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Somerset Council Business News – 13 September 2024

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13 September 2024

Latest news

Calling cutting-edge salons: Join the Net Zero Hair revolution!

YouTube video thumbnail featuring Net Zero Now Co-founder Simon Heppner

YouTube video: Net Zero Salon Programme Launch in partnership with L’Oréal

Are you a Somerset hair salon looking to make a cutting-edge impact on the environment?

We’re looking to sponsor a local hair salon to take up a free year’s subscription to the NetZeroNow project in partnership with L’Oréal. This powerful, industry-backed, easy-to-use carbon reduction platform will help you take the first step towards becoming a greener business. The year’s free sponsorship is being funded from a grant secured by the former Mendip District Council.

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Businesses urged to “Take the Pressure Off” in support of hypertension campaign

A SUEZ member of staff having his blood pressure taken.

In Somerset, 1 in 3 people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it. Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure is quick and simple to diagnose and to treat.

In partnership with NHS Somerset, we’re launching our biggest ever campaign ‘Take the Pressure Off’ with the aim of testing thousands of residents to increase awareness and early detection of high blood pressure.

We’re inviting workplaces across Somerset to be part of this campaign and have several options available that may suit your workplace.

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Entries are now open for the Somerset Business Awards 2025

Somerset Business Awards 2025 Logo.

Entries are now open for the Somerset Business Awards 2025, the biggest county-wide business awards which celebrate the best of Somerset’s wide range of companies, charities and organisations.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards, which are organised annually by Somerset Chamber of Commerce. Leading accountancy firm, Albert Goodman, is once again the main sponsor.

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Employment and skills

Supply chain and career opportunities with Agratas

Artists impression of the new battery factory near Bridgwater.

Artists impression of the new battery factory near Bridgwater

With construction now in progress on Agratas’ Gigafactory at the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater, Somerset will soon play to host the biggest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in the UK.

The multi-billion-pound manufacturing facility is projected to contribute almost half of the battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector, creating up to 4,000 high-skilled green tech jobs locally, with many thousands more expected to be created in the UK supply chain.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career or for supply chain opportunities with Agratas, please register your interest using the following forms:

Business support

Unlock your business potential with Somerset Business Hub

High street scene against Somerset's landscape and coastline, with a computer screen in between displaying Somerset Business Hub's homepage.

Are you a business owner looking to expand, innovate, or simply navigate the complexities of running a successful enterprise?

Look no further than the Somerset Business Hub! This invaluable resource is designed to support businesses of all sizes and sectors within Somerset.

It offers comprehensive support services tailored to businesses of all sizes, providing funding opportunities, regulatory guidance, and access to valuable resources like market research and business planning tools.

Find out more

Ready to level up your Digital Business Plan?

Screenshot of Eventbrite's ticket booking page for the Digital Business Plan Workshop featuring a man presenting at a previous training session.

Join our free workshop and learn how to create sustainable profitability for your online business.

The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Growth Hub and Somerset Business Hub is offering businesses free attendance to a ‘Building Your Digital Business Plan’ event taking place between 9.30am and 1pm on 22 October, at Frome Town Hall.

Find out more

Enhance workplace safety with Somerset Business Hub’s first aid training

YouTube video thumbnail featuring a Somerset Business Hub staff member providing First Aid Training to businesses.

YouTube video: Somerset Business Hub First Aid Training for your business

In today’s fast-paced business environment, ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is paramount. Our Somerset Business Hub is proud to offer comprehensive first aid training sessions designed to equip your team with essential life-saving skills.

Our training sessions are tailored to meet the needs of businesses, providing practical and theoretical knowledge that can make a significant difference in emergency situations.

Find out more

Join the South West Visitor Economy Hub today!

South West Visitor Economy Hub Logo.

The South West Visitor Economy Hub is excited to introduce a new, free online tool designed for tourism businesses in Devon and Somerset. The online tool provides easy access to real-time data, helping you understand how your business is performing compared to others, the impact of your marketing, visitor trends, demographics and feedback through simple visuals.

By signing up, you’ll gain insights into visitor volumes, perceptions, and future trends, allowing you to track and improve business performance compared to others in the region.

Find out more

Don’t miss September training sessions with Decarb Somerset

CCS Decarb Somerset social graphic featuring logos as well as partners', captioned: 'Fully funded free training and events'.

Are you part of a community-run building like a community shop, pub, social enterprise, charity office/venue, sports pavilion, scout hut, church room, or any other community building?

The Community Council for Somerset (CCS)’s Decarb Somerset project run by the is offering two training events to support your journey to reducing your carbon footprint.

Find out more

Funding to help drive marine and maritime innovation in the South West

Innovate UK graphic featuring an aerial shot of ocean waves, captioned: 'Great South West Launchpad Marine and Maritime Innovation'.

Innovate UK has launched a pioneering initiative in the South West to build on local innovation strengths, offering businesses and innovators grants ranging from £25,000 to £750,000.

The funding will support projects by businesses growing their innovation activities in the marine and maritime cluster in the Great South West – covering Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Companies and consortia can bid for projects focusing on many different aspects of innovation, from clean power at sea to autonomous monitoring and inspection, and from decarbonising ports to sensors and communications.

Find out more

Help to Grow: Management course coming to Taunton

Front cover snippet of UWE's Help to Grow Management course brochure, captioned: 'Boost your business's performance, resilience and ling-term growth'.

Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week practical management training course designed to support senior managers of SMEs to boost performance, resilience, and long-term growth.

Attend online and face-to-face training sessions, engage in regular peer group calls, access 10 hours of one-to-one mentor support and join a supportive network of SME leaders. The programme is 90% funded by the government, meaning participants pay a £750 fee.

UWE Bristol’s Taunton cohort is scheduled to start on 18 November 2024.

Find out more

Dream bigger with Eagle Labs Academy

Barclays graphic featuring a seated woman working at a desk, captioned: 'Dream bigger with Eagle Labs Academy'.

Barclays Eagle Labs have launched a new Eagle Labs Academy, funded by the UK Government and designed to support startups and scaleups.

The Academy helps to give anyone (including non-Barclays clients) access to entrepreneurship and investment-readiness training, wherever they are in the UK. This applies to both founders right at the start of their journey all the way up to those trying to scale.

There are long-form insights and bite-size lessons available which have been designed to offer practical, actionable insights with learning at a pace that suits.

Find out more

Business events

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We’ve selected a handful of featured events, but please be sure to check the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses websites for other events.

See events

Contact us

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If you have an enquiry concerning Economic Development, please get in touch with us at ecdev@somerset.gov.uk.

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