Business COVID-19 Update - 17th February 2021

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17th February 2021

Business COVID-19 Update


Business Support Grants after 15th February

Businesses which were paid grants under the recent National Lockdown Grant (Closed) scheme, were done so to cover a period of 42 days, from 5th January until 15th February 2021.

After that point, those businesses which were legally required to close as a result of National Restrictions, are not currently receiving support under the National Lockdown Grant scheme.

What Happens Next?

We are still awaiting information from the Government on the grants available to businesses from the 16th February 2021. This could involve an extension to the previous scheme, or a new grant scheme created to support businesses from the 16th February onwards.

We are not expecting the information to be provided within the next week.

Once we have further information, we will write to all those that have already received a grant from the Council, to inform them of the next steps.

Please do not contact the Council directly as we will be unable to provide you with any further information.

Further information on all grant support

More details of all the latest grant support once it's made available, will be found on our Support For Business page.

Support For Business


Restrictions for businesses post National Lockdown

We are not expecting new information to be provided to us prior to the planned the announcement from the Prime Minister, on the Governments' COVID-19 "Road Map".

This announcement is due to take place on Monday 22nd February 2021 and is anticipated to outline the likely restrictions in the coming months, how, where and over what timescales those restrictions will be implemented. 

When and how will my business re-open?

The effects on different business types and settings should also be clearer following the PM's announcement.  Once we have further information, it will be published on our 'Open For Business' webpage.

Any changes to Covid-Secure guidance for specific business settings will be linked from that webpage.

Further Updates

Please do not contact the Council directly regarding the lifting of National Restrictions and the estimated dates of further business reopening, as we will be unable to provide you with any information. Please also be assured that as soon as guidance becomes available, it will be published on our website, shared within these Email Me bulletins, as well as via our social media accounts.

Open For Business


Recruiting Talent Nottinghamshire

Recruitment Event in Notts

The Recruiting Talent in Nottinghamshire event brings together experts who can support businesses to change the way they recruit and retain staff.

About this online event 

The online event is FREE to attend and aims to bring together local, regional and national businesses and experts to:

  • Help employers to understand the current landscape around employment and skills;
  • Help your business understand more about COVID-19 Economic Recovery Planning;
  • Offer access to a range of workshops and a full 'marketplace experience', allowing you to meet representatives virtually from organisations that are fully funded to help ‘get people into work';
  • Showcase the benefits of inclusive recruitment.

It also features senior level keynote addresses from a range of partners including:

  • Nottinghamshire County Council;
  • D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership;
  • Department for Work and Pensions;
  • Local, national and international employers;
  • East Midlands Chamber of Commerce
  • Local education establishments;

Time: 9.30am-2.30pm (Registration from 9am)

Date: Wednesday 17th March

Register Now

For more information

Contact Maria Ward - Nottinghamshire Stakeholder Manager via maria.ward@nottscc.gov.uk or 07548 224423.


Community Testing: Businesses to promote to staff

From 1pm on the 25th February, there will be a community testing site in Stapleford Library. Testing will be available for adults between the age of 18 – 65, who show no symptoms of COVID-19. 

Stapleford will receive a batch of lateral flow tests, provided by NHS Test and Trace, as part of a new pilot to enable local public health leaders to start testing working age adults in our communityRapid-turnaround lateral flow tests are a new type of technology, which provide results within an hour, and will be used to proactively test asymptomatic individuals.

Businesses are encouraged to promote this facility to their staff members, which will help identify cases and keep workforces safe.

If you have a lot of staff to test

You might want to talk to us about pre-booking a regular slot for your business at our community testing site. To explore this option please contact press@broxtowe.gov.uk and your request will be passed to the project team. 

For more information 

Community Testing


Hs2 Jobs Board Video

New HS2 Job Board

The construction of the new HS2 railway will create thousands of skilled jobs over the coming years – and it is vital that communities living along the route can access these opportunities.

HS2 has now launched a brand new jobs website to promote the 20,000+ roles that the project will support over the coming years.

Aimed at those looking for work or a change of career, the opportunity to search the very latest vacancies with HS2’s construction partners and station contractors delivering Phase One of the railway – this is first time that all the opportunities to work directly on HS2 will be available to search in one place. 

Importantly, these jobs aren’t just for engineers and construction workers, they stretch from apprentice level up to senior management, covering a variety of disciplines.

