This month is packed with events and support to help your business grow, read on!






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*Newsletter **of the Nottingham City Council *

*UKSPF Business Growth Hub Team*



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1
Meet Our HR Inclusive Recruitment Specialist

?? 28th January 2026 * | ??11:00*am - 1:00pm| ?? Teams

 

What’s This Event About?

We’re excited to invite you to an online session that’s all about making recruitment fair, flexible, and inclusive. You’ll meet Nottingham City Council’s HR Inclusive Recruitment Specialist and discover practical ways to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

This is your chance to learn about the Inclusive Recruitment Hub a resource designed to help employers take real steps toward diversity and equity.

 

Who You’ll Hear From

*HR Inclusive Recruitment Specialist* Meet the HR Inclusive Recruitment Specialist at Nottingham City Council. Discover how the Inclusive Recruitment Hub supports employers with practical tools and find out how your organisation can access resources and join the movement for inclusive employment.

*Special Guest from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)* Learn about the "Disability Confident" scheme and how it can help you recruit and retain talented people with disabilities.

 

*Why Join Us?*

- Get practical tips for inclusive recruitment.

- Access tools and resources to support your organisation.

- Hear from experts on creating a truly diverse workforce.

- Connect with others who share your commitment to inclusion.

Webinar: Meet Out HR Inclusive Specialist [ [link removed] ]

 

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2
Social Investing and Funding

?? 29th January 2026 * | ??1*:30pm - 3:30pm| ??Ingenuity Building, UoN

Discover how finance can drive meaningful impact at this insightful session bringing together investors, social entrepreneurs and policy experts. Hear from leaders in the sector as they explore innovative routes to social investment and funding.

 

*Featured Speakers:*

- Matt Smith, CEO, The Key Fund – Over 20 years leading social investment initiatives.

- Cherie White, CEO, Think for the Future – Grew the organisation from a student project to a £2.5m business with 80+ staff.

- Lottie Naylor, Investment Manager, First Enterprise – Specialist in investment and Start‑Up Loans.

 

This event is supported by the Tech for Good Regional Tech Booster programme, delivered by Allia Impact with the UK Tech Cluster Group, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Event: Social Investing and Funding [ [link removed] ]

 

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Women in Tech - Nottingham

?? 27th January2026 * | ??1*:30pm - 3:30pm| ??Nottingham Central Library

 

Join an inspiring networking event celebrating women across digital and tech. This session offers a supportive space to share experiences, connect with others and hear real stories of career journeys in the tech sector.

 

*Speakers include:*


* *Amanda Howard* – Senior product leader with 25+ years’ experience across health, retail and regulated industries.
* *Katie Andrews* – Expert in digital transformation across major organisations including St John Ambulance and Walgreens Boots Alliance.
* *Kate Whyles* – Digital Innovation & Skills Coach at Nottingham College, Global Tech Award winner and TechWomen100 award recipient.

 

Open to all—come along to learn, share and grow your network.

This event is sponsored through the *Tech for Good Regional Tech Booster programme*, delivered by *Allia Impact* with the *UK Tech Cluster Group*, funded by the *Department for Science, Innovation and Technology*.

Women in Tech: Nottingham [ [link removed] ]

 

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4
Nottinghamshire Digital Awareness Conference 

*??16 March 2026** | ??**9:30am - 4:00pm *|??*Trent Conference Centre *

 

Join us for this exclusive event for Nottinghamshire businesses next March.

East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council brings you this one-day conference designed to empower your digital transformation journey through digital tools, technologies and strategies to future proof your business and enable sustainable growth.

Whether you're looking to improve your online presence, streamline operations, adopt new technologies like AI, or simply understand what digital transformation could mean for your business - this event is for you.

Key themes include digital connectivity, cyber security, artificial intelligence, your people and digital transformation. Book a free place today.

 

 Nottinghamshire: Digital Awareness Conference 2026 [ [link removed] ]

Eligibility: This event is only open to those businesses who are based in the Nottinghamshire County Council Local Authority area.

 

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1

Have your say on how local transport could work better for you, your business and your staff!

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Have you heard of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority? It will soon become the new public transport body for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, responsible for making sure transport, roads and links between communities are what local people and visitors need, among other responsibilities.

 

Mayor Claire Ward wants to hear from individuals as well as organisations and businesses, to help inform EMCCA’s future plans for billions of investment to transport in our region. If you have any views about how transport could be improved – including cycling, walking, roads, trains, buses and trams – it’s vital you have your say before 8 February.


