Business Grant Support Scheme
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 now.
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 for financial support?
All grant schemes are now open to applications.
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.
Current National Restrictions
Since 5th November, England has been subject to national COVID-19 restrictions. To ensure you are following the rules, read the full guidance carefully.
Further to the initial announcement, the government have since provided clarification on some specific businesses/services that must close as a result of national restrictions. This is a result of FAQs from local authorities, leading industry bodies and federations. Confirmed closures include:
- Carpet fitting,
- Car washing,
- Kitchen and bathroom showrooms,
- Dog agility classes and puppy training classes,
- Baby sensory classes and baby yoga classes
- Soft play,
- Stand alone flower stalls, even where these appear within a garden centre,
- Shisha cafés.
Clarifications from government on Click-and-Collect
As per national restrictions, non-essential retailers are permitted to operate as a Click-and-Collect service only. In order to legally operate as a Click-and-Collect, the following applies:
- There must be no doorway adaptations, including the installation of temporary hatches or counters, to facilitate the collection of customer orders.
- Non-essential retail premises must not allow any customers to enter, under any circumstances. This includes for the collection of Click-and-Collect orders.
- Showrooms and other businesses must not operate appointment only viewing opportunities. This is illegal under current restrictions and also does not constitute as Click-and-Collect.
Click-and-Collect is different to Takeaway. Please visit our Open for Business page to see further details on business closures, those that can remain open and the different trading options during restrictions.
Still unsure what to do as a business during these restrictions?
If you are still unsure what this means for our business, contact COVID Information Officers Zahid Javed(if your business is located in Beeston) and Janice Owen (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
What happens after the 2nd December?
Many businesses may be asking when they may be permitted to re-open after the national restrictions are lifted.
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 which COVID-Alert level (or tier) Broxtowe will enter into after 2nd December. This will be communicated once this information is made available to the Council.
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.
Giving businesses a boost
This winter, we are asking businesses large or small to tag us '@BroxtoweBoroughCouncil' in their social media posts about new services such as online workshops, click and collect or deliveries.
You can also contact us via our social media channels so we can promote your services to residents across Broxtowe.
We want to give businesses who have been able to adapt in lockdown conditions to inspire others to consider doing the same.
We know this isn't possible for all businesses but by promoting some of the businesses who have adapted, we hope this will have a positive effect on local shops and markets as a whole.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes takeaway service extension
On 11th November, the government announced that restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to provide food takeaway services for another year.
This was due to end on 23 March 2021 but will now be extended by another year. The measures help give these businesses the confidence they need to continue to serve customers and retain their staff.
It will also help them adapt to longer-term changes they may wish to introduce, such as serving their customers from market stalls.
Food labelling business tool
Food labelling requirements for prepacked for direct sale food (PPDS) will change from 1 October 2021 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are a business that handles food, you need to be ready.
The Food Standards Agency have a useful business tool for helping deal with changes in allergen labelling for prepacked foods next year.
This tool will help you to identify the type of food your business provides and the allergen labelling requirements.
Use this labelling tool to find out whether the changes apply to your business and what you need to do.
Other News and Updates
Mayor's Christmas Gifts
This year has presented the Country with many challenges and Broxtowe has not been any different. Christmas will look very different this year and we are keen to encourage as many residents to shop locally as we can, safely.
As part of the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal we would like to offer those in need, vouchers that can be redeemed at participating local businesses.
How the scheme would work
1.Businesses will be presented with specially-printed vouchers to adapt.
2. Customers can hand these over to be exchanged for goods.
3. Broxtowe Borough Council will reimburse businesses for the monetary value of the vouchers on each transaction.
If you and your organisation are interested in being added to our list of participating local businesses, please respond to Anna Lam or Pam Teather on anna.lam@broxtowe.gov.uk or pam.teather@broxtowe.gov.uk by Friday 27th November 2020. We will then contact you to confirm details.
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
Growth Hub online events
D2N2 Growth Hub have some great online events this winter including:
20th November - Getting Ahead with the Extended Job Retention Scheme
20th November - A Business Guide to Funding and Finance Post Covid-19 and the EU Exit
24th November - Rewarding your Innovation - R&D Funding and R&D Tax
Prepare your business for EU Exit now
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).
Budget Consultation
As we prepare to set our budget for the financial year ahead, we need Broxtowe residents to have their say on how they think their money should be spent.
We all know that the pandemic has had serious financial implications for the Council as well as residents. Businesses and communities, so it’s never been more important for you to have your say our budget for next year.
To make sure your voice is heard please complete our online consultation before it closes on Monday 30th November at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/budgetconsultation
Council services during the COVID-19 pandemic
We have a Support for Business page on our website which has lots of useful information about grants, schemes and linkes to guidance.
We are also sharing regular updates about affected Council services at https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can also get updates on our social media accounts.
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