A round up of business news including; information on new support services, grant funding, success stories, advice and information and dates for your diary.

Free 1:1 Business Review available through the Growth Hub
16 February 2018
Eligible businesses can now access a fully funded one to one advice session with an external Business Adviser through the Growth Hub. The service provides you with an opportunity to speak to an expert adviser about your business and growth ambitions. Businesses must be currently trading and operating in the following sectors to be eligible for
Read more
R&D Tax Credits – A cash boost not to be missed!
15 February 2018
For innovative businesses with an accounting year-end of 31 March, the deadline for claiming R&D tax credit for your 2015/16 accounting period is fast approaching. Did you know the average R&D tax credit value to SMEs is £61,314 – providing your company with a significant cash flow boost! Eligible businesses can claim up until the
Read more
Mendip Business Awards 2018
13 February 2018
The Mendip Business Awards are now open to entries from all businesses with premises within the district. The awards are now in their 4th year and are set for success following the impressive standard of entries received last year. The Awards are held to recognise and celebrate some of the 5,700 independent and vibrant businesses
Read more
Work Placements in E-Commerce Sought for Bridgwater College ERASMUS students
08 February 2018
Bridgwater College are looking for local businesses in Somerset that carry out e-commerce activity who would be willing to accept students on behalf of the ERASMUS project for a 2 week period during April and May. The students would be able to provide recommendations against e-commerce related problems/issues so can be of real business benefit.
Read more
Digital Toolkit for 2018 – Preparing Your Biz for a Digital Future
07 February 2018
Over the past 4 months, the Growth Hub and Get Up To Speed have partnered with various business support partners to deliver a series of fully-funded digital toolkit events across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset & Torbay. This inspiring event was filled with thought-provoking ideas, digital trends and useful tips and tools! Delivered in jargon-free language, by Cosmic, the
Read more
Grants and Advice – new opportunities for Dartmoor
07 February 2018
A unique opportunity is being offered to ‘meet the funders’ on Thursday 15 February (7-9.30 pm) at the Two Bridges Hotel, near Princetown. The evening, organised by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, will bring together a range of bodies that provide advice and grants within Dartmoor National Park. In the current economic climate taking business
Read more
RDPE GRANT FUNDING: EOI Deadline Extended!
06 February 2018
NEW RDPE GRANT FUNDING: EOI Deadline Extended! The latest round of Rural Development Programme funding was announced by Lord Gardener on 29th July 2017. There are a number of strands of grant funding currently available to rural businesses in England through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). These include the Growth Programme, Countryside Productivity
Read more
New-look team for FSB after regional shake-up
02 February 2018
The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has just chosen a new-look senior team to head up the group’s local grassroots lobbying activity in the South West. Following a special meeting in Taunton, Roger Tarrant, who was previously a branch chairman in Cornwall, has now become the first holder of the new wider role of Regional
Read more
SME bosses aware of P2P lending but not comfortable accessing it
30 January 2018
Research among 200 SMEs has found that near half of Finance Directors in small- to medium- sized organisations are uncomfortable about using peer-to-peer lending to help fund their enterprise. With 74% of Finance Directors feeling they have a good working knowledge about alternative sources of finance, only 25% said that they would be “comfortable accessing
Read more
Which business surveys are open now?
29 January 2018
Tech Nation 2018! Tech Nation is a groundbreaking series of reports on the UK’s digital tech ecosystem. Over the last three years it has captured the strength, depth and breadth of activity across the UK. They want to hear directly from you, what’s great in your local community, and what could be improved upon. Are
Read moreLatest news filter
Stay up to date with the latest news, business support, funding and events happening locally.