Businesses across the North West Leicestershire district now have access to a new funded business support programme, the Leicestershire Business Advice Service.
The free to access support will include start-up workshops, accelerator programmes, one-to-one advice and more to help businesses at all stages of their journey. Whether you have a business idea, have just started out, are an established organisation looking to accelerate your growth or just need a bit of advice to help with your business planning, the Leicestershire Business Advice Service will be able to support you.
North West Leicestershire District businesses will be able to access face-to-face appointments with advisors at the North West Leicestershire Customer Service Centre in Coalville, as well as a range of training workshops across Leicestershire.
To find out more or get in touch, visit Leicestershire Business Advice Service (exemplas.com)
The service will be provided by Exemplas who are experienced in delivering business support programmes that helps SMEs develop, communities thrive and local economies grow.
It is funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), through the district councils of Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston.
Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) 
Research shows that businesses that access support grow faster. Our network of delivery partners is experienced in helping businesses gain investment and training from a wide range of local and national development programmes. We also make it simpler for busy SMEs to win investment, access training and become more productive.
Contact the Business Gateway if you need help with starting or growing your business and subscribe for our regular business support news and events. Complete an enquiry form today.
E: growthhub@bizgateway.org.uk T: 0116 454 2917
Government launches new free management course for small businesses
The Government has launched Help to Grow: Management Essentials, a new, free, bite-sized online course to help small businesses grow.
Delivered by the Government in partnership with the Chartered Association of Business Schools, Help to Grow: Management Essentials covers the essential business concepts required to unlock growth through short videos featuring practical tips and resources.
Help to Grow: Management Essentials is the latest addition to the Help to Grow toolkit supporting UK small businesses to scale up and grow. It is open to business leaders and senior managers who are looking to boost their leadership skills and their business performance.
It builds on the success of the Help to Grow: Management Course - a 12-week programme featuring online and face-to-face learning, peer networking, mentoring and a thriving Alumni network.
Sign up today and get ready to take your business to the next level.
The Help to Grow website provides a one-stop shop of support and advice for small businesses including the basics of setting up a business for the first time and on wider training and skills, mentorships, finance and funding.
East Midlands Chamber Webinars
Please find the next set of webinars, designed to support business in their transition to net zero, April/May
Journey to Net Zero: 12 Opportunities for businesses – 30 April, online (10am-11:30am)
Looking for an approach to decarbonise and grow your business at the same time, but confused by the multitude of advice and guidance?
In this webinar, Dr Fred Paterson, Dr Polina Baranova and Dr Bruno Gallotta, who lead on sustainable and responsible business at the University of Derby, offer a straightforward route map to the Net Zero journey for businesses.
This team of practice-leading academics will outline an approach that aims to enhance business competitiveness whilst reducing environmental impact and strengthening your green offer.
Twelve Opportunities for businesses are based on practical examples and reflections based on over 7-years experience of working and supporting businesses through an award-winning EU funded project in the D2N2 LEP region.
This interactive webinar aims to raise awareness about the approach whilst providing practical contributions and recommendations for business leaders and policy makers.
Book your free place here
Reasons and Benefits for Implementing ISO14001 – 7 May, online (10am – 11am)
In this short webinar, delivered by Ted Spiller, Compliance Consultant at CertiKit, we will cover some of the reasons and benefits for implementing the ISO14001 standard to help you reduce the environmental risks that can affect both your business and your community. Topics will include:
- Why do you need ISO14001?
- Benefits of a fully implemented environmental management system
- The 10 steps to implementing ISO14001 into your business
- The certification process
- Maintaining the management system when in place
This session will demystify some of the reasons and benefits of implementing ISO14001.
Book your free place here
How can ISO management systems help small businesses in reaching Net Zero – 14 May, online (10am – 11am)
ISO standards provide a structured framework for organizations to manage various aspects of their operations, including environmental performance. This webinar helps you understand how ISO management systems can assist your business in your Net Zero journey. We will cover:
- What ISO management systems are useful to help reach Net Zero
- How each management system contributes to reaching Net Zero
- Integrating multiple management systems to reduce effort and increase benefits
- A case example on how an organization used ISO management systems to drive their goal of reaching Net Zero
Book your free place here
The Carbon Neutral Journey – Not all footprints, verifications & offsets are the same! – 22 May, online (10am – 11am)
The route to carbon neutrality is fraught with misunderstandings and misinformation. There are a lot of offerings out in the market but how does a company know what is the right one for them. Self-certifications and black box calculators are leaving companies exposed. How can they be sure not to fall foul of the dangers of not taking the right verified path and encountering claims of potential “greenwashing” or futile offsetting with the huge reputational, financial and soon to be legal damage this can bring.
Many businesses now also solve their scope 3 issue with complicated software systems which shift the burden onto smaller businesses without providing clarity on how a smaller business and larger SME’s can practically tackle both carbon and cost reduction in one.
Book your free place here
Made Smarter Adoption Programme – whatever you make, make it smarter
Made Smarter has launched a £3 million digital adoption push to drive growth in manufacturing SMEs and help them boost productivity.
Digital experts will provide advice and support to manufacturing businesses on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies. The programme provides digital transformation road mapping, leadership development, grant funding and access to industrial digital technology expertise to help with implementation until 31st March 2025.
The possibilities are endless with digital tech. Whatever problem you’re facing, or whatever goal you’re working towards, Made Smarter can find a smarter solution. You will be helped to:
- Improve capacity
- Maximise efficiency
- Reduce lead times
- Increase profits
Made Smarter Adoption is open to small and medium-sized manufacturing and engineering businesses that have manufacturing premises in Leicestershire. Register your interest now to see if you are eligible for free support.
Employ An Apprentice For Your Business
A Step By Step Guide - Apprenticeships.Gov.UK
For further information about the Apprenticeship Levy, and how it may affect your business, please see the Apprenticeship Levy pages on the Government website.
Stephenson College Apprenticeships
If you are interested in apprenticeships, or would like some advise on the Apprenticeship Levy, you can contact their Apprenticeship Advisors on 01530 519 001 or email apprenticeships@stephensoncoll.ac.uk who will be happy to assist.
LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub
The Business Gateway is here to support your business, no matter your size or sector. Take advantage of the signposting service available for any business in Leicester or Leicestershire seeking advice, information and funding. You can also book events or webinars as listed below.
If you need support, please contact the Business Gateway:
- Contact us: www.bizgateway.org.uk/enquiry
- Subscribe for support updates: https://bizgateway.org.uk/subscribe/
- Visit the website: www.bizgateway.org.uk
Last updated: Mon 29 April, 2024 @ 08:29