ADVENTURE Peer to Peer Networking
Join us on the 25th February at the Cedar Court Hotel Huddersfield for the Calderdale and Kirklees Peer to Peer Networkign event. Exclusively for AD:VENTURE clients- for more information follow this link LCC Portal – Events – Details · Ad:Venture Business Support
Kirklees Inclusive Employment Network event
Are you a business that needs advice and guidance on how best to recruit or support an employee with a disability or health condition?
Come along to the first Inclusive Employment Network meeting to connect with organisations who can support you, learn practical tips on how to recruit more inclusively, and meet other employers to share experience and knowledge.
They will also be asking for suggestions about how the Network can support your business, and how you can work together in the future.
Thursday 19 March 2026
9am-11am
Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield
E-mail to book a place or find out more about the Kirklees Inclusive Employment Network inclusive.employment@kirklees.gov.uk
Green Economy Networking Brunch, 27th Feb
This is for you if you work in the green technologies sector. Or, if you’re simply interested in working more closely with this sector you’re welcome to come along.
Due to funding eligibility this event is open to businesses working in the Green Technology sector in the West Yorkshire region.
At this event you’ll be able to:
- Network with peers from the green tech community.
- Hear short and punchy presentations from the green tech community including interesting/exciting tech, recent learnings, inspiring journeys and industry developments.
- Visit and chat to peers as part of our micro-exhibition.
- Meet and network with peers over all-vegan brunch buffet, tea or a freshly brewed coffee.
SPEAKERS
We’re proud to have the following confirmed speakers:
Stephen Dootson (Green Economy) – “Lessons from Industry – Navigating and securing work through tendering”
James Geeson (Hark By Solar Edge) – “Opportunities for decarbonisation in Public Buildings”
David Salters (Waste Experts) – “The Journey of Electrical Waste: Where It Goes and Why It Matters”
Jamie Keats (Wrapt Homes) – “Lessons in Retrofit – The Rough and the Smooth”
Andrew Parker (Engie) – “Renewable Energy & Green Gas Production”
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/green-economy-networking-brunch-calderdale-tickets-1316006594149
Amazon Innovation Accelerator Supports SME Productivity and Market Growth
The Amazon Innovation Accelerator is offering a structured package of support for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to improve growth and productivity through innovation.
The programme provides access to expert guidance, practical resources and a competitive funding element to help businesses develop new solutions and extend market reach.
Participants spend a day at an Amazon fulfilment centre, where they explore robotics and automation and take part in workshops. They also complete a six-week innovation sprint designed to test and refine business ideas. SMEs joining the cohort enter a network of companies selected for innovation potential and operational development.
At the end of the sprint, each business submits an innovation proposal. Selected entries share £100,000, which can be used to help move projects towards delivery. The money can support activity linked to automation, digital tools and productivity improvements within existing operations.
The accelerator is aimed at UK-based SMEs across a range of industries with a minimum turnover of £1 million.
Cohorts run from March to July 2026 at locations across the UK https://bethebusiness.com/aia
WECAN – Impact and Growth Programme
This 12‑month programme, shaped directly by our autumn focus groups, is designed for women in business of all backgrounds and identities. It supports women at every stage of their professional journey, from early‑stage founders to established leaders, who want to develop themselves, lead with impact, accelerate growth and connect with others.
The Programme Includes:
- A 12‑month strategic leadership development series, delivered by The Leadership Centre at Leeds Beckett University. Each year will feature a new theme – this year’s theme is Women Leading With Impact
- High‑impact quarterly events and roundtables
- Peer‑to‑peer learning
- Mentoring
- A women’s community of practice
The Leeds Business School is subsidising the programme by 50%, reducing the cost to £600 for the full year. Payment is upfront for the year via the Online Store.
https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/wecan
New ethical business webinars in West Yorkshire
Are you based in West Yorkshire and looking for a fairer, more democratic way to start or run a business? Discover a fairer way to live and work with FREE webinars introducing co operatives, their benefits, how they work and how to access support to start one.
