Fareham's Business Newsletter

January 2024

Published by Fareham Borough Council, each monthly edition delivers news, support and opportunities to businesses in Fareham.

 

 

 

Fareham Business Expo - Thursday 22 February - Fareham Leisure Centre

Fareham Borough Council is pleased to again be partnering with Everyone Active to deliver the Fareham Business Expo. Following its successful launch in 2023, Fareham Business Expo has now been adopted as the official business-to-business exhibition and networking event of the popular Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week. There are still a few exhibition stands available and prices start from just £250. Exhibitors already include the European Space Agency, Warner Goodman LLP, Powder Monkey Brewing, Federation of Small Businesses and BNI Hampshire (to name a few). Click here to find out more and book your stand!

 

 

 

Citizens Advice Fareham needs your help

Citizens Advice is a national brand but a local charity. With the funding landscape now more challenging than ever, Citizens Advice Fareham has forecast a £50,000 shortfall for the coming financial year which will have a significant impact on an organisation providing vital assistance. Businesses and individuals are invited to join Fareham Borough Council in financially supporting Citizens Advice Fareham with a donation of £1,000 or more. Your corporate generosity can make a meaningful difference to real lives by empowering vulnerable individuals to navigate financial, legal, and personal hurdles. In these trying times, your charitable donations will uplift lives and strengthen our community's fabric, creating a positive ripple effect. To find out more about getting involved, please click here to e-mail Biddy Mayo on biddy.mayo@citafareham.org or call her on 07542851032. She will be delighted to hear from you!

 

 

 

Beyond Procurement

Fareham Borough Council has appointed decarbonisation specialist Beyond Procurement to help reduce the carbon footprint of businesses in Fareham. Beyond Procurement will provide a fully-funded, 12-month support programme to 27 Fareham-based businesses, providing expert advice to help them achieve their sustainability goals and, in most cases, reduce their energy costs. Businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, and their energy costs, are encouraged to register their interest now by contacting hello@beyondprocurement.co.uk. Click here for further information about Beyond Procurement and its work in Fareham . This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

 

 

 

Employment and Skills Fair

Tuesday 6 February - 10am-1pm - Job Centre Plus, West Street, Fareham

On the first Tuesday of each month, there is an Employment and Skills Fair held upstairs in the conference suite at Job Centre Plus, West Street, Fareham. Attracting job seekers from across Fareham, Gosport, Cosham and Havant, exhibition space is completely free for employers and training providers looking to recruit. The event is organised and fully-funded by DWP Employer Advisors who would love to hear from local businesses that want to exhibit. For more information and to book your free exhibition space please e-mail employeradvisors.solent@dwp.gov.uk who will be happy to help. Future dates include 5 March, 2 April, 7 May and 4 June.

 

 

 

Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week

19-23 February 2024

Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week - the festival of free activity supporting and championing the region, designed by business, for business. The week is the annual showcase and celebration of our business community, designed around the four 'I's; inform, invest, interact and inspire – and culminating in The News Business Excellence Awards. The last two years have welcomed over 2,000 business delegates to over 60 events (which now include Fareham Business Expo), and reached over 20,000 individuals through our Facebook Live videos. The schedule of events provides great variety and all are completely free to attend, so be sure to get involved! Click here to view the schedule and book your places on this week-long fesitval of business . 

 

 

 

Can you inspire the next generation in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)?

EBP South is again running the popular Primary Schools' STEM Fair at CEMAST on 5-6 March 2024. The aim is for young people to have fun, take part in STEM activities and, at the end of the day, think about jobs that use the same skills to open their eyes to different career paths. Participating businesses create a 20-30 minute STEM activity that small groups complete in turn, rotating around all businesses throughout the day. By taking part, your business can inspire young people, help them discover careers they may not have thought of, help to bridge the skills gap, be active in developing your recruitment pipeline, grow your brand awareness, address your corporate social responsibility and have fun! Charities, uniformed public services, and organisations with less than 10 staff are exempt from payment, otherwise the cost is just £250 per business. Click here to find out more and book your place. 

 

 

 

Does your diesel van frequently travel the A3 through Guildford? 

There are 1,000 grants available to help organisations switch their diesel van to a new electric van. This initiative is designed to lower air pollution along the A3 in Guildford. The grant is for businesses, charities and organisations that have been trading in the UK for at least two years, who own or lease a diesel van for at least one year, drive at least 150 journeys a year on the A3 through Guildford (regardless of where they are based), and have received less than £315,000 in subsidy in the last three years. The grants are for £5,000 and £10,000 depending on the van size. Click here for more information on the scheme and how to apply. 

 

 

 

Help us plan our finances

Fareham Borough Council is committed to the responsible management of the Council's finances and we'd value your input on this. We continue to plan ahead carefully to meet the current and future needs of our residents and businesses while continuing to provide a good level of service to our customers. Please complete our survey which will also provide information about the Council's current financial situation, and our plans to address these challenges. Click here to access the survey which should take about 10 minutes to complete and will be live until 12 February. 

 

 

 

Do you have a business-facing event taking place in Fareham? Are there any topics you would like to see in future newsletters? Click here to email economicdevelopment@fareham.gov.uk and let us know. Sent this newsletter by a colleague? Click here to subscribe.