Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Business Gateway E-Bulletin
In this Issue :
Local News, Information, Events & Training:
- How will the Budget affect your business?
- Business Breakfast Seminar – 13th August, Stornoway
- New Business Support Officer in Uist
- Highlands & Islands Business Excellence Awards: Enter or Nominate Now…
- Shell Springboard 2010 – open to entries
- Shell LiveWIRE: Young Entrepreneur of 2010 & Start Up Awards
- Flexible Training Opportunities Funding
- Outer Hebrides Craft Makers & Visual Artists Assistance 2010
- Regulars & Links
LOCAL NEWS, INFORMATION, EVENTS & TRAINING
How will the Budget affect your business?
On June 22nd the new coalition government announced their first budget, included were a number of measures which will directly impact the business community. To find out more about how the budget will affect your tax, employment responsibilities, enterprise and growth follow the link below:
http://www.bgateway.com/bdotg/action/detail?site=202&r.s=sl&r.lc=en&type=ONEOFFPAGE&itemId=5001588221
SCDI & Business Club Scotland - Business Breakfast Seminar
Friday 13 August 2010 7.45 am – 9am
Cabarfeidh Hotel, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
The 20th Commonwealth Games will be the largest event Scotland has ever hosted, with the eyes of the world on Glasgow and Scotland from 23rd July to 3rd August 2014. The delivery of an outstanding Games will require the procurement of goods, infrastructure work and services of all types and value from a wide range of businesses. Scotland has an ambitious events programme in the run up to 2014 and beyond – this is your opportunity to find out how to ensure your business is ready and capable of winning business at major events.
Business Club Scotland exists to help Scottish businesses access the massive economic opportunities from events including the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
We are pleased to invite you to our breakfast seminar on Friday 13 August to find out more about BusinessClub Scotland and the opportunity to compete for events related contracts.
07.45 am Registration, Breakfast & Networking
08.00 am Welcome - Joe Moore, H&I Chairman, SCDI
Jane Gotts, Programme Director, BusinessClub Scotland
Q&A
09.00 am Finish
If you would like to attend please contact:
lesley.rhind@scdi.org.uk 01463 231 878
If you would like to register your details on the web portal dedicated to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2014 please go to:
www.glasgow2014.com/businessportal or call 0845 272 2014
A similar portal is also operational for the supply chain to the London Olympic Games 2012 supply chain please go to:
https://www.competefor.com/business/login.jsp
New Business Support Officer for Uist
As of June a new officer has taken up post with Business Gateway in the Uist office and will be offering new and developing businesses in the area support and guidance with their endeavours. Alastair Macleod is originally from Uist and brings to the post a wealth of experience from both the public and private sector. Alastair is based within the HIE offices in Liniclate and can be contacted on:
01870 604 917 alastair.macleod@cne-siar.gov.uk
The SCDI Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards
Entry Deadline Friday 6th August
The Scottish Council for Development & Industry (SCDI) are seeking nominations for the Highlands & Islands Business Excellence Awards which provide a unique platform to showcase the achievements of the region's companies and celebrate excellence in a wide range of sectors.
The Awards will be presented at the Annual Dinner on Friday 17 September at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness. The dinner is a highlight in the Highland business calendar attended by 340 guests drawn from across the business and economic community.
Entries are currently being sought for the following categories:
- The Crown Estate One to Watch Award for a Marine Business
- E.ON Award for Excellence in Low Carbon Energy
- Global Energy Award for Excellence in People Development
- HSBC Award for Excellence in International Business
- The Scottish Environment Protection Agency & Scottish Natural Heritage
for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability
- SCDI H&I Chair’s Award For Outstanding Business Achievement
To enter please visit: http://www.scdi.org.uk/e/highlanddinner.html click on the appropriate award category and complete and return the form.
If you would like to recommend a company for any of the above categories please send their details to claire.miller@scdi.org.uk and SCDI will contact them directly.
Entries must be submitted by Friday 6 August 2010.
Outer Hebrides Craft Makers & Visual Artists Assistance 2010
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, in partnership with Creative Scotland have developed a new support scheme for artists and craft makers based in the Outer Hebrides. The aim of the scheme is to assist individuals to develop and extend their own professional visual art or craft practice. The application process is straightforward, and grants of between, £250 - £1500 are available.
A range of activities are eligible for funding, including, for example: research and development costs for a new project; travel and subsistence costs to experience new influences out-with the Outer Hebrides, such as a major conference, exhibition or craft fair; advancing skills by attending a master-class; the purchase of materials/ equipment to develop new work for market or exhibition.
There are two deadlines for applications 5pm, Monday 6th September 2010
and (subject to remaining funds) 5pm, Monday 8th November 2010.
Guidance notes and application forms for the Awards Scheme are available as downloads from the CnES website at this link:
http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/artsandculture/artsandculturefunding.asp
If you would prefer to receive the notes and forms by e-mail, or as hard copies in the post please e-mail: emitchell@cne-siar.gov.uk
If after reading the guidelines, you are interested in making an application for either a Crafts Makers Award or a Visual Artists Award please contact Elsie Mitchell, Arts Development Officer for further information & advice on the application process.
emitchell@cne-siar.gov.uk 01851 672 708
Shell Springboard – Up to £40,000 for businesses to tackle Climate Change
Shell Springboard is a programme that provides a financial boost to innovative, low carbon business ideas from across the UK. Established in 2005 the programme encourages the 4 million small businesses in the UK to respond to the challenge of climate change, by offering a financial boost of up to £40,000 to those who submit the most compelling plans for a product or service which helps combat climate change.
