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** Business grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund now OPEN
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Businesses can apply for grants of between £2,000 and £20,000, towards:
* digital technology and innovation
* research and development
* business growth and exports.
This could be for the purchase of new equipment, adaptations, or automation. Or to provide support with Intellectual Property (IP), patents, or trademarks. Funding could also be used for facilitating growth, promoting innovation and increasing productivity, or even to support businesses that either wish to start exporting or are already doing so.
Find out more
Dorset businesses and community groups, do you want to apply for the Shared Prosperity Grant but have a few questions before submitting your application? Then join us for a live Q&A with Nick Gregory from WSX and Helen Priest from Dorset Council.
Throughout this interactive session, you will get a chance to gain some valuable insights into the grant and whether your business may be eligible to apply.
Find out more
** Dorset Business Awards 2024: Open for Entries
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The Dorset Business Festival Awards celebrate excellence in our business community. They are free to enter, and entries from organisations of all sectors and sizes are welcome. With the exception of the ‘Future Leader’ category, awards are presented to the organisation and not the individual.
Three semi-finalists will be shortlisted for each category after 30 July. They will be invited as guests (two complimentary tickets) to attend the Dorset Business Festival Awards on 10 October as well as a Meet the Finalists event on 10 September. The category winner will be announced at the Awards event on 10 October and presented with their award.
Find out more
Wednesday 22 May · 8am-12pm. Dorset Innovation Park, Winfrith Newburgh, DT2 8ZB.
Join Dorset LEP for the Innovate UK Marine and Maritime Launchpad Future Funding event, tailored specifically for Dorset's marine and maritime businesses. The event will delve into the latest funding opportunities and initiatives aimed at businesses involved in Clean Maritime, Digital Oceans and Marine Autonomy in Dorset.
This event is a must-attend for Dorset-based marine and maritime businesses looking to innovate and grow. Whether you're a seasoned industry player, a start-up or a support organisation looking to collaborate on projects, if your business involves Clean Maritime, Digital Oceans, and Marine Autonomy, this event is tailored just for you. Connect with like-minded peers, industry and academic experts plus funding specialists to explore the opportunities available.
Reserve a spot
** Expert to Leader Programme - Taster Events
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Join Copper Turtle for a chance to experience a taster of the brand-new leadership programme, Expert to Leader, designed to support and challenge individuals from a technical background who are now in a leadership role. The sessions include some time before and after for networking, and the opportunity to hot-desk at the BattleLab.
Choose from one of two taster events, dependent upon your current role. Contact elaine@copperturtle.co.uk
if you have any questions.
Leaders within Prime or mid-sized organisations
Leaders who are the CEOs or Founders of SMEs or Scaleups
** Inward Mission to National Sheep Event
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The Sheep Event (Tuesday 30 July 2024, Three Counties Showground, Malvern) takes place every two years and is the flagship event of the National Sheep Association.
This business-to-business event offers exposure to a wide range of commercial companies, breed societies and industry groups. As well as finding out about the latest innovations and products available to them, sheep farmers can strengthen their technical knowledge by attending seminars and workshops. A sheep industry dinner is held the evening before the event, which is a celebratory occasion open to everyone within the sector.
Find out more
** Free event: Computing in Business 2024
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This year, first year students from undergraduate Computing & Informatics degrees will take part in Computing in Business, which will see them assessed on a number of different unit topics as part of this integrated assessment.
They will have the chance to utilise all the knowledge, intuition and skills they've accumulated throughout the year to come up with a system design or database for a client. The event culminates in an exhibition where the students are given an opportunity to share and demonstrate their designs to industry and peers.
We hope you will be able to join this on-campus event on 17 May 2024 and meet the next generation of computing professionals.
You are invited to come along to attend the exhibition, see the students work and, if you so choose, take part in scoring the entries and help us make the exhibition more realistic for the students.
Get tickets
** Women in Innovation
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Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation programme was launched in 2016 to address underrepresentation of women in business innovation and to encourage more of them to apply to Innovate UK’s funding opportunities.
Since its inception, the programme has enabled brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world, while championing and celebrating gender diversity throughout UK innovation.
Read more
** Funding Competition: Resource-efficient or bio-based materials and manufacturing
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Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), to invest up to £1 million in innovative feasibility projects.
The three strategic imperatives for this vision are that UK materials and manufacturing will be:
* net zero and resource efficient
* resilient and responsive
* technologically advanced and digital
The aim of this competition is that UK materials and manufacturing will be net zero and resource efficient. We encourage simultaneous demonstrations on how the sectors will be more resilient or technologically advanced.
Read more
** Free event: How to Attract New Clients Using Marketing
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As a business owner, you have an ever-increasing array of marketing activities to choose from and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. This workshop will help you gain an understanding of how to attract your ideal customers and gain more clarity about where to focus your budget, time and energy.
