You can now get your message in front of Harborough District businesses through the Harborough Business Bulletin! The bulletin is sent on a fortnightly basis to almost 1700 subscribers including business owners, managing and sales directors, HR managers and more.

Advertise in the Bulletin from £50. This includes:

• Your advert featured in the Harborough Business Bulletin
• Your image/logo/graphic
• Up to 150 words
• Link to your website and/or contact details
• Sent directly to almost 1700 subscribers. The bulletin is also shared on social media and our website. 

Businesses in the Harborough District can apply for a grant up to £2,000 to help them to grow or start their business. The grants are being managed and distributed by Harborough District Council using funding received from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF).

• Go Green – to help businesses to reduce their carbon footprints, increase energy efficiency and reduce fixed costs. (Examples last year included: funding for a new electric van for Green Shoots zero emission delivery service, and new air source heat pumps and chillers for Langton Brewery)
• Go Digital – to support digital technology solutions which improve business performance and encourage wider/ online access to customers. (Examples last year included: funding to Environmental Energies Ltd for the purchase of a database to help them tendering for new contracts, and Magfiliana Ltd. for a new sublimation printer for the design and production of high-quality ties, pocket squares, and bow ties).
• Go Innovate - Support for new products or methods within your business to help improve efficiencies and create business growth. (Examples last year included: funding to Leicestershire Craft Centre for the purchase of a new glass kiln to allow them to produce their own glass art and develop our craft courses.)

The grants will close on Tuesday 31 January 2023, however the council reserves the right to close the grant early depending on demand.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

A new energy scheme for businesses, charities, and the public sector has been confirmed ahead of the current scheme ending in March. The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.

This will help businesses who locked into contracts, which were signed before the recent substantial wholesale price falls, to manage their costs. Whilst also providing others with reassurance against the risk of prices rising again.

From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see a unit discount of up to £6.97/MWh automatically applied to their gas bill and a unit discount of up to £19.61/MWh applied to their electricity bill, except for those benefitting from lower energy prices.

Join this event to help your business increase clarity, productivity and efficiencies, whilst identifying new opportunities for networking in an ever changing world.

Learn from three unique professionals to discover how to better manage uncertainty in business and in life.

This is a free event followed by lunch and networking. 

The Help to Grow: Management course is a unique opportunity for professional growth, business development and collaborative learning.

The course cost of £7,500 is 90% government-funded and 10% funded through a business support bursary provided by the University of Leicester School of Business.

Key benefits to you and your business:

• Enhance your management and strategic capabilities
  
• Improve operational efficiency to save time and money
• Learn how to innovate, lead change and optimise your business model
• Adopt digital technologies to boost productivity and operational agility
• Develop your value proposition and reach into new markets
  
• Improve employee engagement and responsible business practices
• Build business resilience and agility
• Network and learn alongside business leaders from a range of different sectors
• Develop a Growth Action Plan to drive your business forward

Eligible businesses can get 50% off, up to £5,000 in approved Digital Accounting, Customer Relationship Management and eCommerce software through the Help to Grow: Digital programme.

Help to Grow: Digital will close to new business applications for discounts on 2 February 2023. Discounts issued for eligible software must be redeemed within 30 days from issue date.

As part of the Multiply project Leicestershire County Council is delighted to be working in partnership with National Numeracy. As part of the project National Numeracy will be training volunteer Numeracy Champions across the region who can empower adults to get on with numbers so they can fulfil their potential at work and at home.

Join the CPD accredited workshops which aims to give you the knowledge and understanding you need to support staff who have low confidence in numeracy. The programme is not about teaching maths, but focuses on supporting learners who feel anxious with numbers. You don’t have to be a maths specialist – just a supportive person to talk to about maths.

Online Programme Timetable

Session 1: Numeracy: Culture, Maths Anxiety & Impact An Attitudinal Approach: Value, Belief & Persistence

Session 2: How to Implement a Numeracy Project Taking Learning into Practice

These online workshops are delivered on Zoom and participants will be sent a link by National Numeracy. To sign up, please click on your preferred date below:

• Thursday 26th January and 2nd February 9.30am - 12.30pm
• Thursday 9th and 16th February 9.30am - 12.30pm
• Tuesday 7th and 14th March 12.30pm - 4.30pm

If you can’t make any of the above dates please click here to be added to the waiting list for future sessions

Serco are holding a meet the buyer event on Wednesday 25 January for the new HMP Fosse Way prison.

They are looking for suppliers in Leicestershire who could provide the below but this list is not exhaustive: 

• Window cleaning
• Pest control
• Landscaping services and landscaping products such as plants, shrubs & trees
• Veterinary care and dog supplies
• Local delivery firms and taxis
• Local repair services - Electricians, Plumbers, Gas Engineers, Painters, Carpenters, AV equipment specialists
• Caterers 
• Local food ingredients
• Firms offering employment / training opportunities to prisoners
• Local printers
• Vehicle services

1.6 million votes were cast and more than 15,000 photos uploaded in the Canal and River Trusts 'Rate this Scene 2022' survey to reveal the Grand Union Canal in Wistow in the number 1 spot.

The Harborough District is lucky to be home to the Grand Union Canal, providing stunning views and offering opportunities for boating, walking, canoeing, angling, cycling, running and more. Check out the Visit Harborough website to find out more about the districts waterways and other things to see and do. 

Canal and River Trust / Alex Hannam