Business Support Grants - LIVE tomorrow
The government recently announced a second wave of business support grants, which the Council will be administering. Businesses in Broxtowe can apply for these grants from tomorrow.
These cash grants are for eligible businesses that have been affected due to the implementation of Tier 2, Tier 3 and National restrictions.
When can I apply?
All grant schemes will open to applications from 9am on Thursday 12th November 2020.
The grant schemes will close to applications at 5pm on Friday 18th December 2020.
Who can apply?
Further details of the eligible businesses can be found on our 'Support For Business' webpage. Further information on the five different grant schemes and the potential grant amounts payable can also be found here.
How to Apply
Using the same form for all the grant support schemes, businesses will need to provide:
- Information about their business, answering all questions in full,
- Evidence of their business bank account - with business name, sort code and account number,
- Any other supplementary evidence as per the form, depending on their business type.
Any missing information can cause delays in processing any applications.
National Lockdown Restrictions
Since 5th November, England has been subject to national COVID-19 restrictions. To ensure you are following the rules for lockdown, read the full guidance carefully.
FAQs
My business is permitted to stay open, what guidance should I follow?
By Law, all businesses in Broxtowe must follow the latest government guidance on remaining "COVID-19 secure" for their respective businesses type/setting.
Those essential businesses remaining open during national restrictions, must ensure they continue to operate COVID-securely. Likewise, businesses which would otherwise be required to close, must ensure they alter their trading arrangements accordingly and within the law (non-essential retail to Click-and-Collect only, Cafes operate as a takeaway or delivery for example).
The latest rules from government for all business types/settings can be found on the 'Open for Business' webpage of our website.
When is my businesses permitted to re-open after national restrictions are lifted and how do I prepare?
The national restrictions are scheduled to end on 2nd December 2020.
It is understood that Broxtowe, as well as other areas will revert back to the 'Tier system' and as such will be re-categorised with a COVID-Alert Level after national restrictions have ended. It is unclear whether Broxtowe will be subject to the same (Tier 3 - Very High as previously) or a lesser Local COVID-Alert Level by the 2nd December.
The Alert Level or 'tier', will be based on the latest data available and other metrics used by government, closer to the 2nd December
ALL businesses will be required by law to follow the latest guidance from government, including any locally imposed or baseline restrictions to trading from 2nd December onwards.
I'm still unsure what I have to do as a business
If you are still unsure what this means for our business, contact COVID Information Officers Zahid (if your business is located in Beeston) and Janice (if your business is in Eastwood, Kimberley or Stapleford) as soon as possible.
Zahid.Javed@broxtowe.gov.uk - For Beeston businesses
Janice.Owen@broxtowe.gov.uk - For Eastwood, Kimberley and Stapleford businesses
For all market enquiries, please contact: Markets Officer Clair Storey by emailing: clair.storey@broxtowe.gov.uk
Looking after your business whilst temporarily closed
Where certain businesses are mandated to close due to national restrictions, but are opting not to continue operating as a 'Click and Collect' or takeaway service, our Health and Safety team have provided some tips to help those businesses, when looking after their premises for a 28 hibernation period.
- Fire Systems: Ensure that any fire and/or sprinkler systems are fully operational
- Fire Doors: Carry out a check to ensure that internal fire doors are closed
- Building Utilities: Shutdown any non-essential electrical devices and building utilities
- Inspections: Arrange for a weekly inspection of the building (internally and externally) – please remember to risk assess for any lone-working issues. Please ensure that you comply with existing government guidance regarding vulnerable people and lone-worker risk assessments. Carry out your statutory fire and legionella checks
- Physical Security: Carry out a check to ensure physical security measures are in place e.g. fences are in good repair, windows are locked, shutters are in place, gates are locked.
- Intruder Alarm: Make sure your intruder alarm is set and that the remote signalling is in place.
Barbers go above and beyond, then grow a tache for charity!
JG Barbers in Beeston have gone above and beyond when it comes to the COVID-19 restrictions, putting new measures and systems in place every step of the way, often before it becomes mandatory. The team are supporting the Movember Foundation despite being closed as a result of national restrictions.
Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide.
The team have asked us to pass on their thanks:
“Thank you to everyone who have supported this great cause and to The Beeston Brownie Co, Greenhood Coffee and Totally Brewed for their support in the campaign too.”
When businesses work together like this, for the good of community and charity, it shows when we pull together, we can do good things.
