Existing Covid Support Grants Closing Soon
Following the Chancellor's budget announcement, several new support packages including the Restart Grant schemes have been outlined to support businesses from 1st April 2021 onwards.
Closure dates for current grant schemes
Almost all existing Covid business grant schemes will close to applications on 31st March 2021 and will provide payments to eligible businesses, up to and including that date. Final payments will be made to bank accounts by 30th April.
This is however, with the exception of the single National Restrictions Grant scheme, covering the trading period from 16th February to 31st March 2021. This scheme will close slightly later to applications on 31st May 2021. Final payments under this scheme will be paid by 30th June.
What does my business need to do?
If you have already received any business support grant from the Council since November 2020, then you do not need to complete a further application. Doing so is simply duplicating details we have about your business on file and places unnecessary burden on the team processing applications, of those who are yet to receive the maximum grant support available.
Grant schemes AFTER 31st March
There will be businesses that must remain closed until at least 12th April 2021, once Step 2 of the Government's plan to reopen certain businesses and settings is entered into.
Because of the closure to existing grant schemes, new Restart Grants will be available to eligible businesses, covering the legal closure period between 1st April and reopening.
Click 'Restart Grants' below for more information.
There will also be a further Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provided to the certain businesses outside of the scope of the upcoming Restart Grants, on a discretionary basis. Payment amounts, application process and eligibility for future ARG payments remain unclear at this time.
Other financial support for business after 31st March
For further information on:
- Extension to the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS),
- Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough),
- Recovery Loan Scheme.
Please click on 'Support For Business' below.
Free rapid tests for all businesses
On 6th March 2021, the Government announced that all businesses in England, including those with fewer than 50 employees, are now able to sign up to the free coronavirus workplace testing programme.
How to implement within your business?
Businesses are encouraged to register their interest by 31st March to order free lateral flow tests for their employees.
Why rapid test?
Rapid testing detects cases in under 30 minutes, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately, breaking chains of transmission. Regular testing could be the difference between a workplace being able to stay open and operational, or needing to close due to a coronavirus outbreak.
To read the announcement click below.
 Timeline for business reopening
The majority of businesses in Broxtowe remain closed until we reach Step 2 of the Government's plan to reopen certain businesses and settings, which will not occur before 12th April 2021.
At the point Step 2 is reached, non-essential retail and hospitality venues (outdoors only) will be able to reopen.
Track and Trace returns
Those businesses making plans to reopen in April, are reminded that they will once again need to implement a system to ensure rules around Track and Trace are adhered to. This includes capturing customer details and will still apply to Hospitality settings, regardless of the fact they will only be returning on an outdoor basis only.
Review Covid-Secure guidelines now
Businesses will be able to review our 'Open For Business' page to ensure they make the right preparations, in order to reopen Covid-securely when able.
 Community Testing for 18-65s
1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Testing has been broadened to identify those showing no symptoms but who have COVID-19, so that positive cases can be traced more quickly and break chains of transmission.
Community testing site
The community testing site is located at the Stapleford Library.
Who can access the site?
Testing will be available for adults between the age of 18 – 65, who show no symptoms of COVID-19.
Employees are encourage to make use of these tests, where there employer has not yet signed up the rapid testing initiative, which is now available to all businesses, not just those employing 50+ (details in a previous section above).
How it works
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.
Opening Times:
Sundays and Mondays - Closed
Tuesdays - 8am - 6pm
Wednesday - 7am - 5pm
Thursdays - 8am - 6pm
Fridays - 8am - 6pm
Saturday - 8.30am - 1.00pm
 UK Transition
On 31st December 2020 the Transition Period ended and the UK left the single market and the customs union. There will be guaranteed changes which businesses must adapt to as a result.
The Council has created an 'EU Exit' webpage, which will be updated with new guidance and helpful toolkits, as and when they are made available.
Businesses in Broxtowe that:
- have staff working between the UK and EU
- employ staff from the EU
- transfer data between the UK and the EU
- import and export goods
- deliver services between the UK and the EU
- label products and/or package goods
should all review the latest guidance. Click 'EU Exit' below to view the Council's dedicated webpage
New Toolkit available Now
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has produced a toolkit for small and medium-sized enterprises to help them identify the decisions and actions they need to make to continue trading with the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The document provides an overview of actions to take outlines support, helplines and resources that may be useful for SMEs and signposts to more detailed guidance on government websites.
 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.
 Digital Upscaler Awareness
Is your business scaling at a fast pace? Are your growth plans on hold due to not having access to digital technologies, resources and knowledge?
If this sounds like your business you may be eligible to expert-led digital support and advice through the Digital Upscaler project.
The programme consists of:
- Intensive one-to-one digital adviser support
- Capital technology grants of between £10,000 - £50,000
- Funded diagnostic consultancy and support to implement new technology
- Digital strategy programme and Technology Forums
If you are interested, why not book onto one of the four awareness sessions available?
Dates: 10th and 24th March, 15th and 28th April.
Click below to book.
 Skills Access Hub
Businesses can now access free impartial advice from experienced Skills Advisors and develop action plans to close skills gaps within the workforce.
The plan could focus on upskilling the existing team, or look at ways to bring new skills and capacity into the business via apprenticeships, Kickstart, internships and/or graduate placements.
The dedicated team of Skills Advisers work with businesses on a one-to-one basis, to ensure support it tailored and responsive to business needs.
For more information, visit - https://d2n2skillsaccesshub.co.uk/
The Skills Access Hub is a 3-year project, part-funded by the European Social Fund, that offers skills advice and brokerage support to small and medium sized businesses based across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2).
 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.
 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.
For a full programme of future events, click 'Business Events' below.
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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