If you are interested in applying to Shell Springboard please visit the website www.shellspringboard.org and submit an application by the deadline of 5pm on Friday, 5th November 2010.
Since it's launch in 2005, Shell Springboard has judged over 900 entries and awarded over £1.6 million to 43 businesses across the UK.
Shell LiveWIRE – Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 & Start Up Awards
If you are a young person aged between 16 and 30 (on 6 Sep 2010) and you have been running your own business for between 3 and 18 months, you could win a £10,000 cash injection for your business and gain vital publicity for it too. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Monday the 6th September.
There are also Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards available, offering up to five £1,000 prizes each month to the most innovative or unusual ideas submitted by new businesses run by young entrepreneurs (16-30) in their first 12 months of trading.
To find out more about these awards please visit:
www.shell-livewire.org/awards
Flexible Training Oppotunities Launched
The Flexible Training Opportunities programme is available through Skills Development Scotland and supported by the European Social Fund, it aims to help small businesses become more resilient through the current period of economic recovery by providing funding for the uptake of skills that will contribute to business productivity and success.www.shell-livewire.org/awards
Flexible Training Opportunities gives Scottish businesses with 1-50 employees the opportunity to have up to 50% of their employee training costs paid for with an overall maximum of £500 per employee. Eligible training opportunities include learning based on national occupational standards; industry recognised qualifications, first line supervisory management and workshops.
For more information please contact: 0800 783 6000
http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx
REGULARS AND LINKS
Outer Hebrides Business Directory
The Outer Hebrides Business Directory is an online resource which lists business based or operating in the islands. Funded by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise the website offers free listings to local businesses of all sizes and activities.
Business Gateway use the listings on the OHBD to contact local businesses and organisations to inform them of events and opportunities which they may find of benefit – if your contact details are incorrect or if you would prefer we contacted you directly with updates or information please get in touch with us and let us know which email address / telephone number we should be using.
Go to www.businesshebrides.co.uk and you can search by name or business activity – a quick and efficient way of helping customers access your business, if you would like to register or update your details on the Business Directory please contact us on:
01851 707307 businessgateway@cne-siar.gov.uk
If you have any feedback or suggestions for us to make this service more relevant please e-mail your comments to businessgateway@cne-siar.gov.uk.
Remember that we guarantee never to sell or give your e-mail address to anyone else.
Who are we and what do we do?
Business Gateway provides expertise in every aspect of business start-up and growth ranging from, but not limited to:
- Business Planning
- Recruitment
- Exporting
- Marketing
- Health & Safety
- Online Trading
- Sourcing Premises
- Finding Funding
Our Location:
Stornoway
| Address: | Business Gateway Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Development Department James Square 9 James Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2QN |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 01851 707 307 |
| Fax: | 01851 704 130 |
| Email: | businessgateway@cne-siar.gov.uk |
North Uist & Benbecula
| Address: | Alasdair Macleod |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 01870 604 917 (direct dial) |
| Fax: | please contact Alasdair for appropriate fax no. before sending |
| Email: | alastair.macleod@cne-siar.gov.uk |
South Uist & Barra
| Address: | Lynne MacMillan Business Support Officer Business Gateway Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Development Department Gleus House Daliburgh Isle of South Uist |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 01878 700 863 |
| Mobile: | 07833 988 791 |
| Fax: | 01878 700 886 |
| Email: | l.macmillan@cne-siar.gov.uk |
9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday
General Links
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Business Gateway website
For loan and business advice and information.
www.cne-siar.gov.uk/eds/business.
Business Gateway
Well worth a visit for a range of information, advice and ideas on starting and running a business.
www.bgateway.com
The Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust
Offers start-up and development funding and advice to young people aged between 18 and 30 with a business idea.
www.psybt.org.uk/Regions/WesternIsles
Outer Hebrides Business Directory
The most complete local online listing of businesses and organisations in the Outer Hebrides.
Please contact us if you would like to have your business listed – it FREE!
www.businesshebrides.co.uk
Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Economic Development Agency operating across the region with local offices in Stornoway and Benbecula. A wide range of useful information and links for growing businesses and community organizations.
www.hie.co.uk
Live Hebrides
Offer local businesses and organisations a wide range of knowledge and expertise about the latest IT solutions available to them and the benefits of broadband.
www.livehebrides.com
Outer Hebrides Chamber of Commerce
For information relating to issues facing island businesses, networking and related opportunities.
www.hebrideschamber.com
The Business IT Guide
Operated by e-skills UK and assisted by Highlands & Islands Enterprise offering useful hints and tips on IT solutions for small businesses as they have found that small businesses in the UK are losing millions of pounds from lost revenue due to not being adequately IT literate. Please visit them at:
www.scotland.businessitguide.com
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - 'Socio Economic Update’
Regularly published, contains useful information on the local economy
www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile
Creative Industries focus on the arts, crafts film, and television, publishing, and new media sectors if you are operational in this sector the following links are worth a look:
Aim-Hi
An online forum for the Creative Industries sector - please feel free to register your interest and visit the site at http://s4.invisionfree.com/aimhi/.
www.aim-hi.org
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - The Creative Industries
Publishes a periodic newsletter on the website.
www.cne-siar.gov.uk/eds/creativeindustries
Bye for now,
The Business Gateway team