- Community Shares & Ownership – 10 February 2026, 10:30–12:00 – with Mark Simmons from Co op Culture, Heptonstall Post Office and The Fox and Goose; and Alan Beswick from Headingley Development Trust
- Workers unite! (Worker co ops) – 24 February 2026, 10.30am-12pm – with Leeds Environmental Design Associates’ (LEDA) and Leeds Community Sauna
These webinars are delivered by Co-operatives UK as part of the Business Support for Co-ops programme. They’re in partnership with Business for Good West Yorkshire, which is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
https://www.uk.coop/start-new-co-op/discover-co-ops
New for 2026! Receive a graduate employment grant of £1,842 for your business
Graduates West Yorkshire gives employers a non-repayable £1,842 grant to employ a graduate. You get skills-based matching support from a large pool of pre-assessed graduates, masterclasses and continued support once you’ve appointed a graduate.
The grants are limited, so if you are interested, please get in touch at https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/business-support/graduates-west-yorkshire/ or email graduates@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
If you would like to know more about employing graduates and what they can do for your business, join one of our upcoming events.
Hiring and supporting graduates
Get expert guidance to help you get the most out of graduate recruitment.
Wednesday 25 February, 8:30-10:30am, Leeds Trinity University, LS1 6AE
Book your place at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hiring-a-graduate-practical-guidance-and-support-for-west-yorkshire-smes-tickets-1980089505012?aff=oddtdtcreator&dm_i=3LTT,1RQ5S,7CATPK,6ZMPQ,1,0,0,0
Breakfast to connect with graduates
Get to know graduates in person before deciding if you’d like to interview.
Wednesday 11 March, 8:30-10:30am, Accenture, Leeds, LS1 2EQ
Huddersfield Business School’s Industry & Employment Fair
As part of our Employability Week, Huddersfield Business School is bringing organisations onto campus for our Industry and Employment Fair, with a small number of exhibitor spaces still available.
This event gives students the opportunity to learn how organisations work, what different industries look like, and explore career paths.
Employers have the opportunity to engage directly with our talented students. Whether you’re promoting placements, internships or graduate roles, or simply looking to raise your organisation’s profile and inspire the next generation, you’re welcome to join us. Even if you don’t currently have vacancies, this is an ideal platform to highlight your industry and connect with students from a range of disciplines across the Business School.
🗓️Wednesday 18 February
⏰13:30pm – 15:30pm
If you’re interested in having a stall or would like more information, please get in touch sbel-set@hud.ac.uk
Launch of Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator for UK Collaborations
The Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator Competition has opened to support the demonstration of zero emission, commercial-capable flight in the UK. The competition focuses on progressing flight operations for zero emission aircraft, along with the ground handling and infrastructure technologies required to manage them.
Support is available for proposals covering aircraft operations, standards, the regulatory environment for zero emission commercial flights and the evidence base on the feasibility of such aircraft for commercial aviation. Projects are expected to contribute to future passenger or goods services delivered on a broadly like-for-like basis to current air operations.
A minimum of £8 million has been allocated for feasibility studies and industrial research projects. For feasibility work, each project’s total eligible costs must be up to £250,000. For industrial research, project costs can be up to £5 million.
All successful projects are expected to participate in the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Hydrogen Challenge regulatory sandbox initiative. The Department for Transport and Innovate UK will also review the scope of applications before assessment to ensure alignment with the competition’s objectives.
Applications are open to collaborations only. The lead applicant must be a UK registered business of any size. Partners can include UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not for profits, public sector organisations and research and technology organisations.
The deadline for applications is 1 April 2026 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2397/overview/752074ec-5f01-46d8-863f-596300a11651
Round 11 of England’s Green Heat Network Fund Opens for Applications
The UK Government has opened Round 11 of the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million capital grant programme supporting the transition to low-carbon heat networks. The scheme funds technologies such as heat pumps, geothermal energy, and waste heat recovery to help reduce carbon emissions from heating systems.
Heat networks supply heat from a central source to multiple buildings, lowering reliance on individual gas boilers. The GHNF provides funding to public, private and third-sector organisations in England involved in developing heating and cooling networks.
