Business Update Bulletin
A newsletter from Manchester City Council's City Centre Growth & Infrastructure Team, with support and advice for Manchester businesses.
If you have news or information you would like to be included in the newsletter, please send details to: city.centre@manchester.gov.uk
News
Contents
News
• Three new business grant schemes are live - find out more and apply online
• COVID-19 Booster Campaign
• Help and support if your business is affected by COVID-19
• HS2 Business Briefing Note
• GM leaders welcome Innovation Accelerator plans for city-region
• Manchester forecast to see fastest city growth by 2025
• Government department picks Bloc for Manchester hub
• Octopus Energy moves into Bruntwood SciTech at Circle Square
• New Century Hall at NOMA to house venue and college
• Our Year 2022 - Celebrating Manchester’s children & young people
• eBikes scheme launched in Manchester
• North East Gateway walking and cycling route improvements
Events
• Manchester Digital Skills Festival
• Build the Future with Apprenticeships
• Senior Leader Apprenticeship Webinar
• Manchester Airport jobs fair
• Festival of Enterprise
• Manchester Day set to return for 2022
• GM AI Foundry and Transport for Greater Manchester
Consultations and Surveys
• Manchester City Council Budget consultation
• Intellectual Property Office - Design Survey
Training
• Build A Business in GM Libraries
• Grow Your People, Grow Your Business: Workshop Series
• Help to Grow: Digital - UK
• Digital Boost training and mentoring
• Fully funded social value training for SMEs
• EnterprisingYou Programme
• Skills for Growth Training Programme
• One Manchester – fully funded green employment opportunities
• New workshop to help SMEs explore low carbon opportunities
• The Good Employment Learning Lab
Resources
• Business Support
• COVID-19 resources
• Brexit Guidance
Three new grant schemes are live - find out more and apply online
There are three new financial support schemes available to businesses through funding that was announced by the Government before Christmas to help businesses in light of the Omicron variant.
Discretionary Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (OARG)
Is your business in the Hospitality, Leisure, Culture or Accommodation sector? Did you receive an Additional Restriction Support Grant last year? You might be eligible for a new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (OARG).
Find our more and apply online.
COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) - £24m for Manchester businesses
Applications are open for the Government's new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund.The fund allows us to pay successful businesses a relief of up to 100% of their 2021/22 business rates bill and is available to businesses that have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and are ineligible for existing COVID related business rates reliefs (such as the Extended Retail Discount or Nursery Relief). Read more about CARF and apply online.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG)
Did you receive a Local Restriction Support Grant last year? If your business offers in-person services on the premises in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors you might be eligible for a one-off Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant payment of up to £6,000. Check eligibility and apply online
COVID-19 Booster campaign
The government is calling on everyone to support the booster programme to avoid the NHS being overloaded and to keep the economy open. Businesses can help in the following ways:
- Encouraging employees to get a booster (or first and second jab) and supporting them to do it in the best possible way – this might include giving them time off to get the jab.
- If possible, releasing staff to help with the volunteer effort. Volunteer Marshalls are urgently needed to support Manchester's vaccination sites.
- Promoting the booster campaign to your customers/supply chain/stakeholder networks. A toolkit for businesses to use is available on the coronavirus resource centre. This includes an employer toolkit.
To get your booster book a slot to avoid queues: Coronavirus vaccines (www.nhs.uk)
Or for a full list of walk-in vaccination clinics in Manchester visit:
COVID-19 vaccination clinics | Manchester City Council
Help and support if your business is affected by COVID-19
Watch webinars to learn more about the support available if your business is affected by COVID-19.
Webinars are currently available about the COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and how to report COVID-19 taxable grants and payments.
Visit: Help and support if your business is affected by COVID-19 - (www.gov.uk)
GM leaders welcome Innovation Accelerator plans for city-region
Greater Manchester business leaders have welcomed Government plans to establish an Innovation Accelerator centred on Greater Manchester, which was announced as part of the Levelling Up White Paper.
