Support for Business in North Ayrshire. Pa r

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1 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :01 Page 2 Recruitment Finan Supp cial ort North Ayrsh ire Council Economic De velopment Business Advice Support for Business in North Ayrshire Pa r tne Wor rship king

2 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :01 Page 3 Recr Working closely with our partners, the Economic Development Service provides advice, financial support and tailor-made solutions to help businesses prosper in North Ayrshire. This booklet details some of the support we can provide to your business. For more information on any of the services contact Busines

3 North Ayrshire Council is committed to supporting new and existing businesses to grow and develop. cruitment Financial Support North Ayrshire Council Economic Development ess Advice Partnership Working

4 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :01 Page 5 Working in partnership

5 Contents 1. Business advice and financial support Skills for Growth Programme 6 Property Enquiry service 6 Business Growth Programme 7 West of Scotland Loan Fund 7 Inward Investment service 8 New Media Programme 8 2. Recruitment North Ayrshire Apprenticeship Scheme 9 Youth Employment Support Initiative (YES) 10 Jobs Access Fund 10 Graduate Scheme Support from other agencies Business Gateway Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae 11 Social Enterprise support 12 The West Coast Hatchery 12 CEIS Ayrshire 13 Workers Education Association 13 Scottish Enterprise 13 Skills Development Scotland 13 Supplier Development Programme 13 Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce 14 Federation of Small Businesses 14 Jobcentre Plus 14 James Watt College 14 Irvine Bay Regeneration Company 14

6 Business Advice & Financial Support Our team of experienced business advisers can provide advice and consultancy, as well as grant and loan support to help local businesses grow and develop. Skills for Growth Programme The Skills for Growth Programme helps local businesses develop their workforce. Supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), the programme assists with employee training costs to allow businesses to take advantage of new markets or business opportunities. Assistance is also provided to community and social enterprises to support their growth and long-term sustainability. This support includes: Helping businesses to develop the skills of their workforce to sustain or increase the growth potential of their business Enhancing managerial skills in areas such as new technology, e-business, supply chain management, succession planning and other innovative management practices which can help businesses capitalise on growth opportunities Assistance with new technologies such as social media and hardware through specific training The support we receive from North Ayrshire Council, especially in the area of skills training, is absolutely vital to our business. The Council clearly recognise the importance, especially in these difficult times, of the constant need for businesses to invest in their workforce. This will ensure we are best placed to drive forward our growth strategy once the recession eases. Ampcontrol UK Ltd Property Enquiry service Our team can help businesses find the right commercial premises in North Ayrshire including industrial, office or retail properties. Business advice & Financial Support We will carry out a customised search for suitable properties and provide advice on business rates, planning and other statutory requirements. For further information contact /

7 Business Growth Programme West of Scotland Loan Fund Our Business Growth Programme helps businesses improve their use of e-business by developing a tailored strategy. Supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the programme helps businesses attract investment and funding and make the best use of their resources. Both the Skills for Growth and Business Growth programmes are available to Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in North Ayrshire which demonstrate potential for growth. In most instances, support of up to 50 per cent of training costs (excluding VAT) is available. For further information contact Following a strategic review we identified various e-business issues that were restricting company growth. The Council s Economic Development team was on hand to provide advice and grant support to assist with the implementation of our website, a CRM system and the development of key operations software. A & I Accessory Ltd Financial support is available to SMEs through the West of Scotland Loan Fund. The fund helps businesses that have a viable project proposal but find it difficult to raise the required finance from normal commercial channels. Loans of up to 50,000 are available through the fund and applicants must demonstrate that at least 50 per cent of the total funding package will be provided by the private sector. For further information visit "We've had a longstanding relationship with the Economic Development team and have always found them to be approachable and helpful. We've recently completed a substantial expansion project and the moral and financial support provided by the Council has been invaluable during this time. North Ayrshire Council, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, provided financial assistance towards the costs associated with our expansion and this has allowed the company to reach its full potential." CV Labels Ltd 7

8 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :01 Page 9 Inward Investment service New companies looking to relocate to North Ayrshire can take advantage of our Inward Investment service. From assistance on statutory regulations, to information on sites and premises and help with finance and recruitment, it couldn t be easier to choose North Ayrshire as your business location. For further information contact New Media Programme Our New Media Programme is designed to help employers make best use of social media for their business. Aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds the scheme is free to businesses and helps young people gain social media skills before matching them with an employer for six months. For further information contact k? Faceboo LinkedIn? Digital Engagement Web? 8 Twitter?

9 Recruitment The Council understands how important it is to find the right people for your business. Our wide range of support programmes are designed to help businesses through the recruitment process and with the costs of taking on a new employee. North Ayrshire Apprenticeship Scheme Our Apprenticeship Scheme provides financial incentives, funding for training and wage subsidies for businesses taking on a young person aged 16 to 24-years-old. The scheme can help businesses develop and provide the apprentice with a great opportunity to improve their skills and their prospects for the future. For further information contact We are a family business who believe it is important to put something back into our local community. We are keen to nurture talent and provide our apprentices with the skills to make them valuable members of staff. Support with wage costs available from the scheme has allowed us to increase the number of apprentices we intend to employ this year across a number of disciplines and we look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with North Ayrshire Council." Booth Welsh Automation Ltd Full Time? Part Time? Staff Apprentice? 9

