January 2016
South Cambridgeshire
OPEN FOR BUSINESS Issue 13
In this edition
Free Business Support Workshops
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Small and medium sized businesses in Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire are being urged to sign up to a series of free workshops aimed at helping them set up and thrive.
The Business Hub the intelligent way to grow your business
Protect your business from CyberCrime
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South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils have joined forces in a brand new initiative to deliver 28 free business skills workshops that could help you turn your business idea into a profit making reality. The suite of business support workshops includes business start–up, business planning, marketing, social media, finance, as well as building and maintaining customers. The programme includes sessions for more mature businesses as well as start-ups with workshops beginning in the January and running through to April at venues across the two districts. The Councils have teamed up with Nwes, a local enterprise agency with over 30-years experience, for the sessions. Those attending will also be able to receive free business advice after the scheduled programme of events.
Workshops for women in business
Join our business register for even more support and information. www.scambs.gov.uk/ businessregister
To unsubscribe from this mailing, email ‘unsubscribe’ to openforbusiness@ scambs.gov.uk
To find out more about the Business Workshop programme, contact Nwes on 08456 099 991, info@nwes.org.uk or visit www.nwes.org.uk/news/free-business-support-workshops-offered-inhuntingdonshire-and-south-cambridgeshire.
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Welcome
Welcome to January’s edition of Open for Business. In this edition of Open for Business we have details on how you can register for our new series of free business support workshops that are being run in Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire.
Do you sell goods or supply services to other European Union (EU) countries? Got a lot of questions on how to deal with VAT, keep records and make additional returns? If so this HMRC e learning course is for you.
How it can help This course will build your confidence by guiding you through everything you need to know to get started. There are some examples and exercises to help you along the way.
If you want to find out how you can get assured advice from a regulator then the BUSINESS HUB could be your answer. There is exciting news for South Cambridgeshire businesses as Cambridge Compass Enterprise zone gets the Go Ahead. We also have plenty of business advice including, steps to check if your business is ready for the living wage, a HMRC course might help if you sell goods or supply services to other European countries, guidance on running a business from home and news on how you can access Signpost 2 Grow a new business support and advice service. Please keep your feedback coming by emailing openforbusiness@scambs.gov.uk, your comments help shape each edition and ensure we cover the local issues important to you. Cllr Nick Wright Cabinet member for planning and economic development
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Plan to run a business from home but unsure what it involves? You many need permission or separate insurance to run a home business, and you’ll need to check if you have to pay business rates. You can check out the following guide www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home
South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
The BUSINESS HUB - the intelligent way to grow your business REGULATION is often quoted as one of the major stumbling blocks to a successful business, if your company could receive assured advice from a regulator before it committed funding to a major product, you could be confident that your decisions are the right ones.
The BUSINESS HUB is a partnership between South Cambridgeshire
District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service designed to do exactly that seamlessly. The hub aims to provide primary authority services across the range of regulations, initially via the primary authority scheme but ultimately providing training, audits, coaching, advice and guidance beyond the “assured� criteria. For those new to Primary Authority it is a common sense approach designed to cut red tape and support economic growth through better local regulation, the principles of which are set out in regulations1. The primary authority partnership scheme itself has been running for 7 years and 55% of Primary Authority businesses are small (less than 50 employees). Recent changes have made it easier and more accessible to even smaller businesses and to franchisees.
If you think that you might benefit or we may be able to help you further please contact us at Openforbusiness@scambs.gov.uk and mark your e-mail for the attention of the Business Hub. 1
The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
4 Steps to Check if your business is ready for the National Living Wage In April the Government’s new National Living Wage will become law. If you’re working and aged 25 or over and not in the first year of an apprenticeship you’ll be legally entitled to at least £7.20 per hour. That’s an extra fifty pence per hour in your pocket. The Government is committed to increasing this every year, so by 2020 it will be more than £9 per hour. If you’re an employer, you’ll need to make sure you’re paying your staff correctly from 1st April 2016, as the National Living Wage will be enforced as strongly as the current National Minimum Wage. Take these four steps to be ready for the change: 1. Check you know who is eligible in your organisation. Find out on GOV.UK’s employment status page. 2. Take the appropriate payroll action. Find useful guidance in HMRC’s tutorials. 3. Let your staff know about their new pay rate. 4. Check your staff under 25 are earning at least the right rate of National Minimum Wage. You can find out everything you need to know about the new National Living Wage, including the new rates of pay at, www.livingwage.gov.uk
Running a business? Could you
benefit from Signpost 2 Grow support?
Signpost 2 Grow connects local businesses to a wide range of business support, advice, grants and events to help them grow and develop. Whether you’re still at the initial stage or have been trading for several years, Signpost 2 Grow can help you take the next step in developing your business. You can try the Business Support Search Tool http://signpost2grow.co.uk/search/ to find out which funding, advice programme and support will get your there. If you’re looking for a new networking event or training course to attend, try their handy Events Finder tool here http://signpost2grow.co.uk/events
If you still can’t find what you are looking for? Contact the Signpost 2 Grow team on 01223 967676 or email hello@signpost2grow.co.uk
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Exciting news for South Cambs Businesses -
Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone get the Go Ahead A cluster of local development sites are celebrating after being awarded Enterprise Zone status. The Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone creates a unique opportunity to expand the reach of Cambridge global innovation centre – to the surrounding market towns, new communities and wider rural areas to boost the local and national economy. It includes sites in Waterbeach, Haverhill, Ely, Cambourne and Northstowe. Enterprise Zone status brings with it a number of benefits, including a business rate discount of up to 100% for five years for businesses moving into the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone. As a bonus for the local area, the LEP will retain 100% of the business rate growth with the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone for the next 25 years, which will enable further investment in economic growth across the area. Securing Enterprise Zone status for the Cambridge Compass is a real boost for the local economy. We know that businesses, particularly international ones, want a base in Cambridge, which can drive up local rents and constrain supply. By drawing these sites together under the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone, it can provide a unique proposition to national and international companies looking for a new place to locate their businesses, drawing out the benefits of Cambridge to the surrounding area. The additional business rates income will also create a vital source of funding to support further economic development work across the area for 25 years. Having a long term source of funding is critical to the continued development and economic success of the Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough area. The site included within the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone are as follows:
Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach - Located close to Cambridge, this site offers 9 hectares of serviced employment land Haverhill Research Park - Situated to the south east of Cambridge on the A1307, Haverhill Research Park offers 37,000 sq m of commercial space Lancaster Way, Ely - Located north of Cambridge on the A10 growth corridor and main trainline to Cambridge and London. Lancaster Way has outline consent to construct up to 125,000 sq m of additional office, R&D, industrial or warehouse and distribution accommodation to suit occupiers requirements Cambourne Business Park - Located to the west of Cambridge, Cambourne Business Park provides a unique opportunity for a new business environment within a growing new settlement where homes and jobs are co-located Northstowe, Phase 1 - Conveniently located close to Cambridge off the A14 and on the Guided Busway, this development is the first phase of employment land within Northstowe (which will be the largest new town to be built since Milton Keynes) The Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone will come into effect from 1 April 2016, with the 100% business rates discount on offer to new occupiers until 31 March 2022. The proposal was developed by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP and submitted to Government in summer 2015.
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Editorial information This newsletter is produced for local businesses by South Cambridgeshire District Council. Editorial enquiries should be emailed to openforbusiness@scambs.gov.uk The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of South Cambridgeshire District Council. All data is accepted in good faith at the time of going to press.
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