Did you know the LEP are launching a new business support programme?

Find out more on their website 

The Resource Efficiency Fund is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020. 

If you want to lower your energy usage, reduce your water and waste costs and minimise your impact on the environment, we could help.

Our Resource Efficiency Fund provides financial support and advice for SMEs looking to become more resource efficient in the way they do business.

We can offer free efficiency assessments, hands-on business support and 50% capital grant funding of up to £10,000 to help you save money and resources.

To be eligible for support, your business must be:

• A Small or Medium Sized Enterprise (SME), defined as:
  • having fewer than 250 employees AND
  • a turnover of under c£40m OR a balance sheet of under c£35m
  • not being part of a larger group of companies that takes it over this threshold.
• Based in the Leeds City Region excluding Barnsley, i.e. a trading address in the Leeds City Region.
• In an eligible sector – this generally excludes primary agriculture, banking and financial services, and (for grants in particular) those trading directly with consumers- e.g. retail and hospitality.
• Able to provide evidence of your previous energy and resource consumption, for example your previous utility bills.

If you would like to register your interest and find out how the LEP can support your business, call 0113 348 1818 to speak to one of our business advisers. Alternatively, email  businessgrowth@the-lep.com or click here to give your details.

Business for Calderdale member Martin Haigh, founder of Brighouse-based training and development company, Lattitude7, has been awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Years Honours list. Dr Haigh receives the award for his services to the community, charity work and changing the lives of young people in West Yorkshire.

Martin said he was thrilled and honoured to receive the MBE and is looking forward to going to

Martin Haigh with MBE confirmation letter.

Buckingham Palace to collect his award later this year. He said he does not carry out his charity/community work for personal gain but it is just amazing to be recognised for his endeavours. He would also like to thank the many people who have sponsored his activities over the years and provided moral support during his journey.

Martin has been a member of Business for Calderdale for a number of years and tries to attend as many meetings as possible. Martin said “I really enjoy the B4C meetings, they are very varied and there is always a warm welcome and a friendly face. I have had the privilege of delivering a couple of seminars for B4C and have done work with a number of the members. I would highly recommend this networking group to any like-minded business owners”.

Business for Calderdale have joined forces with the Halifax Courier to recognise achievements by businesses across Calderdale.  The organisation is run by a committee of local business people, chaired by Nick Worsnop, partner at Chadwick Lawrence solicitors. He said: “The Courier rightly regularly highlights the good news stories from the local business community. Our committee thought it would be a good idea to take this further, and once a month to present an award from Business for Calderdale to the best overall story. The winners will then be recognised further at the Courier Business Awards when an overall winner for the year will receive a special award”.

The winning business will be judged monthly by the committee and will receive an award from Business for Calderdale. The criteria the committee will consider is business initiative, significant growth in business or orders (including exports), business development and expansion in Calderdale, UK or overseas, creation of jobs (including apprenticeships) and that the business typifies the spirit and creativity of business enterprise, innovation and corporate social responsibility in Calderdale.

Business of the month winners…….

£5 MILLION TO HELP FLOOD-AFFECTED BUSINESSES IN LEEDS CITY REGION

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee has endorsed a £5m fund to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across Leeds City Region recover from the effects of recent flooding.

Today’s meeting of the Committee supported a recommendation to invest £5m from the Leeds City Region Growth Deal allocation to establish the Business Flood Recovery Fund. An initial £1.4m will be made available with the full £5m awaiting final approval by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Board at their meeting on 4 February. The new fund will be managed by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The Business Flood Recovery Fund is expected to be in place by next week with grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 available. The fund could support SMEs with critical capital investment requirements such as new equipment or hire costs for machinery and premises required to recommence or maintain their operations. It could also go towards implementing internal flood resilience measures such as building a mezzanine floor to move business critical equipment to a higher point. Each application will be reviewed on a case by case basis and will need to be accompanied by a detailed flood recovery plan.

