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Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.

This week, we're focusing on our South and Vale Visitor Economy survey, closing for submissions this Sunday, 13 August, and our REPF expression of interest form.

We're also highlighting the new UK Business Climate Hub, Tourism South East's Beautiful South Awards and BIPC's Startup Huddle networking event.

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
In collaboration with Tourism South East Research, we are inviting South and Vale based businesses to participate in a survey centred around the local visitor economy.

The deadline for completing this survey is Sunday 13 August at 11:59pm.

This survey will allow us to gain a better understanding of the sector, identifying the challenges faced by businesses and uncovering exciting opportunities for the future. The findings from this research will play a pivotal role in shaping strategies, materials and assets to support and improve the tourism sector, creating better experiences for both residents and visitors.

By taking part in this survey, you can contribute to the promotion of our rural districts as thriving destinations for tourism, leisure and well-being. Together, we can ensure that our local economy remains robust, supporting the vitality of town centres and high streets, and the viability of leisure, hospitality and cultural facilities.

This extensive research project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The survey should only take approximately 20 minutes of your time. As a token of our gratitude, all submissions will be entered into Tourism South East's competition for a chance to win one of three £75 gift cards of your choice.

If you have any questions or need support in completing the survey, please contact research@tourismse.com or telephone 02380 625400.
REPF: submit your expression of interest

We’ve recently 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 will fund capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

We’ll be making funding available to help achieve aims set out in our Corporate Plan, including action on the climate emergency, and improving community and economic wellbeing.

You can find more information about REPF via the links below:
We’ll be opening a grant scheme to allow organisations to apply for this funding later this year. In the meantime, we’re asking interested parties to complete an expression of interest form (EOI). 

Completed EOIs will help us to understand local demand and will inform the criterion for our final grant scheme that we expect to be available in Autumn 2023.

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.

Submit your expression of interest form here.
Reduce energy costs and cut carbon with the UK Business Climate Hub

The UK Business Climate Hub is a collaboration between the UK Government, businesses and business groups across the UK. The Hub is the UK partner of the SME Climate Hub, the global initiative which empowers small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action.

The newly-launched hub features regularly updated free resources, content, tools, funding opportunities and case studies, ideal for businesses who are looking to measure and reduce their carbon emissions. Topics include:
  • 7 steps to sustainability
  • Building and home energy use
  • EVs and transport
  • Renewable energy
  • Waste and recycling
  • Production and cold storage
  • Supply chain
  • Product labels and certifications
  • Farming and land use
Explore the UK Business Climate Hub here.
Tourism South East's Beautiful South Future of Hospitality Award

Tourism South East's Beautiful South Future of Hospitality Award is open for entries until 31 August.

This special award is for tourism businesses that are recruiting and developing hospitality stars of the future, providing clear and inspiring structured career paths. This could include the recruitment of your team for those just starting out or retraining at a different stage in their life.

Businesses can nominate themselves or may be nominated by a third party but they should be directly involved in tourism, making a contribution to the visitor economy with a significant proportion of business generated by people visiting from outside the local area.

This award is free to enter. Entry forms can be downloaded here and should be completed and returned by email to awards@services4tourism.co.uk.
BIPC's Startup Huddle networking event

Come and network with Startup founders and entrepreneurs in the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), designed to help one entrepreneur at a time, while strengthening the local Oxford ecosystem.

Thursday 17 August   |   6pm - 8pm

Entrepreneurs will be able to discover solutions to the challenges they face through purposeful engagement with a broad array of voices from the Oxfordshire community.

There will be presentations from Oxfordshire based start-ups, followed by a Q&A session and time for networking. There will also be an opportunity to explore all of the facilities and resources available at BIPC Oxfordshire.

Register for your free place via Eventbrite.

Thu 10 Aug: The launch of the Enterprise Nation Fund

Mon 14 Aug: Enteprise Nation: Plan for success – take your business to the next level

Tue 15 Aug: Research your market at BIPC Oxfordshire

Wed 16 Aug: Small Business Britain: Threads, GA4, and Marketing for Visibility and Growth

Wed 16 Aug: OxLEP Visitor Economy Grants launch webinar

Wed 16 Aug: FSB: Health, wellbeing and personal development for small businesses

Thu 17 Aug: Enterprise Nation: Effective strategies for growing your small business
Tips to make your online activities more energy efficient

How to deal with reviews (positive and negative) on Tripadvisor

7 winning ways to look for customers

Widening your recruitment pool: Support for small businesses
 
Books on business productivity: All the tips, tricks and hacks

The circular economy and how it can benefit your business

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