Welcome to your Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme (BGP) e-news brought to you from the University of Chester. In each newsletter we share with you the latest events and useful content from across the University and other key stakeholders.

This edition highlights the opportunities available to businesses through the Business Growth Programmes business clinic, knowledge transfer partnerships and opportunity to host a work based learning placement. The High Sheriff's Awards for Enterprise are now open, entry is free and is exclusive to businesses based in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington employing fewer than 250 staff. This edition also spotlights some of the great events that are on offer both through the BGP and the local area. 

Keeping connected

Don’t forget to engage with us on our business social channels LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube and via our new webpages for the latest information from BGP and our other business engagement opportunities.

KEY UPDATES

The Business Growth Programme Team are now available for 1-2-1 business support sessions for all businesses registered onto BGP.

The Business Clinic sessions are available by appointment and will initially take place monthly either in person at Chester (Queens Park Campus) and Warrington (Time Square Campus) or online via Teams. 
Only a limited number of are slots available, and appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To book a Business Clinic appointment please email Louise Goodman giving an indication of the type of support/guidance you require to help us allocate the most appropriate BGP team member to you.

The High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise 2022/23 are now open for entries. You can enter a maximum of two categories from the following:
•    High Sheriff’s Award for Excellence in Enterprise
•    Outstanding Community Engagement
•    Best Sustainable Business Practice
•    Young Business Person of the Year
•    Apprentice of the Year
•    Digital Innovation
•    Survive and Thrive Award for Charities
•    Exceptional Start-Up
•    Outstanding Family Business
•    Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Business Leader
Entry is free and is exclusive to businesses based in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington employing fewer than 250 staff (the only exception to this is the Cheshire and Warrington Business Leaders Award which is open to businesses of any size). For further information go to: High Sheriff's Awards for Enterprise 22-23 
To nominate your business for the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise please visit: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/high-sheriffs-awards-enterprise

Accelerated Knowledge Transfer to Innovate (AKT2I) Pilot Scheme
The ATK21 pilot will support the University of Chester to work with a UK registered business, charitable company, or charity to deliver a short, rapid and targeted intervention to accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, which has the potential for significant impact for the business partner. 
This initiative aims to accelerate access to academic expertise to evaluate or develop innovative commercial ideas and stimulate demand within the Business Partner to deliver further innovation(s) and accelerate delivery through partnership with the UK’s Knowledge Base.
The pilot comprises:

•   A maximum grant of £35,000 per project
• The project must last between 2-4 months with completion by 31 March 2023

The business partner must:

• Be a UK registered business, charity, or charitable company employing a minimum of 4 FTEs
• Have the ability and capacity to exploit outcomes from the project
• Demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support their contributions to the project
• The Business Partner must contribute a minimum of an additional 10% of the total project costs in cash
• There are three application rounds (see below).

Round    Opening Date    Closing Date

Round 1    7th Sep 22    23rd Sep 22 
Round 2    26th Sep 22    21st Oct 22
Round 3*    24th Oct 22    25th Nov 22

*Round 3 will be dependant on remaining funding.

For further information contact Marie-Anne O'Neil, Deputy Head of Department, Research & Innovation Office (RIO), University of Chester 

The Work Based Learning module at the University of Chester gives employers the opportunity to help develop the future workforce as well as find potential future employees. In 2023, student placements will be available for 5 weeks from Monday 24th April – Friday 26th May. So, if you need an extra pair of hands or someone to offer a fresh perspective or work on a specific project, why not offer a placement? The placement provides students with an insight into future careers as well as developing their employability skills and experience.
Businesses can offer a placement by approaching the University via the Work Based Learning Team or you can approach specific students for example a student from a previous internship who can register on behalf of the business.
For more information on how you can get involved, visit our website Work Based Learning at UoC.
 

For more information please visit the Work Based Learning Wesbite.

EVENTS

The Business Growth Programme (BGP) Team at the University of Chester has a comprehensive programme of FREE business development support for Cheshire and Warrington-based entrepreneurs and SMEs registered with us. 

We offer support in a wide range of specialisms for SMEs and potential entrepreneurs at different stages of their business growth journey. Most of our events are online, making them easier to fit into the busy working day. Registration onto the Business Growth Programme is free – for more information contact Louise Goodman, BGP Business Development Manager at the University of Chester l.goodman@chester.ac.uk 

We regularly update our programme of support so make sure you follow our Eventbrite page to receive notifications of any new events as they go live. In addition to those already published, planned events for which dates are to be announced include support for pre-start and established Social Entrepreneurs seeking advice on starting or growing their social enterprise, plus a lunchtime session dedicated to bidding into the public sector. 

