SWLEP
@ SWLEP
Visit the SWLEP online at : www . swlep . co . uk
Supporting international trade and inward investment
One of the key priorities of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership ’ s Local Industrial Strategy is to improve the business environment across Swindon and Wiltshire .
In addition to the support offered by the Growth Hub , the SWLEP also works to attract investment into the region and to enable businesses to reach their potential .
Phil Clement , Head of Investment and Export , works closely with businesses throughout the region as well as the international business community , highlighting the expertise and facilities that Swindon and Wiltshire have to offer .
In partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Public Health England , he is currently organising a webinar focus group from the US Biotechnology Innovation Organisation ( BIO ) to explain and promote to US-based companies the expertise on the Porton Campus and the expansion plans at the Porton Science Park , one of the UK ’ s Life Sciences Opportunity Zones . Such contact will outline to companies the opportunities in our area and attract those involved within the niche business sectors of bio defence and infectious disease control .
He has also been working with the British Chamber of Commerce in Seoul , which promotes British trade , commerce and investment between Korean and British companies . Phil will be hosting a webinar with one of the UK ’ s ‘ Catapult ’ Centres focused on digital technology and one of the UK ’ s largest digital infrastructure companies . A number of South Korean 5G and telecoms companies will hear the latest developments on the UK ’ s roll out of 5G and advances in the telecoms network and will be encouraged to consider working with Swindon and Wiltshire businesses .
The Growth Hub is also committed to promote international trade , and through funding from the Department of Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) instigated fully funded support to help businesses with the transition to new trade rules following the UK ’ s departure from the European Union in December . A dedicated EU helpline was set up and through calls and emails nearly 4000 businesses were made aware of the support available and given assistance .
51 companies were referred to either an expert from The Export Department or Business West ’ s Department of International Trade advisers . All advice provided was fully funded through the BEIS support which was a godsend for many businesses . One commented , “ In all the fallout from this terrible situation , this is the first time we ’ ve felt we were speaking to someone who understands what is happening and is able and prepared to help . So thank you so much for letting us use her services .”
In addition to one-to-one support , a series of EU related webinars was provided which were also well received . Typical comments from attendees were ,“ The content was very relevant to my current practical manufacturing export challenge ”; “ Very good coverage of many issues - most comprehensive round up of changes I have heard ” and “ Perfectly matched the information that I was looking for .”
Untangling the grant fund spaghetti
Recently , I was sent an article to review by a friend . He was writing a report on all the available funds in the UK to support regeneration . It is quite a task ! He had come up with 15 multi-million pound funds . When you add in transport grants to support the route to Net Zero and then funding to support the take-up of apprenticeships to help the job creation role of regeneration you soon reach mind-boggling numbers for the amount of capital available to support investment . There are so many grants on offer it is very hard to keep abreast of when they were launched , what is the submission date for the bid and does my business or organisation meet the criteria to apply in the first place .
My friend ’ s report included a catch-all group of “ smaller grants ”. For many small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ), it is the “ smaller grants ” that have been a lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic . The grants are small in that they deal in allocations of thousands of pounds as opposed to the millions linked to regeneration and transports grants . However , all things are relative and a well timed and focussed grant of a few thousand pounds in the present conditions will keep many a business afloat and allow them to grow another day .
It is in all our interests to assist SMEs to untangle the grant fund spaghetti . You can read in this magazine about the range of grants and some loans that are available to small businesses . The list is a great resource for a small business leader to relate how the aims of her / his business could be achieved in part or as a whole , through a successful bid to one of those funding sources .
The challenge with writing a list is to keep it live and relevant . The SWLEP offers a no-charge facility through which one of our Business Navigators finds out what a business is seeking to achieve and then searches for grant funding which is the closest fit to the needs of the business . The advantage is that the advice is based on a search of a large database of grants suitable for different types of businesses and organisations and matched to various priorities . It is a constantly updated source of information .
We are here to help . Get in touch and we will help you with that knot of spaghetti !
For International Trade and Inward Investment advice and support contact : phil . clement @ swlep . co . uk
Chief Executive Officer E : paddy . bradley @ swlep . co . uk T : 0771 841951
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2021 11