Latest News from FSB Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
£1,000 grant to support your low carbon transport innovations!
Why do I need to innovate?
It is vital for all businesses to innovate and develop new ideas to stay ahead in a competitive market. With greater emphasis increasingly placed on reducing carbon in transport related areas, there are significant opportunities for new products and services in this field.
How do bring my ideas to life?
Once you have a great idea, it is important to test the concept and plan the steps required to take it to market. An Innovation Voucher allows you to work with experts in the field to develop your ideas, define the next steps and try new things without risk.
Innovation Voucher grant supportEValu8 Transport Innovations are running an innovation voucher scheme in the East of England to encourage the region's companies to develop new products, services and ideas across the broad area of low carbon transport.
The vouchers provide easy-to-access funding, supported by the European Union, to encourage innovation and business growth.
The vouchers allow businesses to access specialist consultancy up to the value of £1,000; this consultancy can be provided by universities, research institutes, consultancies, or one of your own suppliers, to support innovation by your business.
Benefits of applying for an Innovation Voucher
- £1,000 of consultancy at no cost to the business
- Test new ideas in a risk free environment
- Find experts who can help solve problems and build relationships for further development
- Tap into a network of innovators in similar markets to generate new ideas
Who can apply for funding?
Any SME or sole trader in the East of England is eligible to apply for a voucher
What types of project are eligible for voucher funding?
The aim of the scheme is to encourage and accelerate innovation in and around the low carbon transport market. Therefore any project receiving funding must demonstrate how the proposed project will positively influence this market. In addition, projects should also demonstrate how the innovations could lead to future job retention and growth.
Likely project areas could include (but are not limited to):
- Development of new in-vehicle products
- Developments of Electric Vehicles (EV)/low carbon transport technology
- Developments in low carbon transport infrastructure
- Software products supporting and enhancing low carbon transport options
- Designing and promoting services to the low carbon transport market
- Innovative behavioural change programmes to encourage the shift to low carbon transport modes
- Products/services requiring sustainable transport planning initiatives which reduce the carbon impact of transport
If you have a great idea which you're not sure qualifies, get in touch with us anyway – we would be pleased to have an informal discussion with you about eligibility.
How do I apply?
- All applications for vouchers from companies will be managed by EValu8 through the short, and easy to complete, application form available on their website – www.evalu8-ti.org.uk.
- Applications are open from 15th April 2012
- Full details of the scheme and application guidance can be found at www.evalu8-ti.org.uk
For more information, contact us at 01707 284742 or email
info@evalu8-ti.org.uk or attend one of our innovation workshops or events which will be held across the region during 2012.
FSB Sponsors Young Enterprise Winners in Bedfordshire
The FSB was pleased to sponsor the Marketing Award at the
Bedfordshire finals of this year's Young Enterprise competition. The award was won by ‘Erfolg' – a team of students from Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard.
The celebration evening was attended by Damian Cummins, Chair of FSB's Luton and South Bedfordshire branch.
‘The FSB is keen to champion and celebrate entrepreneurship in all its forms' said Damian, ‘so we are delighted to sponsor our local Young Enterprise competition. With 14 teams, the calibre and enthusiasm shown by all these young entrepreneurs is extremely promising for Bedfordshire's economic future.'
Grants to help businesses install electric vehicle charging points
The electric vehicle (EV) market in the UK is developing rapidly. Many car manufacturers released full electric and plug-in
hybrid models during 2011 with more planned for 2012.
Increasingly, businesses are considering the benefits of using EVs and are providing charging facilities for staff and visitors that chose to drive them. EVs also have an important role in our future business travel and vehicle fleets.
EValu8 Transport Innovations Limited at the University of Hertfordshire is delivering a government-supported "Plugged in Places" programme which aims to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the East of England.
Through this programme, grants are available to SMEs for up to 75% against the total costs of charging post purchase and installation (up to a maximum of £6,375 per post).
The funding is only available until March 2013 so interested parties are urged to make contact with the EValu8 team as soon as possible.
For more information please take a look at http://www.evalu8-ti.org.uk/get-involved or contact the EValu8 team direct at info@evalu8-ti.org.uk or on 01707 28 4742
One-Stop Shop Website is ‘Welcome Boost for Business'
.jpg "Cambridge Plus Launch")
Business leaders have welcomed a new ‘one-stop shop' website that has been launched to help make it easier to do business in South Cambridgeshire and to attract new firms to
set up in the district.
‘Cambridge Plus' brings together information about what the district can offer businesses, support
available to help firms grow and tackle difficult periods, and a picture of what life is like in South Cambridgeshire – an area consistently voted in polls as one of the top places to live and work in the country.
Businesses and anyone looking to set up a new company can now log on to www.cambridge-plus.com to find out more.
New ‘Buy with Confidence Scheme' – Recruiting Traders in Cambridgeshire!
FSB members Dick Jarvis and Malcolm Lyons recently attended the launch of Cambridgeshire County Council's new approved-trader scheme ‘Buy with Confidence'. Trading Standards is now recruiting traders to join the scheme. If you offer your customers a high quality service and operate in a fair and honest way, the County Council wants to hear from you!
What does the scheme offer businesses?