Support will be provided by the LEP’s growth managers, local authorities, Chambers of Commerce and the Manufacturing Advisory Service to help eligible businesses develop the plans and ensure business continuity over the long term.

Cllr David Green, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee and Leader of Bradford Council said:

“The funding approved today is about supporting local businesses with the long-term recovery by enabling them to resume trading, safeguarding jobs for local people and re-establishing supply lines to meet their customers’ requirements.

“With an initial assessment on the impact of the flooding on the regional economy suggesting the long term damage could be as much as £365m, it is clear we need government to work with us to achieve long term solutions that will prevent these destructive deluges and stop the idea of a Northern Powerhouse being overwhelmed.”

“With over 2,000 Leeds City Region businesses thought to be affected by the recent flooding, we are expecting a high volume of applications to the new Business Flood Recovery Fund but we will turn them around as quickly as possible.
“We will also be investigating ways to potentially provide support for companies that are facing cash flow issues because they are suppliers or customers of flood-hit businesses and will be discussing this on Thursday 4 February at the next West Yorkshire Combined Authority meeting.”

Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the LEP and deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee said:

 “This funding is for those businesses that require the highest level of investment to get back towards operating at full capacity. Having visited some of the affected businesses in Calderdale myself, I know how vital this long-term investment is to return to the same level of trade as quickly as possible.

“The devastation of the flood is not going to be fixed overnight. However this funding will complement the initial rapid response support from our partner councils to address the longer term issues and costs businesses face in returning to full operation and alleviate any further impact on business growth.”

The Business Flood Recovery Fund will operate under the same guidelines as the existing LEP grant funding scheme currently supporting SMEs to grow in Leeds City Region. To be eligible for funding, businesses must be an SME and from one of the LEP’s priority sectors; manufacturing, food and drink, low carbon and environmental, financial and professional services, health and life sciences and digital and creative – although discretion will apply.

The Business Flood Recovery Fund application form will be available from the LEP growth service next week and via local authority growth managers across the region. The LEP has a package of support available to businesses looking to grow and find support to help them realise their full potential. Support for business grants and loans, skills advice, apprenticeships and export are all available through the LEP and businesses are encouraged to get in touch by calling 0113 348 1818 or emailing businessgrowth@the-lep.com to find out more.

Further information about the support available to flood affected businesses can be found at www.the-lep.com/floodsupport.

By supporting the Business Flood Recovery Fund, West Yorkshire Combined Authority is building on the existing support provided by government of up to £7,500 that has been made available to SMEs in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, York and North Yorkshire to help companies with the immediate clean-up effort and flood resilience.

FAQs Calderdale Rising:

1. What is it?

A collection of businesses have come together to collaborate on a fundraising & promotional exercise for their businesses. It is listed on www.crowdfunder.co.uk/CalderdaleRising

2. What is Crowdfunding?

In this case it’s both donations & rewards ie products or experiences that people can buy. Often exclusive to the site or at preferential prices.

3. Who are the businesses?

There are just over 100 of them from across Calderdale, that have chosen to be involved & met the criteria.

4. What was the criteria?

– based in Calderdale

– significant loss of SALES ie more than 20%

– any size/type of trading business, normal annual turnover >£50k

– not promoting their own crowdfunding campaign

– ability & willingness to promote this campaign through a mixture of:

Social media following on twitter, facebook, instagram & linked in – personal & corporate; email contacts with current & past customers, suppliers, trade bodies etc; editors/journalist details for trade press, magazines & online forums (can be advised how to obtain these); posters to be displayed in shops or wherever!; anything else you can think of

5. How will the money be distributed?

A share of the fund will be given to each business involved, according to when they joined the campaign

6. Can businesses still join the campaign?

No, launch businesses went live on Fri 15th Jan; 2nd phase of businesses joined on Fri 22nd. The deadline for new businesses enquiring has now passed. These 102 businesses will remain in the campaign until it closes at lunchtime on Friday 12^th February.