The White Paper announced plans for three new Innovation Accelerators in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Glasgow city-region. Businesses and research in these areas will be supported with £100m of new Government funding, adopting an approach that has helped create thriving innovation ecosystems in places like Greater Boston and Silicon Valley.
Read more: business leaders welcome Innovation Accelerator - About Manchester
HS2 Business Briefing Note
On Monday 24 January 2022 the Government deposited the HS2 Crewe-Manchester Bill, paving the way for the construction of the 2nd phase of the high speed line, due to open 2035-40.
This is undoubtedly good news for the city and Manchester City Council strongly supports the principle of HS2. It will deliver vital extra capacity on the clogged railway network and provide a stimulus to development and create new jobs.
However, the Council and Transport for Greater Manchester have concerns that the Government’s preferred solution of a new 6 platform overground station at Piccadilly, will fail to maximise the benefits of the investment and will undermine the Government’s stated Levelling Up agenda. Read the briefing note in full here.
For more information about HS2 in Manchester visit:
High Speed Two (HS2) | Manchester City Council
Manchester forecast to see fastest city growth by 2025
Manchester is expected to be the country’s fastest growing city between 2022 and 2025, according to a report from EY, with annual GVA growth of 3.2%.
Manchester’s favourable outlook is underpinned by a supportive mix of sectors and significant gains in the professional, scientific & technical and administrative & support service sectors.
Read more at: Pandemic narrows the UK’s regional economic divide | EY UK
Government department picks Bloc for Manchester hub
The Department for Culture Media & Sport has taken around 12,000 sq ft at Bruntwood Works’ Marble Street office.
DCMS’s decision to open a hub in Manchester is part of a wider Whitehall strategy that will see 22,000 civil servants relocated around the country in a push to level up the regions.
Read more: Place North West | DCMS picks Bloc for Manchester hub
Octopus Energy moves to Bruntwood SciTech at Circle Square
Renewable electricity provider Octopus Energy Group is moving into a brand new, hybrid office-retail base within Bruntwood SciTech’s No.2 Circle Square as part of a drive to create 300 new jobs in Manchester.
Located at the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor, Circle Square is a joint venture between Bruntwood SciTech and Vita Group. Once complete, it will boast over 1,700 new homes, 1.2 million sq ft of workspace and over 100,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.
Read more: Octopus Energy to open new Manchester city centre office at landmark building - Business Live (business-live.co.uk)
New Century Hall at NOMA to house new venue and college
The building, at the heart of the 20-acre Noma estate, will house an 800+ capacity music and events space, a creative college and a food court of independent traders.
Recently refurbished the new facilities are set to open at the grade two-listed building in summer 2022.
Read more at: Place North West | New Century Hall to house venue and college
Our Year 2022 - Celebrating Manchester’s children and young people
Plans are shaping up to make 2022 a fantastic year of opportunity for Manchester's children and young people, to help make up for all the time they've spent in lockdown and away from school and their friends during the last two years.
Our Year 2022 invites businesses to get involved in a collective drive to put youngsters at the heart of Manchester’s future. Find out more about Our Year 2022 and how you can get involved at: Plans shape up for 'Our Year 2022' - | Manchester City Council
eBikes scheme launches
A fleet of electric cargo bikes and trailers is to be launched in Manchester offering an affordable and green alternative to cars. As part of an ambitious scheme 26 electric cargo bikes and 6 trailers will be made available, allowing businesses, community groups and residents to hire the bikes.
The scheme was made possible after Manchester City Council successfully bid for a £173,000 grant from the Energy Savings Trust, supported by the Department for Transport. In the coming weeks bikes will be distributed to partners, with the central depot of bikes for hire opening in the first weeks of February.
eBikes come to Manchester as scheme launches | Manchester City Council
North East Gateway walking and cycling route improvements
The works will happen in two phases. Phase one started at the end of January 2022 and is expected to take around 4 months
The work will be focused around Pollard St, Old Mill St and Redhill Street taking until May to complete.
