March 2015
South Cambridgeshire
OPEN FOR BUSINESS Issue 8
Could our free business workshops help you?
In this edition P2
New programme aims to help local businesses become more successful
Extra £38 million to be invested in the local economy
Business benefits of apprenticeships
P5
P4
Protect your business against cyber attacks
Carpenters Arms wins Loo of the Year Award
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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
South Cambridgeshire District Council has launched a 4th series of free workshops and webinars for anyone running or thinking of starting a local business in South Cambridgeshire. Delivered by Exemplas, leading employment, skills and support solutions provider, the programme covers a wide range of topics designed to meet the specific needs of local businesses and provide the information they need to gain competitive edge. A unique feature of the programme is the free follow up support that all attendees can benefit from, designed to help them plan and implement what they have gained from the workshop into developing the business and successfully meeting future challenges and objectives. This can be delivered either by phone or email.
Workshops available to book now: Social media success strategy Tuesday 24 March, 1.30pm - 4.30pm, Council Offices, Cambourne Staying ahead of the competition Wednesday 8 April, 1.30pm - 4.30pm, Council Offices, Cambourne Business planning: growing and maintaining a profitable business Thursday 16 April, 10.30am -12pm, webinar Improving profit Wednesday 22 April, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Melbourn All Saints Community Hall Social media success strategy
Monday 27 Apr, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Cambourne Council Offices
A workshop place can be reserved by calling 0844 346 0755 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm) or by emailing southcambsbusinesssupport@exemplas.com To download a full booklet on the workshops, please click on the following link: www.scambs.gov.uk/files/documents/SCDC%20workshop%20flyer%202015updated.pdf
South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Welcome
Extra £38million to be invested in the local economy The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership has expanded its Growth Deal with the Government, which will see an extra £38million invested in the area between 2016 and 2017. This is in addition to the £71.1million of funding committed by the Government in July 2014. www.gov.uk/government/publications/ greater-cambridge-greater-peterboroughgrowth-deal
Welcome to the March edition of Open for Business. This edition we have news on how you can sign up for our free business support workshops which aim to help local businesses become more successful. We highlight the benefits of apprenticheship schemes, have advice for businesses based from home, news on a support service designed to manage sickness absence, and tips on how your can protect your business against cyber threats. We have news on funding for the Agri-Tech industry and on Connection Vouchers which enable you to apply for up to £3,000 towards upgrading your business broadband. Finally, find out more about how you can get your business involved with Parklife, taking place at Milton Country Park on Sunday 19 July 2015. Please keep your feedback coming by emailing openforbusiness@scambs. gov.uk, your comments help shape each edition and ensure we cover the local business issues important to you. Cllr Nick Wright Cabinet member for planning and economic development
Running a home-based business? Are you paying the right amount of tax? The Valuation Office Agency has recently updated its guidelines to help people running a home-based business to better understand their obligations when it comes to paying council tax and business rates. If a property is part-business, part-domestic, e.g. public houses, residents may be liable to pay both taxes. www.gov.uk/government/ publications/council-tax-and-business-rates-home-based-businesses
Fit for Work New support service to manage sickness absence Fit for Work is a new service from the Government offering absenceprevention advice to employers. This will see employees who have reached, or are expected to reach, four weeks sickness absence entitled to a free referral for an occupational health assessment with the aim of helping them to return to work sooner. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/389278/fit-for-work-employers-guide.pdf
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Sponsorship packages and storeholder Sun day 19 Ju opportunites ly Parklife is our biggest event of the year, attracting around 5000 local people.
2015
Visitors have the chance to sample a range of sports such as canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, cycling, rugby, archery, climbing, orienteering and more. The carnival atmosphere is enhanced by live music and entertainment - a fun event for all the family. A large marquee will be available to stallholders, popular with local craft and food producers. There are sponsorship opportunities to suite all businesses keen to raise their profile, from prominent on-site branding to pre and post event media credits and dedicated space in the South Cambs Magazine distributed to all 63,000 households in South Cambridgeshire. You can sponsor a zone, such as the water sports zone, or headline the whole event, there are many options, so get in touch and find out more by emailing clare.gibbons@scambs.gov.uk
To book a stall contact natalie.robinson@scambs.gov.uk by 30 April.
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Business benefits of apprenticeships
Building a strong workforce for a sustainable future Apprenticeship schemes are becoming increasingly popular as more and more businesses realise the benefits and develop a workforce that has the practical skills and qualifications the organisation needs now and in the future. National Apprenticeship Week took place this month, celebrating apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Did you know?
Businesses report an average increase in productivity by £214 a week when they hire apprentices. From April 2016, employers will no longer be required to pay employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under the age of 25 on earnings up to the upper earnings limit. If you’re a small business, you may get a £1500 grant to help cover the cost To find out more about the benefits of apprenticeships, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-facts-about-apprenticeships
In our South Cambridgeshire District Council Community Awards, held earlier this month, Croydon-based web design and hosting company, Granite 5 Limited, was commended for its apprenticeship scheme and win the Business Developing Talent award. As an employer, Granite 5 Limited recognises its wider responsibility to the local community and wider society, and by taking on local apprentices is not only helping young people into employment but also building a skilled and talented workforce that is keen to learn and which makes a valuable contribution to the company. For further information on Community Awards contact Gemma Barron on 01954 713340 or email gemma.barron@scambs.gov.uk Fantastic support is available to businesses nationally, such as the Apprenticeship Grant for Employeers (AGE). Businesses can also access support from other businesses through the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the ApprenticeMakers community. The National Apprenticeships Service provides a dedicated service to employers, offering free, expert advice and support to those looking to recruit apprentices, take on a trainee, or expand their apprenticeship programme. For more information, call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit greatbusiness.gov.uk/apprenticeships.
