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.

Entering your business for an award is the perfect way to highlight your excellence and increase your visibility. There are several awards currently open, listed below:

Barclay’s Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the entrepreneurs who are committed to driving innovation and support communities and the wider economy. Nominations close on 28 June.

The Taste of Excellence Awards celebrate Lincolnshire’s food, drink and hospitality businesses There are 14 categories to choose from and entries close on 31 August.

The King’s Enterprise Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Applications are open until 12 September.

There’s lots planned throughout the inaugural RiverLight Festival, including the RiverLight Business Trail!

Beginning on Saturday 15 June, through to the festival finale on Saturday 22 June, an amazing 25 local businesses across Sleaford are involved, with sheets available to collect at each business. Collect all five stamps and you can enter into a prize draw, with items up for grabs that have been donated by local businesses. Once complete, enter your sheet into the post box found at the Hub. The prize draw will take place on Wednesday 26 June and winners will be then be contacted within 28 days.

Working on behalf of Business Lincolnshire, a series of fully funded, bespoke workshops and supporting materials are being delivered by the sustainable business support team from PECT.

The workshops consist of bitesize webinars and virtual sessions, covering topics such as Net Zero, Decarbonisation, Energy Management and Supply Chains, all aiming to support businesses on their journey towards net zero.

If you’re a SME based in North Kesteven, you’ll be eligible for this series of workshops. To view and book onto upcoming workshops, visit the collection of events on Eventbrite.

Armed Forces Day is an annual event, held to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces, this year taking place on Saturday 29 June.

Many businesses offer special discounts and deals as a token of appreciation to veterans and holders of Armed Forces card. We encourage you to promote your offers ahead of Armed Forces Day, to ensure they reach veterans and show them the appreciation they deserve.

Visit Heart of Lincs to view events taking place around Armed Forces Day, including flag raising and a veterans lunch.

One-hundred small businesses are once again being celebrated in the lead up to Small Business Saturday, where one business will be highlighted each day.

Being part of the Small Biz 100 offers your business excellent exposure across social media and through local and national press. In recent years, some have even joined the Small Business Saturday team in London at receptions in Downing Street, House of Lords and the Treasury Drum.

Applications for the Small Biz 100 are open until June 30, if successful, you will be contacted in August. Click here to apply.

We’re thrilled to share the news that Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park has been shortlisted for Building or development of the year – Commercial.

Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, off Pride Parkway, is designed to provide a low-carbon home for growing businesses of various sizes, and includes planet-friendly features such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

All the units so far completed achieved energy efficiency ratings of A or higher following a fabric-first approach. The site even takes wildlife into consideration, providing extensive trees and planting to benefit biodiversity.

Phase one of the scheme was completed in late 2023. Already eight of the 15 units in phase one are fully let and occupied by businesses. Three of the remaining units are under offer and undergoing all the final legal preparations before businesses can move in, and the remaining four units are either the subject of ongoing discussions or are continuing to generate enquiries.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday 26 June!