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DELIVERING NATIONAL GROWTH, LOCALLY
Thames Valley Berkshire continues to be a significant contributor to the UK economy
An economic report released by Thames Valley Berkshire LEP has reiterated the significant role of the Berkshire economy in contributing to national economic growth, now and in the future.
Berkshire is ranked second only to London in terms of both economic output and productivity, and third of all LEP areas in terms of the proportion of private sector jobs.
Click here to read the full press release.
Click here to access the report.
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New appointment to the Berkshire Strategic Transport Forum
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The LEP has announced the appointment of Stuart Atkinson to the Berkshire Strategic Transport Forum (BSTF). Stuart is Transport Adviser to Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (West Berkshire), a national council member of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Click here to read the full press release.
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The LEP's work of championing connectivity across Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley has been highlighted in the February edition of Surveyor magazine. The article provides an insight into how the LEP is bringing together different agencies to alleviate the impact of works on businesses and commuters, using a co-ordinated communications plan.
Click here to read the article.
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Highways England has released an update of the weekend closures necessary to refurbish the bridges between Junctions 12 & 13 on the M4. The bridges require extensive repair to ensure they remain in a safe and serviceable condition. Click here for more information. |
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Great Western Rail (GWR) has said it will continue to operate direct services to Bedwyn and Frome next year, as work on its new fleet of Intercity Express Trains begins. With electrification of the line extending as far as Newbury, the new bi-mode trains, which will run on both diesel and electric, enable GWR to continue to operate direct services to Bedwyn, Hungerford and Kintbury, promising more seats on bigger, better, brand new trains. Click here for more information. |
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The Department for Transport is holding events across the UK to provide more information about the Draft Airports National Policy Statement (NPS).
The NPS will define the planning policy, which must be complied with in order to secure development consent for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. It sets out the need for additional airport capacity, as well as the reasons why a new runway is the government’s preferred scheme.
An event in Reading is being held on 12 April; click here to register.
Click here to respond to the consultation, which ends on 25 May.
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Skills, Education & Employment
The Berkshire Apprenticeship Service is now live; the Service is a one-stop shop for businesses in Berkshire who want to know more about apprenticeships. Click here to access the website.
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The LEP has secured an Enterprise Adviser match between Sandhurst School and the Culture and Community Manager, Vanessa Foot, at Romans Group. Click here to read the press release.
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The Enterprise Adviser programme aims to help students understand the world of work and the vast range of employment and training opportunities available to them.
For more information about the Enterprise Adviser programme please email Allison Giles at
allison@thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk or click here for further details.
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University of Reading Internship Scheme 2017
The Scheme provides funding and the opportunity for employers to benefit from the skills and fresh approach of students and graduates over the summer period.
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The Scheme offers:
- The opportunity to employ talented students or graduates with a skillset that you require for a 6-12 week period over the Summer
- Financial incentives of up to 100% contribution towards the salary of an intern
- An application framework that supports you in advertising your internship and enabling you to reach our students and graduates while controlling candidate selection
Register your interest here or email Rebecca Chard at ris@reading.ac.uk for further details.
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Enterprise & Innovation
The Business Growth Hub
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Newbury based design and marketing agency, Maxx Design, commented that the Growth Hub’s Business Accelerator programme was a "game changer". The course aims to give small businesses a better understanding of their markets and clarity around their own aims and objectives. Click here to read the full case study.
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The Funding Escalator
Caversham based Murano Home is the latest company to be supported by the Thames Valley Berkshire Commercialisation Loan Scheme. The company specialises in the design and creation of fragrances, candles and bespoke hand-blown Venetian glass.
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The award-winning Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator offers non-traditional finance to high-growth-potential SMEs, and has so far created 439 jobs and leveraged £15m of private equity.
Click here for further information about the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator.
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Innovate UK is conducting research on business attitudes towards R&D and internationalisation; their findings will help to shape Innovate UK's support for businesses in this space. Click here to take part in the survey.
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European Structural Funding
EAFRD Workshop
The LEP hosted its EAFRD workshop on 14 March to enable owners of new and established businesses based in rural Berkshire to find out more about how they can apply for a share of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Click here to access the presentation. |
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ESIF Call: Low Carbon Workshops
A new round of European funding opportunities has opened up for organisations in Berkshire to support low carbon projects. To provide more information on the details of the Call, a series of workshops are being held: click here for further details on each workshop.
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Upcoming events
Click here for a full list of upcoming events.
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