Marches and Worcestershire businesses urged to take advantage of £1m fund

SMALL businesses and start-ups across the Marches and Worcestershire are being encouraged to apply for a share of a £1m fund that breathes new life in to redundant buildings across the region.
 
Since its launch in 2012, the Marches Redundant Building Grant Scheme (RBG), which was extended to include Worcestershire in 2013, has awarded grants in excess of £1.5m.

These grants have supported forty seven separate projects from which more than 300 jobs have, or will be, created with a further 45 jobs being safeguarded.  All projects funded by the current scheme need to be completed by June of next year and so applicants are being urged to enquire now in order to meet that timeframe.
 
Chairman of the Marches LEP, Graham Wynn, said: “The Redundant Buildings Grant is a scheme that has proved phenomenally successful and one against which it is clear to see the difference it has made not only to the recipients, but also to those around them – additional childcare places have been provided; capacity has been expanded having a knock on effect to suppliers; and importantly jobs have been created and safeguarded.” 

UK Power Reserve shortlisted for 2014 Platts Global Energy Award

SOLIHULL’S UK Power Reserve (UKPR) has been shortlisted for two 2014 Platts Global Energy Awards in the categories Rising Star Company and “Energy Company of the Year.

UKPR was chosen from a list of nearly 250 nominations. Winners will be honoured on December 11  at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

UKPR will be judged by an independent panel including former regulators, past heads of major energy companies, leading academics and international energy experts.

Tim Emrich, CEO at UKPR, said:  “I am overjoyed that UK Power Reserve has received recognition on a global level.”

Midlands businesses returning to stability – R3 survey 

LATEST research from the insolvency body R3 highlights that the number of Midlands businesses currently negotiating payment terms with their creditors (22,000) is less than half the number recorded in November of last year (48,000).  
 
The data also show that the number of Midlands businesses who say they would be unable to pay debts if interest rates rise has fallen to 34,000 from a two-year high of 53,000 in May 2013.
 
R3 Midlands chairman Richard Philpott, a partner at KPMG in the region, said:  “These indicators are encouraging and highlight that the improving UK economy will have pulled many Midlands businesses back from the very edge.
 
“However, the number of businesses in debt is not insignificant and thousands are still in a potentially difficult situation. Interest rate rises and tougher creditors, encouraged by sustained economic growth, are challenges that lie in wait.”

Rant & Rave named winner in the Smarta 100

COVENTRY technology firm Rant & Rave has been named one of the best small businesses in the country in the O2 Smarta 100 Awards.
 
The awards were judged by high profile entrepreneurial judges.
 
Rant & Rave fought off tough competition from more than 2,000 companies all over the UK to be recognised for their innovative use of technology and named one of the country’s most resourceful, original, exciting and disruptive small businesses.
 
Nigel Shanahan, founder and chairman of Rant & Rave said: “We are over the moon to be named in the prestigious Smarta 100. 

“We are following in the footsteps of some fantastic companies and feel honoured to be recognised for doing what we love – using cutting edge technology to help our clients engage with their customers.”