LBS Builders Merchants’ Post

The third round of the Brentwood Connected Small Grant Scheme is still open 👍 The Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a small grant scheme for 2024 that will see up to £20,000 distributed for local project delivery. Organisations can apply for up to £2,500 per annum for projects that deliver creative and innovative initiatives or events that will have a positive impact within the BID area. Applications can be submitted per quarter and will be scored by a panel of members from the Brentwood Business Partnership (BBP). The third round of applications are open until Friday 31 January 2025. This round of funding will be for project delivery between November 2024 - March 2025. Visit https://lnkd.in/eNVBwcKw for more information. Examples of recent previous projects include the Crown Street Summer Party in August 2024, and the Wylie Wellness Centre Brentwood Dog Friendly Trail in September 2024. #BrentwoodConnected #BrentwoodBID #SupportLocal

Reflecting on a great first day at UKREiiF with interesting topics ranging from the future of MMC through to unleashing housing delivery through public, private Joint Ventures. Whilst the topics provided different emphasises the underlying theme of 'Partnerships' was repeated. Particularly resonating was a sentiment to problem solving the process, to realise scale, and to focus less on specific site constraints, as a catalyst to unlocking the sustainable supply of affordable housing. Also interesting to hear from Catherine Raynsford from The Hyde Group discussing the merits of a flexible approach to procurement where fixed price, all risk contracts may not be suitable to fostering long term partnerships and unlocking housing supply. Looking forward to day two. Just need it to stop raining! #ukreiff #Welling #afforablehousing

The #WestMidlands stands strong as a true engine for #growth, #innovation and #prosperity in the country, yet our research revealed statistics which show the scale of people struggling to find their place in our society. 🏠 20,000 people without stable housing today. ❓ 4,400 young care leavers (16-25) at risk of deprivation today. 🤞 30,000 veterans who may be in need of mental health today. 🛍️ 2,500 veterans who could be homeless tonight. 🤐 All feeling unseen and without a secure future for themselves. We've met some of these people, we've heard their stories, and we've shown them our plans for Ignis Lodge. 88% agree that it will improve their outcomes. And our research reveals we would return £1.81 for every £1 spent. Real people, real stories, real outcomes. Are you an organisation who would like to join us in this mission? We would like you invite you to stand with us as we walk alongside those in need and guide them into happy, healthy and independent lives. Be one of our partners in this mission and together we can make it a reality. Let's talk? Reach out to us on our contact details, drop a comment below, or you can complete our engagement form (https://lnkd.in/e3AyB6QW). We would love to connect with you. #ignitingpotential #brighterfutures #careleavers #veterans #birmingham #solihull #blackcountry #coventry #crisis #health #wellbeing West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham City Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Walsall Council, Dudley Council, Sandwell Council, Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Invest West Midlands UK (West Midlands Growth Company), CMI West Midlands & North West, West Midlands Chambers of Commerce LLP, JLR, Jaguar Land Rover UK, E.ON UK, JCB, National Grid, Severn Trent, National Express LTD, Mondelēz International, Cadbury UK, Amazon, Gymshark, Birmingham Airport, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd, Shakespeare Martineau, Institute of Directors (IoD) University of Warwick, Aston University, University of Birmingham, Coventry University, University of Wolverhampton, Royal British Legion, Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities

We are delighted to announce that Rye Chamber’s bid for levelling up funding has been successful. We will benefit from a share of £185K* which will be divided between Rye, Bexhill and Battle Chambers of Commerce according to our respective spending priorities as approved by The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Rye Chamber met with DLUHC last November to discuss the priorities for Rye, and we subsequently submitted an outline plan for the deployment of funding in our town. Our business community is passionate about the changes that the town needs to make to thrive, and we have an ambitious strategy for ensuring that these plans can become a reality.  The Levelling Up Partnerships have recognised the need for funding to be distributed beyond local councils so that grassroots spending decisions can be made within communities and we very much welcome this strategy from DLUHC.   They are supporting our plans to undertake a feasibility study for achieving Business Improvement District (BID) status for Rye which will be an important step in deciding the town’s future. Achieving this would enable Rye to develop projects and services that would directly benefit the town’s economy. DLUHC has also approved funding for improvements to the public realm. We are grateful to have the support of MP, Sally-Ann Hart who recognises the valuable contribution that Chambers of Commerce make to their communities. The next twelve months are going to be very exciting indeed for our town. Watch this space! *The funding comes from the total £20M investment to the Rother Levelling Up Partnership and is for the financial year commencing April 2024. #businessimprovementdistrict #DLUHC #ryesussex #chamberofcommerce #levellingup #supportingsmallbusiness #rotherdistrictcouncil

We're here at Start Yard to mark the launch of #AccelerateWirral - our latest programme designed to support business founders and leaders to create their blueprint for sustainable, repeatable growth. We'll also be sharing more about our brand new programme that's yet to be announced - keep your eyes peeled 👀 Accelerate Wirral is fully funded thanks to our partners. It has been commissioned by Wirral Borough Council with course fees covered through their Business Support Service, which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority. #WirralBusiness #WirralNews

