Silicon SouthWest
Silicon South West promotes the area's electronics sector. They are running an event on 25th November 2011 in Bristol to bring together some of the leading semiconductor companies and executives to look at the year ahead. There will be panel sessions including businesses such as Plessey Semiconductor, Imagination Technology, Cadence Design Systems and Future Horizons. For more information and to register take a look at the event on www.siliconsouthwest.co.uk
Opportunity to be involved in funded projects
For businesses in the Microelectronics sector, there are exciting opportunities to gain financial support and free business services. The Microelectronics iNet (innovation network) is running an event, 'Making Sense of Sensors' on 30 November 2011 at UWE in Bristol which will seek to generate activities for them to fund and assist. For more information and how to get involved, go to the Events section on: : www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest
BT launches new finance scheme for SMEs
A new finance scheme offering business start-ups the chance to lease up to £15,000 worth of technology and telecomms equipment has been launched by BT Business. Under the "Kickstart" scheme, new businesses that have been trading for less than three years will be eligible for funding (subject to credit vetting). On offer is the opportunity to purchase a range of new technology and telecoms products such as telephone systems, handsets, connection charges, software licences and IT equipment such as laptops. It's open to all and a £3000 loan could cost less than £20 per week. For further details, please visit www.btlocalbusiness.co.uk
Find a business mentor
Small firms looking to grow or experiencing challenges due to economic changes can often benefit from the support and guidance of mentors. Swindon businesses can access knowledge and support from the new mentoring scheme ‘Mentorsme.co.uk’. This lists both commercial and not-for-profit mentoring organisations, where the former charge for the support. For more information about the benefits of mentoring for your business – and to find a mentor that suits your needs go to www.mentorsme.co.uk
SME financial support
In changing economic times it can be difficult to keep track of the finance and banking support that is available for SMEs (small and medium enterprises.) There is now a new online information source and a number of events coming up that will be of value to Swindon businesses. www.betterbusinessfinance.co.uk provides impartial information and support to businesses looking to raise finance.Working with organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and Forum of Private Businesses, “Better Business Finance” has set up events in the coming months in places such as Reading and Bristol (easily accessible from Swindon) to enable businesses to engage directly with the UK’s leading banks and discuss subjects such as finance for exporting.
There is now a new equity investment vehicle – the Business Growth Fund - to help smaller enterprises overcome the problem of accessing this type of finance. For more details and how to apply go to www.businessgrowthfund.co.uk
Rail Electrification
The electrification of the Great Western Main Line will allow the phasing out of most of the ageing diesel "Intercity 125s", introduced in the 1980s, and will take about three to five years to implement.
The scheme has been projected to cost in the region of £1billion.
It is anticipated that electrification could cut journey times from Cardiff to London by about 20 minutes, and that London-Cardiff journey times will come down to 1hr 42 min, while 22 minutes will be saved off London-Bristol journeys. Services between London and Swansea currently operate at a frequency of only one train an hour off-peak, so the new electrification has been much welcomed by major businesses along the route.
Hitachi is to relocate its European train manufacturing and assembly centre to Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, which is a major UK inward investment coup. The investment is expected to create at least five hundred direct permanent jobs as well as hundreds of temporary construction jobs. Thousands more job opportunities will be created in the UK manufacturing and service supply chains, which will hopefully filter down to Swindon, which is known as a ‘railway hub’.
This positive result was reached partly due to Forward Swindon working with local businesses in lobbying government for electrification during the past two years.
Western Way
The three Council Leaders of Cardiff, Bristol and Swindon have signed a Western Way Memorandum of Understanding which sets out an agreement to collaborate over economic development issues.
Councillor Roderick Bluh, Leader of Swindon Borough Council said “this is a really significant development for Swindon, as we’ll be working closely in future with two powerful partners – a major city and a capital city. We have many shared interests and aims, as the recent success we had in lobbying the government to electrify the Great Western main line has showed. I’m very enthusiastic about this partnership, because I think it can bring massive benefits to us all in the future”
To view the Memorandum of Understanding please click here to download
Swindon Kemble railway line upgrade
The government has committed to the redoubling of the railway line between Swindon and Kemble. It will complement the electrification of the main line between Paddington and Wales. Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond said “ Dualling the 12.5 miles of track between Swindon and Kemble will support the introduction of new inter-city express trains, improving reliability and underpinning a reduction in journey times between London, Gloucester and Cheltenham of up to 20 minutes. The scheme is due to be completed by Spring 2014.