Good Afternoon
Please find below details ongooing grants, a webinar for high street businesses plus extracts from council business newsletters relevant to all business sectors.
ONGOING GRANT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES SEVERELY IMPACTED DUE TO TEMPORARY LOCAL RESTRICTIONS.
Businesses that have not had to close but which have been severely impacted due to local Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions may be eligible for LRSG (Open). Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14 day period under local restrictions. Local councils have the discretion to provide grant funding for businesses under this scheme. They will use their discretion in identifying the right businesses to receive this funding, based on their application process.
Eligibility
Your business may be eligible if it:
is based in England
is in an area subject to Tier 2 or Tier 3 local restrictions since 1 August 2020 and has been severely impacted because of the local restrictions
was established before the introduction of Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions
has not had to close but has been impacted by local restrictions
Local councils have the freedom to determine the precise eligibility criteria for these grants. However, we expect the funding to be targeted at hospitality, hotel, bed & breakfast and leisure businesses.
What you get
Local councils are best placed to determine local needs for supporting recovery. They will exercise their local knowledge and discretion relevant to their economic need to provide grant funding. The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the date of the start of the local restrictions. We anticipate local councils will provide funding under the following tiers, unless there is a local need to deviate. If your business has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, you may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £467 for each 14 day period. If your business has a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, you may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £700 for each 14 day period. If your business has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, you may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £1,050 for each 14 day period. In the event of national restrictions being introduced, LRSG (Open) will cease to apply, as relevant businesses will receive funding from either the:
How to apply - Visit the local council’s website to find out how to apply.
WEBINAR:
COVID briefing for High Street business on support and restrictions following the Government review of Tiers due on 16 December.
Thursday 17 December, 5pm - Following the planned national review of local Tiers on 16 December, we are holding a session for all high street based businesses on the latest COVID-related support and restrictions. The session will include officers involved in Public Protection, Licensing, Grant funding and Economic Development. It will be an informal session with opportunities for questions and discussion.
Sign up to the meeting using the link below - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-street-business-covid-briefing-with-qa-tickets-132415156297?keep_tld=1
COUNCIL NEWSLETTER:
With Bristol in Tier 3, many people are struggling not only with the restrictions but also the added stress of working from home whilst finding a work-life balance. However, there are many mental health support tools available, and we want to make sure as many people as possible are using these resources.
Business toolkits
1. Wellbeing resources from Business in the Community
2. COVID-19: employee health and wellbeing toolkit
3. Mental Health resources from Mental Health at Work
Crisis and suicidal thoughts
2. Free Suicide Prevention training
3. NHS Mental Health Crisis helpline
Mental Health and Problem Debt
1. Advice and support with debt
2. Debt and coronavirus information
3. Coronavirus, universal credit and benefits help
Self Help and maintaining resilience
West of England specific support
2. Emotional support helplines from Bristol Mind
Shop safe this Christmas
During lockdown, we have been working hard to make sure our high streets are COVID-safe this Christmas. Please take note of the signs and remember to wash your hands, wear a face covering unless exempt, and make space. Latest figures show that Bristol rates continue to fall. Bristol's infection rate is 140 new cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days (up to 2 December). The regional R number is estimated to lie within a range of 0.7 – 1.0, reflecting the fall in cases locally and nationally. However, we must not get complacent, and everyone should stick to COVID-19 restrictions to protect our city.
We aim to publish a COVID-19 bi-weekly Bristol statistics update twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons which you can find on our website. Thank you to all who have supported our local efforts. We must not stop now; every action makes a difference, protecting our families, loved ones and our NHS.
New deadlines for furlough applications
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) now has monthly claim deadlines. Employers must submit any claims for November no later than 11.59pm on Monday 14 December.
CJRS claims must now be submitted within 14 calendar days after the month they relate to, unless this falls on a weekend in which case the deadline is the next weekday.
Employers should:
1. Check if they’re eligible, and work out how much they can claim using the CJRS calculator and examples, by searching 'Job Retention Scheme' on GOV.UK
2. Submit any claims for November, no later than 14 December.
3. Keep any records that support the amount of CJRS grant they claim, in case HMRC needs to check them.
You do not need to have used the scheme already to make a claim now
Make sure you have the latest information by registering to the live webinars
Ways2Work website relaunch
Established by Bristol City Council, the Ways2Work website looks to build a network of employment and training organisations to work together to fill skills shortages in Bristol, and get our residents into work.
Ways2Work works with partner organisations to ensure a joined up route to sustained careers for Bristol residents, as well as supporting our local employers to thrive.
The website has recently been relaunched, and it features a range of employment support, including a help directory, recruitment advice and COVID-19 support.
Explore the new Ways2Work website
Quick updates
• The UK Government has announced that business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021. The move is a final extension following two previous ones; read more on the GOV.UK website
• The work of Watershed as a social enterprise over the course of the pandemic has been recognised at a special event. Read the article on the Watershed website
• Trading Better Online offers free expert business support for SMEs to grow their digital presence and online sales. The programme helps SMEs increase engagement with customers online, develop a digital marketing strategy, adopt a customer relationship management system and support to sell products online. Request a call-back from the West of England Growth Hub to find out more.
• A pilot Export Academy scheme has been introduced to support smaller businesses begin their exporting journey. It will deliver a series of activities that will build your capabilities, creating a new cohort of confident businesses ready to trade. This pilot programme is designed for owners and senior managers of businesses. To qualify your business must have a turnover of up to £500,000 and be located in the Midlands, North of England or the South West of England. Find out more on the Business West website and register today.
• We are consulting on Council Tax options for next year (from April 2021-March 2022) and we would like to hear your views on the different options. Have your say by completing our online survey
• Read about how much Bristol’s tech sector, now with an estimated 430 companies employing more than 8,000 people, has grown.
• Be the Business have produced a financial recovery guide outlining the steps a business needs to consider in the wake of the pandemic.
• View things to do in Bristol this Christmas, courtesy of Destination Bristol.
Please share this newsletter with any businesses you think would benefit from it. If they would like to receive future emails, they can click the 'Subscribe' button below.
Please share this newsletter with any businesses you think would benefit from it. If they would like to receive future emails, they can click the 'Subscribe' button below.