In this issue
Redhill:creating the future today
2016 British Chamber Business Awards are open for entries
Intellectual Property, Learning Lunch
SME Surrey Business Awards
Redhill Recruitment Fair
Improve where you live
What's on
What's on
10 May 8-10am Corporate Insights Seminar Series: Maximising Value, Reigate Manor Hotel, RH2 9PF find out more

18 May  12-2pm  Learning Lunch
, Town Hall, Reigate Trade Marks and Patents with David Gill from WP Thompson Intellectual Property

18 May 4-7pm Redhill: creating the future today, Town Hall, Reigate book your space now 

18 May 6pm Entrepreneurs Exchange,
 meet the UK's top entrepreneurs at various UK venues including London and Brighton.  Find out more 

26 May 5.30pm-7.30pm R&R Connects,  
Morrisons popular networking event at Reigate RFC Find out more 

31 May 9-12pm How to become a digital superstar on a shoestring budget
, The Capital, Horsham.  Find out more.


15 June 12-2pm  Learning Lunch, Town Hall, Reigate Social Media (Facebook) with James Dempster from Cobb Digital

23 June 5.30pm- 7.30pm R&R Young Professionals Group, Home Cottage, Redhill.  Book your space  


14 June Understanding Airport Procurement, Holiday Inn, Gatwick. Find out more 

14 July Gatwick Diamond Meet the Buyer event, Arora Hotel, Gatwick find out more

13 July  12-2pm  Learning Lunch, Town Hall, Reigate Innovation in Business with John Bottomley from Int-Elect

Funding/Awards
UK Angel Investment Awards

Any company or individual meeting the criteria can enter the UK Angel Investment Awards by clicking on the relevant award category and completing the entry form. Open for entries 3 May.
Find out more here.


Carbon Trust Green Business Fund
energy opportunity assessments to small and medium sized businesses (companies with fewer than 250 employees) to help them identify energy saving opportunities, and to develop a robust business case for the purchase of the appropriate equipment. Find out more 

RBS Innovation Gateway - Grants for Testing Resource Efficiency Innovations: New Round
The Innovation Gateway challenge aims to help businesses get their products tested and into a wider market, quickly and successfully.

Fnd out more 

Muddy Stiletto Award 2016 Surrey
Nominate your local business deadline 25 May
Do it online
It's quicker to report things, make payments and apply for services online.
Improve where you live
Apply for a grant from the Community improvements fund

Need funding for something your community will love?

The Community Improvements Fund has been running for four years and can make a project a reality. It's designed to help people turn a great idea into something real that will benefit people in their community. This year there is extra funding available to support projects that will improve local shopping areas/parades. 

The types of things you can get funding for are:

  • Disabled access to a venue, premises or row of shops
  • A mini-bus to help elderly people get around
  • Cycle parking or seating by your local shopping parade or community facility

About the fund

The grants are available to cover capital costs for community infrastructure projects. For community improvement projects you can apply for a grant of £10,000 to £30,000, for shopping parade projects the minimum grant is £5,000 (up to £30,000). Ideally bids should be for things that support Surrey County Council's strategic objectives of making sure everyone in Surrey has a great start to life and can live and age well, and that Surrey's economy remains strong and sustainable.

A tennis court, children's playground and bike rack, all created through the fund


Here's what you need to do to apply:

1. Develop your idea

  • Speak to people who might want to use the facility you're bidding for
  • Speak to the community to see if they support your idea
  • Get planning permission, if required
  • Talk to the local council, e.g. your local councillor or your area highways team (where relevant)
  • Are there other sources of funding you can bid for or arrange
  • Open a constituted bank account if necessary for your group or partnership

2.  Write your bid

  • Tell us about your project, what it will achieve, who will use it, how it will benefit the community
  • Do a breakdown of your finances
  • Show that there is local support for your proposal
  • Speak to the Community Partnerships and Committee Officer for your area

3.  Submit your bid on time

  • Bids must be submitted by Friday 15 July 2016
  • Very importantly.... you need to include three quotes for the work that you are proposing - find out more about this in our criteria document.

Key criteria 2016-17

Within your bid you need to show that your project meets each of the criteria below (more detailed  information on the criteria can also be found in the attachments at the foot of this webpage).

So your project needs to, in some way:

  • Improve community or local shopping facilities;
  • Have a wide community benefit;
  • Making a real difference to people's lives;
  • Encourage communities to take greater responsibility for local issues and encourage people to work together.

Other things you need to know

The funding is meant to cover capital costs linked to a community infrastructure project.  However sometimes a grant, or part of a grant in this case can be used for revenue purposes to help set up an initiative.

If you successfully secure a grant, 12 months after receiving the money you will be asked to show that you have spent the money and how the project has met its intended outcomes.

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