INVEST IN BATH
BUSINESS SUPPORT & EVENTS
Rural business grant fund re-opens
The West of England Rural Development Programme LEADER fund has reopened for new expressions of interest until 4 October 2018 . There is a limited amount of funding available , with grants ranging from £ 5,000 to £ 40,000 per project .
Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and can usually cover up to 40 % of total project costs . Projects that deliver economic and / or jobs growth will score more highly in the application process , and applications from the forestry sector are particularly welcome . Increasing farm productivity , rural tourism , micro enterprises and farm diversification , culture and heritage and rural services and are the other priorities for the grant fund .
Businesses in Bath , Keynsham , Midsomer Norton and Radstock cannot apply , however busineses based in Paulton and smaller towns / villages in Bath & North East Somerset are eligible .
For more information please contact the LEADER grant team on tel : 01275 333701 or email : leader @ westofenglandrdp . org . uk
Free tailored business support for all SMEs
Our programme of business support is continuing apace , and we have combined with Cool Ventures to provide a series of workshops and oneto-one advice clinics for pre-starts and SMEs for the next twelve months .
The service is free for people in Bath & North East Somerset thanks to funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council and the EU ’ s European Regional Development Fund .
SEPTEMBER WORKSHOPS
Starting in Business Bath and County Club 5 Sep 2018 6:00pm – 9:00pm ‘ Starting in Business ’ is the starting point for people intending to start new business , but there are a range of other topics including Understanding Finance , Strategic Planning and Preparing a Business Plan .
Creating Content for Digital Marketing Bath and County Club 12 Sep 2018 09:00am – 1:00pm This workshop is for businesses looking to grow , raise awareness or enhance their digital presence , through creating compelling content online .
Making Your Website Work for You Bath and County Club 20 Sep 2018 09:00am – 1:00pm
During this workshop you will get a lot of tips on how you can make your website really work for you and how you can apply SEO in order to move your site higher in the Google search results . Business Essentials for New Businesses Bath and County Club 27 Sep 2018 09:30am – 5:00pm This is a practical workshop which will provide you with the essential tools and information you need to set up and run your new business .
To book on any of the above workshops , arrange a oneto-one support session or to enquire about workshops taking place later in the year , contact Cool Ventures on :
tel : 01225 580850 email : banes @ coolventures . co . uk
Events for the Diary
Bath Digital Festival Bath and County Club Bath Digital Festival
returns celebrating digital technology for all this autumn . From 23 to 27 October there will be a whole host of events , workshops and networking opportunities for local businesses . Invest in Bath is a festival sponsor so look out for our presence during the week too ! For more information and tickets visit bathdigitalfestival . co . uk
SME Health Event
The FSB and Bath Mind have teamed up with the Council to put on a free health seminar tackling stress at work and how best to manage it . The workshop takes place at Bath Racecourse on the morning of Thursday 13 September . Search Eventbrite or contact us for more information and guidance on booking .
Green Business Fund
Local SMEs are invited to a new workshop packed with advice on how to get grants to secure their sustainable growth and save on energy bills . The Carbon Trust is running the workshop , having recently assisted Saltford Hall with an energy grant . The event is from 9am to 12 noon on Wednesday 5 September and takes place at Bath Guildhall . Search Eventbrite or contact us for more information and guidance on booking .
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018 11