Business Newsletter

31 August 2023

Latest News

Sneak Preview: New Firepool Digital Centre is set for Business Livestream on Cybercrime

According to the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, cyber security is the greatest risk facing businesses in 2023. The event on 26 September will take a detailed look at the nature of the current and future threat, with particular reference to the importance of a regionally-resilient ecosystem. It’s focused on business leaders, and those who wish to understand and reduce the risks that they face.

This event will feature high profile speakers including Baroness Nicky Morgan and Mark Shelford, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and national lead for Cybercrime.

Cyber resilience in the South West region will be livestreamed from the new Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation Taunton and will be the first chance to see the stunning space ahead of it officially opening later in the year.

To livestream the event visit:

Grants for Net Zero Living: User focused design

This grant funding competition will offer a grant between £50k and £100k to support ambitious early-stage growth businesses in developing net zero products or services.

The project will need to focus on at least one of the following:

• Power
• Heat
• Mobility
• Product Manufacture and Usage

The Design Council will offer bespoke support to each business, assisting the understanding and reception of those products or services to users and those with a significant interest in the supply chain.

Grants for Innovation in Professional & Financial Services

Business Support

Somerset Business Mentoring Programme

Are you interested in becoming a business mentor or mentee?

Mentoring enables Somerset’s small and medium (SME) businesses to learn from our community of experienced business leaders, how to accelerate business development, make better strategic decisions, be more productive and ultimately grow the business. Each SME leader will be matched with an experienced business professional who will guide you to solutions for problems and issues within the business.

To find out more information, please visit our website:

Project Gigabit Grant Vouchers for business

The Government is providing up to £210m worth of voucher funding as immediate help for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas.

Vouchers worth up to £4,500 for businesses will help cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps.

Please check to see if you are eligible in the postcode checker on their website.

Buy with Confidence Scheme

Have you thought about setting your business apart by becoming Trading Standards Approved as part of Buy With Confidence?

This prestigious scheme not only showcases your commitment to excellence and your strong customer service but also reassures potential clients that you are trustworthy and work to the highest standards.

With the Buy With Confidence badge, you can boost customer trust and stand out from the competition with this symbol of reliability and great customer service.

Buy With Confidence is directly run by local authority Trading Standards and only takes businesses that pass its vetting checks. This ensures that those accepted can benefit from increased credibility and enhanced reputation, as well as being able to refer to themselves as Trading Standards Approved.

Don’t miss this chance to flourish in a trustworthy environment.

Sustainable Farming Incentive

Defra has announced that farmers can sign up for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) from 18 September 2023.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive will pay farmers for actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.

Employment and Skills

Cost of living: How employers can support staff and boost retention

Financial stability plays a huge factor in emotional wellbeing and with the cost-of-living crisis continuing, employees are looking to their employers to help them through these challenging times.

Join Blackhawk Network, who will be sharing key insights from the latest BHN Extras research alongside the expertise and experiences of industry panellists, to help SME’s best support their people.

At this event, you will learn:

• How SME businesses can support their staff whilst also facing their own cost-of-living constraints
• How financial well-being impacts business productivity and why is it so important for SMEs to react quickly to dips in financial stability
• Advice on how to boost retention as a number one goal, especially as post-pandemic ‘Cost of Recruitment’ bills are still impacting the workforce
• Practical advice and tips on managing employee’s financial well-being, whilst keeping your business financially viable

In addition to this event, a lucky attendee picked at random will win an eGift worth £150!

Help to Grow: Management Course

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, have access to 10 hours of one-to-one mentor support and join a supportive network of SME leaders.

The programme is 90% subsidised by the Government, meaning participants pay a £750 fee.

UWE Bristol’s Taunton cohort is scheduled to start on 20 November 2023.

Business Events

Find out more information about events happening all around Somerset, delivering a variety of workshops, training and development opportunities

• Documentary Film in a Day Workshop 2 September – 10:00-16:00 – Minehead Bay Festival, Minehead Seafront, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG
• Train4All Construction & Engineering Academy Open Day 2 September – 10:00-13:00 – Train4All Construction & Engineering Academy Units, 1-4 Jubilee Park, Badgers Cross Lane, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7JF
• Business Start-Up and Self Employment Course 4 September – 08:30 start, one week course – online
• Cost Reduction through Sustainability 6 September – 10:00-13:00 – online
• Exploring SFI Options for Your Farm in 2023 6 September – 11:30-14:00 – online
• Introduction to Farm Management Software 6 September – 13:00-15:30 – online
• Annual Bank of England Update 2023 7 September – 08:00-10:00 – Taunton Racecourse and Conference Centre, Orchard Restaurant,  Orchard Portman, Taunton, TA3 7BL
• Somerset and North Somerset Virtual Networking 7 September – 11:00-12:00 – online
• Street, High Street Business Owners, Discussion and Networking 7 September – 18:00-19:00 – The Last Crumb Cafe, Crispin Hall, 83 High Street, Street, BA16 0EZ
• Bridgwater Job Fair 8 September – 10;30-15:30 – Canalside Conference Centre, Marsh Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6LQ
• Business Start-Up and Self Employment Course 11 September – 08:30 start, one week course – online
• Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition 11 September – 18:00-21:00 – Crowcombe Hall, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4AQ
• Somerset Business Awards Launch 12 September – 14:30-16:30 – Hurds Hill, Westover House, Langport, TA10 0ND
• Business communication – Powerfully, Clearly, Effectively 12 September – 10:00-11:00
• Discover Microsoft 365 12 September – 10:00-12:00 – online
• How to Supply Somerset Council 12 September – 10:00-12:00 – Somerset Council Offices, Deane House, Taunton, TA1 1HE
• How to Stay Safe Online 13 September – 10:00-12:30 – online
• Meet the Expert (Food, Drink and Agri) 13 and 14 September – 9:00 start – online
• Yeovil Jobs Fair 14 September – 10:30-15:30 – Westland Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Close, Yeovil, BA20 2DD
• Construction Connections 14 September – 12:00-14:00 – Town Hall, Magdalene St, Glastonbury, BA6 9EL
• Business Start Up Course 14 September – 10:00-13:00 – online (subsequent mandatory sessions will take place on 21 and 28 September)
• #TechTrowbridge Access to Finance 15 September – 9:30-13:00 – Court Hall, Castle St, Trowbridge BA14 8AR
• Social Care Hub 15 September – 14:00-15:00 – Yeovil Innovation Centre, Barracks Close, Copse Road, Yeovil, BA22 8RN
• Business Start-Up and Self Employment Course 18 September – 08:30 start, one week course – online
• Attracting and Retaining Top Talent 18 September – 09:30am-12:30
• Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition 18 September – 18:00-21:00 – Brent Knoll Parish Hall, Brent Knoll, Somerset, TA9 4EH