Worcestershire County Council showcases its ‘Open for Business’ message with an event-packed November

Ever wondered if electric cars would be good for your business? Need some advice on how to fund your business growth? Want to cash in on energy-efficiency savings or make sure you’re hitting environmental regulation targets? What about your Cyber Security – does it need an expert view? Whatever business question you have, if you’re based in Worcestershire, or looking to locate a business in the region, you can pick-and-mix from a suite of business support programmes.

This month (November) Worcestershire County Council is kick-starting an ongoing series of business events via a suite of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) business support programmes – that aim to capitalise on the region’s recent success in the Enterprising Britain Awards.

“The county’s Open for Business message is a key priority for Worcestershire County Council, and our suite of business support programmes include a mix of new and existing programmes,” said Lynne Avery, business growth programme manager.

“Our programmes are designed to assist existing businesses, champion innovation and are intended to attract inward investment – especially from companies in Worcestershire’s key interest sectors, which include agri-tech, advanced manufacturing, cyber security and IT,” she said.

Latest research statistics from the Office of National Statistics reveal that Worcestershire has become the third fastest growing area in the UK. Earlier this month (November) the World Class Worcestershire Partnership was awarded highly commended by the Enterprising Britain Awards, the government’s award scheme to encourage entrepreneurial activity in the UK. Worcestershire County Council’s Sue Crow and Lorna Jeynes went to Westminster to collect the award.

Building on this success an event-packed November has been organised, and is intended to pave the way for further opportunities ahead.

The ‘Open for Business’ programmes forming a springboard for business in the region are: Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP), Be Cyber Secure, Enterprising Worcestershire Start-Up and High Growth Start-Up, Low Carbon Opportunities Programme, Worcestershire Business Accelerator, Proof of Concept (POC), Investing in Growth and WINN.

Events scheduled for this month include a Green Expo being hosted at November’s FinditinWorcestershire event, on November 21 at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium, a WINN networking event that spotlights ground-breaking med-tech innovation and practice in the region and a WINN innovation convention showcasing recent innovative success in north Worcestershire.

“The Green Expo is a chance to showcase the new innovative low carbon technologies being developed to buyers and to outline the considerable range of business opportunities for diversification into the low carbon goods and services economy,” said Ruth Corrall, manager of Low Carbon Opportunities Programme.

“We will be demonstrating the opportunities for companies to supply low carbon goods such as solar panels and energy efficiency measures,” she said.

November also features a Sustainability Forum at the iconic Malvern-based Morgan Motors.

“The Sustainability Forum is organised by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce through BEEP and teaming up with Low Carbon Opportunities Programme this time,” said Christopher Atkinson who manages the BEEP programme.

“We will be highlighting the efforts of regional businesses to reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions. Morgan Motors will also talk about their new electric Morgan and Alex Baker from Fleet Innovations will discuss if electric vehicles are suitable for your business,” he said.

Launch month also features a business Drop-in at Bromsgrove Enterprise Park on November 22, intended to give people an easy and accessible awareness of the scope of the business programmes on offer.

Additionally this month, WINN is supporting the launch of a new co-working group at The Hive, Worcester on Friday November 24. Based in the Glass Room on level 0, the group will run every Friday thereafter and is intended to act as a magnet drawing creative and innovative players together. It is an open-access group and is a pre-cursor to a forthcoming shared working space venture in the city centre, due to be announced shortly.

Cllr Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for Economy and Infrastructure,  said that the council’s recent success in the Enterprising Britain awards was a reflection of the work going on to make sure the county really is ‘open for business’.

To keep abreast of events and opportunities in the region, follow the #WorcsOpen4Bis tag on social media.

Event: Green Expo: FinditinWorcestershire

Date: November 21

Venue: Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Time: 6.45-9.30am

Who for: Free breakfast event for businesses interested in finding out more about how energy efficiency and low carbon savings can boost profitability, and what funding is available.

Book: via finditinworcestershire.com

Event: Drop-in for funding and support

Date: November 22

Venue: Basepoint Bromsgrove, Bromsgrove Enterprise Park

Time: Running from 9.30am-4.30pm

What: Quick and easy info on the business support programmes available

For: Open-for-all

Book: Not required, drop-in when it suits.

Event: WINN Wednesday: Changing Lives

Date: November 22

Venue: Worcester Arena

Time: 5-8.30pm

What: Overview of med-tech innovation and practice in the region, with motivational speakers and networking opportunities

For: A free open-for-all event

Book: WINN Website: https://winn-hub.com/

Event: Celebration of innovation networking event

Date: November 23

Venue: Hogarth’s Stone Manor

Time: 10.30-2pm

What: North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) with WINN (Worcestershire Innovation Network) are inviting local businesses to join a Celebration of Innovation.

For:  Businesses in north Worcestershire

Book:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrate-innovation-in-north-worcestershire-tickets-37617970362

Event: BEEP Sustainability Forum

Date: November 29

Venue: Morgan Motor Company, Malvern

Time: 8am – 11am (optional tour from 10am).

Venue: Morgan Motor Company, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 2LL

For: The event is for local businesses interested in reducing the environmental impacts of their operations.

Book: This event is now fully booked, to join the waiting list contact events@hwchamber.co.uk