Read more
** £7 Million Funding for Agri-Food AI Innovation Drive
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Small and medium-sized enterprises within the UK’s burgeoning agri-food sector are invited to compete for a portion of £7 million in funding designed to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). This significant commitment comes as part of two new competitions launched today.
The initiative, backed by the UK Research and Innovation Technology Missions Fund and delivered through Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme, seeks to fuel transformative change in the agri-food industry. Businesses have the chance not only to secure funding, but also to access valuable training, expertise, and mentorship programs as they deploy AI.
Read more
** International Trade with Dorset Chamber
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The International Trade team at Dorset Chamber offers support to business who export. They can help you with your export requirements including documentation, payments, customs, training and advice.
They are committed to enabling businesses to trade and to explore high growth markets overseas. The team is experienced in working with first time exporters to those already successfully moving goods.
Priorities include:
* Increasing the number of exporters in Dorset
* Working with UK and international networks to develop and share export opportunities
* Develop knowledge, skills and capacity of businesses to compete at a global level.
Their services are available to all businesses, with some services available at a discounted rate through membership. If you’re already exporting or you’re considering it, get in touch and see how they can help.
Find out more
** Destination Britain - Middle East & Asia 2024
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Destination Britain - Middle East & Asia 2024 offers UK international trade-ready businesses the unique opportunity to meet hand-picked buyers from GCC, India, China, South Korea and Japan and to provide agents training and join numerous networking sessions.
This event enables delegates to strengthen their existing relationships, learn about the market directly from our in-market team and trade, and gain valuable direct contacts to unlock new opportunities. It's for international trade-ready businesses, including (but not limited to) destinations, accommodation providers, DMCs, transport providers and attractions.
Find out more
** Last remaining spaces available for Taking England to the World training
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Level up your business with free, market-leading training delivered by VisitEngland, to access untapped international markets and refine your tourism offering.
Join them on the Isle of Wight on 14^ May to gain practical tips on developing and promoting your business to a global audience.
Sign up for training
** Business Futures Coffee
Foundry Poole - 2 Dates
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How optimistic are you about business and the economy? What are the most pressing issues for business and where are the opportunities? Are you interested in exploring economic trends and insights?
Join other movers, shakers and rising stars at Foundry Poole for the informal get together to exchange notes and explore what's on the radar. Think of it as a litmus test of the economy exploring both headwinds and tailwinds - the challenges, opportunities and emerging trends over the upcoming business quarter.
Wednesday 5 June
Wednesday 11 September
** £8 million funding boost for AI to make boats smarter
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An £8 million funding boost has been announced to put the UK at the forefront of cutting-edge maritime technology. From self-driving boats to streamlined port operations, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations will boost the economy and support coastal communities.
The Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund will kickstart feasibility studies to develop smart shipping technologies such as AI, robotics, and autonomous vessels. The winning projects will also require match funding – leveraging further investment from the private sector.
Successful ports will be able to use AI to detect safety hazards, optimise port activities and reduce their environmental footprint – making UK waters safer, operations smoother and air cleaner.
Read more
** Dorset LEP - Latest newsletter
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In the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership's Q.2 e-newsletter
, Chair of the Board, Cecilia Bufton, gives a brief overview of the Dorset Business landscape and celebrates many of the positive outcomes in the first quarter of the year. This edition is packed with a variety of updates of interest to Dorset businesses and the wider community including…
* A review of Dorset's economic data & trends: Informing an economic strategy and vision for 2024
* LEP Business growth programmes and funding opportunities
* Key events and dates for your diary: including our One Health 2024: We mean business Conference (10 July)
* News from the Digital Skills and Dorset Careers Hub.
If you would like to subscribe to future e-newsletters from Dorset LEP, then please do so here
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Read the newsletter
Horizon Scanning Service
Dorset LEP provides a fully funded, horizon scanning service to help more Dorset entrepreneurs, SME’s and projects to identify government funds to power their business growth, increase collaborations and drive innovation. The funding landscape is vast and can be difficult to navigate. Dorset LEP’s horizon scanning service will assist business owners and senior leaders in identifying suitable funding competitions for their businesses to bid into. Your business can also take advantage of the fully funded bid writing support service once a suitable funding competition has been identified.
Bid Writing Support
Dorset LEP provides a fully funded, specialist bid writing support service to help more Dorset entrepreneurs, SME’s and projects access government funds to power their business growth, increase collaborations and drive innovation.
Apply for Horizon Scanning Service or Bid Writing Support
Dorset Growth Hub - Latest events
Innovate UK KTN - Latest Funding opportunities
Latest Innovate UK KTN Events
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