Local Events in April
Friday 5 April: Rushcliffe Business Partnership’s ‘West Bridgford Networking @ Portello Lounge’. More details and tickets.
Wed 17 April: FSB’s monthly in-person networking at Aldern House in Bakewell (17.00-18.30). Open to FSB members and non-members. Information and tickets.
Friday 19 April: Rushcliffe Business Partnership’s ‘Mastering SEO & Securing Your Business Online’ at Rushcliffe Golf Club in East Leake (9.30-11.30). Information and tickets.
Wed 24 April: The FSB will be exhibiting at the Chesterfield Business Expo. Why not come and say hello? Tickets are free and available from the Expo website.
Thurs 25 April: FSB’s Branding Brilliance Bootcamp at the Peak Edge Hotel near Chesterfield (8.45-15,00). Completely free to all businesses – no need be an FSB member – join us for an inspiring transformative day designed to equip your business with the insights needed to drive success. We have five fabulous speakers, plus formal and informal networking. Not to mention food! It really is a day not to be missed! Book your FREE place.
Do you offer products or services that could support other small and medium-sized businesses on their journey to excellence? If so, why not exhibit at our Business Support Expo that is part of our bootcamp? Prices start from just £75 + VAT. Find out more details and reserve your stand here.
Friday 26 April: FSB Monthly Virtual Networking for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Hosted by Dawn Edwards of Challenge Consulting, join us at 10am for an hour of fun and discussion with other local businesses, with everyone given the chance to showcase their offering. You can book your place now
Other Information and Support
Nottingham City Council are offering free training to representatives from small and medium-sized businesses for them to become ‘Workplace Healthy Minds Champions’. You can email [email protected] for more information or click here for their web page. Free, online, introductory training sessions are on Tuesday 26 March or Thursday 25 April.
Nottingham Trent University are starting a brand-new Help to Grow: Management course on 5th April. The course is a practical training course, designed to fit around the demands of full-time work Find out more and register your interest on their dedicated web page (eligibility criteria applies). Keep an eye out for our longer article on Help to Grow: Management, coming soon.
Ashfield District Council’s Business Support Service provides a range of services to business located in their area. They offer a range of services to help businesses find solutions to their challenges. They currently have several grants available and offer free in-person or remote support. For more information visit their website or email [email protected]
Business support is still available via the Accelerator project. Funded by UK government, the accelerator provides support to businesses across the East Midlands to help them start, sustain, grow, and innovate. Fully funded and tailored to the needs of each participating district across the region, the project can provide your business with impactful support that will leave a lasting impact on your business plan. Exact support depends on your location. Find out more on the D2N2 Accelerator web page.
Artificial Intelligence. FSB published its latest report, Redefining Intelligence: The Growth of AI Among Small Firms, on 4 March. The report shows that while 20 per cent of small firms are already using AI, 73 per cent are yet to embrace it due to concerns relating to intellectual property and deepfakes – highlighting the urgent need for regulation. However, it was welcome to see the Chancellor’s Spring Budget contain details about an AI-training programme for SMEs. FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie MBE said: “It’s more important than ever to prove AI is our ally, not a foe.” More here.
We are thrilled to see four local businesses heading for the UK final of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024 as winners from the East Midlands. They were presented with their regional awards at a ceremony at the Rutland Hall Hotel in Oakham on 21st March and will now attend the national finals to be held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 9th May. Our Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire winners are:
- Engravers Guild, Burton-on-Trent (Micro Business Award)
- Optimise by Recruitment, Chesterfield (Service Excellence Award)
- TekShop, Nottingham (Family Business Award)
- Ask the Chameleon, Burton-on-Trent (Self-Employed/Freelancer Award)
Rachel Hayward, founder of Ask the Chameleon, said “I am absolutely over the moon to be the Self-Employed/Freelancer winner for the East Midlands, made even more special as it's the 50th year for the FSB. Small businesses are the backbone of this country and despite challenging economic conditions, awards like these support our growth, continued success and enable us to come together and celebrate”.
Congratulations to all our East Midlands winners and good luck in Blackpool!