Helping promote your business this winter
This winter, we are asking local businesses to send us their photos, information and any updates to their service style, so we can give them some well-deserved promotion on our social media channels.
- Have you recently adapted your offering to fit with new rules?
- Do you offer a delivery service or Click-and-Collect?
- Are you safely running any special days, weeks or virtual activities?
Get involved
Tag us in your social media posts in November using #BroxtoweBoroughCouncil or DM us with details through our Facebook page.
Why we want to know!
We want to help you spread the word about your great business, so local residents can continue to supporting you now and in the future.
Make-at-home wreath kits and online sessions replace face-to-face workshops
Beth and her team at Thistle and Phlox in Stapleford, can't run their wreath-making workshops this year. Instead of cancelling this activity, they have taken the experience to customer's homes through delivered DIY kits.
The team have been busy creating special Christmas wreath boxes which are then sent directly to customers. The £40 boxes are packed full of a variety of seasonal foliage, moss base kit, decorations and a little treat. All customers need are scissors. Deliveries are made only within 5 miles of NG9.
10% from each box is also being donated to local cause Broxtowe Women’s Project.
Beth has also been running online workshops and is delivering fresh wreaths, bouquets, jars and table decorations, for 23rd December, in time for festive celebrations. www.thistleandphlox.com
If your business can go online, even temporarily, this could help you continue offering your products even in lockdown. Whilst this is not an option for everyone, it can work for some businesses this winter.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) extended further
An announcement from the Chancellor on 5th November provides more details on the decision to extend the Furlough scheme until March 2021.
Read the government's latest announcement in full, on the further extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) by clicking 'Announcement' directly below.
Check if you can claim for employee wages via the extended scheme, use the payment claim calculator and access the PAYE portal, by clicking the 'Claim Furlough' below.
Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
Following the extension the the Furlough scheme, there will also be additional support for those who are self-employed through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
Self-employed workers will now be able to claim up to 80% of their average trading profits, for the three month period between November and January '21.
Any agreed grant payment covering this three month period will be capped at £7,500, will be paid in a single installment, is taxable and also subject to NI contributions.
To read about the revised SEISS scheme, click the 'SEISS' link below.
Prepare for EU Exit now
As we are now in November and heading towards the end of 2020, businesses in Broxtowe are now looking to make preparations and take actions before we leave the EU.
Keeping up with new COVID-19 restrictions and implementing extra measures to protect staff and customers during the pandemic has taken priority but now is the time to make sure you know what leaving the EU means for your business.
Go to https://bit.ly/transitionmidst to find out more.
Hands Face Space
We cannot stress enough how important it is to keep going with Hands, Face, Space, every day. Please continue to:
- Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds;
- Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will coming into contact with people you do not normally meet;
- Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing a face covering, or increasing ventilation indoors).
Mandatory face coverings
It is still mandatory for all those inside essential retail shops (including supermarkets) and hospitality premises to wear a face covering, as well as other settings.
As hospitality businesses must now operate as a takeaway, Click-and-Collect or on delivery basis; it is important that both businesses and customers know where face coverings must still be worn.
Non-essential retail businesses can only now only operate via a Click-and-Collect or delivery service.
New trading definitions
Takeaway - A customer can enter a premises and place an order in person, but cannot consume any food or drink whilst on or immediately outside premises. Customers must wear a face covering when ordering a takeaway.
Delivery - Goods are delivered directly by a business, to a customer home or place of work. It is advised orders are pre-paid, in order to avoid cash payments on delivery. Deliveries should aim to be completely contactless.
Click and Collect - Goods are pre-ordered and pre-paid for collection by the customer later.
When fulfilling a Click-and-Collect order, a business must not allow customers to enter the premises at any time.
Staff members are permitted to circulate within the premises in order to retrieve stock and prepare orders, but must still wear face coverings at all times.
Customers must either collect their orders at the door or have their goods brought to an outdoor collection area. Customers must keep a safe distance from others and wear a face covering whilst outside, but cannot maintain a minim social distance of 2m.
Christmas Markets
Subject to Local COVID-19 restrictions after 2nd December, the Council are looking at organising some COVID-secure Christmas fairs this year.
If you are interested in having a stall at any of these events, contact our Markets Officer, Clair Storey.
Clair.storey@broxtowe.gov.uk
Council services during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Council is sharing regular updates about affected Council services at https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can also get updates on our social media accounts.
|
