We saw at the Green Business event, and we see it every day in our high streets, trading estates and places where our businesses do business, that there really are some excellent enterprises in North Kesteven which care deeply about the environment and are committed to doing everything they can to contribute positively to Climate Action and build a Green Economy.

On November 27 we have the NK Community Champion Awards and through self-nomination, the nomination of others and sponsorship opportunities, these are a further way to showcase the amazing things happening within our communities that contribute to the richness of life in North Kesteven.

Whether as a community-focused business that gives generously of its time and resources to support others in the community, clubs or charities; through broad expression of community spirit; as a good neighbour or a young achiever; through longstanding commitment to a single initiative; or by contributing to climate action, health & wellbeing, a better environment, arts & culture or sport – we want to champion those individuals, groups, schools, organisation or businesses that make North Kesteven such a nice place to live.

It’s quick and easy at www.NKawards.org and doesn’t involve much more that heartfelt appreciation for whatever they do across any of the ten categories to improve live locally within North Kesteven. Deadline for nominations is noon on September 23. Nominate yourself if you think you deserve it or ask your customers too.

Already signed up as award sponsors are Lindum Group, Branston Ltd, the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant, the Hub, GLL/Better our leisure partner, Ian Williams one of our housing repair partners and Lafford Homes – and there’s still room for other community-minded businesses like yours to join the party by emailing [email protected]

Your Business Boost is a fully funded business support programme designed to help those in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure achieve their business ambitions.

Join this cohort-based programme for the chance to work with your peers, 1-2-few and 1-2-1 support will also be available. Topics covered include Marketing, HR, Sales as well as bespoke support with subject experts.

Each participant is assigned a ‘Your Business Boost’ advisor who will work with them throughout the programme to ensure that they access the support that is right for them.

The programme takes 8-weeks to complete – each week has approximately 3 hours of learning opportunities for participants to access. Upcoming cohorts are planned for September 2024 & January 2025.

For more information and to register your interest, visit Business Lincolnshire’s website.

Are you looking to make your business more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint? Business Lincolnshire is hosting a free Net Zero Workshop in Market Rasen, and we invite you to be a part of it!

Event Details:

• Date: 10 September 2024
• Time: 9:00AM – 1:00PM
• Location: Market Rasen Racecourse

This workshop is an excellent opportunity for businesses to explore practical strategies for cutting energy costs, enhancing efficiency, and contributing to a greener future. Whether you’re just starting your sustainability journey or looking to deepen your existing efforts, this event will provide valuable insights and actionable steps to help you achieve your net zero goals.

Don’t miss out on this chance to make a positive environmental impact while improving your business operations.

Register now to secure your spot and start your journey towards a more sustainable future!

Small businesses can now benefit from a free online course launched by The Department for Business and Trade.

The Help to Grow: Management Essentials course offers practical tips and resources for small business leaders. This is the latest addition to the ‘Help to Grow’ toolkit, supporting UK small and medium sized enterprises.

Get started with the free support today.

The course consists of bite-sized videos and supporting resources, helping you to think more strategically about your business, your target market and your go-to-market strategy.

Less energy use, more electric vehicles? Less waste, more trees? Whatever you think we need to do more or less of, we want to hear about it.

Our Climate Emergency Strategy is reaching the halfway point in its lifecycle, and in 2025 we’ll be launching a refreshed version. A survey is now live to gather your views and insights.

Hearing what you think about climate action in North Kesteven is hugely important so that we can best reflect the issues and concerns in our area. We’re looking for responses from residents and local businesses.

As an added incentive, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a draw to win one of three £30 shopping vouchers!

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and give your views on a wide range of climate-related topics, which will help to shape the future strategy.

The survey closes on 30 August. If you require a printed copy of the survey please contact [email protected] and specify whether you are completing it as a resident or for a business.

Does your business want to join in the celebration of community volunteering and selfless endeavour which is such a defining feature of life in North Kesteven?

The North Kesteven Community Champion Awards 2024 are currently open for nominations across ten categories which span a broad range of ways through which people within our communities give generously of their time and talents.

These include contributions to arts & culture, climate action, or as a community-minded business which contributes to community life through goodwill, generosity and ways that stretch beyond the bottom line, just to name a few.

Would you like to sponsor a category? It is only through the generosity of community-minded businesses that we are able to run the awards. Already Lindum, Branston Ltd, Better, and Schroders Greencoat, which runs the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant in Sleaford, are signed up for categories this year, hosted by the Hub in Sleaford.

Get in touch to discuss getting involved – for just £750 +vat to be a category sponsor, or in other ways, or in kind – we’d love to chat.

Businesses are also welcome to self-nominate or to encourage customers to consider nominating them in the business category or indeed any category. Nominations can be made at www.NKawards.org before September 16. There’s information there to guide nominations, or you can email [email protected].

Lincolnshire County Council has given advanced notice of works set for Northgate in Sleaford that will involve road closures over an eight week period from Monday, July 22.

In the main the closures will happen in sections, but with a full overnight road closure in place from 6pm to 6am daily from Saturday, August 3 for up to two weeks.

They say ‘sections of the B1518 Northgate are deteriorating, so we are taking the opportunity to rebuild them to improve safety and usability of the road. In addition, we’ll also be using this opportunity to carry out a full refurbishment of the traffic signals at the B1518/Tesco junction, under a single lane closure for up to eight weeks from Monday, July 22. Additionally, we will be undertaking footway resurfacing and numerous pedestrian improvements from Monday, August 19 for up to four weeks.’

The diversion route will be via the B1518, the A17 and Sleaford’s one-way system.

The County Council says that because it is such a large project, there will inevitably be some disruption , but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum. This includes:

• Maintaining access for residents and emergency services throughout the project as far as reasonably practicable
• Keeping pedestrian footways open to the public
• Having gatemen present at each end of the closure to assist with access and egress
• Implementing a signed diversion route during closures
• Seeking to carry the scheme out as quickly and efficiently as possible

Up-to-date information about roadworks in Lincolnshire can be found at https://one.network/uk/lincolnshire.

Your Business Boost is a fully funded business support programme designed to help those in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure achieve their business ambitions.

Join this cohort-based programme for the chance to work with your peers, 1-2-few and 1-2-1 support will also be available. Topics covered include Marketing, HR, Sales as well as bespoke support with subject experts.

Each participant is assigned a ‘Your Business Boost’ advisor who will work with them throughout the programme to ensure that they access the support that is right for them.

The programme takes 8-weeks to complete – each week has approximately 3 hours of learning opportunities for participants to access. Upcoming cohorts are planned for September 2024 & January 2025.

For more information and to register your interest, visit Business Lincolnshire’s website.