Business Support and Jobs

On the 19^th September 2023 the Executive Committee approved a new Economic Vision for Malvern Hills District

It is more important than ever to be clear about the economic ambitions we have for Malvern Hills. We are not so naïve as to believe that a relatively small District Council can deliver this Vision on our own. However, by leading by example, we anticipate our public, private and third sector partners locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to step up to the plate and work alongside us to deliver the change required.

We will work more closely than ever with all those who have a direct impact on the success of our economy including schools, colleges, universities, entrepreneurs, business support organisations, Government and of course, our existing businesses whose continued growth will be key to the success, or otherwise, of our economy.

Our Economic Vision is not intended to be a detailed plan of all the activity we intend delivering over the next 10 – 15 years. The constantly evolving macro-economic conditions and national policy responses make this impractical. 

It is, however, a strong statement of intent. A statement that will shape how we apply our own resources, and influence others to do the same, to achieve the sustainable growth of our economy

Our Vision for the economy is

Malvern Hills is recognised as a leading location for highly productive high growth businesses, our digital sector, clean and advanced technologies, our vibrant centres and green tourism, with our primary focus on providing quality jobs to attract and retain talent at all levels.

Our approach to achieving this Vision will be based on creating the conditions for growth focussing on six related ambitions, each of which contributes to strengthening our economic resilience. These are:

1. Increasing Pay and Productivity by helping existing and new businesses find the skills and property they need to thrive
2. Building on the strength of our existing Vibrant Towns, we will seek to provide more opportunities for more people to spend more time in each more often
3. Raising awareness of and expanding our already excellent visitor economy offer to create a Centre for Green Tourism with a focus on sustainability
4. Supporting the delivery of Destination Zero by Encouraging Clean Growth Across All Sectors
5. Building on the strength of Existing Clusters of High Growth and Innovative Businesses
6. Seeking to deal with existing and future labour shortages by Addressing Barriers to Work and Training

All of this will be underpinned by a continuous programme of engagement with our businesses via one to one contact with our Officers and the Worcestershire Growth Hub as well as representative bodies including the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and the National Farmers Union.

Each ambition is outlined in more detail as follows -

Ambition 1 - Increasing Pay and Productivity

Despite the district’s relatively high skilled population and strengths in higher productivity sectors, including cybersecurity, information communications technologies, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and visitor economy activities, its economic growth and productivity performance does not reflect this potential and has fallen behind the regional and national averages.  It is also recognised that we have significant land-based and rural enterprises that can contribute to improved productivity and pay levels across the district

Our ability to turn this position around relies heavily on our vigilance in creating and supporting the conditions for growth to ensure labour and skills supply and the supply of suitable land and premises

Creating new, higher-quality jobs is reliant on attracting and retaining people with higher level qualifications, linking our schools to our employers especially those in high growth sectors and companies to support our efforts to upskill those who lack the skills required in a more knowledge-based economy. However, the absence of nearby Higher and Further Education provision results in significant logistics challenges.

From a property point of view, a greater supply of high quality and suitably sized commercial floorspace is required for both organic growth of our existing businesses as well as attracting inward investment from outside the district.

Our Commitment:

We will work with landowners and developers to ensure that the needs of growing and new businesses are met in the provision of suitably sized and located office and industrial accommodation with farm diversification also accommodated as appropriate.

We will lead by example in the commercial development of land owned by the District Council including Blackmore Park and MHSP.

We will invest the resources available to us in the reskilling of employees to meet the requirements of a more knowledge led and low carbon economy.

We will support linking our schools into our employers to develop greater intern and apprenticeship opportunities for young people locally with a focus on opening up opportunity for young people from deprived areas.

Deepen links to Higher and Further education providers and to local employers to foster more graduate apprenticeships and in-work learning.

We will reinforce the strength of the nationally significant cluster of business activities relating to cybersecurity, ICT, defence and advanced manufacturing including harnessing digitalisation, AI, robotics and machine learning.