- You will be joining the largest ‘Trading Standards Approved' scheme in the country, operating in nearly 50 local authority areas nationally
- Potential for increased sales due to the marketing of the scheme to the public
- Promotion of your businesses on the Buy With Confidence website
- Buy With Confidence ‘Trading Standards Approved' logo can be used on all your advertising, paperwork and vehicles
- Increased consumer confidence in your business
- Impartial help and advice from us if problems arise
- Demonstrates commitment to quality service and customer care
What are the costs?
The joining fee is £120 plus an annual fee of between £120 and £240 depending on the size of your business (fees are reviewed annually). A small part of the fee pays for the administration of the scheme, with the remainder used to pay for promotion of the scheme, thereby helping to promote your business.
How can I find out more?
If you are interested in joining, to see more details of the criteria and the checks that the local authority will undertake in order for you to take part in the scheme, visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or get in touch on 0345 0455206 and they will send you an information pack.
Drought situation and hosepipe ban
Many parts of this region will be affected by a hosepipe ban, which comes into force on the 5th April.
Read a recent letter sent to our Cambridge Branch from Peter Simpson, Managing Director of Anglian Water.
If you are unsure how you might be affected - visit
Anglian Water website or take a quick look at the Drought Matters leaflet.
Four MEPs sign up as Real-Life Entrepreneur Champions
FSB Cambridge East branch attended Robert Sturdy MEP's 'Going Global Conference' at Robinson College in Cambridge on the 2 March.
The event brought together a number of speakers from the European Commission, UKTI, entrepreneurs and Minister Mark Prisk to encourage businesses from the region to look again at exporting.
John Walker, FSB National Chairman, emphasised the need to make exporting less bureacratic and less risky for small businesses - a point well received by the companies in the audience.
Outside the presentations, four MEPs signed up to become Champions for the FSB's Real Life Entrepreneurs Campaign.
Robert Sturdy, Vicky Ford and David Campbell Bannerman - all MEPs for the East of England - and Syed Kamall, MEP for London, all willingly agreed to support the FSB in lobbying for better trading conditions for small businesses.
Mark Prisk praised the campaign in his opening remarks to the conference.
Picture: Minister Mark Prisk (centre), with FSB's John Walker (left) and Dick Jarvis, Cambridge East Branch Chair (right)
Picture: Robert Sturdy MEP signs as Real Life Champion for FSB in Cambridge.
Local businesses helped to tame their monkeys in Tilsworth
The Federation of Small Businesses held its first meeting of a new networking group for Luton and South Bedfordshire businesses at Tilsworth Golf Club on 29th February.
With a theme of ‘Taking a Leap into Networking', the group of nearly fifty local business people enjoyed presentations by the FSB's legal service and then heard from award winning author, business mentor and coach Dee Clayton.
Dee launched her new book ‘Taming Your Public Speaking Monkeys' at the event, and let the audience into some of her secrets of networking and public speaking.
‘Small businesses need more help than ever in the current economic climate' said Damian Cummins, Chair of the FSB's Luton and South Bedfordshire Branch.
‘That's why the FSB is doing more to help its members find business opportunities and improve their presentation skills.'
For more information on Dee Clayton and to buy her new book visit
Dee Clayton - happy to be taming monkeys with the FSB.
Stevenage Leader signs up to become Champion for Entrepreneurs
Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, agreed to become a 'Real-Life Entrepreneurs Champion' for the Federation of Small Businesses last week at the Stevenage Small Business Summit.
The business breakfast event, organised by the FSB and Borough Council, attracted nearly 90 local business people to the Business & Technology Centre in Bessemer Drive, Stevenage - home to Hertfordshire's enterprise agency WENTA.
Delegates heard from motivational speaker and local entrepreneur Steve Clarke, who challenged the audience to 'stop complaining for seven days', and focus on making positive changes in their businesses. Other presentations included alternative finance and supplying to the Council. The event also launched the Stevenage Small Business of the Year Award, as part of the FSB Hertfordshire Small Business Awards 2012.
FSB's Pam Charman (left) and Cllr Taylor, signing up to become a Real Life Champion.
Real-Life Entrepreneurs Campaign Launches in Bedford
Over fifty businesses from around the Beds, Cambs and Herts region attended the regional launch of the Real-Life Entrepreneurs campaign and Entrepreneurs Roadshow at Bedford Blues Rugby Club on 23 February.
As well as a thoroughly entertaining presentation from 'The Beemat Entrepreneur' Mike Southon, guests heard about FSB's legal protection, the new pension scheme for small businesses and the FSB's business awards in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
The event was well supported by local business support partners and service providers, with stands from HM Revenues and Customs, WENTA / MyIncubator, Central Bedfordshire Council, Cranfield Technology Park, Streamline, Towergate and REGUS.
To get a flavour of the event - watch the
Real Life launch video, and see local business people explain why they are the real-life entrepreneurs. To see photos from the event visit FSB's page on
Twitpic.
Delegates enjoying networking at Bedford Blues Rugby Club. (Photo: Steve Kettle)
FSB Launches Business Awards in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
The FSB Bedfordshire Business Awards and FSB Hertfordshire Small Business Awards are now open for 2012.
For details of each competition, all categories and sponsors visit the awards sites:
Bedfordshire Awards site
Hertfordshire Awards site
There will be opportunities to meet the judges at events in the Spring, plus of course the gala awards ceremonies in June. Details of these events will also be listed on our events calendar.
It is free to enter the awards and you may enter up to three separate categories. For a taste of the awards watch the launch video clips:
Bedfordshire launch video
Hertfordshire launch video
Best of luck!!