Grants can cover up to, but not including, 50% of eligible commercialisation and construction costs, with a maximum of £1 million available for commercialisation support. Individual funding requests may be spread over multiple years.
The GHNF is expected to achieve carbon savings of 10.3Mt by 2050 – equivalent to taking 4.5 million cars off England’s roads for a year. The fund supports the UK’s broader climate commitments while encouraging growth in the low-carbon heat network sector.
Round 11 is now open for applications and will close on 1 May 2026 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-heat-network-fund-ghnf
Reset, Connect North Conference, Leeds, 3rd – 4th March
Connecting leaders, investors and innovators to drive sustainable growth across the UK’s green economy
Reset Connect North will make its debut on 3-4 March 2026 at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. We are proud to welcome KPMG as our headline sponsor and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as strategic partner, setting the stage for an inspiring and impactful inaugural event.
Taking place during the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, Reset Connect North is the premier regional edition of the UK’s award-winning sustainability and net zero event, designed to bring our proven exhibition-led format to the North of England.
The event will empower regional businesses, investors and government bodies. It will provide your organisation with the tools, access to funding and partnerships you need to lead the green industrial revolution.
Registration for the event is now open! Book your free pass
https://www.reset-connect.com/north
Employment Rights Act 2025: getting employers ready for changes
Following the passing of the Employment Rights Act 2025, it is important that employers are aware and prepared for how employment laws and workers’ rights are changing. With measures coming into effect over the coming months and years in a pragmatic, phased approach, the UK Government is committed to ensuring support and guidance is available to all employers seeking to understand how these changes will impact their business, and to workers who want to learn about their new rights.
We have created a new website www.business.gov.uk/employment-changes, offering practical guidance and support on what the changes mean for employers and employees, and how they can get ready for upcoming changes. Content includes clear timelines, a summary of key changes and actions to take, and links to additional guidance.
You will also find the latest Employment Rights Act factsheets to explain individual measures within the Employment Rights Act in more detail, including their intentions, their impact and their expected timelines. We encourage you to refer to these and direct clients or partners to this material where possible.
Walking Works
Walking Works is a project fully funded by WYCA to provide organisations with the resources needed to increase walking amongst staff. Walking more in and around the working day can improve staff physical and mental health, as well as improving air quality in the environment surrounding the workplace. Places are limited and will be offered to organisations on a first come, first served basis. The offer is flexible to suit the needs and size of a workforce, organisation’s from 5 staff, all the way up to 15,000 staff have successfully taken part.
The offer includes:
- A communications package to run over 4/5 weeks
- Access to our online CPD accredited Walk Champion Training
- Creation of bespoke walking maps (limited availability)
- Workplace Route Audits to improve accessibility of walking and wheeling routes near the workplaces (limited availability)
One Healthech (OHT) Bradford event:
OHT are delivering a ‘Bridging the divide: Inclusion, Culture & Opportunity in Bradford. This one’s all about digital inclusion…who gets to access health and tech, and who’s being left behind. We’ll be chatting about everything from digital literacy and poverty to cultural and language barriers, and how communities in Bradford are already leading the way with creative, grassroots solutions. It’s part of OTH’s Inclusive Innovation for Better Health programme.
Sign up here: https://www.onehealthtech.com/events-1/bridging-the-digital-divide-inclusion-culture-opportunity-in-bradford
Business academy sessions: Franchising
Please find below links for two new Business Academy sessions coming up on developing franchising as a route for business growth.
Master your money, grow your business
This week Lloyds have announced the launch of ‘Master Your Money, Grow Your Business’, it’s brand new programme with Lloyds Bank Academy.
Its a free 6-week programme starting in March, and is designed to give small business owners clarity, control, and confidence across finances, operations, online presence and planning. Businesses can sign up here.
Yorkshire & Humber Tender Opportunities
https://yortender.eu-supply.com/ctm/supplier/publictenders?B=YORTENDER
Compiled by Chris Mitchell – Business Manager
AD:VENTURE – Business Support
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