AD:VENTURE Update - Work, Rest or Play

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has presented the Spring Forecast 2026, outlining the latest assessment of the UK economy from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The statement highlights continued global uncertainty and sets out how the government plans to protect the UK economy and maintain stability.

According to the OBR, inflation and government borrowing are both lower than previously expected, while living standards and economic growth have improved. Forecasts show GDP growth of 1.1% in 2026, rising to 1.6% in 2027 and 2028, and 1.5% in 2029 and 2030. GDP per person is now expected to grow faster than predicted in the Autumn.

Public finances are projected to strengthen, with borrowing falling each year to 1.8% of GDP by 2029-30, and government debt expected to be lower in every year of the forecast compared with earlier projections.

The Chancellor also highlighted measures already in place to support families and employers, including falling interest rates, energy bill support, extended free childcare, and frozen rail fares and prescription charges. Reference was also made to the role of affordable housing in creating capacity for future economic growth.

Skills and training formed a key part of the outlook. The government has committed additional investment to reform apprenticeships, prioritise opportunities for young people and deliver the £820 million Youth Guarantee, aimed at improving employment support and access to training.

The speech also included future plans to back innovation and make greater use of AI to support entrepreneurs and strengthen the economy.

For businesses and communities, the forecast points to a period of gradual growth supported by investment in infrastructure, trade agreements, planning reform and lower inflation. Measures such as discounts on business energy costs and backing for entrepreneurs are expected to help firms manage costs and plan with more certainty.

Overall, the forecast sets out a picture of steady economic recovery, with a focus on stability, long‑term investment and preparing the UK’s workforce for future growth.

ISO 27001: The Gold Standard for Data Security

You may have seen a lot recently about ISO 27001, Jenny & her team at Synergos Consulting Ltd have provided a summary and blog to explain the new accreditation and how it benefits your business.

ISO 27001 is the leading international standard for managing information security. It is a strategic framework designed to protect your company’s most valuable data from digital files to intellectual property.

Why it Matters for Your Business:

Win More Business: Certification is often a “must-have” to pass procurement for major contracts and global partners.
Prevent Costly Breaches: It moves you from reacting to threats to proactively stopping them before they happen.
Build Instant Trust: It provides a “seal of approval” that tells clients their data is safe in your hands.
Ensure Compliance: Helps you stay on the right side of legal regulations like GDPR.
Operational Clarity: Streamlines your internal processes by defining exactly who is responsible for what.

The Bottom Line: ISO 27001 isn’t about having an IT department or IT support; it’s a system that protects your reputation and your future.

What to learn more about the implementation process, then please click here https://synergosconsultancy.co.uk/introduction-to-iso-27001/

Updated NHS England Digital Technology Assessment Criteria form and guidance, 10^th March

Following a review and extensive feedback from NHS organisations and suppliers, NHS England has refreshed the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) form and published new guidance. The update simplifies the process while maintaining patient safety, removing unnecessary duplication with other assurance routes and providing clearer, more practical guidance.

What’s changed?

A new DTAC form with a 25% reduction in questions, de-duplicated with processes such as the data security and protection toolkit and the pre-acquisition questionnaire
Clearer guidance explaining DTAC’s purpose, scope and how to complete assessments
Confirmed scope alignment with NICE, focusing DTAC on software-based digital health technologies

The previous DTAC form should now be retired, with full transition to the updated form by 6 April 2026.

Find the refreshed DTAC webpage, updated form and guidance here: DTAC: guidance for buyers and suppliers

https://www.events.england.nhs.uk/events/dtac-refresh

The Future of Digital Manufacturing in West Yorkshire, 12^th March

A landmark event to celebrate the continued success of the Made Smarter funding programme.

On 12 March 2026, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will host a landmark event at Unity Hall in Wakefield about the future of digital manufacturing, in partnership with techUK and Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber. The event will celebrate the continued success of the Made Smarter programme—and mark the exciting renewal of funding from April 2026 onwards. Running from 9:00-12:00, this event forms part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, celebrating digital adoption in the region and how it leads to innovation.

The event will bring together manufacturers, technology providers and public sector business support teams to explore how Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity are reshaping the region’s industrial landscape. Attendees will hear the latest insights on UK manufacturing, learn about the next phase of Made Smarter support, and engage directly with experts in Industry 4.0 tech.

With a strong focus on West Yorkshire’s manufacturing strengths and future ambitions, the event will showcase real-world success stories, practical pathways to digital adoption, and the opportunities unlocked by renewed funding, advice and training. It’s a chance for SME manufacturers to connect, learn and be inspired about what comes next.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-of-digital-manufacturing-in-west-yorkshire-tickets-1980852390824

Water Sector Programme Supports Large Scale Innovation Across England and Wales

An implementation programme has been launched to support the expansion of proven innovations across the water sector in England and Wales. The initiative aims to move tested tools, technologies and approaches from pilot stages into routine operational use, improving outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.

Running as a trial until 2030, the programme will invest up to £40 million across two activity streams. Its initial focus is on projects previously supported by Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, while also encouraging broader adoption across the sector.

