Welcome to the ninth edition of The Winchester Entrepreneur, the e-newsletter for businesses from Winchester City Council. We are continuing to support business through the recession as you will see from the articles about training events and grants. We are also keen to help our local tourism businesses develop with events about accessibility and environmental awareness.

Do let us know if there are other stories you would like us to cover, so that we can make this magazine useful to you, our local business community.

Best wishes
Cllr George Beckett
Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Tourism, Winchester City Council

Free Training for Small Businesses

Small businesses in the Winchester district have been taking advantage of free training and networking events – and there are more opportunities to come!

Events so far this year have included;

• Speed networking evening at Winchester Discovery Centre with Southern Entrepreneurs
• Coping with recession training event at Winchester Guildhall with Southern Entrepreneurs
• Recovery and the successful business training event at Marwell Hotel

Green advantage training course

This FREE training course provides up-to-date advice on running your tourism business in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Going green also makes sound business sense with smaller utility bills and greater appeal to an increasingly green consumer by improving the overall visitor experience.

The event is ideal for owners, managers and employees working in all sectors of the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries, including hotels and other guest accommodation, country pubs, restaurants, conference centres and visitor attractions.

Click here for more information. To book a space, simply return the enclosed form to Stephanie Pook, Training Officer, at Tourism South East. Stephanie can be contacted at spook@tourismse.com or call 023 8062 5638. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

A Warm Winchester Welcome from Local Retailers

Winchester City Centre retailers are being offered a FREE one day disability awareness training course, Welcome All, on Wednesday 24 February 2010 at the Winchester Business Centre in Parchment Street.

The Welcome All training course has been organised by Winchester City Council’s Tourism Service in conjunction with the Winchester BID and Tourism South East.  It will be specifically tailored to the needs of local retailers, to help them provide a real Winchester Welcome for customers with special needs and requirements in the future.

Retailers will learn how to: provide a warm welcome to disabled visitors; boost sales and the reputation of their organisation; offer a first class service to customers with specific needs, and identify their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act.

For further information visit www.welcometoexcellence.co.uk or contact Alison Woods at Winchester Tourist Information Centre on 01962 840 500 or email tourism@winchester.gov.uk.

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your place, simply contact Stephanie Pook at Tourism South East on 023 8062 5438 or email spook@tourismse.com.

Wheels to Work for Young People

Loans of two wheels will make a big difference to some young people living in the Winchester district, thanks to a scheme coming into the area. Hampshire County and Winchester City Councils have introduced 'Wheels to Work', a moped loan scheme that aims to give 16-25 year olds the means to get to work, vocational training courses or interviews. The scheme is aimed at helping those who live in areas that have limited public transport options, cannot afford their own car and have no other transport options to turn to.
The fully taxed and insured 50cc mopeds can be loaned for any period of time between three and 12 months. A fleet of 12 mopeds is available to cover the district, at a hire charge of £12 per week. In the interest of safety, all users will have to complete compulsory basic training, and will be given a high visibility jacket, gloves and helmet - all of which are provided under the scheme.

To find out more about the scheme, visit the Wheels to Work webpage or contact Hampshire County Council’s Community Transport Officer on 01962 845844 or email community.transport@hants.gov.uk

Business budget consultation

One of Winchester City Council's key priorities is promoting economic prosperity. Every year we consult with the business community about our plans for our economic development work, and about how we are planning to spend the Council’s budget over the next year.

We will be holding a business breakfast on Wednesday 27 January 2010 at The Winchester Royal Hotel to get your views on the Council’s work. The breakfast is open to anyone from the business community who wishes to attend, but booking is essential.

To find out more and to book a place, contact Kate Crawford, Economic Development Manager on 01962 848 563 or email kcrawford@winchester.gov.uk 

Advertise to 48,000 homes for just £200!

Winchester City Council is offering businesses the chance to advertise in the Council’s flagship magazine, Perspectives. The magazine is delivered to all 48,000 homes across the Winchester District and has an estimated readership of over 100,000. The magazine is also published online, and made available at public places.