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Two Counties
FUNDED TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES IN WORCESTERSHIRE
The Skills Support for the Workforce programme (SSW) helps support small and medium businesses in Worcestershire to upskill their employees with training courses and qualifications to help their business grow. The SSW programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) so a wide range of training can be accessed at no cost to your business. There are hundreds of courses on offer including construction, leadership & management, digital skills, and many more. They will work with you to identify your business’ training needs to support your business goals. Graduate employees are also eligible to help them take on more responsibilities and progress in the business. So far over 1,100 employees from 250 businesses have benefitted from the programme in Worcestershire.
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HEREFORDSHIRE HITS RECORD HIGH FOR NEW COMPANY FORMATIONS DESPITE CHALLENGING YEAR FOR BUSINESS
Latest figures show that more new businesses were established in Herefordshire during 2020 than in any previous year – hitting a new record high for the third year in a row. Despite the considerable economic challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, 2,327 new companies were registered in the county compared to 1,499 during 2019, representing an increase of 55.2%. This brings the total number of registered companies in Herefordshire to 12,800, up from 10,498 at the end of 2019, which equates to 21.9% growth. The statistics are taken from the Inform Direct, Review of Company Formations using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics. John Korchak, Operations Director at Inform Direct, said: “It is excellent news to see that Herefordshire has achieved a record year for new company formations during 2020 despite the unprecedented uncertainties brought by COVID-19. “Many of the new company formations are in the retail sector, with a large number of new businesses set up to sell goods online or locally, thereby taking advantage of customers’ changing shopping habits. Secondly, the effect of the pandemic and national lockdowns means that sadly some existing businesses have folded and employees made redundant, and we see many of those people setting up new ventures on their own as an alternative way to earn a living. It remains open to debate whether this positive trend will last, especially when Government support for businesses is withdrawn. New enterprises set up during the pandemic might also be short-lived, as people return to full-time employment or struggle to take the business to the next level.”
www.informdirect.co.uk/companyformations-2020/herefordshire
RAPID LATERAL FLOW TESTING NOW AVAILABLE AT WORCESTER CATHEDRAL
Worcester Cathedral has opened its door to residents who want to get a free rapid Covid-19 test in Worcestershire. Rapid lateral flow testing, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, will be available to residents who don’t have any symptoms, at Worcester Cathedral between 10.00am and 5.45pm, Monday to Saturday. The aim is to help drive down transmission rates. Testing will be available for people with no symptoms aged 18 and over. Broadening testing to identify people without symptoms, means finding positive cases more quickly, and breaking the chains of transmission. Rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests are a new type of technology, which provide results within an hour. Lateral flow devices do not require a laboratory to process the test. Dr Kathryn Cobain, Director for Public Health in Worcestershire said: “The Cathedral is such an iconic building, I am delighted it is going to be used as a Rapid Flow Testing centre. This will add to our efforts to reduce the spread of the virus and will mean even more choice of venues for those wanting to get a rapid test in the city.” Appointments must be pre-booked using this online booking link: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/