Current scheduled events can be viewed at: Cheshire & Warrington Business Growth Programme Events Collection.

BGP Business Support Events

The Business Growth Programme (BGP) Team at the University of Chester has a comprehensive programme of FREE business development support for Cheshire and Warrington based entrepreneurs and SMEs registered with us. 

We offer support across a wide range of specialisms for SMEs and potential entrepreneurs at different stages of their business growth journey. Most of our events are online, making them easier to fit into a busy working day. 

Upcoming business support events in October and November include:

• Confidence with Technology & Technological innovation [In person event] Register Here
• Effective Leadership Workshop Register Here
• LinkedIn Workshop Register Here
• Cheshire Social Entrepreneurs Go Set, Go, Grow Register Here

For the full list of upcoming BGP business support events visit Cheshire & Warrington Business Growth Programme Events Collection 

Thursday December 15th (11.00am - 2.00pm) at Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT Cheshire View.

Christmas Artisan Market opens from 11am, lunch served from 12pm

The West Cheshire Women’s Network Christmas lunch will be an opportunity to celebrate the culmination of the West Cheshire Business Support Programme and a return to normal festivities post Covid.
The networking lunch will feature a Hog Roast with a Christmas Twist, the usual excellent of indulgent selection of cakes and a Christmas Artisan Market showcasing the entrepreneurs supported by the network during the year, a perfect a chance to box off those last-minute gifts too! 

So, brush off your Christmas jumpers and bring your purses and join us for this celebrated networking event with a bit more Seasonal Sparkle this year! There’s a guarantee of our usual mix of networking, inspiring conversation and our customary warmth with added Christmas cheer. 
With thanks to the West Cheshire Business Support Programme, ticket prices are subsidised at a cost of £12.50 per ticket. Tickets are limited though so book early via https://bit.ly/3AiCvJz
The team from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Ellis & Co Accountants and Business Advisors, NatWest Bank and West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber look forward to greeting you and celebrating another successful year!

Warrington Women in Business Annual Christmas Networking Lunch 

Warrington Business Exchange is hosting a Warrington Women in Business Christmas networking event on 1st December (1130-1430.
This is always a fabulous Christmas networking lunch, featuring Christmas shopping stalls, a festive lunch and inspiring guest speakers: 
•    Suzanne Griffiths otherwise known as ‘People Ninja’ will take to us on how to be the best we can be in the forthcoming year and beyond. 
•    Sally Penni MBE Practicing Barrister at Law; TEDX Speaker; Bencher at Grays Inn; Author; Host of Talking Law Podcasts; Founder of Women in the Law UK. 
Tickets are £35.00 pp and include a welcome drink and 2 course Christmas lunch.  Bookings before 31st October are at an early Bird Ticket price of £32.00 and there is a 5% discount for table of 8 bookings. For further details visit Warrington Women Christmas Networking Lunch

Tackling Business Opportunities in the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of Nations comprises 54 countries, offering vast opportunities for businesses in Cheshire to work together with Commonwealth nations and create a lasting business relationship.

On 25th October 2022 the Cheshire Commonwealth Association will host its next in-person event: 'Tackling Business Opportunities in the Commonwealth'.

With a blend of informative speakers to engage with, and networking opportunities to share over a cup of Papua New Guinea coffee and buffet lunch, you can bring your export journey to life.

JOIN THEM AND TRY YOUR LUCK AT WINNING A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR THE EVENING PNG V COOK ISLANDS RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP GAME AT THE HALLIWELL JONES STADIUM.

Sign up Here.

BUSINESS TOOLKIT

The Eco-I North West Capital Grant Scheme is delivered by Lancaster University and is available to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) drive forward with new product, process or service innovations which aid the transition to a low carbon economy. These are match-funded grants of up to £24,999 total for investment in capital equipment or technology. The equipment needs to be innovative in nature e.g. for prototyping, development, testing, rather than the installation of solar panels.

Click here for more info and how to apply.

If you decide to start measuring your carbon footprint and actively trying to reduce it, the Carbon Trust have a simple and free SME Carbon Footprint Calculator to help you get started. You should update your figures at least annually and use the data to identify areas to target your reduction initiatives. The tool does not provide a comprehensive organisational footprint, but does cover the common emission sources for SMEs.

If you would like support, advice or just a sounding board to help adapt your business to the new normal, you can arrange a virtual meeting or phone call with one of our Business Development Managers (BDM). Priority will be given to those businesses who have not yet completed their 12 hours of support. Contact: l.goodman@chester.ac.uk to arrange this support.

RESOURCES