Business Support in North Somerset
Economy Team
The North Somerset Council Economic Development team are here to help local businesses with their needs.
Business In North Somerset Newsletter
Subscribe to receive key updates to your inbox once a month.
Updates include grants, funding opportunities, events and other news that would be relevant to North Somerset businesses.
Property Search
Our team will try their best to find a potential property that suits your requirements.
Simply click here to send an email to business@n-somerset.gov.uk
Explore North Somerset
Networking Event
Explore North Somerset is a host of networking events for Visitor Economy businesses to showcase North Somerset's distinct offerings and encourage connections.
The Hive
The Hive is a business support centre in Weston-super-Mare that offers advice, training, workspace and funding for people who want to start or grow their own business.
Start-up support
Starting a business is a big adventure, but there's more to it than just having an idea. We're here to help! Let's schedule an appointment to discuss your business and provide valuable resources to support you in setting up and running it.
Business Support Unlocked
Business Support Unlocked provides free pre-start, early growth, and business resilience support to North Somerset businesses.
Includes 3.5-day course, phone/online advice, workshops, & market intel through COBRA/CBI.
Business Support
Events & Courses
The Hive offers a number of Business Support Events throughout the year.
To see the upcoming events, check out their calendar.
Growing Your Business
The Hive offers a number of services and opportunities available to you and your business:
• Business advice & coaching
• Practical skills training
• Specialist business information
• Local contacts & further support
• Access to funding opportunities
• Networking
• Access to business clinics
North Somerset Business Club
The North Somerset Business Club connects and supports local businesses through networking, guest speakers, and promotion. Monthly meetings are held for members to network and learn.
The Food Works SW
Food Works SW is a food and drink innovation centre that helps businesses grow. It provides affordable, modern and compliant business units, as well as a range of support services. If you are a food or drink manufacturer, Food Works SW can help you take your business to the next level.
Business Units
The Food WorksSW provides food and drink businesses with modern, cost-effective, and food-grade Business Units which come in different sizes and are suitable for both start-ups and established businesses.
Meeting Room Hire
Food WorksSW offers affordable meeting and conference rooms for 2 to 100 people, with amenities such as parking, WiFi and audio-visual equipment. There's also a coffee shop and engagement center for additional space and catering needs.
Development Kitchens
FoodWorks SW offers food-grade development kitchens for short-term hire by any food and drink business size. The kitchens are equipped with standard and specialist catering equipment for bakery, dairy, ready meal, and drinks development, allowing businesses to scale-up production and pilot improvements.
Business Support Events
The Food WorksSW is offering several events targeted at Food and Drink businesses in North Somerset.
The West of England Growth Hub
The West of England Growth Hub is a business support service that provides a range of resources and advice for businesses in the West of England region.
Click here to find out more and get in touch
Thrive at Work
The Growth Hub offers Thrive at Work: free eLearning, webinars and guides on mental health in the workplace for managers.
Intellectual Property Support
We offer IP support for businesses, including free advice from experts, up to £8,000 in grants for IP costs, and access to finance, growth programmes, and networking opportunities via Growth Hub.
Workforce for the Future
Workforce for the Future offers expert support to help your business attract, retain and develop talented employees. Our tailored approach ensures you identify ongoing skills needs, access the right training and invest in your workforce.
The Good Employment Charter
The Good Employment Charter is a voluntary accreditation scheme by West of England Combined Authority that improves employment standards for all organizations. The Authority also provides a Growth Hub with support for businesses including advice, funding, training, events, and networking.
Green Business Support
The West of England Growth Hub supports sustainability in the area with guides and resources for your Green journey.
Create Growth Programme
(May 2024)
The West of England Combined Authority received £1.275m from DCMS to support local creative businesses. It will provide targeted business support to help high-growth creative businesses scale up and become investment ready. This includes mentoring, workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and access to finance.
Weston College
Weston College offers supportive learning with experienced staff and modern facilities.
Employer Digital Skills Bootcamp
Weston College has two discounted Digital Skill Bootcamps. Intro to Coding teaches Python programming, coding basics, and web dev leading to a fast-tracked interview with a local employer. Working with Data teaches data skills with Python and Microsoft Azure data services.
Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
SWAP is a fully-funded government programme delivered by Weston College, which helps jobseekers improve their skills in industries such as retail, care or construction. Employers offer work experience placements and guaranteed interviews, making it a valuable opportunity for participants lasting up to six weeks.
Industry Work Placements & Work Experience
Weston College offers Industry T-Levels which are 80% in class learning and 20% (minimum 315 hours) as a work placement.
Work experience isa 5 day taster week that students do, often in Year 10 to gain experience in a real business and learn valuable skills in their chosen field of work.
Workforce for the Future
Workforce for the Future is a free service for small and medium-sized enterprises in the West of England. It helps improve skills, productivity, and sustainability.
Services include skills analysis, recruitment support, access to training courses, events, resources and one-to-one advice is provided by experts.
Become an Inclusive Employer
Weston College's "Become an Inclusive Employer" workshop helps businesses support neurodiverse employees, boost staff retention, and tap into the talents of those with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other conditions that can affect the way they work.