* Read about the Mayor’s goals for improving transport in the East Midlands [ [link removed] ]
* Fill in the survey as an individual [ [link removed] ]
* Fill in the survey as an organisation or business [ [link removed] ]

We kindly ask that you share the consultation with your team, and anyone else who wants to have their say – thank you!

 

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5
The Impact of AI on Search Engine Optimisation

?? 5th February 2026 * | ??*9:30am - 12:00pm| ?? Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel

 

*Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionising search engine optimisation (SEO).*

This session explores AI-powered tools, changes in search algorithms & results, and ways to utilise AI in SEO. Learn how AI improves keyword research, content creation, and how to stay competitive in an evolving search landscape.

*What’s covered:*

AI offers valuable tools to improve SEO efficiently, but improper use can harm rankings. The session covers essential AI tools for SEO and outlines best practices to avoid negative impacts. You’ll learn how to use AI productively and avoid the pitfalls, from generating content ideas to writing large amounts of text and implementing technical features in your website.

Explore ways to use common AI tools and see examples of how they can make SEO tasks quicker and easier.

Register Now: The Impact of AI on Search Engine Optimisation [ [link removed] ]

 

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4
Growth Forum: Driving Business Growth through

?? 29th January 2026 * | ??8*:30am - 11:00am | ?? Innovation, University of Nottingham

 

As part of the High Growth Academy, the first forum of the year will take place on *29 January* and will focus on *innovation*.

Scaling an innovative business brings both opportunity and challenge. At this forum, a panel of leading experts will share insights and practical strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unlock your business’s full potential:


* *Professor David Park*, Dean of Nottingham University Business School, will explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role universities play in supporting SMEs.
* *Lewis Stringer*, British Business Bank, will cover investment, raising finance and the funding support available for scaling businesses.
* *Professor Veronica Pickering*, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, will share her expertise in partnership working. She has supported individuals and organisations to become more effective by identifying needs, reviewing progress and celebrating success.

The speakers will share practical insights - what works and what doesn’t - to help you make more informed strategic decisions so you can move forward with confidence.

*Book a free place* for a morning of innovation, funding, networking and building strong business relationships that drive sustainable growth. The event is open to you and your teams.

Book a free place: High Growth Academy [ [link removed] ]

 

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Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire
Business Planning

?? Multiple Jan-March Dates Available * | ??*9:30am - 3:30pm| ??Online

 

*Creating a Plan for a Profitable Business*
Our one-day comprehensive Business Planning workshop is your roadmap to build a
successful business plan. We will give you the practical skills and confidence you need
to thrive.

*What You’ll Master*
Our course covers the essential pillars of effective business planning, with a focus on
practical, real-world application. You’ll get hands-on experience with:
• Financial Fundamentals: Ensure you understand key financial areas like tax, National
Insurance (NI), and VAT.
• Marketing and Customer Connection: Learn how to research your industry,
competitors, and potential customers to inform your strategy, identify your ideal
customer, and reach your audience
• Startup and Beyond: Get a clear picture of Start-up and Running Costs you need
• Personal Financial Planning: Create a realistic Personal Survival Budget to support
yourself while your business grows.
• Forecasting for Success: Master the critical skills of Cash Flow Forecasting and Profit
and Loss Forecasting to predict and manage your business’s financial future.
• Securing Your Funding: Explore various sources of funding and learn how to secure the
capital you need to succeed.

 

Register: Business Planning Essentials Workshop [ [link removed] ]

* Eligibility checks will be carried out.

 

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NBV Business Start-Up Essentials

?? Multiple Jan-March Dates Available * | ??*9:30am - 3:00pm| ??Online

 

Looking to start your own business? This workshop can help you transform your idea into a business. This one-day workshop can help you transform your idea into a business. Led by one of our experienced business trainers who will guide you through the nuts and bolts of starting and running a successful business.

Here at NBV we understand the challenges you face and are passionate about helping enterprising individuals start their own business.

*What we will cover on the day:*

- How do I register my business?

- What do I need to do to be legally compliant?

- What tax and National Insurance do I pay?

- Do I need to be VAT registered?

- How can I get customers for my business?

- How do I know if my idea will work?

 

Why not let our inspirational trainers impart their knowledge and experience of running their own companies, to help you build a solid foundation for your business?

Our Business Start-Up Essentials workshop is designed to equip you with the tools and practical tips to get your idea to the next level.

 

Register Now: Business Start-Up Essentials [ [link removed] ]

* Eligibility checks will be carried out.

 

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Contact the Nottingham team of the D2N2 Growth Hub on 0333 0069178

Visit our website www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk [ [link removed] ]

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Unlimited Tram Travel still at one pound forty four a day [ [link removed] ]


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