Monthly newsletter for North Worcestershire businesses

Enter now – North Worcestershire Business Awards

Make sure your business is in the running to be celebrated at the North Worcestershire Business Awards. The second North Worcestershire Business Awards organised by North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) and North Worcestershire Business Leaders (NWBL) is open for entries from people at the heart of the business community.

There are seven award categories, the winners of which will be presented a gorgeous glass trophy at the awards dinner at Hogarth’s Stone Manor Hotel near Kidderminster in November. The awards sponsors are BizSmart, Surftech IT, WINN, NWBL, Wassell Grove Business Centre, Platform 81 and Lloyds Bank.  Headline sponsor is Eureka Financial solutions and Citizen Communications is the associate sponsor. The awards dinner will be hosted by BBC presenter and journalist, Joanne Malin.

Find out more and enter

The Worcestershire Festival of Business Exhibition is Back

Following a year out due to Covid-19, Worcestershire’s largest dedicated business exhibition returns for its seventh year on Thursday 23 September 2021. The venue is Sixways Stadium, Worcester, home of the Worcester Warriors.

Find out more here.

See plans for the Former Magistrates Court, Kidderminster

Residents and businesses are invited to a public exhibition of the proposed re-development plans for the former Magistrates Court in Kidderminster.

On Thursday 9 September, Council officers and representatives from architects Burrell Foley Fischer will be on hand for informal discussions on the proposed plans and display boards for the proposed transformation.  The temporary exhibition will be staged on the Coronation Gardens opposite the Former Magistrates Court from 3pm to 6pm.

Read the full story

BetaDen Set to Launch Cleantech Bootcamp Pilot for Worcestershire Businesses

Worcestershire’s commercial technology accelerator, BetaDen, is set to pilot a new programme to support the development of clean technology business solutions, commencing in October.

The pilot programme will focus on zero/low carbon tech and cleantech development, helping support Worcestershire’s growing involvement in this globally essential sector. BetaDen will base the programme delivery at Wyre Forest House, Kidderminster. 

The 90-day Cleantech Bootcamp is aimed at both start-up and scale-up businesses in Worcestershire and will support the development of environment-friendly technologies with a specific focus on how businesses can adapt to new markets and regulatory frameworks.

For more information please contact Matt Thomas at matt.thomas@beta-den.com.

Deep dive into tech

BetaDen, Worcestershire's tech accelerator would like to invite you to its next free Tech Tuesday event on Tuesday 7th September from 12pm till 1pm.  Participants will take a deep dive into Assistive Technologies and Remote Medicine with the help of speakers from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG, amica24 and Smartbox Assistive Technology.

During this FREE virtual event you will

• gain insight into the future of digital health
• discover opportunities for industry partners
• learn about the direction of assistive technology use in the UK
• uncover the technology solutions needed to make Technology Enabled Healthcare Services (TEHCS) a reality
• find out about the technology challenges and emerging solutions in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Register here.

Brand new units available to let in Kidderminster

Worcestershire commercial property agency GJS Dillon is anticipating that six brand new industrial units in Kidderminster will prove popular with business owners. The 6 industrial warehouse/units, which are available to let on a new business lease, are due for completion shortly and range in size from 2,416 to 4,335 sq ft. Based at Forest Industrial Park in Kidderminster, they benefit from six-metre high eaves, good loading/unloading facilities and allocated parking.

Read the full story

Can you help people who are interested in self and custom build?

Wyre Forest District Council is looking for small and medium sized construction firms who would be interested in helping people realize their self and custom build dream. There are currently a number of people on the Council’s register who are seeking serviced plots and looking for local contractors who would be able to help them. If you are interested please click on the link which will take you to the WFDC self and custom build web page (Self build and custom build register | Wyre Forest District Council (wyreforestdc.gov.uk)) or contact Sally Horne at sally.horne@wyreforestdc.gov.uk.

Back to study – or work on an apprenticeship

It’s that time of year when students return to school, college or university.  Many students may be considering a gap year or deciding to not go down the further education route and look for employment or an apprenticeship.  To see the opportunities available now, go to the Worcestershire Jobs website to see vacancies across the county and to view the range of apprenticeships available now.

Visit Worcestershire Jobs https://www.worcestershirejobs.co.uk/

Celebrating North Worcestershire calendar – September feature

Danton HR Ltd is an HR Consultancy based in Bromsgrove with Nicola Roke and Jackie Brown at the helm with a wider team of associates and experts working alongside them. Danton HR helps organisations attract, develop and retain the best people for their business. 

Read the story.

In August, we featured Ocius Consulting headed by John Heseltine.  Read the story here.

Jerroms team helps Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful

In partnership with the community group Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful, a team from Jerroms accountants (pictured) helped clean up Bromsgrove by taking part in a litter pick around their office in Stoke Prior. The Jerroms team cleared the area of litter before moving on to the industrial estate and eventually clearing private car parks used by local businesses along Hanbury Road and Stoke Pound Lane.  The team managed to collect 16 bags of rubbish, which were separated into recyclable and non-recyclable items.

Follow the group’s activities and get in touch via www.facebook.com/groups/KeepBromsgroveBeautiful or on their website  www.KeepBromsgroveBeautiful.com

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 our website.

Read the summary

Blaze into Autumn – Dedicated Support for Worcestershire Tourism Businesses

The Here2Help Business programme run through Worcestershire County Council is launching a range of support for our tourism businesses to help them re-open and advance.

Our specialist consultants View from the Hill will be running two Blaze into Autumn on-line seminars to help you maximise footfall and bookings at the end of the season.  Places on each workshop are limited to ensure they are fully interactive, practical and relevant to those taking part. All attendees will also be offered a free one to one follow up session for further discussion and action planning.

The workshops will include;  

• Autumn theming and activity planning
• Local events – how to make them work for your business
• Maximising online engagement
• Details of a new H2HB grant available to the tourism sector

Find out more and book here.

Covid-19 Updates

Worcestershire County COVID-19 rates

COVID-19 case rates in Worcestershire (268 per 100,000) remain below the regional rate and the national (321 per 100,000 and 324 per 100,000) rate.  The districts with the highest case rates (cases per 100,000 residents) in the last week are Bromsgrove at 382 and Redditch at 277.

You can get the daily updates on our COVID-19 Dashboard

Self-isolation guidance changes

In line with step 4 changes, on Monday 16 August the guidance on when you need to self-isolate changed. If you are fully vaccinated or under 18, you do not need to self-isolate following close contact with someone who has COVID-19. You still need to take a PCR test. If the test is positive, you will then need to self-isolate.

For all the latest information visit: When to self-isolate and what to do - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Covid-19 testing - which test should you take?

Testing for COVID-19 is key to getting back to normal.  Our new ‘PCR vs LFT’ webpage provides information on which test should be taken and where to access them.

Find out which test to take

 
Vaccination begins for 16 and 17 year olds

16-17 year olds are now eligible for vaccination and several clinics are taking place across the County to encourage young people to take up the offer. The Artrix in Bromsgrove has been offering walk-in vaccinations for this age group.

Heart of Worcestershire College recently held a two-day walk-in clinic at their Worcester site where over 1,000 young people were vaccinated. Primary Care Networks are also contacting eligible young people.

More walk-in clinics are currently being planned, so please keep an eye on our social channels for more details.

A new search site to find your nearest walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site is now available to use on the NHS website. Here’s the link: Search - Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site (www.nhs.uk)

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.