10 Youth Employment Support Initiative (YES) The Youth Employability Support programme (YES) is one of North Ayrshire Council s newest employability programmes for 16 to 24-year-olds. The programme focuses on helping young people develop the skills and attitudes needed to secure and sustain employment. Once the young person has completed the course, a six-month contract is offered with a local business. The Council pays 75 per cent of their wages during this period. For further information contact / or khayburn@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or kmccandlish@north-ayrshire.gov.uk Jobs Access Fund The Jobs Access Fund encourages local employers to fill new jobs with unemployed North Ayrshire residents. Up to 50 per cent of a new employee s wages can be paid by the fund for up to 26 weeks. For further information contact or econdev@north-ayrshire.gov.uk Graduate Scheme The Graduate Scheme is a new service that can provide your business with a customised wage subsidy support package to take on an unemployed graduate residing in North Ayrshire. "The support from North Ayrshire Council's Business Development Team on recruiting our staff was just exceptional. Of course it has made a huge difference in growing our business successfully; but equally important are the four young people who now have a career and a bright future to look forward to." For further information contact Investment Develop Skills & Attitudes Placement Ayrshire Tree Surgeons Ltd Training 10

11 Support from other Agencies North Ayrshire Council works in partnership with a range of other agencies to ensure that local businesses have access to the widest range of support available. Business Gateway Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae Business Gateway provides free and impartial information, advice and support to both start-up and existing businesses. The range of support available includes: Business Planning Business skills seminars and workshops Networking events Business information and market research Growth action plans One-to-one advice Access to local authority, Scottish Enterprise and Highland & Island Enterprise support programmes Specialist social economy advisory support For further information visit or contact or Networks and contacts are critical in this business. Business Gateway put us in touch with North Ayrshire Council. Our ongoing relationship with both has provided us with a number of training and business support grants. Oricom Ltd 11

12 Mentoring Support Encouragement Advice Social Enterprise Support The Council s specialist Social Enterprise support programme is delivered by Cunninghame Housing Association. This programme provides support on business planning, project development and option appraisals, as well as market research, funding strategies, governance and procurement advice. For further information contact Colin McKee, or cmckee@chaltd.org The West Coast Hatchery Businesses looking to start-up in North Ayrshire now have an excellent stepping stone in Entrepreneurial Spark a partnership between The Hunter Foundation and all three Ayrshire Councils. This initiative was established in 2012 to encourage entrepreneurship and increase the number of business start-up companies in the West of Scotland by providing: Free business start-up space and facilities Tailored entrepreneurial advice and mentoring Encouragement for collaborative and co-operative working On-going support suited to the individual s pace For further information contact Karine Burns, or karine@entrepreneurial-spark.com 12

13 Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS Ayrshire) CEIS Ayrshire provides recruitment support to businesses, with emphasis on: Finding skilled and motivated candidates who are right for you Job specific training for candidates before they enter the job Potential financial support For further information contact or Workers Education Association (WEA) The Job Rotation Programme funds the placement of employees in local businesses to help employers send existing staff for training. The programme is delivered by our partners at the Workers Education Association (WEA). For further information contact Scottish Enterprise North Ayrshire Council works closely with Scottish Enterprise to support companies who are looking to expand into national and global markets. Scottish Enterprise plays a significant role in supporting companies to compete in globally competitive sectors, attract new investment and create new job opportunities. For further information visit Skills Development Scotland (SDS) SDS help businesses compete in today s demanding marketplace by assisting with Modern Apprenticeships, offering recruitment incentives, training opportunities and financial support. For further information visit Supplier Development Programme (SDP) The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access and compete for public sector contracts. For further information contact stevenrieley@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or 13

14 Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce provides a wide range of valuable advice and support designed to help build business relationships, save money, develop new skills and help businesses to grow and be competitive. Services include advice on human resources and legal issues and support for managing absences, increasing productivity, recruitment and staff retention. The Chamber also provides support on international trade, business mentoring, payment services and training. For further information visit Federation of Small Business The Federation of Small Business (FSB) is the UK s largest group promoting and protecting the interests of self-employed people and owners of small businesses. Formed in 1974, it now has 200,000 members across 33 regions and 194 branches. For further information visit Jobcentre Plus Jobcentre Plus supports local residents looking for a job and provides a wide range of information and services, such as benefits, loans and grants. North Ayrshire Council works with Jobcentre Plus to match suitable candidates with available local vacancies. For further information visit James Watt College, Kilwinning The College s award-winning Enterprise Unit provides an extensive range of services and training including work-based learning, professional development courses, customised training, consultancy services and conference facilities. For further information visit Irvine Bay Regeneration Company Irvine Bay Regeneration Company work in the towns of Stevenston, Saltcoats, Ardrossan, Kilwinning and Irvine to: Bring investment and opportunity Improve town centres Help the economy to grow and to create jobs For further information visit 14

15 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :01 Page 16 s Contact U 0129 econdev@ north-ay rsh w.northayrshire.com ire.gov.uk Fo r: Re cru it Fin anc ment ial Su pp ort Bu si Ad ness vic e n i g n i k Wor p i h s r e partn

16 bus dev handout_layout 1 14/12/ :00 Page 1 k? Faceboo LinkedIn? Digital Engagement Web? Twitter?