To learn more about this scheme and other highways improvements visit: Improvements to our highways | Manchester City Council
Events
Manchester Digital Skills Festival
The Skills Festival is a week-long programme of events and activities including; presentations, seminars, workshops, industry insights, professional development as well as opportunities to network with others and meet/recruit new talent looking to break into the industry.
2022 will see the Festival delivered as a hybrid series of events, bigger than ever with more businesses in the industry coming together with the common goal of building a stronger future for the digital sector.
The Festival runs from 7 – 11 February. Read more at: Digital Skills Festival
Build the Future with Apprenticeships
Join Skills for Growth - as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2022 and discover how Apprenticeships can accelerate growth in your business. Learn about the top skills, support and funding available to businesses in Greater Manchester and find out how an Apprenticeship can help your business grow and provide your employees with the skills and training they need to progress.
Wednesday 9 February - 10am - 3pm
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce,151 Deansgate, Manchester
Build the Future with Apprenticeships | GM Employers Event Tickets | Eventbrite
Senior Leader Apprenticeship Webinar
Are you a current or aspiring leader in the public, private or third sector looking to further develop your career and increase your organisational impact?
Do you want to learn more about the benefits of senior leader apprenticeships to both you and your organisation?
Join the Alliance Manchester Business school during National Apprenticeship Week for an introduction to their senior leader apprenticeship programme.
Wednesday 9 February at 11:00am. Book your place at:
Senior Leader Apprenticeship Webinar | Alliance MBS (manchester.ac.uk)
Manchester Airport jobs fair
Manchester Airport Jobs fair at Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Thursday 10 February 2022 10:00am - 15:00pm
Do you want to land a career at Manchester Airport? Already working in the industry and looking for a change? Then this is the perfect event for you! Learn more about the enormous range of rewarding opportunities at all levels, from early careers and direct entry to experienced positions across the airport.
Engage directly with employers and find out what they are looking for from applicants to boost your chances of securing employment at the airport.
Register for your free place: Manchester Airport jobs fair Tickets | Eventbrite
Festival of Enterprise
Do you have a business idea and need help to get started? Are you a new business under 3 years old ready to springboard yourselves to the next level? If the answer of either of those questions is YES, then Festival of Enterprise is for you.
There will be the opportunity meet experts, hear stories from Greater Manchester businesses that have been through the start-up journey and network with like-minded people. A chance to hear from, speak to and learn from people who have just set up or gown their business, as well as experts in every area of business start-up and growth. Wednesday 2 March, 10:30am at KAMPUS.
Register your free place at: Festival of Enterprise Tickets | Eventbrite
Manchester Day set to return for 2022
After a two-year absence due to Covid, Manchester Day - the city's favourite day of the year - is back for 2022 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
The countdown is now officially on for the day-long celebration of Manchester, its people, and all things Mancunian which will take place this year on Sunday 19 June, and will include once again the legendary Manchester Day Parade which will weave its way through the city's streets.
Read more: Manchester Day is back for 2022! | Manchester City Council
GM AI Foundry and Transport for Greater Manchester
Can artificial intelligence help Transport for Greater Manchester manage its transport network more efficiently, and provide better information on journeys?
Greater Manchester AI Foundry and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are inviting small to medium-size businesses (SMEs) to take part in a competition to explore ways to solve traffic management challenges.
The competition: Tuesday 15 February, 13:00 - 17:30
During the afternoon event, each team will be given one of three scenarios posed by TfGM. Teams will be asked to create innovative solutions to the challenge by harnessing AI.
Join the showcase at Digital City Festival 2022
The top three teams displaying innovative problem-solving skills will be part of the Greater Manchester AI Foundry showcase at Digital City Festival 2022. The winning team will receive further opportunities, including working with researchers from the Greater Manchester AI Foundry and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Find out more about the Intelligent Transport Competition and apply here
Consultations and Surveys
Manchester City Council budget consultation
We're asking you to help us make sure our priorities still reflect Manchester people's.
We won't need to make savings beyond efficiencies already identified but decisions we make now will affect future budgets.
