Search results for : in category Business Support
Funding boost for Business Start-up Grant Scheme
Caerphilly County Borough Council has recently received funding to support their Business Start-up Grant Scheme, which is used to fund a variety of businesses starting out within Caerphilly County Borough. Tata Subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise has given £5,000 to partly fund the scheme, which is jointly funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: Thank you to UK Steel Enterprise for their continued commitment to the Business Start-Up Grant Scheme. As a result of this, we are able to provide up to £500 of funding to brand new businesses within Caerphilly County Borough. I am looking forward to continuing to provide support to new businesses within the area, as we have done for many years. Andy Morris, Manager in Wales, UK Steel Enterprise said: We are delighted to be supporting the scheme and working with Caerphilly County Borough Council for a fourth year. In that period, 58 new businesses have been launched and 74 new jobs created. He continued: The quality of applicants has been very high and we are confident that the scheme has made an important contribution to the economic life of the area. This flexible scheme is designed to help residents of Caerphilly County Borough set up a full-time business for the first time, who are not able to access any other source of funding. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500. Business start-ups from all business sectors may be…
Social Media Do’s and Don’ts from Superfast Business Wales
Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. Get a head start with our social media top tips. Go where your customers are Opening up good communication channels with your customers is key. Find out what social media platforms they are using, sign up and create your online presence to actively engage with your customers. Measure results against objectives Once you’re on social media, don’t rest on your laurels, do your homework and find out if it’s actually working in terms of your business goals – doing this will also help you work out what you could be doing better. Get more followers Using social media links on your website and emails is an easy way of pointing people towards your Facebook page, Twitter account, etc., increasing your followers. Keep an eye on changes in the social world The world of social media is constantly developing, and there are more and more platforms popping up all the time. Keep up to date with the latest social media news and stay one step ahead. Accept criticism and respond positively Sometimes customers will use social media as a gateway to publically complain. The golden rules are don’t get defensive or dragged into an online argument – respond promptly, thank them for bringing it to your attention, and be positive but above all don’t ignore it or delete it. Ask your customers for feedback and act on it so they can see that you are listening. Be consistent, and don’t lie Be consistent in…
Launch of £1 Billion Support Programme for UK’s Co-operative Businesses – ‘The Hive’
Launched by Co-operatives UK, the Hive is a £1 billion business support programme designed to enable growth among the UK’s £37 billion co-operative economy. The initiative will help people who intend to start or grow co-operative or community enterprises, using various online resources, training and advice. http://www.uk.coop/the-hive/
Superfast Business Wales Inspiring Action Workshop
Join Superfast Business Wales for a practical and realistic presentation explaining how businesses of any size can reduce costs and increase profits from even a basic use of digital technology. Topics covered will include: Sell more to your customers – an overview of Customer Relationship Management systems The impact of mobile – work anywhere anytime Sell more through Social media: an overview of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for business Websites – sell regionally, nationally and globally The Cloud – what is it and how can you use it to build your business? Further support available to help businesses improve efficiency through new technology All delivered in a non-jargon and easy-to-understand way. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to gain a real insight into the competitive advantage that a faster broadband connection and new technology can bring. An Ideal Event for Micro, Small & Medium sized businesses Registration: 10.00am Event: 10.30am – 12.30pm Various locations throughout March and April. Please book as places are limited. For available dates please click here.
Looking for funding living in a Rural area in Caerphilly
Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 – EOI windows NOW OPEN Owen Ashton on 01443 838632 or email ashtoo@caerphilly.gov.uk Food Business Investment Scheme Support for investments in processing/marketing and/or development of agricultural products. Rural Community Development Fund The Rural Community Development Fund (RCDF) offers grants which are primarily aimed at LEADER Local Action Groups and other community-based organisations. Sustainable Management Scheme The Sustainable Management Scheme will provide financial support for a range of activities that will improve the management of our natural resources and in doing so contribute to the well-being of our rural communities. Sustainable Production Grant Scheme The Sustainable Production Grant (SPG) scheme is a capital grant support package aimed at farmers in Wales. Timber Business Investment Scheme Enhancing forestry potential and adding value to forest products.
X-Forces are Launching a Start-up Grant Scheme For Ex-Forces in Wales
X-Forces have developed a ex-forces and their families to assist with the journey to successful business ownership. HELPING YOU BE THE BEST IN BUSINESS We support ex-forces and their families to start up businesses by providing them with Loans, Mentoring and Support SERVICE LEAVERS : VETERANS : RESERVISTS : SPOUSES : FAMILY : CADETS Check out their website for more info: http://www.x-forces.com/your-business/exforces-business
Social Enterprise interest free loan from £10,000 to £30,000 – closes 29th of March 2016
Are you a Social Enterprise looking for an interest free loan from £10,000 to £30,000 coupled with access to a business mentor. SE Assist aims to leverage resources and support from big businesses to help Welsh Social Enterprises to grow and thrive. The closing date is the 29th of March 2016. For more information click on the link below to the Wales Co-op http://wales.coop/se-assist/
Businesses looking to reduce waste and maximise recycling?
Free workshop to help businesses reduce costs Calculate the value of your waste, and develop a tailored action plan to help you prevent waste, and cut costs. You’re invited to join Caerphilly County Borough Councils Economic Development Team, and resource efficiency experts WRAP Cymru for a free 90 minute workshop specifically designed to help businesses reduce the amount of raw materials used, minimise waste and maximise recycling. Through structured presentation, exercises, and case study examples you’ll learn what simple measures you can adopt to reduce your resource use and develop a plan which you can take back to your business to implement. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk about your business’ needs with a WRAP Cymru Client Manager and learn more about additional support available through the Welsh Government’s Resource Efficient Wales service. The workshop will take place on Thursday 25th February 2016, at Tredomen Business & Technology Centre at 8:30am for registration and 9:00am start. Any Caerphilly County Borough business can register to attend, although places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please email business@caerphilly.gov.uk to book your place. If you are unable to join us, you can access WRAP Cymru’s resource efficiency self-assessment tool at www.wrapcymru.org.uk/REW-self-assessment-tool or contact Lucy Shields on 07583 104116 to discuss your business’ needs.
Review of SmartZone – Business Park in Tredomen, Caerphilly by John James Dew
“Our Caerphilly-based business established in 2011 has been located here at the Council owned Innovation and Technology Centre since 2013. In that time, we have needed a range of different accommodation needs (reflecting the agile nature of a niche change management practice like ours). That has including: the ability to host a fairly major three day public sector transformation event with nearly 100 participants; having a holding base from which to run the business; requiring different accommodation at different times in the lifecycle of the business; through to making use of the excellent meeting and conference rooms as and when we, and our clients, required them. The economic development team responsible for the Centre really do understand the needs of business and have been absolutely outstanding. They are constantly trying to innovate and provide a wider range of services to support local businesses and their shared business zone is just one of a series of initiatives that are providing sustainable options for local entrepreneurs. We are delighted that we chose to locate the business here and we’re keen to stay – that is in no small part, due to the fantastic team that support us and the other highly innovative companies that are located here. It’s a great place to locate your business!” John James Dew OBE, Managing Director, The Dew Cadre Check the SmartZone page for more info.