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Protect your business against cyber threats Cyber Essentials is a new Government-backed scheme to help businesses of all sizes and sectors protect themselves against cyber threats. The scheme provides guidance to businesses on good cyber security practice. www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyberessentials-scheme-overview
Sign up to our Business Register and be the first to hear about: Financing and funding opportunities Contracts and tenders Updates on infrastructure or new developments Business support workshops Awards Competitions Local business news. By signing up you will also gain access to a range of services from our Business Support Team, including subscription to Open For Business - our bi-monthly e-newsletter. You will also have the opportunity to tell us how we are doing in helping your business to thrive and grow, and the chance to help shape our future services. To join please complete the following form www.scambs.gov.uk/content/sign-business-support-news-and-information
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Funding for the Agri-Tech Industry Is your agricultural business looking to grow and develop? Then the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative can help…
From funding vital research projects to enabling companies to purchase new equipment, the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative grants scheme aims to help local businesses grow. Thanks to the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership LEP, the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative has already invested over £2 million into agricultural businesses across the area, including Cambridge technology start-up, KisanHub and Cambridge and Norwich based chemicals company, Pangaea Agrochemicals. After successfully applying for a research and development grant, KisanHub developed a cloud-based, integrated software platform which brings together public and private data to help farmers make informed decisions about their day-to-day operations and markets. Giles Barker from KisanHub, said: “The Eastern Agri-Tech grant could not have come at a better time for KisanHub. The grant will propel our research and development satellite project so we can bring innovative solutions to farmers at a field level. This will help to establish KisanHub as one of the leading companies in agriculture software. Helping farmers globally ‘grow more, using less’.” Pangaea Agrochemicals concentrates on finding solutions to pests and weeds that have become resilient to existing pesticides. Pangaea Agrochemicals used the grant funding to develop a formulated product that can control resistant weed species, accelerating the development of this technology by allowing further trials to be run in the local area. Michael Gifford from Pangaea Agrochemicals, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this grant. We have a really exciting technology that will prove vital in the battle against resistant Black-grass. The support from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative will allow us to develop our solution to this national problem using the world-class facilities and expertise available in East Anglia." You can find out more via www.agritechgrants.co.uk or by contacting Martin Lutman via info@agritechgrants.co.uk or 01480 277180. The Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative is funded by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Great Wilbraham’s Carpenters Arms wins Loo of the Year Award staff at the Carpenters Arms in Great Wilbraham are celebrating after picking up two awards at a ceremony in December celebrating ‘Loo of the Year’. Many businesses pride themselves on the standard of cleaning and maintenance of the building they occupy or that they are responsible for, but how many can say that extends to the washrooms? The most frequent and often first place visited by visitors is the washroom and first impressions count. The Carpenters Arms, received a platinum award for the overall quality of its loos and was also the winner in the national category for Pubs and Wine bars in England. Rick and Heather Hurley, who own and operate the Carpenters Arms were delighted with the award and said: “What else is there to say, we officially have the best pub loos in England, why not come and check them out for yourself”. The Carpenters Arms serves cask ales, made in the on-site brewery, and French influenced award winning food inspired by Rick and Heather’s time spent living and running a restaurant in France where they also collected a number of award. In 2014, the Carpenters Arms was also voted Cambridge CAMRA Rural Local pub of the Year and received a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. To find out about the Loo Awards, visit www.loo.co.uk/news/index.php
Share your successes stories
If you are a South Cambs business with a story to tell that other businesses could benefit from, we want to hear from you. Perhaps you are a new start-up, you successfully secured grant funding or business support, won an award, or implemeneted an apprenticeship scheme? Drop us an email to openforbusiness@scambs.gov.uk and other businesses may well be reading your story in the next edition.
The Government has gathered all its business support services together under one re-branded ‘Business is Great Britain’ banner. The full range of Government support services offered is now outlined on the ‘Great Business’ website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk For businesses in the South Cambridgeshire area, workshops and follow-up advice is available by visiting www.exemplas.com/southcambs
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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Source Cambridgeshire Register, its free! Bringing Buyers and Suppliers Together
Are you interested in new contract opportunities? Source Cambridgeshire has been created to bring buyers and suppliers together, making it easier for businesses to find out about new sources of potential revenue and to grow and to benefit the local economy.
www.sourcecambridgeshire.co.uk
Connection Vouchers
There’s £3,000 worth of support available to help you upgrade your business’s broadband - it’s up to you to apply for it.
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 standard monthly charges. By upgrading, you could: Work faster - increasing your business’s productivity Improve customer service Access new markets using video conferencing. Please visit the following website to find out if you are eligible and choose from a number of pre-defined options. http://destinationdigital.info/vouchers/ You can also see case studies on how other businesses in South Cambridgeshire have benefited from connection vouchers at http://destinationdigital.info/
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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