Monthly newsletter for North Worcestershire businesses

NWedR supports and promotes economic development and regeneration across North Worcestershire

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Coronavirus global

New resources to help you out of lockdown

Watch videos and register for the latest free Government webinars to learn more about the support available to help businesses deal with the economic impacts of Coronavirus.  Resources include a new YouTube video about the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate scheme. Find out more.


congratulations

Congratulations on Queens Award for Industry

Congratulations to the three Worcestershire businesses that have been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2021. Fibex Ltd, Olpro and Payara.   North Worcestershire’s Fibex Ltd based in Kidderminster has developed a system for the construction industry called Trenchlite. It delivers many tangible benefits to the construction industry and is recognised in the Innovation category of the Queen’s Awards.  The awards are the most prestigious business awards in the UK and recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in, Innovation, International trade, Sustainable development, and Promoting opportunity. 205 organisations have been nationally recognised this year with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, personally approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Find out more


BirdBox band

BirdBox is flying high

 

THE BirdBox in Bromsgrove was flying high over the weekend 21st and 22nd May when it welcomed back visitors for a relaxed weekend of food, drink and music.

Situated next to Waitrose in Bromsgrove town centre, The Birdbox is Bromsgrove’s new outdoors space for live events, pop-up dining, arts and crafts demonstrations, well-being activities and a host of events yet to be created!

While social distancing is still in place, Bromsgrove District Council, in collaboration with the Bromsgrove Indie Club and North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration, set up a programme of events as a taster of what’s to come later in the year.  Visitors danced to music from Jack Read and the Shaders and DJ Simon Wright kept the tunes coming. There was food and treats from Fabufloss, Pizza Heaven, CherryonTopcupcakes and Dan’s Ice-creams and Decanter Spirit served drinks using table service.

Find out what’s coming up at Birdbox Instagram and Facebook pages and to enquire about booking space at BirdBox contact Bromsgrove District Council’s events team


Worcestershire jobs website branding

Go to Worcestershire Jobs

Worcestershire Jobs is a completely free service that has been launched by the Worcestershire LEP and Worcestershire County Council to help people  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


tourism awards

Worcestershire Tourism Awards are back!

The 2021 Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards will open for applications on 14 June 2021, with tourism and hospitality businesses able to apply for 12 awards across a range of different areas. All winners of the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards will be submitted for entry into the Visit England awards, for a chance to win on the national stage and represent Worcestershire as one of the best destinations in England.  If you are a business in the Tourism and Hospitality sector and you want the chance to have your hard work recognised, then now is the time to take action!

Find out more


Digital transformation

Get Ahead in Digital Transformation

A Worcestershire coaching company has seen a surge in the number of residents taking their virtually-delivered tech and digital coaching programmes.  Since launching the “Get Ahead in Digital Transformation” programme at the end of March 2020, The Development Manager (TDM) has seen consistently high numbers of people sign up to achieve tech and digital certifications and receive tailored professional coaching during their time in lockdown, in order to move them into a skilled tech or digital occupation.  The programme is delivered at no cost to the learner or their employer as TDM have received funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority to offer this coaching, to help the region’s workforce acquire the skills needed to thrive in a digitally-focused work environment. This will work toward addressing the regional and national productivity gap, whilst adding immense value and impact to countless employers who need this intelligence in their workforce more than ever.

Find out more.


Midlands Cyber logo

Region’s leading Cyber Cluster returns with dynamic rebrand

Midlands Cyber, the regional Cyber Security Cluster for the West Midlands has launched its new brand identity.  The introduction of a new logo and website symbolises the brand’s commitment to represent The Midland’s Industry focus of ‘Security by Design’ and promote growth across the region.  The Cluster which is made up of experts, professionals and those working in digital security across academia and business aims to shape and support the development of this new strategic economy in the Midlands.  Partners include Commercial Tech Accelerator, BetaDen working closely with Worcestershire’s first commercially operated 5G testbed, For more information and to discover how your business can benefit from engaging with the new Midlands Cyber, please visit the website and stay up to date with our progress on social media.

