Video Transcript
” Hello, Happy New Year, and welcome to the January edition of the newly named Worcestershire Business Support Newsletter. New year, new name. As we start the new year, the team have come back recharged and ready to help more businesses in the county to succeed and realize their growth ambitions.
I’m pleased to share that the event schedule for Tech Fest 2026 has now been released. Working with our partners, we’ve got a series of events planned in February to inform, engage and support businesses, education and individuals about all things technology and innovation in Worcestershire.
Some notable highlights from the event plan include the launch event on Monday 16 February, which will be a great opportunity to learn more about Worcestershire’s ambition around innovation and technology for the county. Then we have our AI conference on Tuesday 17 February, a full day event talking all things AI. We also have several events planned as part of our growing Women in Technology and Innovation community too. These are just a few of the highlights, with even more taking place across the two weeks. So please make sure you read the articles in the newsletter to get involved and see the event schedule.
With the focus on February, we’ll also be joining celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week, which takes place that month. Apprenticeships offer a vital pathway for employers to recruit, upskill or reskill staff, and there are changes coming to make the value for employers even greater. Currently, as an employer, you do not have to pay any national insurance for your apprentices under the age of 25, and from April onwards, you will also not have to pay any training costs for your apprentices under 25 either. Our team works closely with Worcestershire Apprenticeships, who engage with all of the training providers in the county. So not only is the cost of apprenticeships reducing for businesses, we can even help you find the right apprenticeship program and candidate for your business. Please get in touch with the Growth Hub team to find out more.
The Growth Hub team is also pleased to be working with our partners, the Chamber of Commerce, to deliver a meet the buyer event on Friday 6 February. This event will offer valuable insights and guidance by identifying where and when to find business opportunities and exploring how small businesses can gain significant benefits by bidding for tenders. Come along to find out more. Hear from some key speakers and engage with a plethora of local providers about the business opportunities available here in Worcestershire. Full details can be found in the event section of the newsletter and on our website.
Thank you for listening. As you can see, we’ve got an exciting start to 2026 underway and lots of support available to help Worcestershire businesses. As always, please make sure to get in touch with the Growth Hub team to ensure your business is supported to grow here in Worcestershire.
We’ll see you next time.”
