With much of Scotland in Covid protection level 3 or 4 it’s as important as ever to stay up to date with the latest news and funding opportunities, so this blog features the usual important updates for your rural business. We hope you find them helpful:
Business Gateway Help Out Hospitality Events: This week-long schedule of events has been designed to help support local hospitality businesses. They include: Adapting Your Hospitality Business with Chef Dean Banks and Laura Raimondi, 24 Nov 10-12pm; Digital Marketing for the Food and Drink Sector with Highbeat Digital, 25 Nov 10-12pm; Financial Planning for Hospitality Businesses with Johnston Carmichael, 26 Nov 10-12pm; HR and Health & Safety for the Food & Drink Sector with NHS Healthy Working Lives, 27 Nov, 10-12pm. See more and book here.
Perth: The Most Sustainable Small City in Europe - What Will it Take, Part 2, 09.00 -12.30 - Friday 4th December: The Perth City Conference, taking place online on 4 December, is the second part of an event which started in early November with inspiring presentations from a range of small European cities. The theme of both events is ‘sustainability’, and there will be a rural-focused workshop at the December conference, led by Lu Kemp, Artistic Director at Perth Theatre and Jackie Brierton, GrowBiz’s CEO – ‘Smart Rural Communities’. The events are coordinated by the Perth City Leadership Forum and anyone with an interest in the future of Perth & Kinross is encouraged to attend. Find out more here.
Jackie Brierton, GrowBiz CEO
HIE IMPACT30: Highlands and Islands Enterprise have recently launched IMPACT30, a new programme for young business leaders (35 or under) from across the Highlands and Islands. IMPACT30 will connect you with a range of experts and work with you as an individual, focusing on the tools, skills and knowledge required to grow your business and achieve its full potential. Find out more and apply here.
COVID-19 Residential Outdoor Education Centre Support Fund: This fund to support the sustainability of residential outdoor centres in Scotland is open to third and private sector centres that routinely provided curricular relevant, residential outdoor learning opportunities for young people (aged 3-18) before March 2020, and that can demonstrate a negative financial impact as a result of a loss of residential activity since the emergence of the current pandemic. Round one will open for applications on the 23 November 2020 and close on 11 December 2020. Find out more here.
British Library Reset Restart Free Webinars: Open to all business owners, especially those in the first years of trading, the Reset. Restart programme is designed to help you transform, future-proof or grow your business through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Join one or more of this series of ten monthly webinars on topics from product and service innovation and marketing, to finance and new business models. See the list here.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Beginning 25 November, this fund will resume accepting smaller grant applications from £3,000-£10,000 and £10,000-£100,000, providing financial assistance to heritage sector organisations, particularly those who have, so far, been unable to access COVID-19 emergency funds. They will be looking for projects with a particular emphasis on organisational resilience and inclusion. Find out more here.
Zero Waste Scotland SME Loan Fund: These unsecured, interest-free loans from £1,000 up to £100,000 can be used for the installation of heating renewables and many energy efficiency measures (such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, building fabric, and more). It is funded by the Scottish Government which is committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce energy and resource costs. Find out more here.