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Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.

This week, we're focusing on Small Business Saturday's Small Biz 100 campaign, our REPF and UKSPF funding, shopping locally with ShopAppy and the Power to Change Discovery Fund.

We're also highlighting Experience Oxfordshire's Only in Oxfordshire Arts & Culture summer campaign, current opportunities to sell to the councils and the Rebel Business School's Refugee Entrepreneurship webinar.

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
Small Business Saturday is highlighting 100 small businesses, one a day for 100 days, leading up to Small Business Saturday 2023, taking place on Saturday 2 December.

For the last ten years, the 100 have not only received exposure on Small Business Saturday's social media channels and in the local and national press, but have also joined the Small Business Saturday team in London at receptions in Downing Street, House of Lords and the Treasury Drum with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Applications close on June 30, 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by email in August.

Apply for Small Biz 100 on the Small Business Saturday website.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have secured funding through the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). The fund supports the aims of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme. It funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

We'll publish more details and an expression of interest form for the scheme in the coming weeks.
We recently secured £2 million from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which supports investment in communities to increase life chances, support organisations and increase people’s skills.

The funding is split equally between South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, with £1 million available per district. 

We are using this money to work towards tackling the climate emergency and to improve community and economic wellbeing.

With most of the funding available from 2024/25, we are now inviting organisations to pitch project ideas that could help to support our plans.
To complete this form, you will need to provide: 
  • a brief outline of what your project will involve, how it will deliver the project requirements, and what experience your organisation has in doing such work 

  • details of how your project will address our UKSPF priority areas and interventions 

  • details of any anticipated outputs and outcomes that your project will achieve 

  • an outline budget for your project 
Please note - by submitting your ideas, you are not committing to undertake the project, and we are not committed to funding it or to offer funding in this area.
Support our local businesses with ShopAppy

ShopAppy is a 'Shop & Support Local' website, making it easier than ever for people to browse, book and buy from their local businesses.

Businesses in Abingdon, Botley, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley, Thame, Wallingford and Wantage are now live on ShopAppy.

As well as supporting local businesses to sign up to the scheme, we're encouraging residents within the districts to use the platform to shop locally and support our high street businesses.

Shopping locally supports the economy, creates jobs for local people and offers a shopping experience you just won't get when spending with online retail giants.

Shop with your favourite businesses through the ShopAppy website here. 
Apply for the Power to Change Discovery Fund

Are you part of a community business and open to exploring tech-based solutions to meet some of the challenges your community or business face? Or are you interested in a community tech approach, where you can work in the open to create technology that you have control over, which meets your organisation’s needs and aligns with your values?

The Discovery Fund offers:
  • £10,000 to explore a community tech solution to an existing business or community challenge  
  • £2,000 to fund open working and to engage with the community tech community of practice
  • A free place on a structured design course – Community
  • Explore – to help you move from challenge to solution 
  • A free place on Third Sector Lab’s Open Working and Reuse course
  • A network of experts and like-minded peers in a facilitated community of practice
The Discovery Fund is now open for applications and closes at midday on 21 July 2023. Find out more and apply on the Power to Change website.
Spring into summer with the new Only in Oxfordshire Arts & Culture Campaign

Experience Oxfordshire has launched 'Spring into Summer', a campaign designed to support businesses operating in the county’s visitor economy.

The campaign encourages residents and visitors to explore the county and take advantage of the rich range of events and experiences on offer during the spring and summer months.

The digitally led campaign is built around the Arts&CultureHub, which features free and bookable events ranging from comedy nights to classical ballet, workshops through to film, music, exhibitions and indoor and outdoor spectacles.

For more information on the campaign, visit Experience Oxfordshire's website. To submit your own event, complete this form.
Selling to the councils - current opportunities

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.

The councils currently have the following contracts open for expressions of interest:
If you are interested in the above opprtunities, you will need to register on the South East Business Portal.
Refugee Entrepreneurship: The Hidden Giant

How can we empower and accelerate refugees living in the UK to start and build businesses?

Rebel Business School is hosting a webinar on Refugee Entrepreneurship, on World Refugee Day, to ensure we activate the latent talent in our communities.

Tuesday 20 June   |   1:30pm - 3pm

The session will cover:

  • The current and projected demographic and geographic refugee community and its entrepreneurial capability
  • How is business done abroad, what can we learn and what are the differences in the UK?
  • What are the different types of legal status and what are the rules?
  • What are the biggest opportunities and barriers for refugee start-ups and what is the support landscape?
Register for your free place via Eventbrite.

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