News

AI For Small Business Registration  

Small Business Britain will be delivering the AI For Small Business programme, supported by BT Group. 

This free six-week course gives small businesses the tools to streamline communication, automate tasks, and supercharge marketing—helping build a strong foundation for future growth.  

The programme starts in March and includes live weekly sessions that are recorded and available exclusively to course participants.

Vale Food Trail 2025

Following a debut event in 2023 and a successful return last year, the 2025 ‘Vale Food Trail’ will run from 25th May – 3rd June 2025.

The ten-day, multi-location food festival offers ‘an exploration and celebration of food, farming & sustainability in the Vale of Glamorgan.’

Festival organisers are now inviting applications from businesses, producers and organisations who might like to host an event as part of the festival; participation is completely free, and those who take part will benefit from increased visibility through the festival marketing, and a chance to reach new customers from within the Vale and beyond.  

Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme

Do you have a great business idea and aim to build a successful high-growth business? Business Wales offers a 10-week, immersive Start-Up Accelerator programme to kick-start your business success and expedite your business growth.

As part of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (BWAGP), the Start-Up Accelerator aims to support Wales-based high-potential entrepreneurs achieve rapid business development with proven growth methodologies and the support of business growth experts. It is designed to help you develop core business skills and an elite mindset to navigate the opportunities and challenges of launching a high-growth business.

This exciting opportunity is open to Wales-based entrepreneurs with a pre-revenue business idea, and the aim to achieve over £1 million in annual turnover and create 10 full-time jobs by 2029 and with an ambition to export internationally.

Application deadline - 31 March 2025.  If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme team at agpadmin@businesswalesagp.org

For those not ready to apply yet, please note the dates for future programmes: 

• September 2025 Start Up Accelerator Programme - Application deadline 25 August 2025

• January 2026 Start Up Accelerator Programme - Application deadline 5 October 2025

Smart Towns Cymru

Medi Parry-Williams, Town Centre/Shopping Centre regeneration expert with 15+ years experience has joined the Smart Towns team to offer FREE advice and support specifically for high street businesses.

Medi is offering her bespoke expertise in the format of a FREE 1:1 online call, a group workshop or a visit to your business to help you discover how data can support your business and make more effective decisions and save time/cost in staffing and stocking.

Innovation Net Zero

Innovation Net Zero supports Wales’ most innovative businesses to develop and commercialise novel net zero and circular economy solutions. The programme offers fully funded support worth up to £5,000 and £10,000 dependent on the local authority. Participating businesses will benefit from the expertise of innovation specialists Innovation Strategy, multi-national BT and local sustainability experts Afallen. Support offered by the partnership includes tailored business coaching, workshops, networking opportunities, access to BT’s innovation labs, support to raise funding and more.  Find out more: 

Clean Growth Innovation Network

Vale of Glamorgan-based businesses and third-sector organisations can access fully-funded support designed to help them drive innovation and boost sustainability from May 2024, thanks to new funding secured by Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC)

The Clean Growth Programme is fully funded for eligible organisations and gives participants the tools they need to develop their circular economy understanding, helping them work towards Net Zero goals, enhance service levels, reduce operational costs and meet their responsibilities under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. 

The programme also supports organisations to boost innovation, developing clean growth plans that could be eligible for Welsh Government innovation funding.

In response to growing demand from businesses, eligibility for the 2024 intake has been expanded to include private-sector companies for the first time. 

Expression of Interest and Application Form