The Council has launched a COVID-19 Aware Scheme this week, and all Horsham District businesses are invited to sign up.
The COVID Aware Scheme is a way for premises to show their customers that they meet a standard of awareness of COVID-19 infection controls. These are still challenging times, so it is important that we do all that we can to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The scheme aims to reassure members of our community that their local businesses are continuing to maintain a measured level of caution in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Aware scheme is voluntary, and any business or premises can join by meeting the following six steps. Find out more and sign up online.
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The Recover and Rise SME Digital Accelerator programme is a four-part series comprising more than 25 online workshops.
The workshops aim to help small business owners make the most of digital tools and learn how to grow their online presence, attract and retain new customers and work more productively.
Topics include:
- Getting Online
- Customers and Marketing
- Systems and Productivity
- Growth Expansion and New Products
Businesses must be based in West Sussex to be eligible for these sessions.
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The Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) business funding scheme is available to SMEs across West Sussex.
Whether you're an environmentally focused business or not, you may be able to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 for a project connected to energy efficiency. This could be LED lighting, insulation, machinery upgrades, or renewable energy systems.
Clean Growth UK’s South East hub, the University of Brighton’s Green Growth Platform, is working in partnership with West Sussex County Council to deliver the scheme.
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LEAP grants are grants of up to £2,000 aimed at start-ups and small businesses based in the Horsham District, with fewer than 20 FTE employees.
Business owner Kasia received a LEAP grant for her houseplant business Mystic Jungle. The grant enabled her to buy a van for delivering plants to her customers and local businesses.
"The advertising graphics on the van raised my visibility and made my small start-up business look more professional and attract a better range of clients. Without the help of the grant I wouldn't be able to afford it."
You will need to match fund the grant funding by contributing towards 25% of your total project cost with your own investment. Click the button below to find out more and apply online.
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Hire young people through the Government's Kickstart scheme
The Kickstart Scheme is part of the Government's Plan for Jobs initiative. Employers can claim funding for a six-month job for a young person aged 16 to 24 years old who is currently claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
Not only will you have a young person working for you, funded by the Government, you will also be supporting them to develop transferable skills that are aimed at increasing their chances of sustained employment.
Kickstart funding covers:
- 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
- associated employer National Insurance contributions
- minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions
- a grant of £1,500 per job to cover setup costs and employability support
Are you a food business owner in Horsham District? Make sure you're up to date with the latest information on food safety laws.
Prepacked for Direct Sale: New food labelling laws from 1 October
From 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food labelling will change in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. The new labelling will help protect your consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.
Any business that produces PPDS food will be required to label it with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.
Visit the Food Standards Agency website for official information and guidance.
Watch this useful video for a guide to creating an ingredients list
Book a Food safety course
Our Environmental Health team offers two Food safety courses:
- The CIEH Foundation (Level 2) Certificate in Food Safety: a one-day course designed for anyone working in a food business. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to prepare and cook food that is safe for consumption.
- Food Safety Update Course: a half-day refresher course for those who already have their Foundation course.
These courses are suitable for food handlers preparing or cooking food for consumers; anyone wishing to refresh previously learned skills and knowledge; businesses looking to provide staff development to food employees; and self-employed, food-based small business owners.
Find out more and book a space for you or your staff on our website.
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Councils have a statutory duty to collect business rates, and are also able to award discretionary rate relief in certain cases to reduce a business rates bill.
The Council sets a budget each year for the cost of discretionary rate relief and reviews the maximum level of rate relief awarded to remain within the total budget available.
For the financial year 2022/23 Horsham District Council is proposing to revise the existing Discretionary Relief policy. It is proposed to remove the current caps on discretionary relief awards so that eligible organisations may benefit from 100% rate relief for the financial year 2022/23
To find out more about the proposal and make a comment, visit the LGSS website.
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