In summary
Happy New Year?
It’s easy to think all is doom and gloom, but there is lots to be cheerful about in 2025 – FSB want to link you and your business to opportunity this year in 2025, and help protect you from a sluggish economy.
Get in touch to let us know your pain points so we can support you better. Complete the FSB Big Voice survey or contact me directly, and check out our events.
Featured news and events
Update to one of the Mayor's priorities
The Carbon Negative Challenge Fund seeks to support the development and delivery of projects that can help York and North Yorkshire become England’s first carbon negative region. The goal is for projects to be innovative in nature; for example, trialling new approaches or technology, serving as a “demonstrator” project that others can replicate, or projects that will enable systems change across the region. An indicative £10 million funding across 2024 to 2028 approved in principle.
- Funding - £10 million from February 25 – October 27
- A combination of revenue and capital funding will be available
- Funding limits for individual projects. Revenue: £20,000 – £250,000. Capital: £150,000 – £1.5 million
- For revenue projects, 20% of total project costs must be match funded
- For capital projects, 40% of total project costs must be match funded
Key Outcomes -
- Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions
- Strengthening communities to take climate action
- Improved climate adaptation
- Established pipeline of investable projects
- Proof of Concept and Demonstrator Projects.
North Yorkshire Google Digital Garage Events - BOOK NOW!
We are running a high quality "Google Digital Garage" series of training with expert trainers from Google unlocking how to succeed with your digital marketing and to boost your small business, they started on 20 Nov with a "Boost your productivity" webinar, continuing until 4 Dec ending with "Grow your business brand" in another virtual session. There will be a further 2 face to face Google events in Ripon and Tadcaster in January featuring 1-2-1 mentoring alongside 4 learning sessions on hot topics from Google to help your business, 9.30am to 2.30pm. You can find more information about the series - which is free to attend for any small business - and other local expert training courses between now and March, run in partnership between FSB and North Yorkshire Council and funded through the UKSPF. Please share this information widely and book your place now, a waiting list will operate in the case of these being oversubscribed - it is a great opportunity to access funded training on your doorstep and online.
Google Digital Garage In Person Events
As part of our UKSPF-funded and NYC-supported events, which run until March, there are 2 In Person events which will deliver 4 Google Digital Garage sessions designed to help your small business. In addition, on the day, there will be the opportunity for 8 attendees to participate in 1-2-1 mentoring with the providers; bookings for these slots will be taken on the day.
At the Tadcaster Community Sports Trust (LS24 9HD) on 15 Jan (9.30am-2.30pm) we'll be delivering:
- Get your business visible on Google
- AI & marketing strategy
- Find customers with Google Maps
- Grow Your Business Brand Online
At the Ripon Arts Hub (HG4 1WB) on 23 Jan (9.30am-2.30pm) we'll be delivering:
- Get your business visible on Google
- Leadership for the digital age
- Telling stories with data visualisation
- AI and marketing strategy
Find out all the information and links to book for all of these events here>
In other news
New Year’s resolutions – Make the most of your membership
Make the most of your membership in 2025 – time to make a new year’s resolution to “remember you’re a member” whenever you need help in your business – check out the FSB resources via your member log in and you’re sure to find support. Still not sure? Pick up the phone to us, or drop us a message and we will try and get you help.
Look out for our regular “making the most of your membership” webinars to explore more about the benefits, they are always updating and changing to offer more. Did you know we can help with R&D tax credits, Healthcare, and Franchising, alongside our built in protections worth up to £200000 which we hope you’ll never need, but are there when you do?
We would also like to introduce our new membership advisor Sarah Barrowby, who is joining Arminder and Howard to help reach more small businesses in North Yorkshire, so if you know a small business owner who is struggling, let them know to contact us, so that we can offer support, advice and practical solutions, and a representative voice, with a membership of FSB.
Fully funded decarbonisation support for York businesses
City of York Council declared a Climate Emergency back in 2019 and have since set an ambition for York to be a net-zero carbon city by 2030, With businesses accounting for around a third of emissions through industry, farming and buildings, the local small business community has a vital role to play in delivering this ambition. Green Economy is partnering with City of York Council to support the decarbonisation of businesses with a range of fully-funded services including grants to decarbonise.
Businesses operating within York can access fully-funded support to work with a decarbonisation specialist, to develop an actionable carbon reduction plan, access green technologies to measure and improve your carbon footprint and also join online workshops to help you integrate your sustainability strategy within your business.
This is expert support from the great team at Green Economy to help you save carbon, and increase your competitiveness. Apply for help here in order to win more work, demonstrate your green credentials, save money and get funded business support and turn strategy into action with funding for your business when it comes to decarbonisation.
Still in the news
Good Business Charter
Did you know that York was the UK’s first Good Business Charter City?
We partnered with The Good Business Foundation to adapt the Good Business Charter accreditation and make it accessible for small businesses. This streamlined version of the GBC allows smaller firms to stand out from the crowd and lead the way on a range of important issues, from ethical employment practices to prompt payments.
Founded by Julian Richer, of Richer Sounds hi-fi retailer, the Good Business Charter is an independent not-for-profit organisation with a mission to encourage and recognise responsible business practices. To sign up to the charter, a business must meet, or be working towards meeting, the ten components of the charter.
Being part of the Charter demonstrates a clear message to current and potential customers that your business is committed to operating responsibly and treating staff with respect and fairness. With accreditation, you're part of a bigger movement to change business for the better
Read more about how you can get involved as a small business here We would love to see even more York businesses and North Yorkshire based small businesses use the framework to do more “good business” in the region.
A message from York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith
I’d like to wish FSB a happy 50th anniversary. As Mayor of York & North Yorkshire I value the voice of business which the FSB provides, representing a wide range of small businesses and the self-employed. I’m determined to make ours a Mayoral authority which listens and responds carefully to the needs of all local businesses, both directly and through well-established business networks like FSB.
I know from my personal experience running a business just how important our small businesses are. They are at the core of our economy and at the heart of each one of our communities. I will champion small businesses regionally and nationally, developing funds and support to help them thrive. This will be done through regular engagement with businesses to co-design both strategy and delivery.
As we drive investment and growth across York and North Yorkshire in partnership with the business community, our region is in the spotlight and rightly so. It is time to be confident, ambitious, and champion our region’s businesses to help us all reach our full potential. To quote the FSB since 1974, helping you “achieve your ambitions” as small businesses.
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Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for North Yorkshire is Carolyn Frank. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on X: @FSBNorthYorks
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.North.Yorkshire
- join me on LinkedIn: @Carolyn.Frank