Support Grants
The Council has now received confirmation that it is able to make a further Local Restrictions Support Grant to eligible local businesses for the period 16th February to 31st March 2021.
If you are a local business and you are eligible, you will receive an email this week.
The allocation amounts are:
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on the date of the commencement of the widespread national restrictions will receive a payment of £2,096 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on the date of the commencement of the widespread national restrictions will receive a payment of £3,143 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above on the commencement date of the widespread national restrictions, will receive £4,714 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.
The Council is looking to make payments directly to business nominated bank accounts by 5th March 2021, which is subject to funding allocations being received by Government.
Details of the payment amounts and qualifying criteria can be found at https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/for-you/crime-safety-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/support-for-businesses/
Timeline for reopening of businesses
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the Government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England. Each step will be assessed against four tests before restrictions ease.
Step 2, to happen no earlier than 12th April, includes:
- Non-essential retail, personal care premises, such as hairdressers and nail salons, and public buildings, such as libraries and community centres, will reopen.
- Most outdoor attractions and settings, including zoos, and theme parks, will also reopen although wider social contact rules will apply in these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households. Drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances will also be permitted.
- Indoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools, will also reopen - but only for use by people on their own or with their household.
- Hospitality venues can serve people outdoors only. There will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcohol, and no curfew - although customers must order, eat and drink while seated.
- Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
- Funerals can continue with up to 30 people, and the numbers able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15 (from 6).
Step 3, to happen no earlier than 17th May, includes:
- Outdoors, most social contact rules will be lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal.
- Outdoor performances such as outdoor cinemas, outdoor theatres and outdoor cinemas can reopen. Indoors, the rule of 6 or 2 households will apply - although we will keep under review whether it is safe to increase this.
- Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, the rest of the accommodation sector, and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will also reopen.
- Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed, as will those in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).
- In the largest outdoor seated venues where crowds can spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
- Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. Other life events that will be permitted include bar mitzvahs and christenings.
For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-roadmap-to-cautiously-ease-lockdown-restrictions
To see the detailed roadmap, including details of any measures which must be followed by businesses, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021
 Community Testing for 18-65s
1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. We are broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms but who have COVID-19, so we can find positive cases more quickly and break chains of transmission.
From 1pm tomorrow (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 community. Rapid-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.
Opening Times:
Sundays and Mondays - Closed
Tuesdays - 8am - 6pm
Wednesday - 7am - 5pm
Thursdays - 8am - 6pm
Fridays - 8am - 6pm
Saturday - 8.30am - 1.00pm
Do 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
 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
For more information
Contact Maria Ward - Nottinghamshire Stakeholder Manager via maria.ward@nottscc.gov.uk or 07548 224423.
 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
Click to view short video about the Jobs Board -
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.
Advice to Food Businesses Selling Prepacked Foods
The Food Standards Agency has published a leaflet aimed at businesses selling PPDS food.
The leaflet provides advice to food businesses selling foods prepacked for direct sale (PPDS). The FSA has previously advised LAs that food allergen labelling requirements for PPDS food will change from 1st October 2021 in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
The leaflet is to advise businesses of the changes and assist them in understanding their obligations under the new legal requirements when selling PPDS food to consumers. The leaflet lists the new allergen labelling requirements for PPDS food and outlines how these will affect businesses and what steps they need to take to comply.
 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: Hacking Prevention Masterclass
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
Date: Thursday 25th February
NatWest will be doing a whistle stop tour of how to cobble together a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan with some top tips for keeping the show on the road.
Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/hacking-prevention-masterclass/
Event: Getting Started with Video for Your Business
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Date: Thursday 25th February
In this webinar, D2N2 Growth Hub talks about the benefits of using video in your organisation’s digital marketing mix and show you how to start coming up with ideas for creating impactful videos, even on a modest budget.
Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/getting-started-with-video-for-your-business-feb/
Event: Lockdown Your Data - East Midlands Cyber Security Week
Time: 9am - 4pm
Date: Monday 1st March
The week-long event has been designed to inform and support businesses looking to understand the strategic decisions needed to ensure digital resilience.
A series of webinars will be delivered each day from Industry leaders and experts. From attending delegates can gain insight into the challenges faced from cyber crime and hear how to establish a holistic, risk-based approach to cyber security and learn how to devise and implement continuity and recovery plans.
Sign Up: https://www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/lockdown-your-data-east-midlands-cyber-security-week/
For a full programme of future events, click 'Business Events' below.
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.
DIT have also now added a 60 second step-by-step explainer video on YouTube.
 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.
View the Council's dedicated EU Exit webpage.
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.
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.
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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