Click the 'HS2 Job Board' below for more information

HS2 Job Board

Click to view short video about the Jobs Board -

Jobs Board Video

 

More about the HS2 project

As Europe’s largest infrastructure project, HS2 will underpin the construction and engineering sectors for the next twenty years – sectors that support nearly 10% of UK jobs and around 7% of GDP.

HS2 already supports 13,000 jobs, including over 400 new apprenticeship starts and over 650 individuals who were previously unemployed. 

At peak construction the project will need 30,000 people to design and build the railway, including 2,000 apprentices – and 70% of the jobs needed to build the railway will be outside of London, helping to bring new opportunities and wider economic benefits across the country.


Growth Hub

D2N2 Growth Hub - New Business Events Added

The D2N2 Growth Hub continue to offer valuable help and advice to businesses in Broxtowe. This includes various events delivered online due to the pandemic.

Below are some upcoming events that may be of interest to businesses in Broxtowe and are all FREE of charge.

 

Event: Creating a 'women in tech' network for the East Midlands.

Time: 8.45am-10.30am

Date: Thursday 18th February

The session will be led by Naomi Nash and will take participants through the catalogue of support offered to tech and digital founders, and the communities that support them, that Tech Nation offers, as well as some of the local initiatives. The workshop will give participants a framework which they can use to work in their business and build a successful career.

Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/breakfast-session-creating-a-women-in-tech-network-for-the-east-midlands/

 

Event: Thinking Creatively to Survive and Thrive.

Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm

Date: Monday 22nd February

This workshop is aimed at business owners or leaders who, as a result of the pandemic, are now looking to evolve and re-evaluate the way they and their teams operate together. It looks at adapting roles and responsibilities and adopting an innovative approach to supporting resilience and driving growth, in a fast-changing landscape.

Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/thinking-creatively-to-survive-and-thrive/

 

Event: Getting Started with Microsoft 365: Including SharePoint and Teams

Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm

Date: Tuesday 23rd February

This webinar is aimed at any SME business that would like to learn more about Microsoft 365’s tools and capabilities and wants to get the most from their subscription.

Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/getting-started-with-microsoft-365-including-sharepoint-and-teams-3/

 

For a full programme of future events, click 'Business Events' below.

Business Events


Shop for essentials safely thumbnail

Shopping for essentials safely

Throughout the pandemic, many businesses have been making the necessary changes within their premises and the way they operate to keep residents safe.  

The Council have produced a video urging residents to adhere to the rules when out doing essential shopping and be respectful of the adaptions businesses have put in place to be COVID-secure.

Click below to view the video and feel free to share via your own social media pages and communications to help spread the word!

View Video


EU Exit Information for business


Check How to Export Goods tool

Earlier this month, the Department for International Trade (DIT) published online tools for UK exporters.

The tools provide product-specific and country-specific information in one place, making it easier to understand the changes that came into effect on the 1st January 2021.

The Check How to Export Goods (CHEG) tool is aimed at UK exporters and pulls together information on the UK border, duties, rules of origin and customs procedures. This tool will be added to the Council's EU Exit page in the coming days, but the can be accessed now by click the 'CHEG tool' button below.

CHEG tool

DIT have also now added a 60 second step-by-step explainer video on YouTube.

Video link


eu guidance thumb

Supporting Local Authorities to adapt to new rules: EU Exit

The government has published guidance on how it plans to support local government tiers, to adapt to the rule changes following the UK's exit from the EU.

The Council will use this resource to update it's own EU Exit page, with up-to-date information.

The Local government transition landing page, brings together key pieces of transition guidance of relevance to Councils, including on Environmental Health Certificates (EHC) and the EU Settlement Scheme.

The new guidance also offers key milestones that will affect businesses and information on how regulatory services will change.

Upcoming Milestone

  • April 2021 – new border checks come into force

From 1st April 2021, Port Health Authorities will be able to levy fees and charges for checks on imports of animal products (Products Of Animal Origin and animal by-products) and high-risk food not of animal origin.

View the full government guidance.

Gov Info

View the Council's dedicated EU Exit webpage.

 EU Exit


Guidance on Product Safety for Business

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) recently published guidance to help businesses comply with changed regulations.

The OPSS has produced a range of guidance and advice to help ensure businesses understand what is expected of them, including on issues such as the use of the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking.

The guidance now includes a ‘What’s changed?’ summary guide to key changes. It also provides a clear indication of what rules and regulations have come into effect now that the Transition Period has come to an end.

You can view this new product guidance, as well as use the 'Brexit Checker Tool' via our EU Exit portal. 

Read More


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 links to guidance.

More Info

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.