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Please note: Applicants that were awarded ARG in Round 1 for the second national lockdown period 5 November - 2 December 2020, do not need to complete an application form, as the payment for Round 2 will be made automatically. These automatic payments were scheduled to be made during the last week of January 2021.
The Government recognises that some businesses which are required to close due to coronavirus restrictions may not have rateable commercial premises (and therefore won’t be covered by the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) scheme), and others won’t have been forced to close, but they will be significantly financially impacted. As such Local Authorities have been allocated Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funds to support businesses that fall into the following categories:
- Businesses who do not pay business rates and who were legally mandated to close between 5 November 2020 - 2 December 2020 or 5 January 2021 - 15 February 2021
- Businesses who do pay business rates but were not legally mandated to close are also eligible for ARG
- Businesses who are involved in the supply chain (or are otherwise closely involved) with the retail, hospitality, leisure, accommodation, entertainment, personal care or market trading sectors, who were not forced to close on 5 November and 5 January 2021, but have experienced adverse financial impact as a result of the introduction of local restrictions.
- Coventry City Council is also keen to provide support for businesses in the following local target sectors:
- Cultural and creative sectors
- Homeworkers, self-employed and freelancers
- Independently owned manufacturing businesses (employing less than 250 employees) which have suffered a significant drop in income due to COVID-19 pandemic and have a plan to reopen as part of a new resilient supply chain for industry when the economy opens up
This grant will provide support for those businesses affected in the second (5 November - 2 December 2020) and third national lockdown (5 January 2021 - 15 February 2021).
The Additional Restriction Grant scheme will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with the window open for 10 working days from 21 January 2021 until 3 February 2021 11:59pm, or until funds have been allocated – whichever comes sooner.
Find out more information about eligibility criteria and access the application form.
Occupied wet-led pubs in either Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions on either 2 December 2020 or 16 December 2020 may be eligible for a one-off £1,000 flat-rate grant payment.
The application window for this support payment has been extended to 28 February 2021.
Find out more information on eligibility criteria and to access the application form.
As lockdown continues, now more than ever before, it is vital that COVID-19 safety measures remain a priority within your business. Coventry City Council’s Public Health team recommend that all businesses take three proactive steps to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of your business:-
Step 1. Everyone who can work from home must do so
Step 2. Businesses must follow all the COVID secure guidance
Step 3. Encourage your staff to undertake regular COVID-19 testing:-
- Anyone experiencing symptoms should book a test at an NHS test centre. Book an appointment
- Anyone unable to work at home, who is physically attending a workplace should get regular weekly COVID-19 testing through our community rapid testing sites. This will help your businesses to identify employees who are positive but who do not have any symptoms. This rapid testing is currently available for anyone living or working in Coventry who is without COVID symptoms - there is no need to book, you can just drop-in. More information about the sites and how to access them.
For businesses with more than 250 employees, there is a national scheme offering support to set up rapid testing in the workplace. To register your interest and obtain more details on the scheme, contact: P-and-PSector@dhsc.gov.uk. Your business will be assessed for the appropriateness of on-site support. If you choose to explore this further, please copy Covid19testing@coventry.gov.uk into your requests for support.
There is further advice and guidance available to all business through the Coventry City Council website.
Looking after your health and well-being is important all year round, but even more so during the current pandemic restrictions and colder weather. We’ve known for some time that the natural environment can reduce stress, lift moods and make us feel better.
In partnership with Thrive at Work, the Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme are hosting a webinar on how the physical benefits from green infrastructure, active travel and green spaces can improve people’s health and well-being. There will be details on how you can adopt well-being initiatives within your organisation and in your home life, as well as details on active green travel plans from Coventry City Council's transport team.
Find out more and register now...
Helping us to identify challenges facing employing migrant workers
18 February 2021 | 9.30am - 11am
Research from Coventry University's Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations found:
- Only 4% of employers are confident they can recognise documents to prove migrants are allowed to work.
- 64% of employers said the right to work checks acted as a deterrent to employing Non-EEA
- Further studies conducted by The 3 Million organisation found:
- 86% of employers said they were unclear on the new rules of employing EU citizens after free movement ends.
- 63% of small businesses are not confident they can hire an EU citizen only having checked their passport or identity card.
Migrants at Work Coventry University & Central England Law Centre invite local businesses to join the right to work workshop helping them to identify challenges they face so they can design training suitable to their needs.
Immigration law is so complicated, it has become a nightmare for employers to know who is allowed to work or not in the UK, and Brexit adds to this confusion.
Join the right to work workshop to identify challenges you as a Coventry business face so that training can be designed to meet your needs.
To register, contact: olivia.everett@coventry.ac.uk
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Calling all start-ups or creative businesses looking for help to reach your goals.
The Creative Futures Incubator may be just what you're looking for. As part of the University of Warwick’s Incubator, you gain six months of desk space at 1 Mill Street, based in Leamington Spa, and business coaching and mentoring.
You'll also have access to the UK's number one ultra-fast 5G network provided by BT Group.
If you're ready to fast-track your start-up or creative business in 2021, find out more and apply to Creative Futures now (Deadline 15 February);
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Aspiring businesswomen are set to benefit from the experience and expertise of 21 female leaders as part of a new programme from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber has opened applications for its 21in21 Women in Business Mentoring Programme that will pair successful female business leaders with women who can tap into their knowledge to help them either move up the career ladder, grow their own business or more generally provide support with professional development.
The new initiative, which will begin in March, builds on the Chamber’s successful Women in Business network which has provided networking opportunities and inspirational role models for businesswomen across the region over many years.
Mentors have been handpicked from a range of sectors and backgrounds from across the region – including manufacturing and logistics through to hospitality and professional services.
They will provide their mentees with one-to-one support including advice, guidance and inspiration to help drive forward with their ambitions either within an existing business or with their own venture.
The initiative, which will launch on International Women’s Day on March 8, will also host additional events and workshops and will culminate in a celebration in March 2022.
The new programme is being sponsored by the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (WM RFCA).
Applications are now open and Keely Hancox, Operations Manager of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Programme Lead for 21in21, said it is an incredible opportunity of aspiring businesswomen.
She said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be moving forward with our Women in Business network into a new kind of initiative that will make a massive difference to those who take part.
“Our 21in21 Women in Business Mentoring Programme has drawn some truly incredible women who will give their time as mentors to help guide and inspire others – whether they are looking to move into management, advance their own career or grow their own business.
“One of the key messages that we’ve heard time and time and again through our network over the past few years is how a lack of confidence or lack of role models can hold women back in their careers.
“We are, therefore, delighted to be able to support 21 women with this amazing opportunity to learn from some very experienced and knowledgeable leaders from across the region.”
Full details and a link to an online application form for the programme.
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