The free event - which will unveil Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s forthcoming spending plans, and give details of support for local companies - starts at 8am at the Maritime Rooms at the Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff
Speakers include Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, Leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Rob Tinlin, the Council’s Chief Executive and Joe Chesterton, Head of Finances and Resources who will be presenting the Council’s 2014-15 budget.
This will be a chance to discover directly from Council chiefs how decisions and processes will impact on your business, and to discuss business rates.
Tim Walter, Business Development and Marketing Consultant for the Anglia Ruskin Medtech Campus, will also be speaking about the MedTech Campus business services and the £5.24million European Regional Development Fund business support project.
Delegates can put their questions to Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, Leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and the rest of the panel during the Q & A session.
There will also be an opportunity to meet representatives of a range of financial and funding organisations face to face, to understand what sources of finance are available to you and your business.
This includes grants available through local programmes and well as more conventional lenders.
If you would like to pre-book a one to one session with a particular funder then please email economicd@southend.gov.uk.
The organisations attending this briefing are:
MedTech Low Carbon - This is an innovation project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund providing specialised support services and grant funding to small and medium-sized enterprises in the medical technologies sector and its supply chain. You can be part of the £5.24 million scheme. Visit the team to see if you qualify for a package of free support and even a cash grant to take your business idea further, faster.
Low Carbon Business - This programme has been extended and is aimed at small and medium sized enterprises, identifying cost and carbon savings available from improved energy efficiency. Many businesses in Southend are already reaping its rewards, so why don’t you too?
Business Rates Team - The non-domestic rates are collected by the local authority and are the way businesses and others who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards local services. The team can help with any questions and give details of schemes available to you and your business.
Enterprise and Community Team - Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has been awarded £1.8million for local business support packages. For more information speak to the team.
Low Carbon KEEP Programme - This programme supports East of England businesses to innovate and grow through University partnerships and knowledge transfer. Despite spending cuts, funding for Low Carbon KEEP projects is still available until the end of April 2015.
Examplas - Exemplas are looking for growth potential limited companies to invest in. The COIN Fund could offer co-investment capital to help attract the full investment you need. The fund is designed for companies with a viable business plan looking for investment capital to finance their growth plans.
Foundation East - Foundation East is an Industrial and Provident Society, recognised by HM Revenue and Customs as an exempt charity. Foundation East does not use a credit scoring system as business is about people as well as numbers. Instead, applicants must be able to provide a strong business case for the loan, supported by necessary documentation and financial details.
Banking organisations represented at the event will be Nat West, Barclays, HSBC, Santander and Lloyds Banking
The meeting will start promptly at 08.30am, with refreshments and registration available from 8am.
To book your free place, please contact economicd@southend.gov.uk.
If you are unable to attend the meeting and you have booked a place, then please let the team know as soon as possible via the same email address.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s deputy leader, Councillor John Lamb said: "This event is a golden opportunity for companies to get absolutely up to date with funding opportunities and developments here in Southend.
"We hope as many as possible will come and take advantage of the chance to find out the very latest information and how best to develop their businesses."