New Fund Gives Early-Stage Firms An Advantage
January 27, 2010
New Fund Gives Early-Stage Firms An Advantage
Last month saw the launch of a new £8 million equity fund to help early-stage West Midlands SMEs reach their potential.
Provided by Advantage West Midlands with the backing of European Regional Development Fund cash, the Early Advantage Fund can offer match funded equity investment worth up to £250,000.
An initial investment worth up to £125,000 can be backed with an additional £125,000 during subsequent funding rounds, with all funds received from the scheme needing to be matched by other private investors.
The scheme will channel support towards early-stage SMEs and high growth companies that have the potential to offer a return on any investment within a 3-7 year timeframe.
Launching the fund last month, Mick Lavety, chief executive of AWM, claimed the scheme would ensure the region’s SMEs would have “access to the funds they need to start-up and grow”.
He said:
“It builds on the experience of the Advantage Early Growth Fund, which ended its initial investment period earlier this year having invested a total of £8.8 million in over 60 businesses, leveraging nearly £23 million of finance from other sources.”
Dr Andrew Muir, revealed:
“I’m sure this fund will prove popular with SMEs. In fact word is out and already there have been a number of expressions of interest in the Early Advantage Fund, with the first investment likely to be approved in the near future.
To find out more contact visit our website and read about how you can get more information about equity funds and other forms of finance available for businesses in all regions within the UK. Visit our website http://www.businessservicessupport.com/finance.php
New Grants To Recruit Young Apprentices £2500
Employers can take advantage of a new short-term scheme offering them a £2,500 grant to take on an unemployed young person.
Until the end of March, companies can claim the funding to recruit a 16 or 17 year-old apprentice.
Young people have been hit hard during the economic downturn, with 16 and 17 year-olds not in full-time education seeing the largest absolute fall in their employment rate since the start of the recession.
However, around 70,000 young people started an apprenticeship during the past year, and the AGE 16 and 17 programme now aims to provide similar opportunities for another 5,000 individuals.
Funding will be targeted at companies who are not currently in a financial position to recruit an apprentice.
A spokesperson from the funding body said :
“We recognise the particular issues faced by young people in the current economic climate and we want to support them and ensure that we are training a new generation for economic recovery.
“We particularly want to support small and medium-sized employers who are interested in employing an apprentice for the first time, or who want to employ an additional apprentice over their traditional level of recruitment.”
The incentive will be available until the end of March.
To find out more contact visit our website and read about how you can get more information about grants finance and other forms of finance available for businesses in all regions within the UK. Visit our website http://www.businessservicessupport.com/finance.php
Deadline Approaching For Biomass Fund
Time is running out for Scottish businesses to secure funding to help them install energy efficient heating systems.
The deadline to apply for support from the third round of the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme is 12 February.
Through the fund, SMEs can grab grants worth up to £100,000 to cover a maximum of 50% of the capital costs of installing new biomass heating systems.
Launched in October 2008, the programme is aiming to increase small business competitiveness, create a growing market for biomass equipment and services, cut carbon emissions, and contribute towards meeting the Scottish Government’s target of securing 11% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Launching the latest funding window back in November, Energy Minister Jim Mather told the Scottish Parliament:
“We are particularly keen to receive applications for district heating schemes. At the same time as launching the third round of the scheme, we want to establish what the demand is for funding for larger-scale projects for district heating schemes and we seek expressions of interest.Applications in round three must be made by 12 February 2010, and will be assessed against a range of criteria, such as value for money, technical credibility and environmental impact.
Successful bidders will be revealed during April.
To find out more contact visit our website and read about how you can get more information about equity funds and other forms of finance available for businesses in all regions within the UK. Visit our website http://www.businessservicessupport.com/finance.php
Government Guarantee Scheme Boosting Business
A recession relief scheme introduced by the Government has provided more than half a billion pounds worth of loans to UK businesses.
Research carried out for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills revealed that 5,840 firms had drawn down more than £580 million in loans from the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.
