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Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.
This week, we're focusing on our Visit Southern Oxfordshire website. Organisations can now submit their event listings for free. Full details can be found below.
We're also highlighting an update on flooding support for businesses, South and Vale's '❤️ your area’ campaign, a new online Net Zero platform, The Didcot Powerhouse Fund, Milton Park's new Signal Yard project, a Nuclear Robotics and AI cluster in Oxfordshire, and your last chance to create a FREE Carbon Reduction Plan.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.
- South and Vale's Economic Development team
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What better way to experience the Christmas spirit than by immersing yourself in festive events and activities? Our new Visit Southern Oxfordshire website is packed with things to do over the festive period. Our carefully curated Christmas events calendar makes it easy to find local events within your area, from light switch-ons and pantomimes, to festive markets and Santa Dashes – there’s something for everyone! South and Vale are home to high quality independent businesses. While you’re out and about, discover unique gifts and take a break in welcoming cafés, pubs and restaurants. Shopping locally helps to support your high streets and the local business community. Plus, you’ll find unique gifts and won’t have to worry about missing a parcel! Discover things to do in your area this Christmas, via southernoxfordshire.com/Christmas.
Hosting an event?
If your organisation is hosting an event this Christmas or in 2025, or you know of an event that we should shout about, submit an event listing for free via our new form. We will then feature these on our Visit Southern Oxfordshire website.
Follow us on social media
You can now follow our Facebook and Instagram pages to be kept up-to-date with the latest events in South and Vale.This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Visit Southern Oxfordshire website promotes charming market towns in South and Vale and their historic landmarks, scenic walking trails, events and authentic country pubs. Sign up to our newsletter via the new website to be kept up-to-date with news in your local area. |
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Flooding support for businessesWe are aware that a number of organisations in our area have recently experienced flooding resulting from Storm Bert. As far as we are aware, the Government has not announced any specific support for recent floods. While we are encouraging the Local Lead Flood Authority (Oxfordshire County Council) to lobby central government for financial support, in past situations, support has only been made available once certain thresholds are reached, in terms of the number of residents and businesses reporting flooding. At present, we understand that large numbers have not been reported across the county. Please make sure you report any flooding via the County Council’s Flood Toolkit. This helps the County Council to understand the properties, areas and numbers involved, and triggers relevant investigations to take place. Should any financial or other support be made available, we will publish details via the SVBS newsletter. In the meantime, we would strongly encourage businesses to investigate resilience planning. While there is information specific to flooding on the toolkit website, another option to explore is business resilience and continuity planning support. This is available through OxLEP.
If you have any concerns, please get in touch with us.
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Food businesses urged to ‘❤️ your area’
Food businesses in South and Vale are being asked to play a key role in reducing litter by supporting the district councils’ ‘❤️ your area’ campaign.
The initiative aims to tackle the rising issue of litter in public spaces. During the summer, banners and posters were displayed to remind people to bin their litter or take it home. With the weather getting colder, the councils are now focusing on encouraging takeaways and other food businesses to help spread the message.
We're looking for organisations to display anti-litter stickers on takeaway food packaging and posters at their premises.
If you run a food business and would like to get involved, please email waste.team@southandvale.gov.uk.
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New online platform to support Oxfordshire businesses on their journey to net zero
Hosted by OxLEP, a new platform to help Oxfordshire businesses navigate the complexities of net zero is now live.
The website contains up-to date actionable insights, practical tools and signposting to relevant support, news, events and funding opportunities from both within and outside of Oxfordshire, helping make the journey to net zero journey easier for businesses, whatever stage of their journey they are at.
The platform includes:
- Net zero and your business – some of the reasons why businesses should think about net zero
- Net zero heroes – inspiring stories of Oxfordshire businesses who have taken action
- Net zero support – organisations supporting net zero within Oxfordshire
- Funding & grants – local and national funding
- Net zero jargon – a simple guide to common terms
- Carbon calculator and net zero toolkit – through the UK SME Climate Hub
- Climate adaptation
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Apply for The Didcot Powerhouse Fund
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund is now open for applications from charities and organisations that provide support to the wider Didcot community.
Grants from £1,000 - £10,000 are available. Small grants of up to £500 may be available for organisations and/or projects at the discretion of the Grants Panel.
Examples of projects funded in 2024 include the supply of sanitary products, a village fete, reading helpers, science workshops for pupils, mental health sessions and more.
If you need help with applying, come along to an online workshop on Monday 9 December at 1pm. Register for your free place via the official webpage.
The scheme closes for applications at midday on Friday 10 January. Submit your application via The Didcot Powerhouse Fund website.
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Milton Park’s £14m amenity redevelopment project gets underway
With works already underway, Milton Park's £14m Signal Yard project will see the redevelopment of the former Park Centre into a vibrant community and social hub.
Once complete, Signal Yard will bring 18 state-of-the-art units offering a vibrant mix of food, drinks, retail services and an outdoor events space, nestled within a series of hard and soft landscaped areas.
There will also be an array of bicycle storage and dedicated customer parking bays, equipped with EV charging stations.
MEPC are currently curating an exciting mix of potential occupiers for Signal Yard. If you think your organisation might be a good fit, visit the Milton Park website for full details.
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Research and innovation clusters to boost UK regional growthFrom digital healthcare and rehabilitation technology to offshore wind energy, seven new projects across the UK will kickstart economic growth and address regional needs. The projects are funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's (EPSRC) Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme. Each consortium focuses on a scientific theme in engineering and physical sciences research, targeting a specific geographical area to support the expansion or development of a research and innovation cluster.A Nuclear Robotics and AI cluster will link Cumbria and Oxfordshire to accelerate the decommissioning of the country’s nuclear legacy and remove people from harm.The cluster expects to:
- create 200 business opportunities
- establish 10 spin-out companies
- generate 200 new jobs
- engage 5,000 people in cluster-driven events.
Full details can be found on the UK Research and Innovation website.
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Last chance to create a FREE Carbon Reduction Plan
Market pressure is mounting on business leaders to make responsible and sustainable choices.
The NHS is leading the way with its Five Supplier Requirements. Organisations who wish to work with the NHS must now complete and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are obliged to complete a Climate Impact Assessment tool for all projects, and suppliers are chosen on their sustainability values.
Additionally, organisations often need a Carbon Reduction Plan to apply for green funding, to evidence the need for new projects.
It’s essential for businesses to act now, to be prepared for future mandatory legislations.
Last chance to get your free, personalised Carbon Reduction Plan
We've awarded UKSPF funding to ALP Synergy Ltd to carry out a Decarbonisation Business Support pilot programme, helping South and Vale businesses to lower their greenhouse gas emissions.
The programme consists of Net Zero webinars and workshops, supporting businesses to create a personalised Carbon Reduction Plan to start or progress their sustainability journey.
The programme is free for South and Vale businesses, but there are a limited number of spaces left.
The last chance to get involved in the programme is Thursday 16 January, at the 'My SME Business - 10 Steps to Net Zero and your Carbon Calculation' webinar.
The webinar will focus on the 10 steps that small businesses can take to becoming Net Zero. At the end of the webinar, businesses will come away with an understanding of business carbon issues and Net Zero, and will know how to access further help with carbon reduction activities.
Please note that you must attend this webinar to be able to progress to the next session, where you'll create a tailored Carbon Reduction Plan.
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