Our Target:

• Workplace pay at or above Worcestershire average by 2030
• 65% of workforce in higher skills employment (SOC 1 – 3) by 2030
• Productivity (GVA per hour worked) to continue to grow year on year

Ambition 2 - Vibrant Towns

The vitality and viability of the district’s main centres is threatened by the on-going structural transition of traditional retail to online, and the relative underperformance of the visitor economy compared with pre-2020 levels.

The dispersed, semi-rural character of the district means that the population relies on the five centres for their social and economic needs, in terms of retail, leisure, culture and employment. Footfall has yet to recover to 2019 levels

There is a need to improve the quality of existing town centres by creating and promoting a more diversified offer and providing a central place where people come together without the over reliance on traditional retail. Providing more interest for more people for more of the time i.e., cultural, leisure and night-time offer.

We will build on our Town Centre Plans to establish tangible development proposals alongside a suite of business support and promotional activities.

Our Commitment:

We commit to work with local businesses and other stakeholders to incentivise residents and visitors to firstly use the town centres, and secondly to extend their dwell time and maximise their spend in accordance with our adopted Town Plans.

We will continue to invest in town centre businesses and public realm using the resources available to us and will encourage others to do the same.

Our Target:

• Footfall in our town centres to at least reach pre-covid levels by 2026 and grow by a further 10% by 2030
• Vacancies in our town centres to match pre-covid levels by 2026 and reduce to no more than 3% by 2030

Ambition 3 - A Centre for Green Tourism

Our visitor economy has been remarkably resilient through the pandemic.

In 2019, the visitor economy was worth £145 m and provided jobs for 2,900 people. In 2020, these numbers fell dramatically as would be expected with the annual value of the economy being just over £72m with 2200 employed in the sector. By the end of 2021, the economy had recovered to a value of £156m with over 3500 employed within the sector. 

The district’s Visitor Economy Action Plan (‘VEAP’) seeks to support local business adaptation, particularly to enhance sustainability or accessibility, and tapping into an underexploited market for experiential activities relating to food and beverage, independent retail and leisure, cultural events and festivals, alongside the established strength of the existing tourist offer of accessible attractions

Given the variety of the district’s tourist destinations, including the towns of Malvern, Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn, the VEAP identifies the opportunity to proactively market the district as a coherent offer with a focus on increasing overnight stays. The district’s strong association with arts and culture, including the Elgar Festival, Malvern Theatres and variety of Festivals, as well as rural tourism activities and local produce, offers a strong basis for expanding the visitor audience.

Our Commitment:

We commit to work with and promote all businesses contributing to the visitor economy of Malvern Hills to support their sustainable growth and accessibility.

We commit to promote Malvern Hills as a centre for Green Tourism and a recognised UK destination for health and well-being.

We will continue to invest in tourism businesses using the resources available to us and will encourage others to do the same.

Our Target:

• A visitor economy worth over £200m per year by 2030
• Over 4000 people employed in the sector by 2030

Ambition 4 - Encouraging Clean Growth Across All Sectors

MHDC declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and adopted its Destination Zero strategy as a vision to guide policy and economic development in the District in accordance with the UK’s Net Zero Strategy.

There is a significant opportunity to support the delivery of Destination Zero by supporting start-up and growing businesses involved in a number of related sectors including:

• Installation of energy efficiency measures in homes and businesses, such as insulation and small-scale renewable technologies
• Delivery of larger-scale low carbon energy generation including biomass, biomethane, hydrogen and solar;
• Delivery of electric vehicle infrastructure and servicing of electric vehicles
• Consultancy and manufacturing to support the above

The Malvern Hills district has a superb environment and businesses from all sectors are looking to save energy, lower their carbon footprint and seize market opportunities to produce or deliver services more sustainably.

Our Commitment:

We will help businesses save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and develop low carbon technologies

Provide targeted business support to low carbon businesses

Our Target:

• £3,000,000 private sector investment secured in low carbon technology across the District by 2030
• In line with WLEP target increase renewable electricity generation from 5% of local demand to 15% by 2030

Ambition 5 – Build on the strength of existing clusters of high growth and innovative businesses

The District benefits from a significant cluster of high growth and innovative businesses in high value sectors with many centred on Malvern Hills Science Park (MHSP) and QinetiQ but with a wide range across our district.

