Information, support and advice

  • Business support service for Winchester businesses

    Winchester City Council has worked with Enterprise First to introduce a business support service for businesses located in the Winchester District. The service provides one to one business advice, training, networking and mentoring.

    The business support service offers help with writing business plans, securing funding or advice regarding expansion. Funded by Winchester City Council, the free service aims to remove the barriers that stop people from starting and growing a business in the District.

    Networking
    Businesses who are keen to meet with like minded business owners to share and support the local area are invited to come along to the informal networking. The events are held every month and are free to attend although businesses will need to purchase their own drinks and food, as required.

    The next Winchester Informal Networking event is on Thursday 16 May 2019 at 9am. It will be held at Cafe Winchester, 28-29 Saint Thomas Street, Winchester SO23 9HJ. To register your attendance please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/win-cafe-winchester-informal-networking.

    The dates thereafter will be on the following Thursdays: 20 June and 18 July.

    For further information, please call Julie on 07867 357930 or email julie.easterbrook@enterprisefirst.co.uk

    Training

    Blogging Masterclass
    Date: Friday 7 June 2019
    Time: 10am – 1pm
    Location: No.5 Bridge Street, Winchester

    In this Blogging Masterclass from ByTheWay Creative, you'll learn how to:

    • Generate a bank of content ideas
    • Produce engaging long form content
    • Repurpose your content for social media
    • Write copy that converts

    Marketing on a Shoestring
    Date: Friday 28 June 2019
    Time: 10am – 1pm
    Location: No.5 Bridge Street, Winchester

    All of the above workshops can be booked by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/enterprise-first-17080738028, emailing info@enterprisefirst.co.uk or phoning 01252 319 272.

    Enterprise First is putting together a training schedule and is interested in hearing from businesses about their training needs, contact Andy Pringle, Business Development Manager at Enterprise First, at andy.pringle@enterprisefirst.co.uk to give your suggestions.

    One to one business support
    Appointments for one to one business advice can be made by contacting Enterprise First on 01252 319 272 or emailing info@enterprisefirst.co.uk. 

  • Steadfast Collective launch £5,000 website giveaway 

    Throughout the month of May, Southampton web agency, Steadfast Collective, are celebrating their fourth birthday. Understanding the pressures small organisations face in trying to build an online presence without breaking the bank, the company decided they wanted to give back to the local business community by running a giveaway for local businesses, charities or non-profit organisations based in Hampshire. The prize: a website up to the value of £5,000.

    To take part in the birthday giveaway, visit www.steadfastcollective.com/giveaway and nominate your own organisation or one that you think deserves the prize.

  • Give an Hour campaign 

    In as little as an hour, you could change the course of a young person’s life just by sharing your story or helping them to understand more about the world of work.  

    The Enterprise M3 Give an hour campaign invites you to make a difference to the young people in your area by giving as little as one hour of your time. They would particularly like to hear from you if you own or work in a small or medium sized business. Hear from some of the employers who are already engaging with young people in their local areas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUR8GmX2BCQ

    It might feel like an hour is too short to have a real impact, but they know from experience that an hour can create new perspectives and inspire new ideas. Just to hear someone’s career story or be able to speak to someone who can listen and give advice. Could you be that someone?  

    Register today at https://giveanhour.co.uk/register-your-interest to give an hour and change a life.  

  • Enterprise M3 Growth Hub

    The Enterprise M3 Growth Hub provides free, expert advice and a resource network for new and existing businesses including signposting to a range of business services, information on starting and growing your business and access to a Business Support Helpline.

  • Solent Growth Hub

    If your business is located in the south of the Winchester District you may be eligible for help from the Solent Growth Hub, a ‘One Stop Shop' that helps business navigate its way through the complexity of growth initiatives, and promotes growth opportunities to help unlock business finance options.

    The Business Growth Helpline offers businesses access to free help, expert advice and specialist services:

    • Signposting by phone or in person to address your business growth needs
    • Referrals to local and national schemes supporting business growth
    • Growth Audits and expert growth advice to assess growth options and unlock finance
    • Connecting to B2B support groups and organisations
    • Visit www.solentgrowthhub.co.uk or call 01329 820 898 for more information
  • Hampshire Chamber of Commerce 

    The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation, owned and managed by local businesses whose goal it is to protect and promote business interests. They help to make businesses become more successful by providing networking opportunities, business support and advice.

