Do you need international trade training to help increase your exports?
Free business support for companies in the BCP area has been launched through a new scheme from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. The next deadline for submissions is 4 October.
Businesses can register now at bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ukspf for a free diagnostic which will provide valuable insights into their operations. To find out more about the process visit here.
Following the diagnostic stage SMEs will be eligible to apply for a match-funded grant on a competitive basis.
As part of this new scheme the council’s Economic Development team are supporting local businesses and providing grant funding in the following areas to help improve productivity:
- Start-up and growth
- Increasing exporting
- Increasing Research & Development and Innovation
- Decarbonisation & improve the natural environment
- Town and district centres
- Development and promotion of the visitor economy
All applicants will be required to provide detailed proposals, including milestones and expected outcomes.
Applications will be assessed against a scoring matrix, which details the threshold criteria that proposals must meet as a minimum in order to be considered for a grant.
Here to Help: Specialist Consultancy
Dorset Chamber is here to help. We can offer consultancy support to businesses that already export in developing export strategies and facilitate exporting.
We can arrange bespoke support to advise on aspects of exporting specific to business requirements as well as offering British Chambers of Commerce Foundation Award in International Trade.
One of the many packages on offer will include :
- Tailoring Call to identify export growth opportunity and needs.
- A total of two days of consultancy support which can be used as a combination of the following:
- Onsite bespoke training workshops and consultancy based on requirements identified in the Tailoring Call
- Remote support to assist with implementation of plans, policies, processes, and procedures identified – can be taken over a period of up to 3 months.
- Assistance with completion of the end of project monitoring report
- Up to 12 members of staff may attend training workshops.
For further details please contact international@dorsetchamber.co.uk
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
The government has allocated £4.2 million for investment in communities across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole.
