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Dorset LEP unveils investment guides to boost economic growth
Businesses and investors across the UK and abroad can access a new suite of guides showcasing the potential for millions of pounds’ worth of opportunities to invest in Dorset. The guides highlight more than 50 case studies of transformational business success from Dorset including companies such as Lush and Sunseeker. Each guide covers a specific sector key to the Dorset economy: advanced engineering and manufacturing; agritech; financial services; marine; and digital and creative. They have been produced by the LEP’s Invest in Dorset team, a group of economic development professionals who help clients identify opportunities for growth and expansion in Dorset.
Permeating the guides is a host of economic information about Dorset including the contribution to workplace skills by education providers such as Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth, The Bournemouth & Poole College, Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward College. Invest in Dorset hope to tempt inward investors through the region’s focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) and the apprenticeship and career opportunities supported by the commercialisation of academic research.
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On the digital and creative side, Invest in Dorset say more than half of all the graduates working in the UK’s film, visual effects and video games industries were educated in Dorset. The sector supports more than 12,000 jobs and makes an annual economic contribution of more than half a billion pounds.
On the marine side, the guide writers say Dorset has a quarter of the South West’s marine manufacturing jobs, offering investors substantial scope for research and development opportunities together with a ready supply chain. A key marine investment already under way is the £26 million berth development in Portland Harbour which is expected to attract companies working in activities such as marine autonomous systems.
In the financial services sector, leading brands such as LV, JP Morgan and BNY Mellon are among 1,600 firms together employing more than 14,000 people in Dorset and contributing £1.7 billion to the economy. The sector has seen a 20% growth in Dorset in the past ten years. www.dorsetlep.co.uk
New cloud platform helps to simplify the management of ISO standards
Smart Quality Services, an independent ISO and compliance management specialist, based in Bournemouth, is pleased to announce a new offering in its portfolio - the Smart ISO Manager.
Powered by Zebsoft, this cloud-based platform has been specifically designed to help companies more simply and efficiently manage all the activity required to maintain their ISO certifications and to facilitate continuous improvement through their business. Used daily by over 150 companies globally across all sectors, it delivers an average 50% time saving for a compliance department. www.smartquality.co.uk
Local charity launches new initiative
Local charity Community Action Network is launching their new ‘Business Supporter’ membership for businesses in the Dorset area. A new initiative launched to encourage businesses with a passion for their local community to engage with and support local charities.
CAN invites businesses with a ‘social conscience’ to connect with like-minded businesses, charities / community groups, along with Council and NHS colleagues, who share a vision for Dorset to be a place where strong, healthy, diverse and vibrant communities flourish. www.can100.org
FOCUS ON charity
with Diverse Abilities
Hi, my name is Laura, and I am the Corporate Fundraiser for Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity. I live in rural North Dorset, and I am mum to three children. When not at work I can be found watching my boys play football for the village teams, or walking my dog in the countryside.
I am looking for more businesses to get involved with supporting the work of Diverse Abilities and there are so many ways to get involved: Sponsoring one of our events – we host lots of events throughout the year, with plenty of sponsorship opportunities such as our Country Challenge, Golf Day, Rugby Lunch and Gala Ball. Do Your Own Thing fundraising – you can do anything you like from holding coffee mornings and bake sales, to setting your team challenges – such as walking 10,000 steps a day for a month, a sponsored run, or a danceathon. Other ideas include hosting a quiz, or an ‘Ask an expert’ session to share your skills and knowledge. Offering staff time to volunteer –support our fundraising team by helping at events, marshalling, bucket collections or helping to promote the event to your local community. Teams can also get together to visit our properties and carrying out practical jobs such painting and decorating or gardening.
Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more. You can email me at Laura.stanley@ diverseabilities or give me a call on 01202 718266 – let’s go for a coffee and make a partnership that works for you.