The programme was introduced in January 2009 and offers companies with an annual turnover in excess of £25 million the opportunity to borrow up to £1 million over a ten-year period to boost their cash flow, create or safeguard jobs, and invest in new equipment.
Trade, Investment and Small Business Minister Lord Davies said:
“These impressive results show the Government is providing real help to businesses when they need it, helping to secure jobs and give businesses the capital they need to invest and grow.
“The Enterprise Finance Guarantee has been welcomed by business and, following its recent extension, it will continue to play a vital role in encouraging enterprise and investment and driving productivity and growth throughout the UK economy.”
In his Pre-Budget Report, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced an extra £500 million would be made available to extend the programme for a further year.
The scheme will now run until April 2011, with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne claiming:
“By extending the Enterprise Finance Guarantee for another twelve months in the Pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor demonstrated the Government’s determination to continue supporting businesses. Withdrawing that support would put the recovery at risk.”
To find out more contact visit our website and read about how you can get more information about equity funds and other forms of finance available for businesses in all regions within the UK. Visit our website http://www.businessservicessupport.com/finance.php
Startup Finance For North East SMEs
A new fund has been launched to ensure start-up firms in the North East of England are equipped for success.
The £4.63 million Regional Start-Up Capital Finance Grant programme will offer funding ranging between £1,000 and £3,000 so that SMEs can buy new machinery, office equipment and ICT hardware and software.
Funding is available to North East-based businesses that meet the definition of a small to medium-sized enterprise (for example employ less than 250 staff) and have been trading for no longer than 12 months.
Grants will cover up to 50% of the total eligible costs and will enable up-and-coming entrepreneurs to overcome some of the financial barriers they face as they try to grow their business.
Part-financed through the European Regional Development Fund and One North East, the scheme falls under the Intensive Start-Up Support strand of the Government’s Solutions for Business package. It is delivered by the North East England Investment Centre (NEEIC).
Over the next two years it is anticipated that the fund will support 700 businesses, helping to create 100 new jobs and safeguard a more than 300 others.
NEEIC operations manager Irene Earle said:
“New businesses in their first trading year will have access to direct financial support to invest in small scale capital equipment and plant. That includes the purchase of manufacturing machinery, essential office equipment, ICT capital equipment and specialist software.”
For further information about how to access this fund contact us or visit our website where you will find more information about customised reports to source finance for your business. To find out more contact visit our website and read about how you can get more information about equity funds and other forms of finance available for businesses in all regions within the UK. Visit our website http://www.businessservicessupport.com/finance.php
Company Formation Video
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy, shares the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating your business. She identified the important tax and asset protection benefits that an incorporated business offers over one that is not incorporated and provide special reports on how to go about forming a company in the USA and the UK. To obtain the special report, you will need to go to www.ukandusacompanyformation.com
video management, video solution, video streaming
Business Marketing Strategy
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy shares steps for identifying your target market and marketing your products and services to them, effectively using proven strategies. Sheila covers direct marketing and online marketing concepts and steps for overcoming SEO scams on the internet. Anyone, interested in learning about marketing and sales should watch this now. Sheila also links viewers to reputable resources she has used to build up her marketing skills and make more sales.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Steps For Starting A Business
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy shares steps for starting a business, which she has so succinctly put in her book ‘My Business Is My Business- Learn How To Earn A Fortune’. Sheila starts off by informing budding entrepreneurs about the importance of understanding the ingredients for business success as 85% GOOD ATTITUDE and 15% TECHNICAL SKILLS. She mentioned that sadly most of individuals training time is spent around the technical skills which does not help many due to lack of good attitude. You will learn a lot more when you watch this video.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Building Self Confidence
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy shares steps for building self confidence. Sheila recognised that many individuals suffer from an ailment called low self esteem brought about by excessive negative thoughts patterns. Sheila explores the root of lack of self confidence and her remedy for this condition. Sheila has used the same remedy to blast out this condition from her life and she is now helping others to do the same. The process is simple but the expenditure of time and effort on your part will be neccessary to pass the test.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Raising Finance For Your Business
