The extent to which smaller firms are able to access public sector contracts is being probed in the first East Midlands Chamber* Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of the year.
Unique space available at1.SPACE Located on Triumph Road, NG7, next to the Nottingham University Jubilee Campus and the QMC hospital.
Plans have been submitted for a new facility focusing on the commercialisation of medical devices and technologies, which is seeking major D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership funding.
A Derbyshire based firm has received a business boost from Retail Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. Jo Stoney and Lisa Wall owners of Ready Steady School, tweeted Theo about their business during ‘Small Business Sunday’ and was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his 500,000 Twitter followers. The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 2000 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK.
Jo Stoney said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be winners of Theo’s small business initiative and to gain his support. It has been a challenge trying to raise our profile and Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following. It has been a whirlwind few weeks but we have loved every minute of it.”
Lisa Wall said “We not only sell educational boxes which help parents and carers support their child before they start school and during their first year but we blog and advise our audience too. Our mission is to help every child develop the necessary skills to feel smart and confident from day one at BIG school”
Small business champion and Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue Chairman, Theo Paphitis, said: “We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week and highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses here in the UK. My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club; like-minded individuals who can share successes and learn from each other. The website and Shop #SBS will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish Ready Steady School every success.”
#SBS Winners now also have access to the exclusive members’ selling platform www.shopsbs.co.uk where hundreds of winners are already selling thousands of products, from unique gifts and bespoke furniture to pet toys or jewellery. It is another opportunity for the #SBS winners to turn tweets into sales.
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