Be Central Bedfordshire - Business Newsletter 21.01.22
Date Added: 21/01/2022
Business support grants update
Currently there are no business grant schemes open for applications, which relate to the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) or the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF), as we are working through the guidance from the government and creating new application processes.
Keep up to date with the latest information and check our website, where you can also sign-up for an email alert service that will let you know when changes or updates are made.
Community Grants programme opens for the final round
Does your Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisation support your local area to eliminate barriers to employment and give opportunities for further training? If so, you may be eligible for a grant.
The programme delivered by SEMLEP, provides grants between £10,000 -£20,000 to projects that help people increase self-confidence and esteem to give an individual the key employability skills needed to shape their career. Applications close at 12pm on 2 February.
To find out more about the programme, Express an Interest, email the team or call 01234 436100.
Support staff with free online training
Central Bedfordshire College have a wide variety of exciting free courses to support upskill your new and current staff; from business administration to warehousing and from childcare all the way through to education, there is a course to support your needs!
Find out more and visit the website, email or call 01582 477 776.
Green Finance and Investment seminar - how will you benefit?
Date: 23 February 2022
Time: 14.00 to 15.15 (virtual)
The seminar is looking at sustainable investment. Benefits include:
• Improving your business, your health, your family’s health and that of the planet
• Attracting more staff
• Future proofing your investments
• Bringing greater returns
This seminar is free to GBN members. Non-members are welcome to attend at a cost of £35 +VAT.
With support from Central Bedfordshire Council, Green Business Network (GBN) has set up a new programme called Green Connectors, which is a referral network for providers of green products and services.
Still time to have your say on council budget draft
In our next financial year (which runs from April 2022 to March 2023) we expect to be spending £468million on services. This is known as the revenue budget and is largely funded by council tax and business rates.
The budget also details how we plan to reduce costs by £9.6million as we continue to review how we work to ensure we are as efficient as possible.
For further details and to have your say on budget consultation, please visit the council's website before the 31 January.
Fully Funded Business Support Programmes for Central Bedfordshire Businesses
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding from the Government has enabled Central Bedfordshire Council to provide a range of programmes which offers Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) access to an in-depth business support programme and grant funding:
• Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce Go Global Programme
• Cranfield University Scholarship Programme
• SEMLEP Mentoring & Growth Programme
• University of Bedfordshire Productivity Programme
Has your business been affected by cyber crime? Take part in new survey
Cyber crime was identified as an ‘emerging issue’ by the Community Safety Partnership, and we therefore committed to finding out more about how it affects our communities.
We’ve launched a new cyber crime survey to establish the scale, the impact and awareness of cyber crime in Central Bedfordshire to inform our future work.
We worked with Bedfordshire Police’s Cyber Protect and Prevent Team to design the survey and would like as many businesses to take part - scroll to ‘surveys’.
Local logistics business raises further £750,000 to invest in its growing service range
A Houghton Regis business invests in its growing service range, support business expansion through bulk stock acquisition and help create new jobs for the local economy.
AP Taylor has secured a £750,000 funding package from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and employs over 100 staff and supports a range of high-profile customers including VAX, Hoover, Tefal, George Foreman, Delonghi and Russel Hobbs, as well as its own in-house branded range of Vytronix electrical products.
Find out how they have invested the money.
Free Social Enterprise webinars
Mon 24 Jan: Wellbeing and ways to reduce stress for you and your teams
Tue 25 Jan: Setting up a Social Venture - legal structures and more
Weds 26 Jan: I don't have time for Marketing!
Thurs 27 Jan: Reviewing and Resetting for Business Growth
Fri 28 Jan: Finding Funding Faster