Creating an Inclusive Workforce
Weston College is a national Centre for Excellence in SEND and a Queen’s Anniversary Prize winner for its inclusive practice. It offers training workshops, recruitment support, consultancy, and resources for employers to improve accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.
Working with an Apprentice
Weston College offers over 50 different apprenticeships ranging from Level 2 to Degree-level. They have provided some materials for employers to support them with looking for and employing apprentices.
Work-based Traineeships
Traineeships train young people for future careers and help employers find new talent. Trainees take classes to learn skills like interview prep, CV writing, and workplace behavior before starting a 6-week placement.
Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid will enable you to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and provide first-aid help. This internationally recognised course won't teach you to be a therapist but, like ‘physical first’ aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis.
Inward Investment Advice
North Somerset's WSM Enterprise Area offers an ideal business location with skilled workforce, accessibility and diverse industries including a food enterprise zone, and business centre, suitable tech, manufacturing, and professional services.
Invest Bristol & Bath supports business growth and collaboration in the West of England, offering tailored services and promoting the region as a top investment destination. Key sectors include creative industries, aerospace, digital technology, and life sciences.
The BPAA is a Bristol property industry group that includes commercial and residential professionals. Established in 1946, it provides insight for local decisions, meets regularly with Local Planning Authority, and hosts events like an annual dinner for members.
Other business support
Our Employment and Skills team offers various support for your business, such as recruitment advice, connections with larger employment partners, opportunities for upskilling, promotional opportunities, access to untapped talent pools, and direct news updates on local job fairs.
Skills for the Green Transition 2023
Apply for Santander Scholarships' Skills for the Green Transition Program 2023 with Cambridge Judge Business School for practical sustainability skills, real-life case studies, and a Certificate of Completion. No degree or Banco Santander status required.
South West Investment Fund
Supports new and growing businesses with finance options, including loans from £25k to £2m and equity up to £5m. It's part of the British Business Bank's new Nation and Region Investment Funds, with a £200m commitment to drive economic growth.
Business support in libraries
A collection of support services that our Libraries team have collated for businesses,
The Kings Award for Enterprise
Acknowledge UK businesses' remarkable achievements in Innovation, International Trade, and Sustainable Development. Winners will receive the Royal Emblem and attend a Royal reception hosted by the King.
Somerset Training and Employment Support Grants
Financial assistance to individuals who are unemployed or seeking new employment, or who are looking to upskill or retrain.
Business support and advice
A collection of support and advice services for businesses.
Digital Growth Grants
Barclays Eagle Labs receives £12 million grant to support UK tech startups and scaleups. The funding will help achieve four objectives: deliver support services, grow regional networks, provide digital entrepreneurship training, and signpost existing initiatives.
South West Enterprise Fund Grants
Providing financial assistance to individuals aged 18 to 35 who are starting their own business or have been trading for under 2 years. Grants of up to £2,000 are available.
Visitor Economy Support
Visit Weston promotes tourism and business in Weston-super-Mare under Weston Town Council, offering similar services, and has a team of Holiday Makers to welcome visitors.
Visit Somerset promotes tourism and business in Somerset, offering advice and services, such as accommodation, events and activities.
Visit West promotes tourism and business in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It operates Visit Bristol, Visit Bath and Meet Bristol and Bath.
Business Support Partners
Business West is a Certified B Corp that aims to make the West of England the best place to live and work. It helps 24,000 businesses start, grow and export, as well as lobby government on their behalf. It has 200 staff and a turnover of £10 million.
FSB supports UK small and medium-sized businesses, providing benefits and lobbying government. Members receive legal advice, business banking, tax protection and networking opportunities.
EGI Radius is a commercial real estate platform that offers data, news, and analysis. It combines Radius Data Exchange's property data and market trends with legal commentary from Estates Gazette. Users can search for properties by location, type, size, price, and more, as well as access reports, charts, and maps.
The Weston Super Mare Chamber of Commerce represents local businesses in and around the area, both small and large. Their mission is to cultivate a network of members providing community, support, and opportunities.
Clevedon Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in North Somerset's seaside town. Members have diverse skills and work to boost the local business community. They participate in initiatives like Coastal Community Team and North Somerset Ambassador group.
Somerset Chamber of Commerce, est. 1994, supports 2,000+ businesses of all sizes across Somerset in partnership with town chambers. Accredited to British Chambers of Commerce, representing over 100,000 UK businesses, their aim is to connect, influence, represent and provide growth opportunities.
The Weston BID is a Business Improvement District that covers Weston Town Centre and works with about 450 businesses. It aims to improve the town centre’s attractiveness, security, promotion and communication1. It was established in 2012 and renewed in 2016 and 2021.
Clevedon BID improves the town centre, Hill and Seafront shopping and leisure areas through marketing, promotion and street enhancement. Launched in 2018 it has raised £500,000 for its projects.
UK Libraries Connected represents public library services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and promotes the value of libraries while driving innovation in the sector. It also provides online courses, resources and events for library staff, volunteers and users.
