With a New Year comes new challenges and opportunities for all our local businesses.
This month we have information to help with the increasing energy costs for Businesses, a festival aimed at boosting trade and help for housebuilders.
We take a look at what’s going to be big in 2023 and provide details on how you can get free government funding to help with your digital growth. We also showcase a virtual networking event with a guest speaker advising on how you can develop and maximise your 2023 Social Media strategy.
If you have a business event that you would like us to promote, or a success story that you would like us to share, please let us know at businessalerts@rother.gov.uk
Energy Bills Discount Scheme
The government has announced a new “Energy Bills Discount Scheme” for UK businesses, charities, and the public sector from April ahead of the current scheme ending in March.
The scheme will provide a discount on high energy costs to give businesses certainty while limiting taxpayers’ exposure to volatile energy markets.
Businesses in sectors with particularly high levels of energy use and trade intensity will receive a higher level of support.
The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.
Light Art Festival Returns to Bexhill
Supported by local businesses, the Bexhill After Dark festival returns to Bexhill on Saturday 28th January, 4.30-8.30pm.
This should lead to a significant increase in visitors to the area which will give a much needed boost to trade during the post-Christmas lull.
The event features a fire laboratory, performances from cultures around the world, live music and an illuminated parade, with Bexhill Heritage lighting up the bandstand.
Support available for Housebuilders
Through the government’s Levelling Up Home Building Fund, Homes England provides development loans to small and medium housebuilders.
With the dual aim of getting much needed homes built, and creating a more diverse and resilient housing market, the Fund supports smaller house builders that struggle to access finance through traditional bank lenders, with loans starting from £250,000.
10 Business Trends to look out for in 2023
Will 2023 be remembered as the year of cost of living crisis and recession? Or will it be a year of resilience and turning the corner after Covid?
Predicting the future is not like having a crystal ball. You have to keep your eyes and ears wide open to take in what is happening around the world at government level, in industry, activist movements, media and new technologies.
It seems complicated to stay afloat in a world that changes every morning, but experts have provided their 10 best guesses about what will happen next.
Help to Grow: Digital Scheme
Businesses now only have until 2nd February 2023 to apply for assistance and funding under the Help to Grow: Digital scheme.
The programme is designed to give SMEs free and impartial advice on how technology can help their business as well as provide vouchers worth up to £5,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of buying pre-approved software.
Do you have a Content Strategy for 2023?
The Federation of Small Businesses is holding their virtual South East FSB Connect Event on Tuesday 7th Feb, 12:00-13:00.
The event is free to attend for members and non-members and is an opportunity to meet with other entrepreneurs, self-employed people and small business owners, to continue to network, collaborate and support each other.
Zoe Cairns of ZC Social Media will be presenting at the event.
Zoe will be speaking about new trends and updates in Social Media and how you can start using these to create your content strategy for 2023!
