Tender Match : Help for local construction businesses

For many years Business Connect have run a very successful scheme called Contract Shop which notified local businesses of contract opportunities. In fact over the years we have helped local firms to win over £30 million pounds worth of orders. Recently funding for this scheme came to an end but we are really pleased to announce that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have agreed to fund the scheme. The project has been rebranded as ‘Tender Match Neath Port Talbot’ and it is free to any business in the County Borough. At present it is most suitable for companies in the construction-related industries but we hope to expand it in the future to benefit other sectors.

Each week we email companies with details of tenders and other opportunities in the construction industry. The service is free and if you wish to apply for a contract there is also free help with this stage too. So if you are interested in being the first to hear of building projects in South Wales please get in touch. Don’t forget that it is completely free and you can cancel at any time. For more info please contact Sam Carmichael on 01792 817575 or email her at scarmichael@bcnpt.co.uk

Neath Port Talbot’s first ever Food & Drink Festival

Neath Town Centre will hold its first festival of food and drink on Saturday October 24th 2009 from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The festival will highlight the variety of high quality Welsh produce that is available locally and focus on the range of products currently available from award winning suppliers in the Town’s covered market and the surrounding area.

Food and drink companies are invited to take a stand at the event which is likely to attract plenty of visitors.

The Festival is an opportunity for all groups in the community to come together and showcase any health and wellbeing activities they are involved in from Allotment Committees to Walking groups, jam makers, bee keepers, PTA’s to community cafes and many, many more.

There will be an opportunity for those who already have amazing culinary skills to pass them onto those that may just be exploring the idea of creating their own homemade meals with demonstrations and master classes taking place in venues around the Town.

Please come along to support local businesses and also to sample some delicious food and drink!

If you are interested in taking a stand please contact Terry Harvey Town Centre Manager on 01639 640673.

Interested in joining our team? Vacancy for Business Counsellor

Business Connect are currently seeking to procure the services of Business Counsellor on a sub-contracted basis.  An ability to converse in Welsh would be of advantage as would a high standard of numeracy and business experience.   Business Connect is committed to inclusion and diversity in our workforce. To apply in confidence please send a CV and covering letter to The General Manager, Business Connect, Britannic Way, Llandarcy, Neath SA10 6EL .

Business Show Success!

The first ever Swansea Bay Business Show was held yesterday and hosted by ourselves and Bay Radio.   It was held at the Towers Hotel and we were really pleased with the response.   Over 40 stands were taken by a variety of small businesses and these were sold out very quickly.  In fact there was even a waiting list!  We were also pleased with the number of visitors to the Show and the seminars proved especially popular.   A big thank you to everyone who attended and in particular to the staff at the Towers and Bay Radio for their invaluable help and support. 

Greg Kaminaris of Business Connect with Martin Mumford of Bay Radio

Business Connect held a prize draw and the winners were drawn at random today.  Congratulations to Stacey Adamiec and Robert Montieth who won the Moet & Chandon Champagne and chocolates respectively.

Coming Soon: Swansea Bay Business Show

We are pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting Swansea Bay Radio’s Business Show which will be held on Thursday 24th September at The Towers Hotel in Jersey Marine. All the stands have already been booked and preparations are well underway to make sure that this event is one of the best of its kind.

There will be experts on hand to give free advice to businesses and anyone who is thinking of going into business. There will be free seminars throughout the day.

Attendance is free of charge and open to all so please put a note in your diary to join us! The event starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm. For further info please contact us on 01792 817575

Fond Farewells to Business Connect’s Youth Team

Eryl Evans (left), Jeremy James of iwantpants.com and Joan Richards at the Livewire Awards

Today marked the sad end of our very successful Youth Enterprise scheme. Over many years Joan Richards and Eryl Evans have helped hundreds of young people to set up and prosper in business. There are countless successful business people who would not be in business today if it hadnt been for the support and encouragement shown by Joan and Eryl.

