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Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.
This week, we're focusing on our upcoming free AI webinar for businesses, taking place on Thursday 6 November. Further details can be found below.
We're also highlighting the Small Business Commissioner's Online Marketplace Guide, the Oxford Brookes University Help to Grow: Management programme, the Government-backed Fair Payment Code, Small Business Britain's Green Growth Awards and Green Growth 100, planning your Halloween fun with Visit Southern Oxfordshire, Nium's new first-of-its-kind catalyst creator, Small Business Saturday's free webinar programme and Oxfordshire County Council's OxLAEP Action Planning Workshop.
Plus, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to be kept up-to-date in between our newsletters.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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Empowering Local Organisations with Generative AI for Growth and Development Generative AI isn't just for tech giants - it's a game-changer for local organisations, SMEs, charities and social enterprises like yours. Are you ready to streamline operations, boost team skills and unlock growth without major investment? If the answer is yes, come along to our free, 45-minute webinar with Marlow AI Solutions to hear about actionable steps you can take to make the most of AI for your organisation.
Date and time
Thursday 6 November10.30am - 11.30am
You'll leave knowing how to:
- Save time - instantly automate routine tasks and free up valuable resources.
- Enhance creativity, innovation and communication through content generation and data insights.
- Future-proof your team - confidently upskill your staff and widen your organisation's capabilities.
There will also be practical use cases, opportunities and risks, with a Q&A session at the end.
Register for your free place via this link.
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Online Marketplace GuideThe Small Business Commissioner has published a new Online Marketplace Guide for businesses. When it comes to selecting marketplaces and payment providers, it is important to do your research and look at where others in your industry are selling and how they are performing. The guide offers a brief outline of what small businesses should consider when selecting providers. It identifies the reasons why your account might be placed on hold or funds held, and in partnership with a wide range of providers, establishes a voluntary code of payment conduct that the sector has agreed to sign up to. Read the guide via the Small Business Commissioner's website.
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Help to Grow: ManagementLearn new skills, reach more customers and boost your profits with the Help to Grow: Management programme. The bespoke curriculum is aimed to support business leaders to build capabilities surrounding leadership, innovation, digital adoption, employee engagement, marketing, responsible business and financial management. Designed to fit alongside work commitments, this 12-week programme combines a practical curriculum with one-to-one support from a leading business mentor and alumni networking sessions. By the end of the programme, leaders will have developed a business growth plan to help them lead their business to release its potential. The next cohort starts on Thursday 6 November. Register for your free place via the Oxford Brookes University website.
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Rewarding businesses for adopting fairer and quicker payment practices
The UK Government-backed Fair Payment Code encourages businesses across the UK to pay fairly and quickly. Businesses apply for the Award tier which best suits them - Gold, Silver or Bronze:
- Gold Award – for those firms paying at least 95% of all invoices within 30 days
- Silver Award – for those paying at least 95% of all invoices within 60 days, including at least 95% of invoices to small businesses within 30 days
- Bronze Award – for those paying at least 95% of all invoices within 60 days.
The Fair Payment Code Awards are for two years, and every business needs to reapply for their Award at the end of each two-year period. Further information can be found via the Fair Payment Code website.
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Green Growth Awards and Green Growth 100In partnership with BT, Small Business Britain has announced the launch of the Green Growth Awards and the Green Growth 100. The Green Growth 100 will champion 100 forward-thinking small businesses who are successfully using sustainability to grow, inspiring more small businesses to take action on sustainability while driving profitability. From the top 100 businesses, two will receive a Green Growth Award - a £5,000 grant each to help scale their sustainability ambitions, with additional runner-up prizes also awarded. All selected businesses will be invited to an awards event in March 2026, hosted by BT, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders and sustainability champions. Apply via the Small Business Britain website.
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Halloween fun this October half termHave you got your Spooktacular October half term sorted, or does the very thought of having to keep the kids entertained for a week fill you with dread?! Luckily for you, we've compiled a list of all the best goings-on in Southern Oxfordshire in our 'What's on' calendar! Highlights include pumpkin picking, spooky trails, sports camps, drive-in movies, arts and crafts, discos and more. Plan your Halloween adventures via the Visit Southern Oxfordshire website.
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Nium unveils first-of-its-kind catalyst creator
Milton Park has become home to one of the UK’s most advanced green-tech manufacturing platforms, thanks to an innovation from clean-tech occupier Nium.
The Earthshot Prize-nominated company is on a mission to tackle one of the planet’s most polluting industrial methods, the Haber-Bosch process, by producing fully renewable, low-carbon ammonia.
Nium has designed, patented and built a unique catalyst manufacturing platform, which is housed in its bespoke R&D facility, affectionately known as the ‘Nanosphere’. The development of this world-first technology was part-funded by a major grant from Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency.
Read the story in full via Milton Park's website.
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Small Business Saturday's free webinar programmeSmall Business Saturday's free Webinar Programme returns for 2025! Running from 3 November to 3 December, Monday to Friday at 11am, this year's webinars cover essential topics like marketing on a budget, time management, finance and AI. The Small Business Saturday team are also offering 1 hour mentoring sessions with trusted small business experts. Find out more via the Small Business Saturday website.
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Oxfordshire County Council OxLAEP Action Planning WorkshopOxfordshire County Council is hosting an online OxLAEP Action Planning Workshop to co-develop a practical energy plan for the county. Thursday 13 November | 2pm - 4pmThe workshop will present evidence-based findings to inform decision-making and bring together stakeholders to identify priorities, establish ownership and define clear timelines for delivery. Attendees will explore the most urgent energy-related issues in the county, key stakeholders and their roles in delivering change, practical timelines for implementing proposed actions, the resources needed – financial, human and technical – to support delivery, and barriers to implementation and strategies for overcoming them. By the end of the session, Oxfordshire County Council will aim to compile a comprehensive set of stakeholder-led actions that will form the basis of coordinated district energy plans across Oxfordshire. Register for your free place via Eventbrite.
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Boost your business success – stay connected with us via LinkedIn!
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? We’re here to provide the tools, insights and resources you need to succeed.
Follow our social media channels for:
- The latest business news
- Important events
- Practical advice and guidance
- Opportunities for businesses.
Follow us on our new LinkedIn page to be kept up-to-date.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, knowledge or just a little extra motivation, we’ve got you covered. We’re here to help your business thrive - one post at a time!
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