Talking about 'Leggy Projects'' may seem a bit weird but actually it is LEGI - Local Economic Growth Initiative - and the key idea is to design projects to boost our local economy and create better opportunities for local people and businesses. A number of business support initiatives are already up and running and here's more information on these...
If you're thinking about starting, or already have a business, then BizFizz is here for you in Hastings. And it is FREE. BizFizz gives you free one-to-one confidential coaching, mentoring and local advice to unleash your business passion.
BizFizz is part of a national initiative. It focuses on the entrepreneur, rather than just on how to write a business plan or open a business bank account - although it can help you with that too! BizFizz in Hastings aims to develop a 'can-do' feeling within the community. It is currently funded for two years (£135,000 in total) from the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. The project started in January. It aims to give advice to over 175 prospective entrepreneurs, help create 30 businesses and assist 45 businesses.
Contact Clive Gross on 01424 205509
website: www.bizfizzhastings.co.uk
Expanding career opportunities and supporting business growth are key to the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.
Supporting businesses in their training schemes is a key priority, particulary as around 38% of business owners said they had no intention of spending any money on training over the next 12 months. So key, in fact, that the Initiative has promised £440,000 to Sussex Enterprise to spend on advising businesses on training over the next 3 years. Already, in its short 6 month life, the project has exceeded its target of advising 60 businesses and has been promised an extra £10,000 to train even more people.
The service is open to all small to medium sized businesses in Hastings and Bexhill and can offer 70% of the cost of work-based training for these companies. It is particularly keen to help businesses employing women and people from minority ethnic or ability groups. For some businesses employing these people, the service can offer the entire cost of work-based training.
If your business could benefit from a one-to-one training assessment, free follow-up support to develop a training plan and funding for the training, then please get in touch with Matthew Walsh of Sussex Enterprise on 01444 259235.
Anchoring Business is a new project to strengthen local businesses. Its specific intention is to keep local businesses thriving and keep jobs here.
Even though Anchoring Business has been running for only a few short months it has already announced that it has helped Baytree Industries to apply for a £41,000 grant. If it wins the grant, Baytree Industries will improve and update its production facilities. In modernising its high precision engineering, electronic production and sheet fabrication facility, Baytree is demonstrating its commitment to Hastings and will be more competitive within its international marketplace.
It is expected that through targeted one-to-one assistance, Anchoring Business will encourage local businesses to grow and reduce the risk of them either closing or moving away. The project is specifically focussing on meeting companies that do not normally link up with business support providers, such as Ten Sixty Six Enterprise. Businesses are judged by locality, employee numbers, turnover and profitability and particularly targeted if they are run by women experiencing barriers to entrepreneurship.
Anchoring Business expects to visit 300 companies within its first year and choose 40 to mentor closely. Within this first year, the project aims to save or create 60 jobs. The project could help with a variety of issues. It could help with access to finance, support on premises and planning issues, or maybe assistance with recruitment, retention or staff training. Telephone Jeremy Green (of Ten Sixty Six Enterprise) on 01424 205503 for more information on the Anchoring Business project.
Bell Chem Products is a manufacturing company based in Ivyhouse Lane, specialising in the manufacture and sale of washroom accessories. Established in the UK in 1999, this family owned and managed company has steadily increased its sales in the last six years. As a result of increased demand, and also a demand from its customers, the company has developed a new product which is a high quality soap dispenser, producing a foam soap - being more environmentally friendly.
The support enabled by the Anchoring Business Programme has enabled Ten Sixty Six Enterprise to discuss this development, and the financial implications of developing this new product line. The company needed to invest in new injection moulding equipment to meet the demand, at a cost of over £170,000. The company was signposted to the Selective Finance for Investment Scheme which resulted in a grant of £26,220 to assist with the purchase and installation of this new machinery.
The company is, as a consequence able to increase its turnover, market share, and to plan for further new product lines in the future. It will be less reliant on imported products, and able to secure and increase employment opportunities.
Jonathan Beattie, Director of the company confirmed:
"I am delighted to have worked with Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, who have been very supportive of our application and have steered us through the process to a successful conclusion."
Clive Mills has been appointed as Social Enterprise Development Officer for Hastings and Bexhill under the Hastings Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI). Clive is available to assist groups or individuals wanting to do business in the community, taking the first steps to create an enterprise that aims to both make money and support the community.
As a first step Clive is working with the University of Brighton to deliver a Graduate Certificate in Social Enterprise that will help participants write a business plan for a social or community enterprise. The course has now commenced with 12 people participating and runs from now until March 2008. The course covers:
Clive already has a caseload of around 15 groups, organisations and individuals who are at various stages on the journey to becoming a social enterprise. For example, he is working with the Hastings Arts Forum helping them to make changes to their governance and financial management arrangements and exploring potential business opportunities. Another example is the work with the Hastings and Rother Wood Recycling Project revising their current business plan, identifying training funding sources and examining their current business status including the option of becoming a Community Interest Company.
If you ever wondered what a social enterprise is and how it might work please telphone Clive on 07809 525828 or email clive.mills@rothervoluntaryaction.org.uk for a one to one consultation in Hastings or Bexhill.
The Hastings Regeneration Partnership, which managed the Hastings Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme, formally closed in December. The Partnership celebrated its distribution of £26 million SRB money to local projects over the last 11 years. The Partnership's projects attracted a further £111 million to the town from all sorts of other regional and national sources.
Thank you to Christine Goldschmidt, Chair of the Hastings Regeneration Partnership for eight years
David Jeapes of SRB funded project Ore Valley Residents Services Organisation, celebrates training local long-term unemployed people. Providing locals with rewarding paid work in their own neighbourhood.
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This page last updated: 13/06/2007