July 2015
South Cambridgeshire
OPEN FOR BUSINESS Issue 10
In this edition
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£100,00 funding awards in healthcare competition
Could your business get involved in BikeBus Explorer?
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Three steps on how to name your start up.
Join our business register to access even more support and information. www.scambs.gov.uk/ businessregister
To unsubscribe from this mailing, email ‘unsubscribe’ to openforbusiness@ scambs.gov.uk
Could your business make use of free public WiFi? Over 200 new users a day are registering for free CambWifi to get online in public buildings. Connecting Cambridgeshire is rolling out a new free public WiFi network in a growing range of locations in Cambridge and surrounding areas. Places with free public WiFi include libraries, council offices, children’s centres, sheltered housing, leisure facilities, community centres, Park and Ride sites, green spaces and city centre streets. To find out more and these locations and how you can access the WiFi visit the Connecting Cambridgeshire website www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk/public-wifi/
Views wanted on election frequency We’d welcome your views by Friday 18 September on whether we should move to electing the whole Council once every four years, or keep our current system of electing one-third of Council seats each year for three successive years out of four. For more information and to comment, visit: www.scambs.gov.uk/local-elections-consultation
South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Welcome
Do you know everything you need to know about VAT? When it comes to VAT, HMRC has developed a range of YouTube videos to help VAT-registered businesses.
Welcome to the July edition of Open for Business. In this edition of Open for Business, you can find out how your business could make use of free wifi in a growing number of locations across Cambridgeshire. There is news on business support grants of up to £3,000 aimed at improving your businesses broadband access as well as £100,000 funding awards on offer to small businesses in latest SBRI Healthcare Competition. Our local case study this month features a derelict MOD site which was turned into a bustling business community. We have everything you need to know about VAT, three key steps on naming your business start up and free business planning guidance. You can also find out how your business can join in with BikeBus Explorer an exciting initiative in South Cambridgeshire. If you know any other business who would like to receive tailored business news please encourage them to sign up to our business register by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/businessregister We would also like to hear from you if would like to feature as our local case study in the next edition. Cllr Nick Wright Cabinet member for planning and economic development
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What is VAT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHM0CaBEb0w How to register and enrol for VAT online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=maRALf0SdeM How to submit your VAT return online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=82r-h0NiKjY Tax and VAT issues when trading with other countries using the Internet: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o8iZ3bE2IQ
£100,000 on offer to small businesses SBRI Healthcare is a NHS England funded initiative to develop innovative products and services that address unmet health needs. It has launched the latest SBRI Healthcare competition where up to 12 small businesses could each benefit from £100,000 product development funding.
To find out more about the £100,000 funding awards visit www.sbrihealthcare.co.uk/news/100000-funding-awards-on-offer-tosmall-businesses-in-latest-sbri-healthcare-competition
South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
From abandoned building to bustling business community In this edition of Open for Business we have news on how a derelict MOD site was transformed.
Following the MOD leaving Waterbeach Barracks, Stirling House - a 45,000sq ft building used as an administration centre - was left empty and in disrepair. The building, situated on a 10 acre landscaped site close to Cambridge Science Park, was marketed for around four years before it was brought to the attention of Rick Parisi, Managing Partner of Littleport-based commercial property company Paragon Holdings in 2012. Rick saw potential in the site, decided to buy it speculatively and opened it as a business centre. Three years later, it has been transformed into a successful enterprise with 41 separate suites, bringing around 250 jobs to Waterbeach. Seventeen technology companies, five recruitment companies and a range of other flourishing businesses are based at Stirling House Business centre. Notably, Qton Solutions has grown from four staff to 16 and Pathology Diagnostics from four to 14 since moving in. Demand for space at the centre has been so high that Paragon Holdings have obtained planning permission for a new £4m, 30,000sqft office building to include a gym, social club, crèche and a larger café. The building will be constructed speculatively but is expected to be fully let before completion in Summer 2016. A further application for phase two, also 30,000 sq ft, is being prepared and will make Stirling House Business Centre one of the largest serviced business centres in the UK. Rick comments: “Stirling House Business Centre was a foray into new territory for Paragon Holdings. We have other Business Centres, but have not provided serviced offices before and this is certainly not a small project! It’s been so successful that we’re looking for other suitable sites around East Anglia and South East England.”
