DDU Newsletter for November 2009: Issue 73
Monthly news and events from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Digital Development Unit...
Included in this edition:
Health Tech Hub introduces support sessions for local innovators
NWDA announce new Venture Capital and Loan Fund
More valuable SEO lessons from leading expert Jan Klin
Health Tech Hub: Support Sessions
The Health Tech Hub provides support surgeries to firms that have an innovation destined for use in the medical sector. The Health Tech Hub is committed to supporting medical sector firms through the government funded No Limits initiative. Support and business guidance is given by support projects via public, private and community sector organisations working under the No Limits banner. These surgeries will be running at regular intervals for the Pennine Lancashire area, the next one is shown below;
Date and time: 19 Nov 09 10:00am - 2:30pm
Venue: 1 Evolution Park, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, Lancashire , BB1 2FD
To book a time to speak to a dedicated adviser email your details to bookings@healthtechhub.co.uk or call Dawn Oliver on 01772 894517.
Search Engine Optimisation - Free online lessons
"Lesson 8 will make sure you get the rest of your site optimised AND include all of those 'long tail' keyphrases essential for ecommerce success. In Lesson 9 we look at the tools to monitor your performance - specifically a web analytics tool and a ranking checker - so read on for more on this important topic..." Jan Klin, Jan Klin & Associates www.janklin.com
Lesson 8 - Optimising Inner Pages - Keyphrases 2>>
Lesson 9 - Checking & monitoring your position>>
Previous lessons available on our website
Pay and Work Rights Helpline
The new Pay and Work Rights helpline can help employers stay within the law by answering any queries relating to the minimum wage, working hours or what deductions can and can't be taken from workers' pay. The helpline is 0800 917 2368 and employers can find all the information at www.businesslink.gov.uk/payandworkrights.
Venture Capital and Loan Fund
The Transitional Loan Fund closed for applications on 16 October and as from now, the NWDA have introduced a new finance product – the Venture Capital and Loan Fund (VCLF). This fund has been put in place to bridge the gap pending approval and implementation of the £140m regional VCLF which is anticipated to be available from April 2010.
This product is split into two elements, both of which seek to provide development capital – Loan finance from £50k to £250k, (delivered through Alliance Fund Managers) and equity finance £250k to £1m (delivered by Yorkshire Fund Managers).
It pays to work with us
‘It pays to work with us’ from Job Centre Plus is a new campaign aimed at taking the hassle out of managing your recruitment so you can focus on more important things. All the relevant services that are available to you as an employer are shown on the website. Select the link below to access the site.
Innovation & Technology Case Studies: November 2009
Monumental growth
Brent Stevenson Memorials Ltd has been operating in Blackburn since 1883. The family run business designs and manufactures stone memorials in their factory workshop in Cherry Tree Blackburn. The business serves the general public and funeral directors. Following some market research the business management team decided to open a second sales branch and in doing so identified a need to improve their business processes, customer services and marketing.
Following a meeting with the Digital Development Unit the business discussed the need to create an internally and externally available document sharing system.
Investing in a bright future
Techno Coat Ltd of Darwen was formed in March 2004 to provide subcontract powder coating to local manufacturing companies. Since that time they have shown significant growth and become well established and respected throughout the region.
As subcontract powder coaters the company are under increasing pressure to reduce costs whilst meeting the quality demands from discerning customers. This translates into the need to be capable of efficiently coating short quantity runs and carrying out rapid colour changes. The directors identified a powder coating system supplied by Jedtec Finishing Equipment Ltd which would significantly upgrade their powder coating capability. The company contacted the DDU for advice and assistance on moving the business forward.
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