This service has been free of charge thanks to funding by various sponsors over the years. Sadly this funding has come to an end and we are unable to continue with the scheme. Today Eryl Evans left Business Connect and we would like to take this opportunity to thank her and Joan for all their hard work and tireless commitment to helping young people over the years. We wish Eryl every success in her career and best wishes to Joan in her retirement.

Please note that any young person who is considering self employment or needs business support is welcome to contact our main office in Llandarcy on 01792 817575

More Help for Welsh Businesses

This month Business Connect have announced that their wide range of services to businesses are now available to firms across Wales in particular in the Swansea Bay and Neath Port Talbot areas.

Starting in Business?
There is FREE help available to anyone who is considering self employment and needs general advice or would like to attend our 3 day Start Up course.  This help is funded by the Assembly.

Subsidised Expert Assistance
There are also a range of subsidised services which now include practical ‘hands on’ help as well as advice.  So if you need expert guidance either to learn how to do something e.g. book keeping or if you want us to do it for you then give us a call on 01792 817575

We offer a FREE inital consultation with no obligation whatsoever. 

Our range of services include:

Access to Grants & Loans

Business Plans

tailored plans to raise funding

cashflow issues

Book keeping & Accounts Services

Annual accounts

Credit control (we can chase up your bad debts)

Tax & VAT returns

Payroll

Manual & computerised book keeping

Help with installing & training with Sage

Marketing & Website Services

practical support to find customers

design of adverts

press releases

website design, upgrades & maintenance

internet marketing, blogs etc.

proven search engine optimisation (get higher in Google)

Computers & IT Support

onsite support

maintenance

hardware & software upgrades

networking

Finding Contracts & Tenders (Contract Shop)

regular email notification of opportunities

private and public sector contracts

New Grant for Accommodation Providers

A new grant aimed at accommodation providers in rural areas of Neath Port Talbot has been launched by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.  It pays up to 80% to a max of £4k of eligible costs.   It will cover costs such as small scale new builds, refurbishment of existing accommodation, improving accommodation e.g. adding en suites, landscaping, etc..  For more information about the grant please contact Susan Chilcott at the Council on 01639 686082 or ring Business Connect on 01792 817575

New Grants for Businesses

There has been some good news recently for local businesses.   There are two new grant schemes now available.  These are:-

The new South West Wales Business Finance Scheme is a European grant which offers capital grants of up to 40% of eligible project costs subject to a min of £1,000 and a max of £5,000 so that min project spend must be £2,500

• Businesses must be located in South West Wales and have  a turnover of less than 50m euros and employ less than 250 employees
• Support is aimed primarily at businesses in or servicing the manufacturing sector although other sectors may be considered
• However retail and other sectors which service a local market will not be eligible due to displacement issues
• Grant can be used to pay for fixed equipment, IT and telecom hardware, premises improvement, one-off marketing costs (e.g. promotional material), websites, e-commerce development and specialist software
• The first step is to complete an Expression of Interest form available from Andrea Traylor on 01269 590271 or email her at ajtraylor@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
• If successful you will be required to complete a business plan.  Please contact Business Connect for further support.

The Welsh Assembly Government have also launched a grant scheme aimed at businesses in Wales.   This scheme is called the Small Single Investment Fund (Small SIF) 

•  This grant will pay towards general business support and strategic mentoring. 
• This funding is aimed at businesses with more than 4 employees with a turnover of more than £100k .  The businesses must provide business to business services and operate in a regional or national market.  
• For further information please contact Greg Kaminaris at Business Connect on 01792 817575

Please note that this information may be subject to change.  We recommend that you contact Business Connect on 01792 817575 for the latest update regarding the availability and eligibility criteria.

New IT Advisor joins the team

Jeff Radnidge has joined Business Connect’s team of Advisors.  Jeff’s role is to help new and established small businesses in Neath Port Talbot with IT and pc issues and problems.  This service is free of charge thanks to kind funding by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.  If you run a local small business and you would like IT support then please contact Jeff at Business Connect on 01792 817575.