The Early Adopter and Fast Followers stream offers match funding on a 50:50 basis. Organisations can apply for between £100,000 and £1 million each to implement established innovations. A total of £5 million per innovation is available across participating organisations. Early Adopters may also request up to £50,000 to support knowledge sharing.

Eligible applicants include water and wastewater companies, water-only providers, new appointees and Infrastructure Provider Project Licensees in England and Wales. Fast Follower places are partly reserved for smaller companies serving fewer than three million customers.

A second stream, Implementation Enablers, provides flexible support from a £10 million allocation to address sector-wide barriers such as data, skills, processes and culture. This stream is open to a wider range of organisations including suppliers, academics and non-governmental organisations.

The deadline for applications for the Early Adopter and Fast Followers Stream is 31 March 2027 https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/implementation-programme/

Royal Society of Chemistry Opens Fund for Inclusion Projects in the Chemical Sciences

The Royal Society of Chemistry is inviting applications to its Inclusion and Diversity Fund, which supports projects that aim to improve representation, participation and accessibility within the chemical sciences community. The scheme is open to both members and non‑members based in the UK or Ireland, including individuals and organisations such as community groups, academic researchers, museums, libraries and not‑for‑profit bodies.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available, with the possibility of one larger award being made each year. Additional ring‑fenced support is provided by the Chemists’ Community Fund for projects that closely align with its focus on wellbeing, accessibility and engagement with under‑represented communities. Funding is intended to support activities, resources or research connected specifically to inclusion and diversity in the chemical sciences.

Eligible projects must demonstrate clear outcomes such as improving access and progression for under‑represented groups, supporting career development and retention, or embedding inclusive practices in education and workplace environments.

Past recipients have included projects focusing on gender, disability, socio‑economic background, race and ethnicity, language inclusion and LGBT+ participation, delivered through approaches such as workshops, data analysis, conferences and practical interventions. Applications may support new activity or expansion of existing work.

The deadline for applications is 27 April 2026 https://www.rsc.org/funding-and-support/funding/inclusion-and-diversity-fund

Accelerator Challenge Offers Support and Funding for UK Startups

The CVC DIF-Allia Accelerator Challenge is open to UK-based impact-driven startups and social enterprises seeking to scale their activities. The six-month programme provides structured support aimed at strengthening commercial development and long-term growth.

Participants receive expert mentorship, coaching and tailored guidance to refine their business models. This includes testing assumptions with users, developing a clear impact narrative and preparing for expansion. The programme concludes with a Pitch Day, where selected ventures present their progress.

As part of the initiative, participants can compete for a share of up to £50,000. This financial support is intended to help organisations advance to the next stage of development following completion of the programme.

The challenge is open to startups and social enterprises operating in the UK with a proven concept and evidence of early traction. Applicants are expected to be generating revenue or preparing to raise seed investment.

Support provided through the programme can be used to strengthen commercial strategy, validate products or services and build readiness for growth and investment.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026 https://allia.org.uk/?programmes=cvc-dif-accelerator-challenge

IUK Competition Opens for Collaborative 5G Integration Research Projects

Innovate UK has opened the SNPN 5G Assured Integration Competition to support collaborative research and development addressing system level integration challenges in advanced connectivity.

The competition aims to enable UK based components to be combined into complete, secure and operable end-to-end systems suitable for early market evaluation. Work supported includes non-recurring engineering, interoperability testing and verification needed to integrate multi-vendor Core, RAN and supporting hardware or software components.

Projects must integrate UK anchored advanced connectivity components across Core, RAN, hardware or software layers. Proposals are expected to demonstrate secure interoperability, including interface alignment and validation of system performance. Each consortium must include a systems integrator responsible for overall design and alignment with market requirements.

Participants are also required to publish technical evidence such as reference architectures and interoperability or security reports. Engagement with potential end users or adopters is expected to ensure solutions reflect operational needs.

Up to £18.5 million has been allocated for industrial research. Individual projects can request between £2 million and £4 million in grant support, with no single organisation able to claim more than £3 million.

Applications must be collaborative. The lead applicant must be a UK registered organisation and may be a business, academic institution, research and technology organisation,charity, not for profit organisation or public sector body. Partners must also be UK registered and drawn from similar organisation types.

The deadline for applications is 1 April 2026 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2400/overview/cbbc48e2-d78e-42cd-b570-330f702ba82f

ACT /SCaN Joint Session (South Kirklees)

These sessions will cover both the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) and See, Check and Notify (SCaN) sessions. They are delivered by representatives of the North East Counter Terrorism Team.

Dates in South Kirklees are available as follows:

• April 7th 2026 (10:30-12:30)

• September 10th (10:30-12:30)

All are to be held at the Accu Stadium, Huddersfield. Each session lasts 2 hours

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/na30/2086710

Yorkshire & Humber Tender Opportunities

https://yortender.eu-supply.com/ctm/supplier/publictenders?B=YORTENDER

Chris Mitchell – Business Manager – AD:VENTURE – Business Support

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Available AD:VENTURE Workshops

Spring Forecast 2026: Economic Update for Businesses and Communities