Have your say on the options before the Council decides in March. The consultation runs until 8 February: The Council’s budget for council services in 2022/23
Intellectual Property Office - Design Survey
An effective intellectual property (IP) system is vital to the government’s ambition for the UK to be the best place in the world to innovate. The designs system enables rights holders to protect designs and enforce their rights. The IPO want to make sure the designs system works for everyone who uses it.
This survey is an opportunity for designers, design-led businesses, and manufacturers to have their say on the future of how designs are protected in the UK. The survey will close on 7 February 2022.
Have your say on designs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Training
Build A Business in GM Libraries
Starting up or growing your business? Got a brilliant idea?
From artisan baker to zumba instructor, Build A Business in GM Libraries our new business support programme can help you get the skills, information & know-how to succeed.
Intellectual Property: Protect Your Assets, Wednesday 9 February
Power Up Your Business! Friday 11 February
BOOK HERE
Find out more about the programme: www.buildabusinessgm.org
Grow Your People, Grow Your Business: Workshop Series
This fully-funded programme is designed for business leaders and owners to develop the growth of their business, productivity and profit through their biggest asset: their people.
Eligible businesses can attend a series of five highly interactive online workshops. All are led by experienced Business Advisors with a focus on peer-learning and practical takeaways.
• Wednesday 9 March 9:30am-12:30pm – Human Resource Basics
• Wednesday 16 March 9:30am-12:30pm – Talent Recruitment & Retention
• Wednesday 23 March 9:30am-12:30pm – Performance Management
• Wednesday 30 March 9:30am-12:30pm – Mentoring in the Workplace
• Wednesday 6 April 9:30am-12:30pm – Leadership Essentials
Register for you free place: Grow Your People, Grow Your Business | Eventbrite
Help to Grow: Digital - UK
Help to Grow: Digital is a UK-wide scheme to help small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) adopt digital technologies.
The Help to Grow: Digital website offers free and impartial advice on how technology can help increase productivity across all sectors.
Find out more: Help to Grow: Digital - UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Digital Boost
Need a boost for your small business or charity?
Digital Boost is a FREE service to help you adopt new digital ways of working and grow your business. Over 2,000 expert digital and business volunteers from organisations including Google, Bloomberg, and Visa are on hand to help.
What support is available?
• Free one-to-one mentoring tailored to your needs, available when you need it
• Workshops covering topics such as SEO, Facebook Ads and payment systems.
• Recommendations for short courses
• A resource library that you can access at your own pace
Book your first session today at: Digital Boost
Fully funded social value training for SMEs
ANTZ are working with the GC Business Growth Hub on the Executive Development Programme to help SMEs across Greater Manchester incorporate social value into their business.
ANTZ formulate strategies to ensure sustainable business growth and societal change go hand in hand, aligning commercial and social strategies. Want to learn how your business can increase productivity? ANTZ will work with you to find out the needs of your business and understand how they can help you grow by incorporating social value.
Contact Olivia Rath at olivia@antzuk.com or 07514663400 for more information.
EnterprisingYou Programme - extended to 2023
EnterprisingYou provides self-employed people and gig economy workers with tailor-made support through dedicated business coaches, with help in areas such as personal finance, mentoring, marketing, recruitment and health and wellbeing.
The free programme which has supported more than 1,700 self-employed business owners across Greater Manchester since last March will continue until 2023.
Find out more at: Help for Self-Employed in Manchester | (enterprising-you.co.uk)
Skills for Growth Training Programme
Manchester Digital and the UK Skills Academy are pleased to announce a partnership to offer fully funded courses under the government's investment into Skills For Growth. The Courses available are:
• Leadership for Digital Growth
• Cyber Secure Training
• Project Management for Digital Transformation
For more information visit Skills for Growth (manchesterdigital.com).
One Manchester – fully funded green employment opportunities
One Manchester can offer funding to Manchester based Employer Hosts to create and test new Green Employment roles. The project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
The Green Employment and Skills Partnership (GESP) project will create a total of 125 supported green jobs in areas such as sustainability, retrofit, construction, environmental management, recycling & reuse, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.
