What funding and support is available to your business?

• South Cambridgeshire Business Group
• This Friday, 2 November 2012.
• 7.30 am arrival for 8.00 am start.
• South Cambridgeshire District Council's offices:
       South Cambridgeshire Hall
       Cambourne Business Park
       Cambourne
       CB23 6EA
• FREE event, including light continental breakfast.
• Speakers:

           Cllr Nick Wright
                    CEO Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development 
                    at South Cambridgeshire District Council.
           Andrew Lansley CBE (pictured right)
                    MP for South Cambridgeshire, Leader of the House of Commons.          
           Chris Hardy
                    Examplas: Where can South Cambs businesses look for funding?

The speakers will be discussing the range of funding options available and how to determine which is the most appropriate for your business.

“Our Business Support Service builds on the success of previous support initiatives and, recognising that local businesses continue to face challenges and hardship as a consequence of the economic downturn, SCDC is stepping in to fill the gap left by the closure of Business Link last year,” says Cllr Nick Wright.

Chris Hardy will be explaining how the South Cambridgeshire Business Support Fund offers free business advice and guidance to eligible SMEs – and that grants of up to £1,000 may be available for further support.

“We are also running quality workshops for those thinking of starting a business, including topics such as 'Managing money and how to make a profit', 'Finding and keeping customers', 'Planning a website' and 'Planning for growth', supplemented by further post-workshop support to add confidence to what you will have learnt," he says.

• There will details of the Business Support Service being offered by SCDC – and information on how to make your business ready to access funding.
• Plus the latest updates on Government initiatives for businesses.
• There'll also be a question and answer session – so please feel free to contribute!
• Download the invitation.
• To book your FREE place, please e-mail Maria Crick, Andrew Lansley's office manager.

The South Cambridgeshire Business Group (SCBG) was founded by Andrew Lansley in September 2012 – this will be it's second meeting.

“It is important to me to support local businesses in South Cambridgeshire. This group is about fostering a dialogue between businesses, listening to the issues that matter to them and helping them access useful information on a variety of issues," says Andrew Lansley.

“It is also very important that businesses have access to the information and support they need. This initiative by South Cambridgeshire District Council is an excellent example of local support for local businesses, whether an existing success or a new start-up – all should be encouraged.  I look forward to hearing directly from the business men and women in my constituency as to what they feel will help their businesses to grow,” he added.

Our photo at the top of the page, taken during the first SCBG meeting on 14 September 2012, shows, left to right, Alex Plant – Board Advisor, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Cambridgeshire County Council Executive Director for Economy, Transport and Environment, Andrew Lansley CBE MP – Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and MP for South Cambridgeshire and Mike Macnamee - CEO of Bourn Hall Clinic.