 Broxtowe officially enters STEP 2 next week
The roadmap out of lockdown has begun and we are still currently at STEP 1 of the Government's four-step Covid Recovery Roadmap.
However, following a recent Government announcement the country will officially move to STEP 2 from Monday 12th April 2021.
Summary of changes for businesses at STEP 2
The main changes that will affect businesses and venues from 12th April include:
- All non-essential retail, personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons will be permitted to re-open Covid-Securely;
- Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’);
- Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups);
- Most outdoor attractions and settings including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas will be permitted to re-open Covid-Securely;
- Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households can also reopen.
Other things to consider
Community Testing Facilities are available for businesses to access - Businesses are encouraged to promote regular testing to their staff members, which will help identify asymptomatic cases and keep their workforce and customers safe.
Track and Trace changes at STEP 2
From 12th April, it will be law for businesses and venues that must comply with Track and Trace, to collect details of ALL customers and visitors on their premises, not just a single nominated contact for the table/group, regardless of them being indoor or outdoor venues or mobile settings.
Businesses may recognise this is different to how contact details had to be collected previously, so may need to slightly alter their approach to accommodating people arriving at their premises.
Where a customer/visitor may not have the NHS Covid-19 App to check into a business or venue, their details will need to recorded using a manual system instead.
Venues that must collect details for the purpose of the Track and Trace system include:
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hospitality businesses, including all pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés;
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tourism and leisure venues, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks;
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close contact businesses, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors;
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facilities provided by local authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres;
- places of worship.
More information can be found in the Track and Trace section of our Open For Business webpage.
Twice weekly rapid testing available for all over 18
From 9th April, in line with the Government announcement, people aged 18 and over in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham will be able to collect two boxes of seven tests per person or four boxes per family from our asymptomatic community testing sites.
People collecting boxes from our community testing sites can also have a supervised test to help ensure that tests done at home are accurate.
With rapid testing offered to everyone, people are being encouraged to take regular tests to help prevent outbreaks and get back to a more normal way of life.
Click 'More Info' below to read the Council's full release.
Covid-19 Business Support Grants
There are currently three grant schemes administered by the Council which are currently to applications, outlined below.
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Restart Grant - Providing one-off payments of up to £6,000 for non-essential retail premises and up to £18,000 for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms; which were legally required to close as of 1st April 2021.
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Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) - Will involve top-up amount of money to the current existing Discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant scheme. It will support businesses that do not have a business rates account. Please note that businesses will not be eligible to receive support under the ARG scheme, if they are eligible for a Restart Grant (see above).
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National Restrictions Grant, Feb to March 2021 - Remaining Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) payments to eligible businesses for the period from 16th February to 31st March 2021. This scheme will officially close to applications on 31st May 2021. Final payments under this scheme will be paid to those eligible by 30th June 2021.
How to access financial support as a business
If you believe that your business is eligible for one of the above grants, then you will now be required to re-apply by selecting the applicable application form.
Further information and all application forms for the above grants are all available via our Support For Business webpage.
Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS)
The Recovery Loan Scheme is now open to help businesses of any size access loans and other kinds of finance so they can recover after the pandemic and transition period.
The RLS will provide to eligible businesses the following:
- Term loans or overdrafts of between £25,001 and £10 million per business,
- Invoice or asset finance of between £1,000 and £10 million per business.
No personal guarantees will be taken on facilities up to £250,000 and a borrower’s principal private residence cannot be taken as security.
The RLS is open to applications until 31st December 2021, however this date is subject to review.
For more information and to apply please visit the - Government's Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) guidance for businesses
 Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air
The ‘Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air’ campaign urges the public to adopt simple health behaviours and work together to keep their distance and control the spread of Covid-19.
It outlines to the public, the positive impact of fresh air on reducing the risk of transmission and reminds people to ‘take this next step safely’ as we gradually emerge from lockdown.
Research shows the risk of infection is significantly lower in fresh air than indoors.
You may notice information being shared about the campaign on TV, radio, press, digital, out of home advertising and social media from 29th March onwards.
 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
 D2N2 Peer Networks
The Peer Network programme is open for SMEs In D2N2, which include Broxtowe.
Peer Networks enables you to make connections that go far beyond networking. Overcome business challenges with Peer Networks.
Spaces now available for our Peer Network cohorts on:
- BAME Owned Businesses
- Medtech and Life Sciences
- High Growth Business
- Hospitality
- Visitor Economy
- Retail
Register your interest for any of the Peer Network spaces, by clicking 'Register' below.
 Effective Change Management Course
Are you working in an SME going through or expecting change?
Nottingham Trent University are delivering a new Effective Change Management course, designed to help senior professionals, managers and leaders within SMEs that are currently going through change, to design, implement and lead change effectively.
Course Delivery
The course is FREE to attend for businesses in the D2N2 area (Broxtowe included) and is split into six 1.5 hour online sessions, that you will be required to attend. Some further self-directed study will also be required.
The course is also accredited as a 20-credit module at postgraduate level, but you do not need to have any prior qualifications to attend.
Date: Starts 13th April 2021 and runs until 4th June 2021
To find out more, including what is covered over the course and to register your interest click 'More info' below.
 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: 24th March, 15th and 28th April.
Click below to book.
 UK Transition
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
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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