British businesses have been offered free websites by a partnership between Google, BT and other UK organisations in a scheme backed by the Government (UK Trade and Investment). If you are a local business who are too small to have thought of this before then now is your chance. You can use a simple online tool to create your own website - no technical knowledge is needed. You can update your site from any computer, for free. The site, including its own URL address is free for the first two years and then there is a small charge to retain the address. Of course you can include a link to your site from the Charnwood Business directory too.

The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is offering free support to help your business access up to £500,000 from the Carbon Trust.

The East Midlands is to receive £23M of a total investment of £64.4M announced today by Peter Mandelson. It will be distributed by emda and will support a range of new initiatives in key industrial sectors, including green energy provision, low carbon manufacturing and R&D, support for science and innovation and urban regeneration.

As many people will know, Loughborough University is to host the Japanese team for the build up to the 2012 Olympics. However Japanese delegations are expected to be visiting from now onwards and it is the intention to build trade links that will last long after 2012. It is therefore a great opportunity for local companies to build up business with one of the world's major trading nations.

The Environmental Technology Centre at Nottingham University has funding from the European Regional Development Fund to help SMEs in the area to reduce their environmental impact. SMEs in Charnwood can receive up to 5 days FREE consultancy over a wide range of topics. There are just 40 places available until December 2010. The Centre can advise on aspects such as escalating fuel bills, new technologies and techniques to reduce emissions and save you money, monitoring energy and water consumption, etc. More details and case studies can be found at their web site. They can be contacted on 01159 8466894.

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has recently launched an online procurement course, Winning the Contract. This course will help you gain an understanding about public procurement and how to bid for public sector contracts, and can be accessed free of charge.

Employers from across the region recently attended an event at Brush Electrical, designed to help them understand the business benefits of improving the way they engage their employees. It was organised by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Acas, in conjunction with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

East Midlands Manufacturing Advisory Service is running a series of presentations across the region that will be of particular interest to companies interested in low carbon developments and in advanced manufacturing.

The economic downturn has led to the sharpest devaluation in sterling for decades. In Barclays latest guide they look at the implications this presents for British importers and exporters.

CASEDA will be running a series of 5 free workshops between February and June about how to start a social enterprise business.

A new version of the web site will be launched shortly. It will give more prominence to the business directories and much of the other information will be updated and re-written.

Some good news at last. Charnwood's unemployment level has gone under 3% for the first time since March 2009. Virtually every ward experienced a drop in unemployment but the bad news is that the level of male unemployment in Hastings (Loughborough) ward is still over 9%.

Many young people experience difficulties in accessing employment or training due to transport problems; this in turn can stop them gaining employment. Alternatives such as walking or cycling to work can be unrealistic due to the distance involved and for those working outside the usual working day, public transport may not be an option. Leicestershire County Council has a scheme, Wheels2Work, to help young people who cannot get to training or employment.

MAKE A POINT... TO SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS WITH LEADERS FIRST

In 2008 UK exports to Russia reached an all-time high of £4.1bn, an increase of 46% on figures recorded for 2007. Russia is now the UK's 12th largest export market.

The latest bulletin from UKTI contains details of initiatives and briefings on trade with Brazil, Russia, China, Romania, Ireland and Abu Dhabi & Qatar. There's also information on learning languages to help your dealings with various countries.