Get Set to Tender
This initiative will provide free support to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) located in Devon that have less than 250 employees, to help them respond to public sector organisation tendering opportunities. Support will be available until March 2023.
On offer is:
- an introduction to procurement and tendering aimed at organisations who have yet to take advantage of the opportunities that exist – introductory workshops will explore how to access public sector opportunities
- intermediate support aimed at organisations that have some experience in tendering for public sector contracts
- writing tender responses – aimed at all organisations who want to secure public sector opportunities
Enrol on the Get Set to Tender support programme today.
Devon Get Started
If you are over 25, live in Devon and want to start your own business then Devon Get Started can help to get your idea off the ground.
The programme focusses on supporting prestart activities and will help participants build confidence, learn how to identify resources, how to avoid common mistakes and how to manage, organise, run, market, finance and grow a new business.
Support will be delivered by qualified business coaches and advisors and will offer a mix of workshops, networking events, peer support activities and one-to-one support.
Enrol on the Devon Get Started Programme today.
Devon Elevation Fund
Update: The Devon Elevation Funding (both first and second rounds) is now closed to new applications. It is unlikely that this fund will now reopen due to the number of applications received.
Devon County Council launched a new delegated grant scheme to provide support for business innovation and agility, creating new jobs, new products and allowing local business to play a more active role in building back better and improving local economic resilience.
The Devon Elevation Fund (DEF) is funded through the UK Community Renewal Fund and is primarily a ‘small’ revenue grants scheme, and it is designed to assist sole traders, micro, small and medium-sized businesses (up to 250 employees) or organisations across Devon. These can include start-ups, social enterprises, and constituted community organisations (such as business/community groups, parish, town, district/borough councils).
The scheme offered grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 to projects that help businesses and community organisations to:
- respond to the different trading environment resulting from COVID-19
- plan for future growth and development
- develop new products and services
- assess the feasibility of future initiatives
The programme aims to encourage the creation of new businesses and new jobs while safeguarding existing jobs. Start-ups, particularly from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, can also be supported.
The fund will encourage opportunities for innovation and growth through the development of new products and feasibility studies for future projects to deliver innovation and change.
Priority will be given to projects that support the county’s plans for recovery and growth; and will help level-up economic and social inequalities. This includes supporting community and business sectors hardest hit by the Coronavirus pandemic such as: tourism; hospitality; retail; food and drink.
The DEF will fund predominantly revenue projects and grants are limited to projects that can complete activities by the end of May 2022. One to one support will be on hand to help develop carbon reduction plans to support the Levelling-up and Net-zero agendas. Applicants will also receive help to overcome unforeseen problems, build confidence and ensure delivery of outcomes.
The project is being delivered locally by Devon County Council, North Devon +, Business Information Point and The Diverse Regeneration Company CIC. Devon County Council is also managing the UK Community Renewal Fund in Devon.
Devon Agri-Tech Accelerator (DATA)
We are excited to announce that Devon County Council has launched a pilot project and grant scheme for the Agri-Tech sector! Devon County Council has successfully secured over £500,000 from the community renewal fund to support farming and the Agri-Tech sector.
This will be used across the four elements of the project, which are:
- research and mapping – to get a better understanding of what opportunities are within the sector
- building an Agri-Tech Alliance – to better the connectedness of the agricultural community
- knowledge exchange and voucher scheme – vouchers of up to £15,000 will be available to support Agri-Tech businesses
- farm innovation pilot – offering support to farm businesses to enhance their enterprise and decarbonisation plans
The overall aim of this project is to support existing Agri-Tech businesses and to create a more connected community between farmers, growers, landowners and Agri-Tech businesses – to boost the agricultural sector in Devon.
Made in Devon
Made in Devon is a major new ‘buy-local’ business support scheme encouraging the sales and consumption of bona fide Devon products and services.
Members of the scheme go through the Buy With Confidence audit process, which gives them free trading standards support and advice which normally costs £80 per hour.
They also benefit from being part of a major promotional campaign. Earlybirds get their first year of membership for free.
Buy With Confidence scheme
Avoid rogue traders and support those who’ve publicly committed to operating in a legal, honest and fair way by using Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved businesses.
All the businesses have been vetted, approved and continue to be monitored to help ensure you receive a quality service. Businesses are only included once they’ve completed a series of stringent checks, including a visit by a qualified Trading Standards professional.
Devon Delivers
Looking for a place where you and your business can thrive? Whether you’re expanding or relocating, it’s time to explore! Free advice and support.
Our Economic Development Officers, in each location, will be able to offer free advice and support on a range of topics including:
- sources of finance and business grants
- business locations, premises and business parks in the area
- commercial property services and recommended search engines
- relevant business support services
- links to relevant local business contacts
Register Your Interest detailing the nature of your enquiry and we will ensure you receive a prompt response from a member of our team. Please ensure you leave us your email address so we can get in touch with you.
For general enquires, our Devon Delivers central team can assist and guide you to the right support devon.delivers@devon.gov.uk.
Future Farm Resilience programme
Devon County Council has been awarded Defra funding to run a next phase of the Future Farming Resilience Fund project, providing free, expert advice to help farmers in Devon and Somerset (excluding National Park areas) transition from Direct Basic Payments (BPS) toward the government’s new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.
Find out more about the Future Farming Resilience Project.
Devon Food Partnership
Identify and implement strategic action to help create a healthy, sustainable and more equitable food system. Find out more on the Devon Food Partnership website.
Digital Advantage Devon
Digital Advantage Devon provides up to 12 hours of free digital training and advice, with expert trainers delivering a combination of interactive digital workshops and tailored one-to-one support for individual businesses.
The scheme, delivered by award-winning digital skills training company COSMIC, based in East Devon, is fully funded by Devon County Council and will continue until March 2023.
Taking Business Digital
The Taking Business Digital pilot project, which runs until March next year, aims to support every aspect of business in a digital world, delivering events, seminars, training and one-to-one support.
This programme, delivered by Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, explores everything from digital marketing and local procurement to supply chains, importing and exporting, and customs procedures.
The pilot is available until March 2022. Find out more on the Devon & Plymouth Chamber website.
Get Set Adapt Devon
Get Set Adapt Devon is being delivered by YTKO to support businesses across Devon to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. This scheme, which will run until March 2023, offers a business diagnostic review to determine recovery strategy and tactics, and any further support a business may need.
One-to-one sessions with a specialist business advisor will provide a bespoke action plan for recovery and growth. There are also tailored workshops and masterclasses based around business resilience, business models and other key areas. It also includes online learning with 24/7 access to interactive learning modules and a resource library.
Find out more on the GetSet Adapt website.