Grants, funding and Covid support
Save The High Street Three Rivers
Retail specialists Save The High Street are working with Three Rivers District Council to provide strategies tailored for independent traders to help them recover the thrive. Under this scheme free support will provide recommended action plans to help local businesses achieve individual goals, step by step guides and one-to-one support from expert advisors and more. The provision will be personalised for each business across a number of different themes such as increasing footfall, growing online, collaborating locally, making the most of seasonal opportunities and more.
All local independent businesses with a presence on the high street in a market or shopping centre, as well as anyone who cares about the success of their local high streets are now encouraged to find out and more and register at SaveTheHighStreet.org/ThreeRivers
Free FSB memberships
Under the Three Rivers Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) scheme, businesses receive fully funded memberships, awarded on a first-come-first-served basis for eligible small and medium-sized business applicants.
Businesses who join the FSB are eligible for a wide range of benefits including a funding platform, medical care helpline, employment advice and protection, debt recovery, as well as an award-winning legal hub for advice and a range of events and networking opportunities.
Memberships are for one year and cover sole traders and small businesses who are not currently members and have not been members in the past two years, and must be based in the Three Rivers Distict Council area.
To enquire about joining via the scheme contact FSB Membership Advisor Paul Randell: paul.randell@fsb.org.uk
Find out more at: www.fsb.org.uk/join-us.html
Wenta: Three Rivers Business Advice and Support Programme
This programme gives local residents looking to start a business a host of free instant access to a wide range of pre-start and early stage business support services. The service is delivered by Wenta in partnership with Three Rivers District Council.
- Instant access to a wide range of business support services for Three Rivers pre-start and early stage businesses, and residents looking to start a business
- Impartial, expert one to one advice to help you start-up or grow your new business - it's jargon-free, friendly advice during these stressful times
- Instant access to business advice live chat
- Skills training webinars and workshops on topics ranging from social media and marketing to cashflow and writing a business plan
- Specialist advice on topics such as IT, HR, websites and legal
- Access to the business support ecosystem, connecting across Hertfordshire
- Virtual networking opportunities with other like-minded businesses across Hertfordshire and beyond.
Find out more here.
The Unlock Your Potential programme
The Unlock Your Potential is a programme run by Three Rivers District Council in partnership with Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce.
The scheme offers anyone over 18 living in Three Rivers the chance to sign up to a flexible three month programme to give them the confidence and skills to get on the jobs ladder.
The personal training programme includes access to virtual and face-to-face mentoring;cognitive and psychometric assessments; equal, diverse, inclusive and disability confident employers that are flexible, understand individual needs and drive change in the workplace.
For more information email: amanda@watford-chamber.co.uk
Support to make your business more sustainable
Sustainable Business Programme sector guides are now available for local businesses. These sector guides give checklists and ideas for how to improve your sustainability and “do well from doing good”. They have been developed as part of our commitment to engage and support businesses to reduce their impact on the environment, improve sustainability and also adapt to and build resilience to a rapidly changing physical and business environment.
For more information contact our delivery partners Sustainable X at: 3rbusiness@sustainablex.co.uk
More sustainable business support:
- Low-carbon work space government grant
- Zero Carbon business - how to make your business more sustainable
Business Start-up support: Rivertech
Start-up businesses, freelancers, entrepreneurs and anyone else looking for an alternative to home working are invited to try Rickmansworth's local shared working site for free.
Rivertech - which is based in Basing House in the town centre - provides spaces for a variety of people who are seeking a new location in which to work. It is a partnership between Three Rivers District Council and Wimbletech, a Community Interest Company (CIC) base in Wimbledon.
The organisation is now offering free day passes for those interested in using its facilities. Dates are scheduled on Wednesdays throughout spring 2022.
More information: https://wimbletech.com/work-hub/rivertech/
Webinars
Together with SaveTheHighStreet.org, Three Rivers District Council hosted a series of webinars offering help and guidance for local businesses.
Click on the links to watch the previous webinars:
VIDEO: How to attract more customers to your business
VIDEO: Growing your business with local collaborations
VIDEO: Selling Online as a High Street Business
VIDEO: Top Ideas to Unlock the Power of Visual Merchandising