As North Kesteven District Council seeks to ensure that best use is made of all resources and that as much waste is recycled as possible, it is considering ways to support businesses in making sure their waste is managed to best advantage.

One option under consideration is the re-introduction of a paid-for Council-run trade waste collection service. As we explore the potential for this, we’re asking businesses to tell us through a quick survey, about how they currently manage their waste.

At this stage, this is a survey for a potential service which may or may not be brought in at a later date. Until then, please continue managing waste and recycling as best you can in the ways that you currently do in order to contribute positively to climate action for your business and the wider District.

Are you ready to showcase your excellence? Enter the King’s Enterprise Awards and get the recognition your business deserves!

These prestigious awards celebrate outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Winning can boost your brand, open doors to new opportunities, and elevate your business to new heights.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to highlight your hard work and success. Apply now and let your business shine!

Applications are open until 1pm on 12 September 2024. Apply Here.

We’re thrilled to announce that our Economic Development Team will be exhibiting at the FSB Boot Camp this October!

Join us to discover the latest business support available across North Kesteven. Network with industry leaders, share insights, and gain valuable knowledge that can take your business to the next level.

Taking place on Tuesday 1 October, this bootcamp will provide you with the latest news, trends, and tools that can empower your entrepreneurial journey!

The event will be taking place at The Olde Barn Hotel, Grantham, and will include breakfast and lunch networking and a range of locally focused exhibitors. Spaces to attend will be limited and we want to see as many North Kesteven businesses there as possible. Reserve your free place today.

By attending you’ll benefit from the best lead generation and sales advice targeted for your business. You’ll leave with ideas and new motivation to tackle what you’ve maybe been avoiding.

Stay tuned for more details. We hope to see you there!

Last week we held a Greening your Business webinar, led by Chris Brant from Unmissable England and Amy Ross from Zellar.

The session had local businesses think about what sustainable practices they currently have in place and what else they can implement in efforts to become greener. Businesses were then introduced to Zellar’s fully subsidised sustainability tools, aimed at helping businesses to calculate and reduce their carbon emissions.

If you missed the webinar but would like to receive the recording, please email [email protected] with the subject line ‘Greening your Business webinar recording’.

This support was funded by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Government’s Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme is being extended for the tax year 2024/25, providing eligible properties with a 75% relief. View more information on the business rates relief.

Occupiers of larger commercial properties however will see an increase in business rates from this month, as the large property multiplier is increasing by 6.7% to £0.546. Read more about the business rate multiplier. These changes have taken effect from 1 April

Furthermore, as of 1 April 2024 business premises must be re-occupied for 13 weeks rather than six to qualify for a further period of empty rates relief. Find out more about the changes to the empty property rate relief reset.

For information on the Council’s Business Rates, visit the Council’s website.

Nominations for the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are officially open!

If your business exemplifies innovation, resilience and outstanding performance, now’s the time to be celebrated. Categories include SME of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and many more. Nominate your business before Friday 24 May. Good luck!

The Rural Business Grant supports businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy.

A local business is already seeing business growth, after purchasing new equipment which has improved their efficiency and sustainability. Gemma Clarke, at Seeds & Grain shares the result of her successful application:

“The Rural Business Grant has enabled our business to purchase a state-of-the-art grain testing machine. This allows us to conduct all grain testing in house rather than sending samples on to 3rd party laboratories. This helps reduce the time getting results back to farmers, as well as reduce our carbon footprint.”

This grant supports capital investments only and prioritises sustainable investments. If this is something that your business could benefit from, find more information at: https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ruralbusinessgrant

QES Quarter 1 is now open and is asking for your thoughts as a Lincolnshire business. Your responses will feed into data that will impact on Government policies and the economic recovery. Share your thoughts and take the survey today.

The next Unmissable North Kesteven workshop will help you identify and reach new target markets, improving the delivery of your experience or activity. This session will take place at the New Life Conference Centre in Sleaford on 28th Feb, from 1pm-4pm. You can reserve your free spot on Destination Lincolnshire’s Eventbrite page.

Unmissable North Kesteven is a tourism programme being delivered to support businesses across North Kesteven, to develop new bookable visitor experiences. This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, delivered by Unmissable England in partnership with Destination Lincolnshire and the Council.