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy, shares steps that entrepreneurs and established businesses can take to start sourcing and raising finance successfully. Sheila reveals some of the information that funders request from prospective clients, with funding requests. The key point to take with this video is that funders invest to make money except in the case of charitable grant organisations. They therefore want to clinch a deal that will make them money. With this in mind, it is the responsibility of a business to showcase their organisation as the vechicle through which funders can make more money.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Psychology of Creating Financial Wealth
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy, teaches how to develop the right mindset and thought patterns for wealth creation. She shares her view about the different facets of universal laws, as well as the dynamic of the mind. This video is bound to challenge those who think that they are victims of circumstances . Sheila shares information about the power of the subconscious mind and how any one can literally change their lives just by taking a conscious decision to change their thoughts life and aligning themselves to the universal intelligence or God, as some would like to label it. This is information that have been available to the world for free since creation but many ignore it at their peril and there are some who are unaware of it or have been totally misguided by different spiritual and religious belief systems.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Doing Business With Dropshippers – Online Business
January 21, 2010
In this video, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy, Sheila Elliott, shares her insight into the dropshipping business. Sheila supports the case for starting an online business using dropshippers and wholesalers that are reliable and preferably have been prequalified by a third party. She offers her own experience in dealing with dropshippers and identify indicators of scams on the net and protective measures to take . The video will link you up with reliable sources of dropshippers and wholesalers, as well as tools for identifying niche market and selling starting an online business.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Bidding For Public Sector Contracts Successfully
January 21, 2010
In this video, Sheila Elliott, the founder of BSS Management Consultancy, provides you with an overview of how to sell to public sector organisations in the UK. Many small businesses are keen to sell to the public sector but are unable to do so successful.
Sheila shares key facts which can be summarised as follows:
1. Buyers in the public sector think differently from those in the private sector
2. They have a low appetite for risks and so their main focus is about minimising risks.
3. They have a formal process to select suppliers and rely extensively on evidence to support their decisions.
All of this means that the key for the supplier to persuade them positively is to demonstrate that they are safe, reliable, competent, accountable and credit worthy to do business with as well as offer value for money.
video management, video solution, video streaming
Leadership
January 21, 2010
Do you have what it takes to lead your business?
Women in business and black business owners need to develop their leadership skills if they are to be taken seriously in the market place. Acquiring leadership skills is one of those subjects that many entrepreneurs may have frequently heard about but seldom gave much thought about its relevance to their business until something dramatically goes wrong.
In some circles, it is not unusual to find people jockeying for the title of leadership, without full acceptance of the responsibilities that come with the package. Typically, when a business commences, an entrepreneur may or may not mentally grasp the significance of the decision they have taken. They may not understand that their decision to start a business is in fact a clear demonstration of some elements of leadership on their part, which may need to be fully developed so that their business will in the future reap from the enriching benefits of effective leadership.
Depending on which part of the world you are from, your understanding and definition of leadership may differ considerably. For this reason, you need to have a healthy perception of what it takes to be an effective leader if you are to influence people towards your particular cause. Here are some definitions of a leader.
A leader is someone who influences others to follow a particular course of action. A leader is someone who positively persuades and takes others into uncharted territory.
A leader is someone who gives direction and leads others towards that direction.
• A leader is someone who nurtures others and gets the best out of them so that they can maximize their potential
• A leader is someone who takes someone from ground zero to ground hero
• A leader is someone who provides guidance and support to achieve a particular goal
• A leader is someone who effects change even in the face of opposition with a strong sense of belief in the good that such a change will yield the wider world.
The definition of a leader can go on and on ……………………………..
Do you need coaching in leadership? I can help you develop your leadership skills.
For more information on how you can develop your leadership skills why not purchase our coaching programme today. Go to http://www.bsslearningcenter.com
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