Our high growth firms across the district are delivering high growth levels and well paid employment with opportunities to retain our graduate talent and local 18-24 year olds.

The Worcestershire Strategic Economic Plan and Local Industrial Strategy identifies significant potential for growth, through building on these assets and working collaboratively with others. The UK Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis (2021) produced by Ipsos Mori and Perspective Economics identifies Malvern as part of a sub-regional ecosystem of cyber security companies and employees, including CyNam (Cheltenham and Gloucestershire).

The innovative potential of the District’s economic base provides a key opportunity for the levelling up of Worcestershire’s productivity and driving greater R&D intensity. Malvern Hills based businesses have received in excess 50% of Innovate UK UKRI Funding in Worcestershire, some £9.8m, which reflects this strength.

Focussing on this existing cluster of private sector activity, comprising over 1000 jobs at MHSP and QinetiQ alone, provides a significant opportunity for supporting high-quality job creation through supply-side intervention in technical/entrepreneurial skills and growing the sectoral support ecosystem, through schemes like BetaDen, to unlock the latent potential of this key growth sector.

Our Commitment:

We will commit to the continued expansion of the Malvern Hills Science and Technology Park.

Identifying high growth businesses and ensuring that expert advice and support is available to them alongside technology start ups and for innovative products and services.

Our Target:

• Provide a 20% increase in workspace available for high value added sector on the Malvern Hills Science Park by 2030
• Provide targeted business support for new and existing innovative, technology based and high growth businesses

Ambition 6 – Addressing Barriers to Work and Training

Labour shortages are a significant barrier to achieving sustainable economic growth and is frequently cited as a significant issue limiting growth by existing businesses.

As of July 2023, MHDC youth unemployment for 18-24 year olds was 3.8%, lower than the national average of 4.9%. Whilst encouraging, interventions are required to bring economically inactive young people into the workplace, particularly those furthest from the labour market, significant barriers to employment exist in Malvern Hills. These include:

• Access to appropriate Further and Higher Education facilities resulting in significant logistics problems.
• Low take up of Apprenticeships despite many opportunities being available
• Access to employment opportunities per se given the dispersed nature of Malvern Hills’ employers.

Our Commitment:

We will commit to provide support for apprenticeships and training, particularly encouraging apprenticeships in our high growth and key sectors.

Promote vocational training and apprenticeships to our local school children.

Our Target:

• Reduce the percentage of 18-24 year olds unemployed and keep at least 1% below national average by 2026
• Support businesses to create 100 new Apprenticeships by 2026

Non-Domestic Rates

Non-Domestic Rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.

Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1st April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally.

The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, locally generated income and grants from central government, is used to pay for the services provided by local authorities in your area.

Further information about the business rates system may be obtained at: www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates, at the website of your local authority which is normally shown on your rates bill, or by contacting your local authority.

Business Rates Instalments

Payment of business rates bills is automatically set on a 10-monthly cycle. However, the Government has put in place regulations that allow ratepayers to require their local authority to enable payments to be made through 12 monthly instalments. If you wish to take up this offer, you should contact your local authority as soon as possible.

National Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers

The local authority works out the business rates bill for a property by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate non-domestic multiplier.

There are five multipliers: the standard non-domestic rating multiplier, the small business non- domestic rating multiplier, the small retail, hospitality & leisure multiplier, the standard retail, hospitality & leisure multiplier and the high value multiplier. The government sets the multipliers for each financial year, except in the City of London where special arrangements apply.

Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £50,999 will have their bills calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the standard non-domestic rating multiplier.

Those ratepayers who occupy qualifying retail, hospitality & leisure properties will have their bills calculated using the relevant retail, hospitality & leisure multiplier dependent on the rateable value, and a high-value multiplier for properties with rateable values of £500k and above The current multipliers are shown on your bill.