7. What fees are there?

2.5% from crowdfunder (reduced from 5%)

No other admin or professional fees or commitments going forward.

8. How do you know you have reached everyone?

Since 5th Jan we have been promoting the existence of this campaign through social media, emails, council, word of mouth & leaflets. We have contacted over 1,000 businesses, just over 200 asked for info; around 120 completed the registration survey before deadline. This fundraise is optional & has been open to all Calderdale businesses that meet the criteria, and some inevitably won’t want to take part or don’t meet the criteria.

9. What can I do to help?

• Look at the page
• Donate or buy a reward if you are able
• Share & promote widely

10. What’s in it for me?

• Knowledge you are helping a large number of businesses in Calderdale who are employers & the heartbeat of our towns/villages
• Pride that this campaign is demonstrating the diversity and the beauty of our towns
• Helping to promote the local economy generally

JOHN ROSS

You are cordially invited to the

Sat 7th November 2pm-5pm

Exhibition running times from 8th November-20th December
Mon-Weds: closed Thurs-Sun: 12pm-3pm (or by arrangement)

Artist Talk: Wed 9th December, 6pm, £5 full or £3 concessions
Masterclass with John Ross: Sat 21st November, 2pm, £65
Interact Kids Workshop: Sat 28th November, 2pm, £35

The Artworks 1830 Gallery, Shaw Lodge Mills,
Shaw Lane, Halifax HX3 9ET
info@theartworks.org.uk
01422 346900 / 07966737659
www.theartworks.org.uk

Dear Friends,

Please take a moment to read and share the information below I’m promoting on behalf of this new venture. Please support this new venture in Halifax if you can.

Asiagem

“On Sunday September 6 at 12.30pm there is a launch of an exciting new concept in Halifax. It’s at 2 Horton Street Halifax ( HX1 1 DD) at the site previously known as Double A Furnishings Ltd. and all CCF and BFC members are most welcome.

Basically the total ground floor of the premises have been given over to health giving massage beds which are available for unlimited free use for all members of the public.The ‘blueprint’ for the business comes direct from Italy where 44 outlets have been opened in the last ten years,and whilst these innovative beds are the major product the company promotes there are many other ‘strings to the bow’ of this business.

At approximately 12.30pm on Sunday the Mayor of Calderdale will cut the ribbon, following which there will be introductions to the director of Asiagem and the owners, explanations of the benefits of the equipment,and time for questions. As this concludes around 2pm there will be complimentary refreshments served across the road at Romeo and Juliet’s restaurant.

Should you wish to contact me my phone number is 07974900171 or alternatively speak to Eugenio or Angelo on Halifax 300030

http://www.asiagem.net/

Tim Berry”

” My first experience of a Business for Calderdale networking event was as a guest in June 2015. This was held at Craggs Energy in Cragg Vale – a super location.

It was very well attended, the speakers were interesting and informative and the networking before and afterwards was excellent (lovely refreshments too!). I had no hesitation in asking the partners at Cresswells if the company could join, as I felt that it represented excellent value for money. They agreed and, having attending the July event at Square Chapel in Halifax and the August event at The Seasonal Group in Halifax, it was an excellent decision.

If you haven’t been to an event before, I would urge you to come along as a guest (free of charge) – you will receive a warm welcome and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed ”

Eileen Kelly, Administration Manager

Cresswells Accountants

Thanks for these kind words Eileen and thank you for supporting us and promoting our events to others.

David

Copyright Bruce Fitzgerald.

Following on from Anna Wiseman’s (Project Director, Cultural Destinations) presentation to our members at Square Chapel earlier this month we have made available the information which Anna used.

We have available the handouts should anyone require these.

Please contact us at the office and we’ll be sure to send a PDF document to you swiftly

davidr@cffc.co.uk

or

emma@cffc.co.uk

Thank You