New Town Centre Facelift Scheme Launches in Aspatria – application extended
Aspatria is to get a spruce up from Cumberland Council’s Facelift Grant Scheme.
Business and homeowners which have a frontage facing the street within the defined town centre area of Aspatria can apply for funding to help pay for improvements to the look of their property.
The deadline for applications has been extended until 18th August 2023. Completion of all works and invoices submitted by no later than 29 September 2023.
Click here to apply
Smarter Regulation announcements
The Department of Business and Trade have recently made the below announcements under the Smarter Regulation programme. The smarter regulation programme is designed to reduce the burdens on business, reduce the cost of living, deliver choice to consumers, turbocharge science and innovation and drive infrastructure development.
DBT have just announced:
- the extended recognition of the CE Marking for placing most goods on the market in Great Britain, indefinitely, beyond December 2024. Full details of the regulations affected can be found via the link.
- a consultation on the long term approach to product safety to ensure that the framework is fit for the future. This consultation closes on 24 October 2023.
- a consultation on a proposed new approach to the fire safety of domestic furniture and furnishings This consultation closes on 24 October 2023.
Partnership to help international trade
The Department for Business and Trade and HSBC UK have announced a five-year partnership to help businesses trade internationally and secure inward investment. As part of the partnership, businesses will be able to access webinars, introductory trade events and international business guides to help find new opportunities.
Click here to read more about the partnership.
Charity funding to be distributed from December
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has confirmed that the second part of the £101.5 million package for charities announced in the Spring Budget 2023 will be distributed from December 2023. The DCMS has also invited organisations and consortiums to apply to deliver the £25.5 million voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) Energy Efficiency Scheme over the next two years in England.
Read more about the funding here
Grants available to celebrate and support Barrow’s heritage
Grant applications are now welcomed for schemes to support heritage work in the Barrow area.
Applications are open for ‘Barrow’s Heritage – Micro to Mighty’, a programme that will see Westmorland and Furness Council award grants of between £200 and £3,000 to groups and organisations to support heritage-related projects.
The programme will also pull together a ‘Local List’ of heritage assets in the Barrow area to record buildings, structures or spaces worthy of recognition.
Locally based voluntary and not for profit groups in the wider Barrow borough area which are involved in heritage community projects or initiatives are eligible to apply. To receive funding, groups must be constituted and hold a bank account in the name of the group.
The project should demonstrate how it will engage a wider range of people in heritage and the project must be delivered in the Barrow borough.
There will be two separate rounds of applications, with the first round deadline on 15 August 2023 and the second round deadline on 13 October.
To find out more click here
Join a growing network of people offering care and support
A new free development programme has launched to help people set up working for themselves offering care and support to older and disabled people locally.
You could offer any kind of help at home such as: cleaning, cooking, shopping, trips out, support to dress and wash, DIY, gardening and more.
The programme is coordinated by Community Catalysts in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council; and supports people to make sure their care and support business is set up safely, legally and sustainably.
Leave your details at Community Catalysts’ website and your local catalysts Jade and Hannah will be in touch for a chat to tell you more.
Grants for innovative agri-tech businesses
Small and medium-sized agri-tech businesses can apply for grants to develop innovative solutions that make farming more productive, sustainable and resilient. The £5 million Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership closes to applications on 30 August 2023.
Read more about the funding here
£76 million support package for charities
Charities and community organisations that are supporting vulnerable people during the cost of living crisis can apply for grants as part of a £76 million Government support package. Grants between £10,000 and £75,000 are available to cover project and core costs, including rent, utilities, staff and volunteers.
Click here to read more about the support package.
New flexible working measures
Employees across the UK will be given more flexibility over where and when they work, as the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act receives Royal Assent. The Act will introduce new protections for workers, including a requirement for employers to consult with the employee before rejecting their flexible working request. Workers will be able to make two statutory flexible working requests in any 12-month period and have the right to make a request from day one of a new job.
Read more about the measures here.
Free support for innovators from the ICO’s Sandbox
Are you in the process of developing innovative, privacy respectful products or services which use personal data and benefit the public?
If yes, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO’s) Regulatory Sandbox could help you to bring them to market more quickly and efficiently.
The Sandbox can support innovators who might be at the pre-launch development phase, with ongoing support and detailed feedback provided for up to 12 months prior to launch. It is a free service and tailors its support to each project.
The ICO welcomes Expressions of Interest from start-ups, small or medium organisations and large organisations, across private, public and voluntary sectors. You can read about its key areas of interest here
If you’re interested in working with the Sandbox please send any queries via email.
Amazon launches new innovation accelerator
Amazon has launched an innovation accelerator that will help small manufacturers understand and overcome operational challenges by using digital technologies. The programme will include free seminars and one-to-one mentoring from Amazon to pinpoint and address the specific challenges small businesses face.
Read more about the accelerator here