FSB final call for Small Business Awards – Entries close 14 Dec
There’s just time to get your entry in for the 2019 FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards, as the South West closing date approaches.
2019 will be the second year of the Celebrating Small Business Awards for the South West. The FSB prides the awards for shining a light on some of the best, most innovative and most determined small businesses and the self-employed in the region.
Entry to the awards is free and open to all small businesses and the self-employed, whether a current FSB member, or not. The South West awards event takes place at Somerset County Cricket Ground, Taunton in February 2019, culminating in a prestigious and high profile UK final in London on 23 May 2019.
FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2019 – South West
Brexit? Information Resources Designed For Business
The Heart of South West Growth Hub has created a space online to access a range of resources that can help local businesses plan or consider the options around various Brexit scenarios.
The directory is designed to offer a concise range of resources from private and public sector organisations – this includes Brexit checklists, sector-by-sector analysis, audit tools and links to key publications and alerts to register for latest updates and industry views. To find out how best to plan and keep up to date with the potential impact on your business visit the Heart of the South West Growth Hub – Brexit Resource
South West Takes Advantage of Broadband Funding – Have You Applied Yet?
The South West has topped the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme with figures from November showing that 1,613 vouchers have been issued in the South West since the start of the programme. The programme can help businesses struggling with slow broadband speeds by providing vouchers of up to £2,500 to contribute to, or fully fund the installation cost of a full fibre gigabit capable connection.
“Gigabit broadband vouchers are a one-off contribution to small and medium sized businesses and residential customers wanting to install a faster connection over gigabit capable infrastructure.”
The high demand for the scheme has already seen the value of vouchers available drop from £3,000 to £2,500 and small businesses are being encouraged to apply now as there are indications that the programme funds could be fully committed much earlier than the expected date of March 2021.
Find out how your business could benefit
The Carbon Trust – Green Business Fund and START2ACT
If you have energy efficiency upgrades planned for 2019 it’s worth looking at The Carbon Trust to find out if there is suitable support available or applicable to your business. The Carbon Trust provides a range of advice publications and has webinars running during December, as well as capital support for the installation of energy efficiency equipment. The Carbon Trust Green Business Fund helps small and medium businesses planning to undertake energy efficiency upgrades.
The Carbon Trust is also the implementation partner of START2ACT for the UK. The programme aims to support young SMEs and start-ups to save energy and cut costs at their workplace through energy efficiency consulting and mentoring. This can include up to three fully-funded on-site visits from a Carbon Trust expert.