidding process, and the focus and requirements of the fund.

Find out more about the Community Renewal Fund. Bids needs to be submitted by 5pm on Monday 10 May 2021.


Brexit transition with Europe

Applications open for £20m SME Brexit Support Fund

The SME Brexit Support Fund has been established to help small and medium businesses with changes to trading regulations with the EU, including new customs, rules of origin, and VAT arrangements. The Fund will help businesses prepare for the implementation of import controls which come into force from April and July 2021. SMEs that trade only with the EU, and are therefore new to importing and exporting processes, will be encouraged to apply for grants of up to £2,000. The grants will pay for practical support for importing and exporting, including training and professional advice to ensure businesses can continue trading effectively with the EU. Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated prior to this date.

Find out more


Worcestershire jobs website branding

Worcestershire Jobs website re-launched

Worcestershire Jobs is a completely free service that has been launched by the Worcestershire LEP and Worcestershire County Council to help people easily find jobs, training options and educational courses all within Worcestershire. The online jobs portal works by collating all local vacancies and courses into one easy to use website. This allows anyone to quickly search for jobs, training opportunities or further educational courses at the click of a button.

Users can also enter keywords to filter their results based on the interests or skills they have.

Access the website here


Sara Marrett

April 2021 – Celebrating North Worcestershire Calendar

Our winning feature this month is HR Dept.  Sara Marrett is displaying just a few of the many HR issues she tackles on an everyday basis as part of her flexible HR service!

See the complete 2021 Celebrating North Worcesterssituations she hire 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!