Free event - Building Your Digital Business Plan

Attention small business owners in Somerset. Join our free workshop ‘Building Your Digital Business Plan’ and learn how to create sustainable profitability for your online business.

The Growth Hub and Somerset Business Hub, invites you to this free event, taking place on 22 October 2024 9.30am to 1pm at Frome Town Hall, Frome.

During this hands-on Workshop, You Will:

• Develop a Tailored Business Plan
• Learn how to create a strategic business plan that aligns with your goals and market opportunities
• Use Practical Tools – Discover practical business tools, from essential templates to priority checklists, designed to streamline your planning process
• Create an Action Plan – Walk away with a personalised action plan to guide your business forward, focusing on achieving the growth you desire.

The event is delivered by Peter K Doyle, Growth Hub Digital Business Adviser, exclusively for Somerset Businesses.

There’ll be light refreshments and an opportunity for you to connect and network with other like-minded business owners.  Secure Your Spot Today. Spaces are limited book your place.

Start-Up Success

Start-Up Success: A Guide for CICs and Ltd Companies’ Webinar – held 30 January 2024

Small and midsize enterprises event

Following the successful networking event that took place in Frome in November, the Somerset Business Hub and Heart of the South West Growth Hub would like to invite businesses in Porlock, Minehead and Taunton to attend our free workshops. The workshops will help you master the art of digital storytelling to help your small or medium-sized enterprise grow.

Whether you are new to all things digital, would like to know more, or are confident with digital technology in your business, this free event will give you the insight you need to harness digital technologies to grow your business. It will also connect you to the right support to get you one step further.

The events will feature workshops and talks with practical advice and information from:

• Peter K Doyle – ‘Once upon a time…the Art of Digital Storytelling!’
• Heart of the South West Growth Hub – Introducing Digital Link – Free 1-2-1 digital support for businesses
• Somerset Business Hub local guest speaker
• Questions and answers, and networking

Open to small and medium-sized enterprises in Porlock, Minehead and Taunton. Booking is limited to one person per business as spaces are limited. Digital Link delivers a range of support aimed raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of digital options and by connecting businesses to digital support schemes.

Event Details:

• Porlock – The Visitor Centre on Wednesday, 31 January 2024, from 2pm to 5pm
• Minehead – Minehead Bay Hotel on Tuesday, 20 February 2024, from 9.30 am to 12.30pm – cancelled 
• Taunton – The Glass Box, Taunton Library on Thursday 21 March, from 10am to 1pm. Open to Taunton Chamber of Commerce Businesses.

Please email businesshub@somerset.gov.uk for booking details.

Recruitment and Retention of employees webinar

Having difficulty hiring and retaining staff?

Come and join us for a free Webinar – Recruitment and Retention of employees – A game of 2 halves.

Thursday 18 April – 10am to 11am.

Reserve a place here, or by emailing businesshub@somerset.gov.uk with your details.

Growing a business involves hiring people to achieve your goals, and attracting the right talent is key to success. With average costs of up to £4530 per employee, getting the right people who will stay and help you grow your business is vital in today’s market and will be what sets you apart from your competitors.

In this session, HR expert and organisational coach Karen Watkins will cover everything you need to know about attracting and engaging the ideal employees for your business. Karen has extensive experience in working with SMEs, across a number of business sectors including professional services, retail and hospitality, manufacturing, engineering and construction.

Key takeaways from this session

• Understand the value of storytelling to attract your perfect employees
• How to write a winning job advert, that attracts the right people to your team
• Learn why you should keep your hiring process punchy
• The role of successful onboarding for new employees. Takeaways (downloadable docs)
• Top tips for employing people
• Interviewing questions that ensure a match to your business
• Onboarding templates