FSB Members Evening on Available Support for Neath Port Talbot Businesses

Although fairly dry, as one might expect, the FSB Swansea Bay Branch meeting on Tuesday evening 13th March at the Castle Hotel, Neath was actually very interesting.

The first  presenters were Kevin Lugg and Sarah Fowler of Neath Port Talbot council who explained about the range of services performed by the business support team.  This included help with new start ups and financing, property, health check for existing businesses and a level of practical help etc.  In particular there is a local regeneration project which aims to improve the retail experience in Neath and Port Talbot, where businesses can get a 50% grant towards modernising their shop front.  There were other schemes aimed at getting the young into work, going right across the board, also opportunities to develop the town of Port Talbot with the new £107m Harbour Way link road and associated developments - more on this at : http://www.harbourwayproject.com.  Much of the information is on their website, to which they referred continually throughout the presentation.

In addition the 2nd presentation was by Bethan Blackmore of the 'Essential Skills Project'. The Neath Port Talbot Adult Learning Network (with NPT College as the GRB and NPT Lifelong Learning Service managing the project) has been successful in securing over £847,000 in ESF funding and the contract for delivery of the Basic Skills/Essential Skills up to Level 2 in the Neath Port Talbot local authority area. Bethan explained about the Free Training Opportunities for Businesses. The provision is tailored to participants' individual needs, and course content is appropriate to the context of participants' work role and daily tasks undertaken. Flexible learning provision takes place in appropriate community venues away from the workplace. There were concerns from some members present about whether this would be a worthwhile project as with the grant presentation, given the primarily ICT focus of the training.  However, in both cases the advice is to engage with the local authority provider who will meet with you and let you know if and where they can offer any help.

The website for Neath Port Talbot is http://www.npt-business.co.uk
The website for the Essential Skills project is http://www.wtuclearn.org

Google Events – getting the most out of being on-line

Following the very successful Launch in Cardiff, Google are holding the following events in the Dragon Hotel, The Kingsway, Swansea  SA1 5LS :

Google Juice Bar, Friday 30th March
40 minutes of free one-to-one help on growing a business on-line
Friday 30 March

Google Workshop 3.30pm - 5.30pm, Wednesday 25th April
free workshop and find out how businesses can get the most from being online.

To sign up go to http://www.gbbo.co.uk/workshops

And another one!

CBSA is also running another free event locally in March :

How to Tender Workshop

Hints and tips will be forthcoming on how the Public Sector Buying Process works, inclduing how to access local opportunities for local businesses.

Tuesday 13th March in The Mercure Hotel, Pheonix Way, Swansea SA7 9EG
from 12.30pm – 4.30pm

To book a place please e-mail levans@cbsa.org.uk

Local CBSA March Events

Two events, both free to attend as they funded by the Welsh Government through the Supplier Development Service :

Maximising 'Sell 2 Wales' Workshop

The workshop will discuss the host of information that is available, together with looking at how your business can get the best out of it. The workshop will be run in an open and friendly way, with attendees encouraged to take part in discussion and sharing of experiences.

Tuesday 6th March in The Mercure Hotel, Pheonix Way, Swansea SA7 9EG
from 12.30pm – 4.30pm

Business Networking Breakfast

Wednesday 21st March 2012 in The Aberavon Beach Hotel, Aberavon SA12 6QP
from 8.00am – 10.30am

Some feedback from networking events in February:
‘Able to gain publicity and talk to potential customers – Good event, please keep doing them’
‘Met many people that could benefit from our services’
‘Great opportunity to network’

To book on either of these contact Liz at levans@cbsa.org.uk and for more information on any CBSA events, visit: www.cbsa.org.uk