Coping with the economic downturn
Support for small and medium sized businesses
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Business - broadband campaign
- Project to make broadband internet services available
countywide at an affordable price to businesses.
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Business - council awards
- Awards made to local businesses by the council to disseminate
the lessons learned from successful businesses - their skills,
achievements and innovations provide valuable inspiration to the
business community and help inspire business leaders of the
future.
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Business - directories
- Provision of a directory which provides details of local
businesses.
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Business - security advice and support
- Help and advice to businesses who seek assistance to secure
their properties and upgrade security. This may include independent
security risk assessments, help in conducting security surveys in
conjunction with council grant schemes, information to businesses
about developing crime problems, crime trends and criminal
activity.
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Business - security grants
- Grants towards the installation of security systems for local
businesses. Funding may be available to cover alarms, closed
circuit television, security grills and shutters, security fencing,
anti-ram posts, security landscaping etc.
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Business advice
- Providing advice to new or existing businesses in the area on
all aspects of running a business from starting a business to
property, tax, employment law, business rates etc.
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Business grants
- Providing business grants to new businesses, existing
businesses who want to grow or businesses who want to move to the
local area.
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Business plans - advice
- Information and advice to local businesses on how to set up a
successful business plan. May well include directing businesses to
third party organisations which offer advice to business.
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Economic information and analysis
- Publishing details of a wide range of information covering
aspects of the areas economy including statistics and key facts on
economic strategy, trends and forecasting, the local labour market
and area profiles.
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Employment advice
- Advice and support for those with special needs who may wish to
seek full-time or part time employment. This may include advice on
the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act for
employers.
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European funding
- Change of service name from 'Community development - resource
procurement - European funding' and amend scope notes to: The
council identifies and develops projects for submission to European
and other funding sources to promote economic, physical and social
development. It also administers the use of these funds.
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Export forums
- The local authority provides information, advice and support to
local businesses interested in developing export sales. The
information provided could include networking and information
gathering events, and information on grants.
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Local economy - development
- Programmes to develop and regenerate the local economy and
community, with key objectives being to create employment
opportunities and secure external funding for the benefit of the
area. Active promotion of the area, offering business development
and support, and attempting to remove barriers to investment.
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Local economy - reports and forecasts
- Working with other local organisations such as the Chamber of
Commerce, Business Link, Job Centre etc. and in Scotland, Scottish
Enterprise to increase employment, encourage business growth and
investment and tackle economic disadvantage by improving
understanding of the economy, and identifying the issues facing the
local population and workforce.
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Property enquiries
- Information and advice on vacant industrial/office/retail/land
and development opportunities in the area.
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Sale of sundry items and publications
- The council may provide goods and publications relevant to the
local area for sale to the public. This may include such items as
local maps, photographs, cards, locally made items, plants and
flowers etc. Items are often sold in local Tourist
offices.