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THE WEAF NETWORK
The WEAF network can assist Member companies identify business support programs which can help support business growth and productivity.
WEAF is partnered with a number of organisation who provide targeted business support to ensure you grow and thrive. These are listed below.
Business West
Bristol based Business West is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the country. Like WEAF, Business West are a not for profit organisation focused on supporting the regions business community. WEAF has a long partnership with Business West and works closely on strategic issue that affect the region.
For WEAF members and regional Aerospace and Advanced engineering business, Business West can provide a range of business support mechanisms to help businesses grow.
Finance Hub
Knowing your financial options is key to successful business growth. Our Finance Hub will help you to explore, understand and access finance solutions that are right for your business. From equity, grant, debt and alternative solutions our Finance Hub provides key information on a wide range of options available, access to approved providers as well as the opportunity to discuss your needs with an adviser.
Business grants
Business grants can be used to help you overcome many challenges and barriers to business growth; such as a lack of resources, strategic planning and skills, or inefficient processes and procedures. Getting the right grant funding could take your business to the next level.
Knowing what grant funding is available and how to access it can sometimes be tricky. There are many UK government and European (for now!) business grant schemes readily available, as well as various local business funding schemes provided by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Business grants are often made available at a regional level and can be sector specific. The amounts available tend to range between £1,000 and £100,000 for SMEs, but can be higher for MSBs within EU state aid programmes.
Export overseas
International sales have provided substantial growth for thousands of UK businesses and right now demand for quality British products and services is on the rise all over the world. And we’re here to help you take advantage of these exciting opportunities.
Business West has a team of experts who can advise your business through the challenges of exporting. They can advise you on the trade documents required for each overseas market and we can walk you through each stage, or handle the entire process on your behalf for Certificates of Origin, Letters of Credit, ATA Carnets and the majority of Customs documents.
The Business West award winning team of over 80 trade advisers and experts successfully certify, legalise, sign and issue over 40,000 export documents a year. We have British Chambers of Commerce accreditation and no matter where you are in the UK they are there to help you.
Department for Business and Trade
WEAF has an excellent working relationship with DBT. DBT has a South West based sector specialist for Advanced Engineering and together WEAF and DIT regularly hold export briefings to help business across the region gain the knowledge required to successfully export.
The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) is the Government department that helps UK-based companies succeed globally and assists overseas companies to bring investment to the UK. Gain access to an experienced International Trade Adviser who will act as a guide to help develop an international business strategy. Advice and support includes: identifying export opportunities; reaching customers/business partners otherwise not accessible; overcoming barriers to market entry or expansion; accessing powerful research to inform key decisions; and improving overseas marketing strategy.
If you are WEAF Member, or a company looking for support in exporting, then please contact WEAF and we will make the appropriate connection for your business.
SWMAS
WEAF partners with SWMAS in a number of Business support areas. For Aerospace and Advanced Engineering, this has been in productivity programs such as SC21.
Based at the Clean Energy Centre at Bridgwater, SWMAS provide manufacturing and business support to companies all over the South West.
Their team of manufacturing and business development experts with a mission: to help transform south-west manufacturers into world-class businesses The team’s unique knowledge, and expertise helps ambitious manufacturers to improve their productivity, develop their capabilities, enter new markets, and become leaders in their fields.