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More Bridgwater businesses now eligible for Help to Grow as software scheme receives a boost
July 28, 2022

The rules for the Help to Grow: Digital programme have been expanded to open the scheme to businesses with at least one employee, meaning up to 1.2 million businesses could benefit. The flagship government scheme offers a discount of up to 50% towards the costs of buying approved software, worth up to £5,000. Previously, only…

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Bridgwater Town Board
July 8, 2022

News Release Step-Up Bridgwater After consulting with various official groups and Boards, Sedgemoor District Council, as the accountable body for Bridgwater Town Board, has agreed to submit a detailed business case for the Step-Up Bridgwater to Government and, if agreed, will see an exciting new £500,000 facility for businesses in Bridgwater Town Centre. The proposal…

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Weston College Wins Two National Beacon Awards
May 16, 2022

Weston College has been announced as the national winner of the prestigious Jisc Award for Effective Use of Digital Technology in Further Education and The Careers and Enterprise Company for Innovation in Careers and Enterprise Award. The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year. The Digital Technology…

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Accelerating Development
May 16, 2022

In February, Weston College in partnership with local project partners, including: North Somerset Council, The Food and Drink Forum and North Somerset Enterprise Agency, launched Accelerate - which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. Three months later, and with over 35 sessions already completed, Accelerate is having a really…

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HotSW LEP’s ERDF inward investment fund
May 11, 2022

Over half a million pounds of funding is available to foreign-owned businesses in Devon and Somerset to support their business growth. The scheme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Heart of the South West LEP, offers 40% match funding up to £150,000, and is aimed at foreign-owned businesses, supporting inward investment and…

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Plastic Packaging Tax
April 28, 2022

As of April 2022, any plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic content will be subject to the Plastic Packaging Tax. This will be charged at a rate of £200 per metric tonne of plastic used. Plastic packaging containing 30% or more recycled plastic still counts towards the 10-tonne threshold for…

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Weston College leads the charge towards an inclusive ‘Net Zero’
April 25, 2022

The Department of Education’s sustainability and climate change strategy issued yesterday sets out the government’s clear vision for green skills across England and highlights how education and Colleges in particular with green apprenticeships, can lead the way in terms of both upskilling young people and adults to take advantage of ‘green jobs’. Weston College has…

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Grants available for communities to help prevent crime
April 22, 2022

A brand new fund has been launched in partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) and Quartet Community Foundation (QCF). The Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund will support community projects and activities that help to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour. Community groups and charities can now apply for…

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S Roberts Group installs recycling plant to stop waste going to landfill
April 14, 2022

A FAMILY-RUN waste management company from Somerset has installed a new waste recovery plant to enable it to handle and process waste more efficiently and sustainably (April 2022). S Roberts Group, which is based in Bridgwater, has put in a Kiverco waste sorting plant that will allow the company to recycle and recover up to…

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Cyber Security News
March 28, 2022

There is a chill in the air and I am not referring to the weather, I am talking about cybersecurity. The National Cybersecurity Agency is urging all business to bolster their cyber security defences. This is with the expectation that the current sanctions applied to Russia will result in increased levels of cyberattack, some attacks…

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Second round of funding to boost Somerset business recovery
March 23, 2022

Businesses in Somerset are being urged to bid for grants to help them recover from the economic hit of the coronavirus pandemic.  Somerset County Council has launched a second round of the Somerset Restart and Recovery Programme to support strategically significant businesses badly affected by Covid-19 and successive lockdowns.  These could be organisations that often…

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Bridgwater Business League is Back!
March 17, 2022

Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust & Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce are bringing back the business league for local businesses to partake in a weekly 5-a-side football league to help promote healthy physical and mental wellbeing within the workplace.If your business/company are interested in taking part in this league, please help us by completing the expression…

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Somerset Growth Accelerator Fund Grant Scheme
March 15, 2022

Grants are being made available to Somerset SMEs to support the growth of their businesses and to help drive economic recovery post Covid and support Somerset’s ambition to become net zero by 2030. Applicants can apply for: Grants of between £25,000 and £50,000 with the applicant expected to match fund 25% of the project costs…

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Launch of New Local Paper - Somerset Apple
March 15, 2022

A NEW local paper is set to hit the streets on April 1 with the publication of the Somerset Apple. The paper has evolved from the Sedgemoor Apple which last printed at the end of 2021 while still maintaining an online presence. The new publication will continue to cover all the important issues in Sedgemoor but…

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NEW Somerset Food Resilience Grant is available!
March 10, 2022

Smart Communities Ltd has a Grant Fund to enable communities that support or directly work to develop food resilience in communities across Somerset. Any Somerset community group, charity, organisation, and agency can apply for a maximum of £2,000. The deadline for applications is 31st March 2022 and funded by Somerset County Council. During the Covid-19…

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Portt & Co achieve B Corp Certification
February 24, 2022

Portt & Co, who provide outsourced finance services for small businesses in the food and drink industry, have proudly announced they have been awarded B Corp Certification.  The globally-recognised certification is awarded to companies meeting the highest standard of social and environmental performance. To achieve it, Portt & Co were assessed under five key areas…

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