• Understand the environmental impact of your business, and take actionable steps to become more sustainable
• Benchmark against similar businesses and track your progress using the Zellar score
• Save money on offsetting projects, green energy and green technology
• Sign up for 12 months free access, or dig a little deeper into how Zellar can help your business become more sustainable
• Share your sustainability journey with the world!

Whether you have an amazing idea, have spotted a gap in the market or have taken a break from your business and are now ready to re-start trading with some fresh ideas, NBV can help you get things off the ground.

The Starting in Business Programme gives you everything you need to know to get your business up and running. Our training course is aimed at people who would benefit from in-depth knowledge on how to become self-employed or start their own small business. This course covers all the skills that you’ll need to start and manage a successful small business.

The three day course is coming to the Harborough District on Monday 31 October, Tuesday 1 November and Monday 7 November at the Harborough Innovation Centre.

Over the course of the programme, we will cover:

• Knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed by business owners.
• Creating and developing a sustainable business.
• Marketing your business
• Choosing the right, trading status for you
• Your legal responsibilities as a business owner
• Overview of all types of business taxes and how they will affect you
• Understanding how the tax system in the UK works.
• Record keeping and business banking requirements.
• Start up and running costs.
• Planning your personal survival budget.
• How to price your product or service.
• Importance of cash flow forecasting in any business.
• Structure of a business plan
• The do and do not for putting any plan together

VASL is a local charity based in Market Harborough, providing services and projects to improve the lives of people in our wider community across Harborough District and Leicestershire. These include support for family carers, people with mental health challenges, and older people who are lonely and isolated.

Different VASL projects provide volunteer transport to get people to medical appointments and out to community activities. VASL provides tools and information to decrease loneliness and increase mental well-being. VASL is a volunteer-involving organisation and most of the work is delivered by trained volunteers.

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, share your expertise and make friends whilst giving back to the community. VASL’s volunteering opportunities are designed to be fun and rewarding and they’ll always enable you to make the most of them.

Free training and support are provided. Have a look and see if any of these volunteering opportunities appeal to you / your staff.

If you are interested in any of the volunteering opportunities, please contact the relevant project.

VASL would be grateful to hear from you and work together to make a positive difference.

Digital technology can help your business reach that next stage. Free support is available through the Digital Upscaler programme to help you understand and identify digital products that can help you break down the barriers to growth. 

The project support consists of:

• Intensive one-to-one digital adviser support
• Funded diagnostic consultancy and support to implement new technology
• Digital strategy programme and Technology Forums Capital technology grants of between £10,000 - £50,000

• Dedicated Peer Networks