Invitation to a Free Business Event 23rd October - Orbit Centre

Are you aware of where to get help for your business and what help is out there? Are you aware of the funding opportunities available for training? Do you know who to ask for business advice?
If the answer to any of the above questions is NO, then this event will be very useful for you. On 23rd October 2012, the University of Glamorgan and the Regional Centre Service are hosting a joint event at the Orbit Centre, Merthyr Tydfil to raise awareness of the extensive funded support and training available to companies in the Heads of the Valleys areas. Local authority staff will also be on hand to discuss their grant funding programmes. This event is available to all private, third sector and sole trader enterprises. It is an excellent opportunity to discuss your companys business and training requirements with the relevant people in one room. We will run two sessions: 8-10am and 4-6pm. The organisations and projects[i] attending are:

CiDS The Creative Industries Development Scheme (CiDS) offers continuing professional development opportunities for freelancers, self-employed practitioners and SMEs in the Creative Industries, in Wales Convergence areas. We offer accredited work based learning in areas such as performing arts, music production, technical theatre, design and crafts. DEHOV (Digital Economy in the Heads of the Valleys) Today's companies need to understand how to utilise the digital economy in order to gain efficiencies and competitive advantage. DEHOV is a Work Based Learning Project offering a portfolio of IT-related subjects designed to equip employers and employees with the skills needed to succeed in this digital age. Elevate Cymru Elevate Cymru is a pioneering, work based learning project providing both employers and employees access to funded training courses in Leadership and Management plus high performance working skills, across a range of subjects, such as: Leadership & People Development, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Finance and Financial Planning and Business Law.

High Performance Computing (HPC) Wales HPC Wales provides businesses and researchers with local access to world-class supercomputing technology and the support to fully exploit it. We can give you the edge when it comes to designing and refining your products, processes or services, whether you want to speed up computationally heavy tasks, reduce your time to market or simply accelerate your modelling and simulation. Our services are fully discounted for many small to medium sized enterprises. Merthyr County Borough Council For those eligible funding is available for Merthyr-based business towards capital items, including a Business Start Grant which provides up to 50% of the total costs for capital items for start-up business based in Merthyr Tydfil, as well as a Local Investment Fund which is specifically designed to support a range of SMEs within the manufacturing sector and associated services. Professional Academy The Professional Academy provides a variety of work based learning solutions to the Welsh workforce. The project aims to engage with companies in a variety of sectors delivering modules in areas such as Project Management, Health & Safety, Design Suite, Lean, Quality, Business Risk, Environmental Management plus many more. Regional Centre Service The Regional Centre Service can provide you with the opportunity to speak to someone face to face and give you valuable information and guidance for free. Contact us for free advice on General Business Management; Equality and Diversity; and Environmental Management support. There is no charge to attend this event and refreshments will be provided. We will be delighted to see you and look forward to assisting you with potential business advice and training. Please reply by return of this email to book your place(s), indicating your session time preference.
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*[i] The University of Glamorgan projects attending this event are part of the WBL Programme, which has been made possible by the EUs Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government. This Programme is a pan-Wales initiative, led by the University of Glamorgan on behalf of the Higher Education and Further Education sectors, which aims to improve the skills, knowledge and competencies of people in private sector employment who live and/or work in West Wales and the Valleys.