Calling local employers! Do you have upcoming job vacancies?

The council's Economic Development Team are looking for employers to take part in the first Harborough Jobs Week.

The Harborough Jobs Week will run from Monday 22 – Sunday 28 March 2021 

Over the week, local job vacancies will be featured as well as useful employment support opportunities for job seekers in the district.

Employers can let us know about available job vacancies and they will be advertised for free across the council's channels during the week. Get in touch with us now to be included business@harborough.gov.uk

If you are looking for a job, make sure you join us for Harborough Jobs Week and keep an eye on our webpage for more details coming soon.

If you need support in the meantime, please do get in touch at business@harborough.gov.uk or check out our work and skills page: https://investinharborough.com/workandskills/

The LLEP (Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Ltd) need to develop a fuller understanding of the impact of digital exclusion across the Leicester and Leicestershire area to inform future investments to assist economic recovery.
 
The LLEP will also shortly be recruiting a Digital Skills Coordinator to lead on assessing the evidence, which will be used to contribute towards the development of a LLEP area Digital Skills Partnership, leading on digital skills needs across the area, demand and supply, and facilitating actions to address digital gaps and to help inform a future area Digital Skills Strategy.
 
The LLEP Skills Advisory Panel, who lead on employment and skills strategy across the area, are supporting this survey.

Click the link below to complete the survey, there are 5 questions in total and it closes on 31 March 2021.

We had a great session on 24 February, delving into new ways we can understand how, who and what we market our business to on our social media platforms.

Why not join us with Social Media consultancy, Status Social, again on 10 March, 9:30am - 11am, where they will be sharing the same expertise which has seen them work with brands such  as Vision Express, Marriott Hotels and Alton Towers.

There's no point being on social media if you don't know whether it's bringing you success.

This webinar will show you how to measure their social media activity so you can do more of what works, and less of what doesn't!
We'll walk through the available analytics in the major networks so you will never waste your time on social media again.

You can find out about our other upcoming events via the link below.

If you are looking to start a full-time course or apprenticeship in September 2021, this event is for you!

This online event will enable you to have a personalised experience based on subjects you are interested in and information you want to see. 

Take a tour of the campus, ask how you can be supported as a student with finance and bursaries, travel, learning support and English and Maths.

You can find out more about the event and register, via the link below.

 The coronavirus pandemic is forcing food and drink producers to diversify, develop new products or services and target new markets - which means having to learn new processes or skills. Together with our delivery partners, The Food and Drink Forum, producers in Leicester and Leicestershire can now access a new programme of funded support.

You kind find out about the programme of webinars delivered by the Business Gateway as well as free support available to you and your business in their recent newsletter via the link below.

Round 2 of the Hardship Top Up Grants Scheme closes on Monday 15 March 2021. 

This is open to businesses that have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of ceasing trading or dissolving. If you have received grants already, you can still be considered for this grant. 

Are you looking to upscale your new business, or downsize to a manageable space in Market Harborough?

Market Harborough's award winning indoor market may be the place for you. Open 6 days a week, with footfall in excess of 10k per week, offering excellent transport links and on-site parking, the market is the perfect town centre location to grow your retail or service led business.

Comprising of a Food Hall, a General Hall, and home to a weekly craft and antiques market, there are options for casual, short term and long term lettings.

Expressions of interest are welcome from artisan bakeries, confectioners, and businesses retailing bottled beer and drinks, vegan and vegetarian foods, kitchen equipment and cookware, DIY tools, garden and decorating equipment, books, greeting cards and so much more.

For more information contact  s.butt@harborough.gov.uk 

The popular Farmer's Market returns this week on 4 March, and will be running every first Thursday of the month, on the Square in the centre of Market Harborough town.

As always there will be lots of fresh and local produce to be discovered.

If you are a local farmer or food producer and would like to get involved in the monthly Farmer's Markets in Market Harborough, you can do so by emailing s.butt@harborough.gov.uk or via the link below.

If so, have you thought about applying to the Kickstart Scheme?

The scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
As a gateway organisation, Harborough District Council will support you throughout the application process, taking on the associated admin tasks.
We will also support you and the young person during the placement term and can help to secure funding to transfer the placement onto apprenticeships after the 6 months.

Placements for the scheme must start by the end of December 2021.

Use our webpage to find out more, and get in touch to have a discussion with our Kickstart lead via our email: business@harborough.gov.uk

Independent charity. Crimestoppers, in partnership with Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire City Council and other organisations within the region, are raising awareness of forced Labour and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the garment sector in Leicestershire.

As one of the biggest industries in Leicestershire, there is the possibility that there are trafficked people working within the garment trade sector, who are being exploited by the people who have secured their employment.

in 2015, Leicestershire Police set up a dedicated Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Team. During the first year there were 12 reports of MSHT. In the last 12 months, the team has received 223 reports of MSHT.

Forced Labour is sometimes hidden, but often, people are being exploited in plain sight.

Find out more about the signs of forced labour, how you can do your bit to fight forced labour in Leicester and Leicestershire and #EndGarmentSectorSlavery.

Click the link below for more.