Rateable Value

Apart from properties that are exempt from business rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an agency of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

They compile and maintain a full list of all rateable values, available at www.gov.uk/voa. The rateable value of your property is shown on the front of your bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date specified in legislation. For the current rating list, this date was set as 1 April 2024.

The VOA may alter the valuation if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also check and challenge the valuation shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.

Further information about the grounds on which challenges may be made and the process for doing so can be obtained by contacting the VOA, or by consulting the VOA website:  How to challenge your business rates valuation - GOV.UK

Revaluations

All non-domestic property rateable values are reassessed at revaluations. The most recent revaluation took effect from 1 April 2026.

Revaluations ensure that business rates bills are up-to-date and more accurately reflect current rental values and relative changes in rents. Frequent revaluations ensure the system continues to be responsive to changing economic conditions.

Business Rate Reliefs

Depending on individual circumstances, a ratepayer may be eligible for a rate relief (i.e. a reduction in their business rates bill). There are a range of available reliefs.

Further details are provided below and at www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates, at the website of your local authority which is normally shown on your rates bill, or by contacting your local authority.

Temporary Reliefs

Some of the permanent reliefs are set out below but other temporary reliefs may be introduced by the government at a fiscal event.

Further detail on current temporary reliefs is available at www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief. You should contact your local authority for details on the latest availability of business rates reliefs and advice on whether you may qualify.

Small Business Rates Relief

If a ratepayer’s sole or main property has a rateable value which does not exceed a set threshold, the ratepayer may receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for the property of up to a maximum of 100%. The level of reduction will depend on the rateable

value of the property. For example eligible properties with a rateable value below a specified lower threshold will receive 100% relief while eligible properties above the lower threshold and below a specified upper threshold may receive partial relief. The relevant thresholds for relief are set by the government by order and can be obtained from your local authority or at www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates.

Generally, these percentage reductions (reliefs) are only available to ratepayers who occupy either—

1. one property, or
2. one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed the limit set by order.

The aggregate rateable value of all the properties mentioned in 2, must also not exceed an amount set by order. For those businesses that take on an additional property which would normally have meant the loss of small business rate relief, they will be allowed to keep that relief for a fixed additional period.

Full details on the relevant limits in relation to second properties and the current period for which a ratepayer may continue to receive relief after taking on an additional property can be obtained from your local authority or at www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by the ratepayer who is in receipt of relief (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes which should be notified are—

1. the property falling vacant,
2. the ratepayer taking up occupation of an additional property, or
3. an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief.

Charity and Community Amateur Sports Club Relief

Eligible charities and registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs are entitled to 80% relief where the property is occupied by the charity or the club and is wholly or mainly used for the charitable purposes of the charity (or of that and other charities), or for the purposes of the club (or of that and other clubs).

The local authority has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Transitional Rate Relief

At a revaluation, some ratepayers will see reductions or no change in their bill whereas some ratepayers will see increases. Transitional relief schemes are introduced at each revaluation to help those facing increases.

Transitional relief is applied automatically to bills. Further information about transitional arrangements may be obtained from the local authority or at www.gov.uk/business-rates-relief

Local Discounts and Hardship Relief

Local authorities have a general power to grant discretionary local discounts and to give hardship relief in specific circumstances. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Unoccupied Property Rating

Business rates are generally payable in respect of unoccupied non-domestic property. However, they are generally not payable for the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial premises, whilst certain other properties such as vacant listed buildings are not liable for business rates until they are reoccupied.

Full details on exemptions can be obtained from your local authority or from gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief.

Subsidy Control

The UK subsidy control regime commenced from 4 January 2023. The subsidy control regime enables public authorities, including devolved administrations and local authorities, to deliver subsidies that are tailored for local needs.

Public authorities giving subsidies must comply with the UK’s international subsidy control commitments. Further information about subsidy control can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/subsidy-control-regime.

Rating Advisers

Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about the rateable value of their property or their rates bill. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS—website www.rics.org.) and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV—website www.irrv.org.uk.) are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct.