Find out more.


Commonwealth Games Collective

Birmingham 2022 - be part of the "collective"

Organisers of next year's Commonwealth Games are now inviting applications for more than 13,000 volunteers to help out at the event in Birmingham next year.

If you think you have what it takes to help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever seen,  then take a closer look at all of the volunteering opportunities available. The army of volunteers will be known as the Commonwealth Collective.

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

 


Online survey

Share your business insight

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is collating the latest economic data to inform its quarterly economic survey. It only takes 2 minutes and will provide an invaluable insight into how businesses are doing across our two counties. By taking part you will be entered into a prize draw for to win 4 tickets for a tour and tasting at Weston’s Cider including a two course lunch.  Be quick – winners will be announced on Tuesday 8 June.

Click here to take part.


Time to Change

Mental Health in the Workplace - is it “Time to Change” our perspective?

Free webinar - Tuesday 22 June 2021 - 12.00-1.00pm This thought-provoking and informative webinar, brought to you by Time to Change Worcestershire and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, explains the Time to Change programme in Worcestershire and how it has made a difference to local organisations in supporting employees and ending stigma around mental health.

Click here to book now


Green shoots business growth

Opportunity for Food and Drink Manufacturers

There are a few spaces available for the Grant Fund networking event from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP on Thursday  17 June.

This is a really exciting virtual event open to West Midlands food and drink manufacturers, all about facilitating connections for those interested in applying to the West Midlands Low Carbon and Circular Economy Fund. The Fund will be open to West Midlands businesses, but businesses must partner with another business or service provider to apply for the Fund.  Businesses involved in low carbon, waste management and packaging will be attending the event, as well as other food and drink manufacturers.  Information on the Fund can be found here, and the Eventbrite can be found here.


B&B sign

Calling all food, drink and hospitality businesses

Are you a Worcestershire food or drink producer, retailer or hospitality business?  You’ll be busy finding ways to get your product or service out there as the lockdown eases.  Now is the time to get involved in our ‘Make it’ campaign championed by One Worcestershire and partners. It costs nothing to take part and there are loads of opportunities to connect with your customers, meet similar businesses across the county and share marketing and social media tools produced exclusively for this campaign.  Find out more and sign up to Worcestershire 1000 to be part of the Make it in Worcestershire campaign.


Higher Level skills match

Looking for Higher level skills support in your business?

The Higher Level Skills Match (HLSM), part-funded by the European Social Fund, is an account managed recruitment and skills development programme designed to offer you a tailored and personal service to address your business needs. The dedicated team will support and promote your business growth by providing access to Student and Graduate talent from three local partner universities; Birmingham City University, Aston University and Newman University.

To find out how to grow and up-skill your business click here.


Eureka calendar

Celebrating North Worcestershire Calendar

Our winning feature for the month of June is Eureka Financial Solutions based in Stourport-on-Severn. Established in 2005, Eureka Financial Solutions offers mortgage and financial advice. The business has a network of friendly, fully qualified advisers covering the Midlands and the South West.  Directors, Andrew & Kim Baker, manage the business with their team of advisers and administrators, offering individual face-to-face advice, delivering a first class service helping clients achieve their financial goals. All the advisers maintain their qualifications through yearly assessment and follow the Eureka ethos of ‘treating our customers fairly’.

  2021 Celebrating North Worcestershire calendar photo gallery.  


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.


covid vaccination

Have you had your jab?

Anyone who is eligible can book their coronavirus vaccination appointments online or by telephoning 119 or simply wait for your invite from your GP.  (You can use the same link to check the up to date eligibility criteria.)

 

If you are called for a vaccine, please take up the offer. Vaccines are safe and are our way out of lockdown. 1 in 3 people with Covid have no symptoms and are unaware they could be spreading the virus. This is why Public Health in Worcestershire is recommending anyone who has to regularly leave their home, gets tested twice a week using a regular rapid test (lateral flow test -LFT). Find out how to get a regular rapid test on our website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitytesting