BIP: Enterprising News - May
Business Information Point
Your local business advisors for over 20 years
Welcome to the latest edition of Enterprising News, bringing you up-to-date information on our workshops, business support, local grant funding and new resources on our website, as well as relevant small business news and events.
If you would like some assistance with your business, you can find all out latest funded business support projects on our website. ?
Business Support?
Prosper invites you to a FREE to ‘Set for Success’ event
The ‘Set for Success’ event aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs. The workshop will guide you through the process of setting up a new business and give you the confidence to turn your ideas into a reality. 23 May | 10am-2pm The Beehive, Honiton
This free, fully funded, event will help you:
The event will feature workshops and talks with practical advice and information from:
About Prosper Prosper is a fully funded support programme for pre start up and existing businesses in Mid Devon, East Devon and Exeter, offering 1-2-1 support with business advisers alongside training and webinars. With a strong focus on sustainability business boosting?and digital solutions, the support that follows could include further one-to-one sessions, workshops, access to peer groups and a self-learning platform, depending on the outcome of your initial diagnostic meeting.
Send us an email
South Hams and West Devon Support?
Thinking of starting your own business? Deciding whether to be a sole trader or limited company? Getting to grips with?social media? Understanding your finances? or anything else to get your business off the ground, then we can help. Maybe you are already in business and would like a sounding board to work through issues you're facing. Thanks to funding from West Devon and South Hams local authorities?we can help you through this?business support programme. Open to all businesses regardless of sector or size, as well as anyone thinking of or in the process of becoming self-employed.
East Devon: Innovation & Resilience Fund Application?
If you are thinking of making an Innovation & Resilience Fund application and need help with business planning, financial forecasting, and a better understanding of how you can take your business or organisation on the journey to Net Zero then we can help under the?fully-funded Prosper scheme. Act quick, all expressions of interest must be submitted by 8th May.
Future Farming Reslience Programme
Just 8 months left to benefit from our fully funded support to guide you and your farming business through the agricultural transition. Support is available through workshops?which give comprehensive overviews and updates of the changes in agriculture and the options available to farmers along with?one-to-one support with one of our agricultural advisors. Please?join our newsletter?to receive updates about the programme, as well as additional agricultural support, grants schemes and news from Defra. This summer you will also find us at various shows around the South West, please feel welcome to drop by and say hi and ask any questions you may have.
Read our newest blog article
Written by Kat White
Four ways to gain & maintain the competitive edge for your small business
Coca Cola CEO, James Quincey, recently commented that innovation applied to the organisation’s products, packaging and processes last year has enabled competitive advantage this year and contributed to approximately 30% of Coca Cola’s gross profit growth, which was up 9% in the year1.
Undeniably, Coca Cola has vast resources, but the principle of adopting innovation translates to even the smallest of businesses. And it doesn’t need to cost the Earth. In this article, we look at four ways in which you can gain competitive advantage and grow your small business.?From Competitor analysis, Innovation, Marketing and Sustainability, read how to set your business apart....
Events
EXIST – Leadership?Series: New Power Networks: The Road to Net Zero
22 May | 5.30pm Oxygen House, Exeter
EXIST (Exeter Initiative for Science & Technology), the STEMM initiative from Exeter Chamber announces its second event in the new series of leadership events.
The New Power Network, The Road to Net Zero event will host global, local, and national speakers who will be sharing their experience and expertise in sustainability in business. So far some of the named speakers include Ben Bulger, Managing Director of Oxygen House, Exeter’s BCorp leading the way in green initiatives; Paul Barker, Project Director of Exeter Energy Network, which will be providing cost-effective, low carbon heat to some of Exeter’s key organisations and PwC’s ESG partner, Sam Preece, who will share his observations on the impacts of increasingly complex ESG and sustainability reporting regulations and how this is driving decarbonisation and transformation in data and technology platform requirements. This event is open for all to attend. There will be a FREE bus running to and from Exeter city centre and the event. Tickets include a plant-based meal and drinks and the opportunity to network with other business leaders.? Delegates will also be able to travel to the venue from the city centre by bus, supplied by Stagecoach South West.
Deciding your pricing strategy and routes to market for overseas sales
10 May | 10am UK Export Academy, Online Whether you are exporting goods or services, this session will help you understand how to make strategic decisions for your business. Beginning with a discussion on the different factors that affect your costs when serving overseas customers and also touch on the different pricing models you may wish to consider and think about how to research for price.
Meet the Funder: South West
15 May | 10am Exeter Science Park
At a time when raising investment is difficult and cash is vital, it is more important than ever to fully understand the approach taken by investors when considering an investment opportunity.
领英推荐
In partnership with the British Business Bank, Exeter Science Park are offering you the opportunity to discuss, interrogate and question all things investment with local angel investors and fund managers QantX.
This fireside chat aims to guide you through the mind of an investor, explore their thinking when looking at opportunities and question their approach or thoughts on your own business proposition.
Demo Night at the Hub
16 May | 5pm-8pm Exeter Innovation Hub Demo Night is a friendly, supportive space for anyone to share what they are working on, get feedback or advice, and even find collaborators.? ?
Bridgwater Business Expo
21 June | 9.30am Canalside Conference Centre, Bridgewater Attend this Expo and the opportunity to engage with the local business community in person. Gain valuable insights into the latest economic developments, enhance your brand visibility, forge new business connections, and expand your network with like-minded professionals. ?
Building Brands Conferences?
6 June | ?Somerset ?| Somerset Cricket Ground 21 June | Plymouth |?Roland Levinsky Building Get ready to dive into one of the these events, brimming with marketing insights, networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
Tech South West Awards opennbsp;
The Tech South West Awards 2024 are open for entries. With 25 categories up for grabs? - including Best Startup, FinTech, Sustainability, Commitment to Talent, HealthTech, MarineTech, Women in Tech, Space & Aviation, Tech Company of the Year, Workplace Culture and more - this year's awards promise to be one of the biggest tech events of the year. Innovation is worth celebrating.
Funding Updates
DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 3
UK registered micro, small and medium enterprises in the creative sector can apply for funding of between ￡10,000 and ￡30,000 for innovation projects to grow their business. This funding is from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
Your proposal must:
In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly but we are still unable to fund it.
Devon County Council: Locality Budgets
Applications can now be made to Devon County Council’s Locality Budgets 2024/25, with funding available for projects that benefit local communities in Devon. Each County Councillor in Devon has a Locality Budget grant allocation of ￡8,000 that they can use to respond to local needs in this financial year (April 2024 to March 2025).
Locality budget funding is available to projects that are beneficial to local communities and should be in line with the Council’s objectives and priorities which are to:
MCS Foundation Grant
Charities, public organisations and not-for-profit companies can apply for grants from the MCS Foundation for projects that accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and low carbon technologies. Grants will usually be for between ￡5,000 and ￡50,000 and are intended for projects that have a UK-wide impact, either through having a national reach or through developing an innovative approach that could be replicated, adapted or scaled up.
Morrisons Foundation Grant
Morrisons Foundation – set up by Morrisons supermarket chain – makes grants to registered charities undertaking projects that improve people’s lives. Grants of up to ￡10,000 are available for specific projects that help to improve people’s lives.
To be eligible, projects must address at least one of the following objectives:
The grants are to be used for capital spend or direct project delivery and must cover the entire costs of your project.
All the best
The Business Information Point Team
0800 592 872