Before you employ a rating adviser or company you should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary, seek further advice before entering into any contract.

Rate Relief for Businesses in Rural Areas

Certain types of properties in a rural settlement with a population below 3,000 may be entitled to full relief. The property must be the only general store, the only post office or a food shop and have a rateable value of less than £8,500, or the only public house or the only petrol station and have a rateable value of less than £12,500. The property must be occupied. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Information Supplied with Demand Notices

Information relating to the relevant and previous financial years in regard to the gross expenditure of the local authority is available at Malvernhills.gov.uk. A hard copy is available on request by contacting the council.

Local communities could receive up to £10,000 towards the cost of a Coronation Community Orchard thanks to a new tree planting grant.   

Between £200 and £10,000 is available from Malvern Hills District Council to support the creation of community orchards within the district, including costs for trees, protection, fencing and installation.  

The aim of the fund is for local community orchard creation projects to provide a lasting commemoration of this Coronation year, and to further the King’s lifelong work conserving the natural environment. 

The UK Government has provided a total of £2.5 million in funding to local governments, through The Coronation Living Heritage Fund (CLHF), which celebrates the coronation of King Charles III and supports tree planting projects across England. 

Malvern Hills District Council are inviting applications from groups including schools, residents’ associations, community groups, charities, businesses, and parish/town councils to create community orchards on private or public land, which provide community access and engagement opportunities.

Application for Coronation Community Orchards

Applications are now CLOSED.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Terms and conditions:

1. The trainee must complete an application form online for the grant themselves.
2. The claim must be supported by the employer and in the case of a claim for clothing or equipment they should state the reasons for not supplying the tools or clothing for the job.
3. The payment will be a reimbursement after the expenditure has been incurred. It will be paid after the trainee has completed at least 3 months of their course and on receipt of proof of expenditure which could include tickets, credit card statements or receipts.
4. Where petrol is claimed, evidence of the registration number and ownership of the car must be submitted.
5. The claim must be verified by the employer as well as the employee.
6. Approved bursary applications will be submitted to Worcestershire Apprenticeships for payment.
7. The trainee named in the application will attend the course for at least the time it takes to complete their training programme, or a minimum of 12 months, whichever is greater.
8. The trainee shall notify Malvern Hills District Council as soon as possible of any changes to the status of the employer or training, including a change in terms and conditions, which may affect eligibility to claim the grant.
9. The trainee shall always endeavour to make a success of the apprenticeship/training and shall support the aim that they gain qualifications and valuable work experience.
10. The employer must pay the apprentice the National Minimum Wage appropriate for the apprentice’s age, including time for off the job training throughout the duration of the apprenticeship.
11. The trainee agrees to maintain a relationship with the Malvern Hills District Council for a minimum of 12 months, enabling monitoring of outcomes from the grant scheme, and to participate in publicity and press opportunities to further promote the Malvern Hills District Council Bursary Scheme (subject to commercial sensitivities). This would include both the employer and the apprentice attending local events, featuring in press, publicity material and providing case studies where this is mutually beneficial to all parties.
12. Malvern Hills District Council reserves the right to recover all or part of the grant it has provided if:

• The applicant is found to have improperly tried to influence the decision of any officer or Elected Member of Malvern Hills District Council in the award of a grant
• The applicant locates outside the boundaries of the Malvern Hills District area within a 3-month period from receipt of the grant
• Any information provided in the application form or other correspondence is found to be substantially incorrect, misleading, or incomplete
• The training is terminated by the trainee prior to the end of the agreed duration through no fault of the employer, or without reasonable grounds.

13. The applicant shall provide a written and sign legal contract of employment to Malvern Hills District Council.
14. The applicant will provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK typically a copy of their passport.
15. If it is found that the applicant has any outstanding debts owed to Malvern Hills or Wychavon District Council, then the Council reserves the right to withhold grant payment until such debts are cleared. The Bursary Scheme is being delivered by Malvern Hills District Council and your payment will be made via BACS from Malvern Hills District Council.