    To speak to someone directly, call  01329 242 420 or email info@hampshirechamber.co.uk

  • Broadband

    Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Winchester City Council (WCC) are working together to ensure that as many residents and businesses as possible have access to superfast broadband.

    Wave 2 of Hampshire County Council’s Superfast Broadband project will involve upgrading 550 roadside broadband cabinets, by September 2018, connecting an additional 34,000 premises across the county. This will make Superfast Broadband available to 96% of premises in Hampshire. 

    Broadband cabinets have been updated in some postcodes in the following areas across the Winchester District. For a full list of cabinets and postcodes that have recently been upgraded visit: www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com/about-the-project/live-cabinets/. 

    The two councils also want to ensure that people are registered on the Hampshire Superfast Broadband website, www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com. This is so that Hampshire County Council can keep them updated with project announcements regarding additional funding and upgrades to cabinets. 

    To find out when Superfast Broadband is coming to your area or to join the campaign visit: www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com

  • Sparsholt Business Training

    Sparsholt College provides training to business, industry and employers, offering professional accreditation courses as well as one-day workshops and training courses.

    SMEs who don't have enough staff to warrant a specialist course can benefit from workshops and courses with individuals from different sectors and industries, where they can share ideas and best practice with colleagues and bring that back to the workplace. For larger groups, courses can also be run in the workplace.

    Professional qualifications are delivered in small groups by experienced trainers, working to industry body accreditation standards, which are externally verified for quality assurance. A wide range of courses cover a variety of industries.

    To find out more and view the current training calendar go to www.sparsholt.ac.uk/employers/

  • Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs

    Social enterprise means generating your own income through selling your services and or expertise. The income derived is reinvested in your charitable or social purposes. Action Hampshire gives information and support to social enterprises and also run the Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs.

    Action Hampshire understand that the business development needs of social entrepreneurs are very similar to those of private entrepreneurs but there are also key differences such as legal structures available.

    For further information, please contact Action Hampshire.

  • Network with Confidence

    Face to face networking is one of the most productive ways of developing new business relationships and turning them into high quality leads to drive business growth and return on investment.

    Many people may be competent using social media but do not have the face to face skills and confidence to network effectively at business events.

    Enterprise M3 Growth Hub can help you grow your business and return on investment through effective business networking.

  • South Hampshire PA Network

    South Hampshire PA Network is a network of Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Virtual Assistants and Office Managers from all sectors who work in the southern half of Hampshire. Informal events are held 4-5 times a year, and members stay connected through social media.

    You can find out more information from the document available to download in the column on the right.

  • The Entrepreneur Handbook

    The Entrepreneur Handbook is a UK information website providing expert advice and guides on every aspect of starting and growing a business including sales, finance, marketing and much more.

    Go to the website for more information: http://entrepreneurhandbook.co.uk/

  • The GREAT Way to Grow

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has launched a guide for small businesses with advice from other SME's.
     
    The Guide compiles a selection of invaluable pieces of business advice, hints and tips from 34 hand-picked remarkable small British businesses and top entrepreneurs who each reveal handy hints which they believe are pivotal to their success.

    Click here for more information. 

  • Funding Circle

    A peer-to-business lending platform connecting businesses and investors, where businesses get fast business loans and investors earn great returns on their investments. Funding Circle has funded over £570m in business loans so far.

    For more information you can visit their website

  • Starting a business?
  • Need to find a business?

    For local Trading Standards approved traders, go to the Buy With Confidence web pages available in the column on the right.

    The local branch of the Hampshire Chambers of Commerce holds a member directory.

  • Armed Forces Community Covenant

    Winchester City Council has signed an Armed Forces Community Covenant for the Winchester District. We want to encourage all our local businesses and employers to consider how they can help our armed forces in their local area.

    For more information go to www.defenceprivilegecard.co.uk

    Call 01509 233 446 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and a member of the Defence Discount Service Team will assist. 

  • Business Fire Safety

    Does your business comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005? Are you aware of your responsibilities as a business owner?

    For more information visit Hantsfire's webpage or email csprotection.admin@hantsfire.gov.uk

    You can also find out more information from the document available to download in the column on the right.