If you follow the news (rather than LinkedIn!) you probably heard about the major construction firm ISG, on which 2,000 staff depended for their jobs and scores of subcontractors probably thought was rock solid too - until it went into administration in September. It turned the media's focus to the number of insolvencies in construction - a figure that at face value won’t make you feel any more cheery either. But add a little more context, as the main story on the edition of The Raikes Journal linked below does, and perhaps it’s not quite so doom and gloom after all. It takes a look at the latest results from fourth generation Gloucestershire family firm E G Carter & Co Ltd - a record year with a 30-plus percent rise in turnover. Reading it might make you feel a bit more chipper heading into the weekend! The edition also has some news briefs, including news of Roberts Limbrick's attempts to win permission for McMurtry Automotive Limited's plans to build a supercar factory in the county, and word of places opening up on Gloucester-based leadership development specialists QuoLux™ - B Corp Certified's next LEAD™ and LEADlight programs - pathways used by an increasingly number of firms of all sizes in the county and beyond to develop their current and future senior teams. And lastly, if you need a story about individual achievement that will inspire you then the edition also features word of Simon Clark - a man rescued by Great Western Air Ambulance Charity following a catastrophic car crash, described as 'the most broken' they had ever seen, who lost his partner in the accident, but who has defied all odds to live again. He's vowed to raise money from now on for the charity that saved his life. Clark's ambitions are not just high for the fundraising total (£4.5 million), he's just returned from attempting to reach Everest base camp! Constructing Excellence Gloucestershire Club | Invest in Gloucestershire | #Gloucestershire | Business West | #construction | Sarah Edgeworth | Sam Carter | Gavin Carter | #cotswolds

🌟 Proud to have Played a Key Role in Luton's Economic Growth 🌟 As Luton celebrates being recognised for having the strongest job growth in the country from 2010-2022 (thanks to Robin Porter's post), I can’t help but reflect on my time at Luton Borough Council where I had the privilege to contribute to this success during my 12 years (2002-2014) there. 👇 https://lnkd.in/emw_zNJX From 2002 to 2014, I worked tirelessly alongside regional development agencies, local businesses, and international partners to drive economic growth and regeneration projects that helped put Luton on the map. Here’s just a glimpse of what we achieved together: ✅ Business Ambassadors & Cluster Development Programmes – Attracting inward investment under the successful ‘Think Luton’ brand. ✅ Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) – Revitalising areas like Marsh Farm with strategic planning and funding. ✅ Butterfield Business Park, Grosvenor House Business Centre, and Community Centre Developments – Fostering a space for start-ups, SMEs, and the local community. ✅ Inward Investment and Infrastructure Projects – From the relocation of Prime Point (Express Newspapers) and Bombardier to the award-winning East Luton Corridor and St George’s Square redevelopment. ✅ Secured £3.3 million in Regional Growth Fund for Hayward Tyler, showcasing how Luton has been a hub for industrial innovation. 🚀 I am proud to have worked with UKTI, Business Link, Wenta, and other key agencies to support start-ups, drive growth for SMEs, and open doors for larger businesses to thrive in Luton. Every minute of those years, working across economic growth, business support, and regeneration, was a joy. Even though I hit a glass ceiling and was eventually forced to leave, my passion for driving Luton’s growth has always stayed with me. My message to all those who face similar challenges: Hitting a glass ceiling doesn’t stop your impact. Keep moving forward, and your contributions will live on in the successes you’ve set in motion. 💪 #Luton #EconomicGrowth #BusinessDevelopment #Regeneration #ThinkLuton #GrowthMindset #Resilience #Community

Incredible achievement, Stephen! What you and The 9CC Group have accomplished absolutely deserves this award - it truly is transformative in terms of generating community wealth. You're showing how communities can work together to create something inspirational. The 9CC Group isn't just generating wealth - together you are building a brighter future for Scotland. By bringing together 9 Community Councils together with your strategic partners, you're creating a ripple effect from local economies to environmental sustainability. You're not just building community wealth - you're building stronger, more connected, more trusting communities. The 9CC Group should be a blueprint for community success, lighting up the way for others across Scotland and beyond. Energy providers, policymakers, and community leaders are clearly taking notice, and for good reason. This isn't just about financial returns - it's about showing how local action can drive real change. Looking forward to seeing how your model continues to inspire and transform communities. You're proving that when we invest in each other, the returns are mutual. Here's to setting new standards in community wealth development and sustainable growth! Keep leading the way. #CommunityDevelopment #Sustainability #ScottishInnovation #SocialImpact #CommunityInvestment #CollectiveImpact #RuralDevelopment #CommunityWealth

Early starts and big pours the last couple of weeks. 945m3 poured in November so far! #teamwork #concrete #construction #constructionequipment #FRP #build #formwork #reinforcement #constructionlife #foundations #southaustralia #civilconstruction

Always a tricky subject, do you know if you are engaged with your residents? A big subject area that needs to see improvement across the sector and is rightly the focus of the regulator but just how the sector copes remains to be seen. At WCH we put tenants at the heart of our decision making and we are making strides where we can to develop our approach and dynamically evolve our strategy.