As we near the end of it, no doubt you will be seeing posts and articles talking about 2020, and what a year it’s been!

Rather than talk about the challenges that we have all faced both in our professional and personal lives, we’d like to focus on some of positive achievements that have happened for us, for you and for the South West.

 

Small Businesses are still thriving!

Working across Torbay and Somerset, TDA Business provides over 69,000 sqft of workspace, hosting over 130 businesses. We have certainly seen some movement over the last 12 months as some of our tenants have moved on, either to new space or back to the home desk. However we also welcomed over 34 new businesses into the TDA Business Community – a very warm welcome to you all!

 

Our Business Advisors have been busy!

As the C-word hit, we adapted our services to be able to respond to the changing needs of businesses.  As we all moved into the virtual world we moved all of our support services onto online platforms; our existing support programmes continued and we delivered a series of ‘Bitesize’ sessions on now relevant topics, providing tips on how to keep your business alive – over 110 of you joined us – thank you!

 

Show me the money!

Our Social Media turned towards making sure that you were up-to-date with all the latest information about grants and funding information and worked with over 80 businesses, to advise on applications.

Since March, we have worked with over 200 businesses to support them with their particular needs. TDA Business Advice is not just for Christmas, we’re here all year round – keep in touch!

 

Diversification – it’s what you need

Many businesses identified opportunities in diversifying, either temporarily or permanently. Most us have had to diversify our way of working, but some have changed their products of services – a special mention to Northmoor Gin at the Barle Enterprise Centre, who moved into hand sanitiser production – don’t worry, they never stopped making Gin. And to Track Hat at the Frome Enterprise Centre, who used their 3D printing facilities to produce visors for NHS workers.

We have seen some tenants grow during the pandemic, as demand for care services and training support increases – Seetec Pluss are set to be delivering more of their excellent Work and Wellbeing services helping people into work from their expanded space in Torbay Innovation Centre.

 

On a Final Note….

The TDA Business Team would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and interest the work that we do in supporting the South West Economy to thrive. Here’s hoping for better times in 2021. Wishing you all a very relaxing Christmas and prosperous New Year.

 

**We’ve changed our name to Enterprise South West – look out for the new branding in the New Year.**