Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.

This week, we're focusing on Oxfordshire County Council's business continuity assessment, the launch of our ShopAppy scheme in Abingdon, Botley and Didcot, and selling to South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

We're also highlighting our next Thame Business Buzz in-person event and OxLEP's Visitor Economy Grant Scheme business brainstorming session.

There are lots more opportunities, events and resources to get stuck into this week, but as always, if you'd like to suggest content for the SVBS newsletter, please get in touch with us.

- Team SVBS
As we continue to navigate through the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, business continuity is becoming increasingly important.

Unlike many large firms that have business continuity plans in place, SMEs often lack the time and the money to invest in their business continuity plans. It is vital to recognise that a disaster could happen to any organisation – no matter the business size.

In simple terms, a disaster is an incident that has profound consequences for the company. Frequent small business disasters include:

  • Fire/flooding
  • Computer/telecoms failure
  • Key equipment failure
  • People issues such as illness, or having to replace skilled employees 
  • Denial of access to the premises
  • Product defects
  • Legal/regulatory action
  • Utilities failure
  • Changing consumer behaviour 
  • Supply chain failure
Oxfordshire County Council have a 10-minute business continuity assessment that could help you to start improving the resilience of your business. 

Check out the business continuity assessment on the Oxfordshire County Council website.
ShopAppy to launch in Abingdon, Botley and Didcot

Following the success of our ShopAppy online marketplace for independent High Street businesses in Thame and Wantage, we'll soon be launching in Abingdon, Botley and Didcot.

Our partnership with ShopAppy aims to consolidate local, independent businesses on a single online marketplace, allowing residents access to a platform through which they can purchase goods from South and Vale based businesses.

The platform will be free for the area’s businesses to access over the first 12 months of the scheme (excluding bank / card charges). Best of all, businesses will only need to allocate 20 minutes a week to managing their profile.

If you're based in any of the above towns and you'd like to get involved, find out how on our website.
Selling to the councils - register for the
South East Business Portal

The councils buy goods and services from a variety of contractors, ranging from someone who is self-employed to national organisations. To provide cost-effective services for our residents, the councils often operate a joint procurement process, and therefore award joint contracts.

Opportunities to supply your services or goods to the councils are often available, either direct or as a sub-contractor.

If you are interested in selling to the councils, you will need to register on the South East Business Portal. Please note that contracts for both councils can be located under 'South Oxfordshire District Council'.

You can also find a list of contracts that will shortly be up for renewal on South Oxfordshire District Council's website.

Further information can be found on our dedicated webpage.
Join us at Thame Business Buzz in-person

If you’re looking for vibrant, welcoming networking events in Oxfordshire, we have a fantastic local group in Thame to help you reach more business people in your area.

Thame Business Buzz takes place every first Thursday of each month, with the next event taking place in early July.

Thursday 4 August   |   10:00 - 12:00
 
Tickets are just £6, payable on the Business Buzz app in advance, or you can pay on the door.

Come and join us for some fun, informal networking!
Business Brainstorming for the Visitor Economy Grant Scheme

Are you a Visitor Economy Business looking to improve business competitiveness and COVID resilience within Oxfordshire?

Visitor Economy Grants of between £5000 and £24,999 will soon be available to businesses who can demonstrate that they are operating within the visitor economy, and OxLEP is hosting a webinar for businesses to explore what sort of projects would be eligible and co-create ideas with other businesses.

If you are looking for investment to enable your business to attract visitors and ensure that Oxfordshire maintains its position as one of the UK’s most desirable visitor destinations, this grant could take your business to the next level.

Find out more on OxLEP's Eventbrite page.

Wed 3 Aug: The 3 new business hacks that only the bravest businesses will try

Thu 4 Aug: B2B marketing workshop

Fri 5 Aug: Oxford Business Community Network - Breakfast meeting

Fri 5 Aug: Natural Netwalking in Goring and Streatley

Mon 8 Aug: How to get royal recognition for your business

Tue 9 Aug: Sales 101 - FREE Sales Training Workshop

Wed 10 Aug: The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Grant scheme launch webinar

Wed 10 Aug: OBCN South Oxfordshire Breakfast Meeting

Thu 11 Aug: How to use smartphone photography for digital marketing

Wed 17 Aug: Networking in…with Rhys Saunders of 'Lick me I’m delicious'

Wed 17 Aug: Abingdon Business Buzz
Thinking of starting your own business? Here's what you need to know

New report: Business Barometer reveals impact of UK skills shortage

Not sure how to make your business more eco-friendly? Here's how to get started

Tapping into ambition: Rethinking how we attract, retain, and invest with workforce talent

How to start a business on Instagram

Limiting Beliefs: An Outside idea

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To find out more about how the council holds, uses and stores your personal data, please click on the appropriate council’s link:


South Oxfordshire District Council   |  Vale of White Horse District Council
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