Business Support and Information

Business Opportunities

Evesham company has a Sales and Purchasing vacancy

Showcase your idea at the Conservative Party's Start Up Hub 2013

Skills and Investment Manager sought for Worcestershire County Council

Worcestershire County Council is looking for a dynamic and high performing Skills and Investment Manager who will lead on a range of major investment projects to raise the skills performance of the County.

Details

A simple, easy way for you to find out about local supplier opportunities
#tenderCOGS

The Cogs Group has launched a Twitter hashtag campaign to make it easier for local businesses to find out about local supplier opportunities. This campaign is for any business wanting to buy or sell a product or service in the Shropshire or Telford and Wrekin areas.

All opportunities advertised by Shropshire Council and Telford& Wrekin Council procurement teams will be publicised on their Twitter accounts using the hashtag #tenderCOGS.

To make sure that you can gain access to these opportunities you should follow Shropshire Council: @shropbusiness.

@Cogsatwork will be re-tweeting all tweets using #tenderCOGS - so start following!!!

Please note: Telford & Wrekin Council's Twitter account will be set up in the next few weeks.

Cogs is working on expanding the campaign across other purchasing organisations in Shropshire so if you have a supplier opportunity and a Twitter account please advertise this using #tenderCOGS.

Let's improve local tender opportunities!!! #tenderCOGS

National Apprenticeship Awards 2013

The Apprenticeship Awards are now open for entry.

The Apprenticeship Awards are held annually and hosted by the National Apprenticeship Service, who manage and fund Apprenticeships in England.

If you are an employer who is committed to Apprenticeships and can clearly show the direct benefits to your business or if you are an apprentice who is succeeding in your chosen career through your Apprenticeship then an Apprenticeship Award could be the perfect opportunity for you to shine.

The closing date for entries is Friday 26 April 2013.

The categories available for entry in this year's awards are

Apprentice Awards

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2013
Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2013
Higher Apprentice of the Year 2013
Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2013

Employer Awards

Small Employer of the Year 2013
Medium Employer of the Year 2013
Large Employer of the Year 2013
Macro Employer of the Year 2013

For further information about the Apprenticeship Awards click HERE or to make an entry follow the below link

The Apprenticeship Awards Entry

"Skills are vital because they support economic growth, ensuring that both employers and employees have the skills they need for their companies to succeed. Apprenticeships are at the heart of our skills policy.

"These awards offer a great platform for everyone involved to gain recognition not just for excelling in their chosen field, but for playing a leading part in that vital process."
Matthew Hancock – Skills Minister, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

When can I enter the National Apprenticeship Awards 2013?

The National Apprenticeship Awards are open until Friday 26 April 2013, to enter go to apprenticeships.org.uk/awards

Enterprising Britain awards now open for entries

The Enterprising Britain Awards 2013 are now open for entries giving the UK its chance to showcase its entrepreneurial flair.

The annual Enterprising Britain Awards form part of the Department of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) ongoing work to highlight the range of enterprising areas across the UK and is open to all cities, towns, places, areas or organisations in the UK that promote enterprise and exporting, in partnership with public bodies.

There are four Awards Categories which are:

The most enterprising place in the UK
Promoting Enterprise
Encouraging Exporting
The School/FE College Community Enterprise Award

As in past years, two of the UK Award winners will be selected to become the UK's entries into the European Enterprise Promotion Awards, where in 2012 the UK entry from YTKO also won the top European Award, the Grand Jury Prize.

Applications this year will be accepted online at www.enterprisingbritainawards.co.uk which provides comprehensive details on all the award categories, as well as accepting online registration and completed applications for this year's awards.

This is a great opportunity for organisations across the whole of the UK to gain recognition and celebrate the work that they are doing to strengthen their local economy through a range of enterprising activity and support for new entrepreneurs.

The Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network is the official European Commission business support network helping organisations to make the most of the European marketplace. Enterprise Europe Network Midlands provides a regional gateway to support for businesses in both the West and East Midlands.

It offers a range of free services including help to develop your business in new markets, source or license new technologies and access EU finance and EU funding.

One funding stream which is currently available is theGrowth Accelerator. This may not be directly applicable to you, but you may know of someone who could benefit.

The details about the Growth Accelerator are:

Scheme Outline: A mentoring and support programme designed to help up to 26,000 new and evolving businesses in England to achieve their ambition and potential, as well as creating approximately 55,000 high-value jobs.

Funding/Support:Through the initiative, businesses will be assisted with raising money, implementing a business development strategy or bringing a new product to market. Applicants may also qualify for a Leadership and Management grant of up to £2,000 per individual to support skills development.

Who can apply: Start-up and evolving businesses that have the potential for rapid and sustainable growth may apply for support through this programme.

Application Deadline(s):There are no stated deadlines; therefore applications for support may be submitted at any time.

Contact Tel:08444 463 2995 08444 463 2995 FREE

E-mail:enquiries@growthaccelerator.com

Website:http://www.growthaccelerator.com

General information about the work of the Enterprise Europe Network can be found here: http://www.eenmidlands.org.uk/

Could you export?

FSB has worked extensively with UKTI, the Government's export agency, in the knowledge that many small businesses are well suited to export, but lack the knowledge, confidence, overseas contacts and so on to make it happen. This new, cost effective, package is aimed at those businesses new to, or considering, export. It's a very positive step in the right direction and will support many small businesses who decide to dip their toe in the export market.

Details

Worcestershire County Council seek the right service from the right provider at the right price

Visit http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/bold/commissioning.aspx and find out how Worcestershire County Council:

Evaluates the need
Designs the specification to meet that need
Sources providers
Reviews performance

Visit the Commissioning Catalogue here

Visit Worcestershire procurement portal here

Are you a small business looking to move into renewable energies installation?

Free training, funded by a range of local authorities is available to sole traders, small and medium sized businesses.

Information here

Business Opportunities in Europe

More information

British Business Club

The Department for UK Trade and Industry launches its UK wide business club - the British Business Club

Whatever your business, the FSB will work for you.