It’s your last chance to #shoplocal for Christmas and you can enjoy free parking while you do. Free parking will be available on Saturday 23rd and Saturday 30th December, only at NKDC owned car parks in Sleaford. This allows visitors and residents to spend longer in town and to enjoy all that Sleaford offers.

Free parking in Sleaford has been available for all Saturdays in December, firstly to support Small Business Saturday on 2nd December and for the remaining Saturdays to support local businesses and venues during the festive period.

For more information, please visit the Council’s website. If you’re in need of some inspiration prior to hitting the shops, we have some amazing North Kesteven businesses listed on our Shop Local directory.

Business Lincolnshire are running a Starting in Business Programme and have released the programme dates for the new year.

The programme consists of two-day workshops led by experienced business trainers. Sign up to discover how to turn your idea from dream to reality, by learning key fundamentals of how to start and run a successful business.

The following dates are available to book on and will all be held online:

4th & 5th January 9:30-15:30

15th & 16th February 9:30-15:30

26th and 27th March 9:30-15:30

This programme is available to individuals based in Lincoln City, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, West Lindsey and Rutland.

The Small Awards target the whole small business sector, focusing on businesses often overlooked by other awards.

The Small Awards offers multiple media opportunities for all short listed small businesses in the run up to and post Awards. As well as producing good publicity for your business, you’ll be recognised for your brilliance.

Entries close at midnight on February 29^th, 2024. Judging will be done based on a number of criteria relevant to the specific award, whilst also looking for strong performance as an on-going business. The judges will be looking for evidences of strong community engagement from small businesses. Judging will be completed by the end of April, 2024.

The selection of awards range from High Street Hero, recognising the best high street business, to the Sole to Sole, an award to highlight the best self employed small business owner.

View the full list of categories and apply by visiting The Small Awards website.

Visit Lincolnshire has recently created a Pubs/Bars section on their website, this is a fantastic opportunity to increase your reach and the visibility of your business.

The form should only take a few minutes to fill out and can be accessed by filling out Visit Lincolnshire’s contact form.

Additionally, there are a wide range of resources available to inform and support your journey to pub diversification, visit their website to find out more.

If you require and additional support or advice, please do not hesitate to contact our team by emailing [email protected]

People can enjoy free parking in Sleaford every Saturday in December, in any North Kesteven District Council-owned car park there this festive period.

Free parking will be available in these car parks in support of Small Business Saturday tomorrow, Saturday 2 December, and on the following Saturdays (December 9, 16, 23 and 30 December 2023) with no need to display a ticket.

This goodwill gesture from North Kesteven District Council aims to ensure more residents and visitors can enjoy shopping in Sleaford for Christmas and support businesses in the town centre while they do. It’s also an opportunity for more people to discover all that Sleaford offers – its walks, leisure centres, museums, cafes and the Hub. The free car parking will apply only to North Kesteven District Council owned car parks, which are:

• Eastbanks (next to Sleaford Leisure Centre)
• Money’s Yard, off Carre Street
• Cogglesford Watermill (off Eastgate Road)
• Station Road
• Grantham Road
• Westgate (Playhouse Yard)
• Market Place
• Church Lane

While these free Saturdays in 2023 don’t apply to Eastgate car park, shoppers can still get its usual low rates of £1.50 for three hours or £3.50 for over three hours. The first hour is also free, along with free evening and Sunday parking.

Other requirements still apply across all – i.e parking considerately and within the bays; and displaying a Blue Badge if using a marked disabled space.

There’s no reason not to shop local this Small Business Saturday, our District is full of hundreds of amazing small and independent businesses and supporting them can make a huge difference to them and their business during the festive period and all year round.

If you’re stuck for ideas of ways to celebrate, there will be a Shop Small Market on Heckington Village Green on Saturday 2 December from 9am to 12pm. Stall holders vary from sweet treats and bakes to local heritage sites selling their products. You’ll find handmade goods alongside community groups, with lots to see and buy.

There will also be a street entertainer at the market, drawing caricatures, in their own unique style.

The market will run alongside the Village Breakfast and Craft morning in the Village Hall, make sure you pay the stall holders in there a visit too. Heckington also has many wonderful small businesses, where you can grab a coffee, a bite to eat or even make a start on your Christmas shopping!

The Government and Greater Lincolnshire are minded to agree a devolution deal which will provide the area with new powers and funding to increase opportunities and living standards through inclusive growth and productivity improvements.

A new devolution agreement will see the creation of the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA), alongside a directly elected mayor for the area. The election for which, could be held in May 2025.

As well as new investment into Greater Lincolnshire, this deal could create a stronger voice for our area. It will bring several benefits such as charging business growth, creating more high skill high wage jobs in key sectors, and improved transport links.

Read more about the proposal by visiting the Council’s website.

Together with Starbucks, Hubbub is offering 50 groups up to £6,000 of funding to develop green space initiatives and increase access to nature. They will support groups to create or enhance green spaces.

This grant is specific and you must be within 5km from a Starbucks. This means that in North Kesteven, only businesses and groups in North Hykeham and Doddington (at a push) may be eligible.

Find out more information: https://hubbub.org.uk/the-nature-hubs-fund

The Government and Greater Lincolnshire are minded to agree a devolution deal which will provide the area with new powers and funding to increase opportunities and living standards through inclusive growth and productivity improvements.

A new devolution agreement will see the creation of the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA), alongside a directly elected mayor for the area. The aim is for the first mayoral election to be held in May 2025.

As well as new investment into Greater Lincolnshire, this deal could create a stronger voice for our area. It will bring several benefits such as charging business growth, creating more high skill high wage jobs in key sectors, and improved transport links.

Read more about the proposal by visiting the Council’s website.