To express an interest please email greenemployment@onemanchester.co.uk or for further details visit Green Employment and Skills | One Manchester
New fully funded workshop to help SMEs explore low carbon opportunities
What does ‘low carbon’ mean? Are there opportunities for growth by becoming a low carbon business? And how do you find out the carbon intensity of your business?
Join Manchester Metropolitan University in December for two days of interactive, face-to-face workshops. Exploring all things low carbon, you’ll assess the carbon intensity of your business, supply chain and products/services. And you’ll identify opportunities for low carbon innovation.
The ECO-I North West project is fully funded by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund for SMEs based in the North West.
To register your interest and arrange an informal chat about the project email at ecoinorthwest@mmu.ac.uk or apply via ECO-I North West · Manchester Metropolitan University (mmu.ac.uk)
The Good Employment Learning Lab
Getting the most out of your team can be tricky so why not get involved in some short training with other line managers that can help?
The Good Employment Learning Lab offers a series of fully-funded training sessions to support line managers to develop their management skills and improve work quality and productivity within their organisation. These interactive sessions are delivered by HR experts with extensive organisational experience.
The programme consists of masterclasses, peer learning groups, and one to one coaching, all delivered online via Microsoft Teams.
For more information visit: The Good Employment Learning Lab · Manchester Metropolitan University (mmu.ac.uk)
Resources
Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses
The North West Cyber Resilience Centre (NWCRC) has launched a new Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses based in the North West. The new guide helps small businesses to improve their knowledge of cyber security and significantly reduce the chances of becoming victims of cybercrime.
In today’s increasingly digital-first world, small businesses face lots of risks operating online. Cybercrime can impact a business through lost time, financial losses or reputational damage. Without the correct precautions in place, cyberattacks on small businesses are wide-reaching.
Find out more at Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses
Connecting BAME social entrepreneurs
The Greater Manchester BAME Social Enterprise Network will give BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) social entrepreneurs the opportunity to:
- Network with and learn from their peers.
- Learn from experts
- Develop their skills in key aspects of running a business
The network will meet regularly to hear from expert speakers, exchange skills, ideas, knowledge and experiences.
Other support available for businesses
Organisations in Manchester that support businesses:
The following Covid-19-specific help is also available for your business and employees:
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Business support (GOV.UK)-The Coronavirus Business Support Hub brings together key information for businesses
- Make sure that your employees are aware that - if they're eligible - they can apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, if they need to miss work to self-isolate
Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace.
The UK government, in consultation with industry, has produced ‘COVID-19 secure’ guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.
COVID-19 Health Advice
For the latest guidance on how to help control the virus, how to check for symptoms and how to book a PCR test, visit the Manchester City Council website at: www.manchester.gov.uk/covid-19//healthadvice
COVID:Recovery – Start protecting your business
The health and safety of workers returning to their workplace is essential in the lifting of restrictions.
We want to ensure that residents, workers and visitors are safe and therefore we have set up two tiers of support for businesses.
- We are offering free advice and signposting for businesses as they begin their post lockdown journey. Measures to comply with health and safety duties on reopening workplaces need to be considered at an early stage in the process and we are here to offer advice where needed. We have a free risk assessment template and check list of control measures which can be used and adapted to your requirements.
- On site audits and assessments are also available for more detailed and sector specific enquiries. This service is offered at reduced rates as we help to ease the financial burdens businesses may have endured during lockdown. We are offering a 2 hour assessment for £100 plus VAT to any business starting to plan for a safe and legally compliant return to business.
To contact us please complete our Business compliance query form.
Brexit guidance
There are new rules for doing business with the EU. A Business Support Helpline can help you identify the actions you need to take - call 0800 998 1098.
The government has issued guidance on the following:
The government is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take. View the webinars.
The Business Growth Hub has a dedicated website offering guidance, including:
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce can also give advice, including:
Can you help?
Follow the Council on Twitter
Do you know about the Council's Twitter accounts?
Alongside the Council's main account (@mancitycouncil), we have a number of area-based accounts (such as @mcccitycentre) and team specific accounts (such as @mccworkskills).
Give them a follow!
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