Neath Port Talbot Council sees investment in new business start-ups, the development of existing businesses and the attraction of inward investors as critical to supporting local communities and the economy.
Investment in the development of local businesses is essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of any venture, through building resilience, capacity, increasing productivity, improving skills and developing their flexibility to respond to the changing needs of the wider economy. Further, there is the need for investments that reduce businesses impact on the environment.
With such investment, Neath Port Talbot cultivates a more dynamic, innovative, greener and versatile economy, with a skilled and flexible workforce that is able to withstand the challenges that face the global economy over time.
General Business Consultancy Support provides up to 3 days support which can be either a diagnostic to review business operations or can focus on specific areas of the business such as marketing, social media, production processes, procurement, or other bespoke business development issues.
Consultancy costs are fully funded and is open to both existing and start-up businesses operating across all business sectors.
Enhanced Innovation and Manufacturing Consultancy Support provides up to 6 days fully funded specialist consultancy support. With a focus on Innovation and Manufacturing, this support will help local businesses overcome barriers to innovation to increase productivity and growth. Businesses can also be supported to access other UK funded programmes aligned to achieving business growth and scale up of operations.
Consultancy costs are fully funded and is open to existing, new start-ups and university spin out businesses operating with a focus on Innovation and Manufacturing.
Small businesses rarely have the luxury of a dedicated IT department to provide advice on the purchase of new equipment or, the adoption and integration of new technologies. Also, as home working is often required, there is an increasing need for businesses to consider data security and access video calling or various messaging and social media platforms.
The Council’s Shared Prosperity Funded Supporting Business & Innovation project provides local businesses with FREE Digital Consultancy Support to help identify opportunities to extend the use of IT, prioritise actions and understand what investment is required.
The Digital Consultancy Support will also provide owner/managers and staff with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to make the right choices to maximise any investment when considering new digital technologies.
Support is tailored to meeting the needs of less IT/tech savvy new, existing and home-based businesses, particularly those operating within the Foundational Economy, i.e. leisure, tourism, hospitality, retail, and those delivering other local services.
Further support may also be made available either through workshops; seminars, etc., or by applying for grant support to support the costs of introducing any new technology.
Smart Manufacturing Mapping provides up to 5 days fully funded consultancy support to scope technology options that could help the business improve productivity or efficiency.
An Analysis Tool is establish current capabilities and future plans of the business and identify any potential barriers. Recommendations of technologies appropriate for the business and a detailed roadmap are then developed that the business can use as a roadmap to achieving efficiencies and growth while overcoming any identified challenges. Technology areas covered by the review can include Automation; Robots; Cobots; Smart Sensors; Virtual and Augmented Reality; Connected Intelligent Systems; Digital Twinning; Process and Supply Chain; Simulation and Optimisation; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Additive Manufacturing and CNC optimisation.
Consultancy can also link businesses with other digital support programmes to support the deployment; trialling and testing of digital solutions. Support will be focused on businesses aligned to Advanced Manufacturing, Digitalisation & Software; Process & Civil Engineering, Construction, Greentech, Agritech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Automotive, Aerospace, Logistics and Defence business activities.
Consultancy costs are fully funded and is open to existing, new start-ups and university spin out businesses operating with a focus Business Growth, Market Development, Orbital Planning, Diversification, Innovation and the adoption of technology to achieve SMARTManufacturing.
If you think that your business could benefit from specialist support, contact us to find out how we could help.
If you think that your business could benefit from specialist support, contact us to find out how we could help.