Welcome to the Harborough Business Bulletin. We provide a fortnightly overview of the latest business related news, initiatives and support packages.

The Leicestershire Business Advice Service is a fully-funded programme available to entrepreneurs and business owners in Leicestershire. It provides those running or looking to start a business with expert advice and workshops, tailored to your current business stage.

Workshops cover key business themes including:

• regulation & tax

• marketing research
  

• marketing and money management

Your business may also be eligible to benefit from the guidance and support of our experienced advisory team, who have the ability to signpost you to other local and national organisations who can help your business or business idea.

The set up of this service is a partnership between the seven district councils in Leicestershire: Harborough District Council, Blaby District Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Melton Borough Council, and Charnwood Borough Council, although support in the Charnwood Borough Council area won’t start until April 2024.  

Each council has funded the Leicestershire Business Advice Service through their allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding.

Through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, Harborough District Council has allocated funding towards digital projects for rural communities. Projects which can be supported must be capital (lasting assets such as a building or equipment) with a focus on digital infrastructure, and it must meet the objective of strengthening social fabric and fostering a sense of local pride and belonging, through investment in activities that enhance physical, cultural, and social ties and amenities. This includes community infrastructure and local green space, and community-led projects.

The council would like to engage with the community to collate ideas and potential projects that this fund may support. If you think you have a project, please complete the survey and the Economic Development team will be in touch.The deadline for completing the project survey has been extended to 16 October. 

The Harborough Innovation Centre is hosting another fantastic free workshop to help businesses unlock their full potential.

The session will cover:

• What is Process Improvement and how can it benefit your organisation

• Identifying Improvement Opportunities

• Implementing Process improvements

Don't miss this opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and gain valuable knowledge to boost your productivity. Reserve your spot now and take the first step towards becoming a master of efficiency!

The Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge supports UK-based SME innovators who are developing low carbon energy solutions. Successful applicants will receive cash grants and tailored packages of support to drive the commercialisation of innovative energy products and services.

These cash grants are available:

• Phase 1 - up to £5,000

• Phase 2 - up to £20,500

Bespoke business development support designed to aid businesses in scaling-up and commercialisation is also provided. The application round for the next cohort will close on 20 November 2023 (09:00 GMT).

An event exploring employee well-being will be taking place at the Harborough Innovation Centre. This is an excellent opportunity for all employers in the district. Please book to reserve your free space in advance.

As part of preparing Year 11 students for the next stage of their education, Welland Park Academy, Market Harborough is hosting mock interviews on Tuesday 28 November and Tuesday 5 December.

The aim of this day is to give the students the opportunity to experience a realistic interview process.

Please get in touch by 23rd October if you are available to participate in this valuable process for the full day (8.30-3.20), morning (8.30-12.20) or afternoon (1.00-3.20) session.

Once they know who will be attending on the day, they will organise the interviewers into pairs. If you know another interviewer and would like to be paired together, please let them know and they will do their best to accommodate your preferences. 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  

Funding is available to CITB registered employers hosting and employing students in the construction sector.

This grant is a pilot until 31 March 2025 and includes:

• £500 paid to employers who host a construction student on a 1 week's work experience

• An additional £1,000 is paid when the employer takes the student on employment, including an apprenticeship.

This grant supports work experience on the further education construction courses listed below, where the work experience forms a clear element of the course:

• T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

• T Level in Onsite Construction

• Specified Level 2 or 3 Diplomas

• Foundation Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering – SCQF Level 6.

Following the adoption of our Cycling and Walking Strategy and Action Plan in 2021, we are now in the process of developing Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for the county towns and the urban areas surrounding Leicester city. 

We would like to invite you to provide feedback on the current draft cycling and walking network plans that will help shape the Market Harborough Area.

This engagement is your chance to help influence the cycling and walking network, by letting us know what improvements to cycling and walking routes you would like to see, and where.

Your feedback would be welcomed on:

• The draft cycling and walking network.

• Linking businesses through sustainable travel.

• Comments on types of infrastructure improvements you would like to see on the cycling and walking network.

The interactive map is open until 24th October 2023, seeking feedback on the draft Cycling and Walking network and potential infrastructure you would like to see in these areas.