If you are interested in finding out more contact Rick Parisi on: 01353 861436 rick@paragon-holdings.co.uk
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Join in with the BikeBus Explorer We’ve backed an exciting bus service, run by Dews Coaches Ltd, operating exclusively on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Leaving Cambridge four times a day, the BikeBus Explorer takes city dwellers and tourists out into the beautiful neighbouring countryside. The purpose built bike trailer securely holds up to 20 bikes so you have the option to go for a ride or to walk one of the many country lanes and byways along the route. Places to visit include Wimpole Hall, the region’s premier stately home, the ancient Waresley and Gransden Woods and many picturesque local villages for fun days out. The BikeBus also provides a local bus service for residents to use for trips going into Cambridge City centre to enjoy the shops, architecture and events. If you have a business along the BikeBus route, such as a pub, café or holiday accommodation, and would be interested in working with us to bring your customers exclusive discounts, please get in touch. We now have a dedicated Facebook page; www.facebook.com/pages/BikeBus-ExplorerCambridgeshire/385353864997942 Pop over and like us to be kept up to date with news, offers and competitions!
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Is your business eligible for £3,000?
to boost your business’s broadband - all you need to do is apply.
Find out now if you are eligible for up to £3,000 to cover the installation costs of upgrading to a faster and more reliable connection for your business. You could get a fibre optic cable or wireless broadband connection among other options. Most businesses pay nothing but VAT and their standing monthly charge. Over 22,000 businesses in 50 cities are already benefitting from the scheme. By upgrading, you could: Do things faster - increase your business’s productivity Improve customer service, Access new markets using video conferencing. Please visit www.connectionvouchers.co.uk/?ds9j2 to find out if you are eligible.
How to name your start-up Choosing a name is a vital stage of forming a startup. It’s also something you can easily get hung up on. Entrepreneur Magazine has some great advice to help. Here are three steps to help you name your startup www.entrepreneur.com/article/234910
Complaints at work ACAS - the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - provides free and impartial information to employees and employers on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. ACAS has provided some step by step guidance on how to manage complaints at work. This includes guidance on what notes should be kept in writing and who can accompany an employee at a grievance meeting. www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4193#FAQ1
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Free business planning guidance
A business plan is a written document that describes your business, covering objectives, strategies, sales, marketing and financial forecasts. A business plan helps you to:
clarify your business idea spot potential problems set out your goals measure your progress
You’ll need a business plan if you want to secure investment or a loan from a bank. It can also help to convince customers, suppliers and potential employees to support you. Download free business plan templates and find help and advice at: www.gov.uk/write-business-plan
Linking tech businesses with the public sector Businesses with innovative ideas can find it difficult to engage with the public sector. A new brochure outlines how SBRI - the Small Business Research Initiative - offers opportunities to develop and demonstrate technology for public bodies. You can find out more at www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-challenges-ideas-from-business-innovative-solutions
South Cambridgeshire Business Watch South Cambridgeshire Business Watch (SCBW) enables businesses to receive free, regular updates and alerts from the police about criminality against businesses in South Cambridgeshire. SCBW also promotes crime reduction initiatives, gathering and sharing of information with business owners and assists in making communities in South Cambridgeshire a safer place to live and work. You can register at http://southcambscops.org/2014/09/02/south-cambs-business-watch-registration-form or follow: @SouthCambsCops | Facebook.com/SouthCambsCops or visit: South Cambs Local Policing website or SouthCambsCops.org and read our blog!
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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