Agenda item

 Lesley Crisp introduced the report, highlighting that during the first 3 dens (between 2012 – 2014). 26 businesses have benefitted from a total of £30,700 in grants. Most have received a £1000, with a small number receiving £2000 in special circumstances. Of these winners, 92% are still trading. She went on to add that between the winning businesses a further 25 additional jobs have been created which is a 52% increase in employment. Dacorum’s Den 2015 took place on Friday 12^th June and there were 7 winners taking a total of £10k in grants (sponsored by Symbio Energy and Maylands Partnership). These came from a pool of 38 initial applications. She then went on to introduce 2014 winners Kim Hurrell and Meena Wells, from the Cinnamon Travelling Café, who gave a presentation on their business and how winning Dacorum’s Den 2014 has impacted on their business.

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe thanked them for their presentation and noted that every business started in a small way and is integral for ensuring a vibrant economic community.

Councillor S Hearn congratulated the winners on their success and noted the support they had received since winning the den, he went on to enquire as to whether they were confident that the support would still be useful and relevant as they expand their business and it continues to grow.

Meena Wells advised that they were confident as they take responsibility for themselves and willing to learn and educate themselves, with regards to things such as accounting and promotion of the business. She went on to advise that they have signed up to the Great British Start Up.

Rebecca Oblein advised that Lesley and the Maylands Business Centre, take businesses to a certain level of expansion and advised that the LEP has recently introduced a growth hub for businesses over 2 years old and they would then refer them to this.

Councillor S Hearn then enquired as to if this then meant that the businesses move away from Dacorum’s umbrella.

Rebecca Oblein advised that this was not the case and that hopefully they would still be working out of the Business Centre, but the Growth Hub has a bit more experience nd a few more connections, wider than Dacorum, that they can move the businesses into. She went on to advise that they are currently working with the LEP to try and put in place a standard level of small start up business support in place across Hertfordshire. The LEP are actually looking at what is being done in Dacorum as a model as we actually do far more than other areas do. She added that they are looking to put a bid in for some European funding to try and get a standard level of start up business support that will then be the step below the Growth Hub.

Councillor Birnie requested clarification on what WENTA represented.

Lesley Crisp advised this was the Watford Enterprise Agency, which has now spread right across Hertfordshire and that it works with start up businesses across Hertfordshire, apart from Dacorum. However she went on to advise that we work together with WENTA to build a consistent offer to all businesses.

Councillor Birnie went on to ask that when we say we have “brought into” it, is that meant in a literal way .

Lesley Crisp advised that this that WENTA had recently launched  an online support service, where you can get online business support via live chat which was ideal for home based start ups and compliments what we are already doing in Dacorum, so we have bought into this service which is now available to all Dacorum residents..

Councillor Birnie enquired after the financial cost of this.

Rebecca Oblein advised it was £1200 for the year and that a deal had been struck through the LEP, where all the Boroughs in Hertfordshire could make this available on their websites. She went on to advise that the first set of statistics from it were not available as yet, with regards to the number of people accessing it, but advised that this would be monitored.

Councillor Ashbourne thanked the ladies from the Cinnamon Travelling Café for their presentation and wished them all the best for the future.

Councillor Matthews referred to Page 5 of the report – 1.9 and that ‘most have received £1000 with a small number receiving up to £2000 in special circumstances’ and went on to enquire of those receiving the higher amount, how many of those businesses were still trading.

Lesley Crisp went on to advise that all of them were.

Councillor Matthews went on to ask how much liaison had been done with the local Chambers of Commerce.

Rebecca Oblein advised that through the Dacorum Look No Further campaign they had part funded a member at Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce to be based in the Dacorum area, as there had been a bit of a drought of interest from the Chamber in the area. She went on to advise that this hadn’t been overly successful, however she went on to say that they do work with the Berkhamsted Chamber of Commerce and the Berkhamsted Business Leaders Group and also with the Tring Together Partnership.

Councillor Wyatt-Lowe advised that it was true to say that Chambers of Commerce have by and large been languishing for quite some time, which is a shame as they are a repository of local knowledge that could be used and exploited to support and encourage local business, and urged members and officers that anything they can do to encourage a renaissance of that ethic, would be helpful.

Councillor Hicks commented that the assistance of the officer appeared to be of more value than the grant.

Kim Hurrell advised that both were of equal value. She advised that Lesley’s support had been invaluable but the grant had allowed them to purchase equipment that allowed them to expand and progress the business quicker than may otherwise have been possible.

Councillor Hicks then enquired of the Officers as to the cost of running the Den and subsequent support service.

Rebecca Oblein advised that it was mainly officer time as it is based at the Business Centre. She went on to say that it was part of a suite of support that is offered out of the MBC. In addition to the job creation that the project brings, it is also really good publicity for Dacorum Borough Council, that we support our small businesses in this way as it is not done in many other Boroughs. She went on to advise that they ensure they have articles in magazines about it, within trade press, that Dacorum business is personal, and that this attracts good press for us.

Councillor Ashbourn enquired if it was the intention to keep this scheme going indefinitely or if it was thought that we may reach a critical mass.

Lesley Crisp advised that in regards to the Den itself, they are currently working on a sponsorship package, looking for sponsors for next year and advised that this year Corona Properties had sponsored £5000 towards the Den and that Maylands Partnership had provided the balance.

Councillor Ashbourn enquired as to whether they would be looking to develop it further.

Lesley Crisp advised that it had been a big learning curve and that they hoped it would get better each year.

Councillor Wyatt-Lowe sought clarification on the point of European funding through the LEP.

Rebecca Oblein advised that this was for business development and support rather than the Den.

Councillor G Sutton congratulated this years winners and hoped they would be as successful as previous years winners. He went on to say that he had started his own business in 2007 and felt sure that had this support been available to him at that time his journey would have been easier. He concluded by advising that he would always continue to support this initiative as our future lies with small  businesses and especially in a town like Hemel Hempstead.

Outcome

The Strategic Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the report.