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
Contents
News
• COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)
• Business Rates Revaluation 2023
• Manchester Flower Show and The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
• Manchester Day returns on 19 June 2022
• Business Growth Hub launch new business support tool
• Transport for Greater Manchester - Business Support
• Strive UK – Working to help British black and Asian business owners
• Help make Manchester a Living Wage city by 2025
Consultations and Surveys
• City Centre Active Travel Phase 2
• This City housing development site in Ancoats
Events
• First Street Festival
• IP Considerations for the Creative Digital Industries - SODA
• Manchester Tech Festival - Forces for Tech event
• Build a Business in GM Libraries
• Tech Thursday - Growth and networking session
• GC Business Growth Hub - BGH Match
Training
• Action Counters Terrorism Awareness Training
• Lean Manufacturing Training
• Sustainable construction skills training
• Summer Internship Programme for GM businesses
• OPEN SME, new online course to help business leaders develop skills
• Safe Urban Driving Training - subsidised by TfGM
• Help to Grow: Digital UK
• Digital Boost training and mentoring
• EnterprisingYou Programme
• Skills for Growth Training Programme
Resources
• Business Support
• COVID-19 resources
• Brexit Guidance
News
COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)
The second CARF application window is now open to NEW applications until 15 July 2022. If you didn’t apply for CARF before the first application closed on 15 April, apply now.
Not sure it’s worth the time? We’ve refunded £51,200 of business rates to a manufacturing business in Manchester, £9,231 to an IT business and carried forward a rates relief of £15,000 for an accommodation provider.
Find out more and apply online: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/CARF
Business Rates Revaluation 2023: Consultation
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has launched a consultation on the transitional arrangements to be introduced at the 2023 revaluation to ensure changes in bills are gradual and phased in over time.
The next revaluation of properties for business rates will take effect from 1 April 2023 based on the rental market at 1 April 2021. This consultation seeks views on the format of the transitional arrangements for the 2023 revaluation. This consultation closes at 10:45pm on 18 July 2022.
Have your say at: Business Rates Revaluation 2023: Consultation on the transitional arrangements - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Manchester Flower Show and The Platinum Jubilee weekend
Celebrate the start of summer and the Queen’s Jubilee weekend at The Manchester Flower Show this weekend. Follow the fabulous floral trail of gardens and green installations around Manchester city centre.
Platinum Jubilee Weekend, 2 – 5 June.
For a full list of events visit: City centre events | Manchester City Council
Manchester Day returns on June 19
After a two-year absence due to Covid, Manchester Day is back on Sunday 19 June, from 11am - 5pm. Special popup events are taking place across the city, including the celebrated Manchester Day Parade starting at 1pm.
For details of road closures, parking restrictions and the parade route please download this letter.
The Council are looking to help businesses by encouraging footfall into venues through offers and events. To get involved, email city.centre@manchester.gov.uk
There are other ways to get involved in the celebrations this year, from becoming a sponsor to joining the Refill Revolution.
GC Business Growth Hub launch new business support tool
The GC Business Growth Hub have released a new Business Support and Funding Finder. Designed to help business owners navigate the landscape of publicly backed business support in Greater Manchester.
The Business Support & Funding Finder is free to use and available to all businesses and entrepreneurs. If you would like more information on any of the services highlighted please call: 0161 359 3050 or e-mail: bgh@growthco.uk
Support for Your Business | Business Support Finder
Transport for Greater Manchester - Business Support portal
Support following the removal of working from home guidance is continuing to be promoted through the TfGM business portal. This includes advice on supporting employees to travel at quieter times, hybrid working, choosing active travel and exploring ticketing options.
Find out more at: TfGM travel guidance for business - (exhibition.app)
Strive UK – Working to help British black and asian business owners
Be the Business have a mission to empower small business owners in the UK to build productive and profitable businesses in the digital economy. In partnership with Mastercard, they are particularly looking to support and empower black and Asian leaders from micro and small businesses around the country with free resources and a personalised mentoring and Boards programmes. No eligibility criteria required.
Find out more and apply at: Strive UK – Working together to help British black and asian business owners | Be The Business
Help make Manchester a Living Wage City by 2025
Manchester City Council has been a Real Living Wage employer since 2019. Now you can join our city’s three-year drive to become a Living Wage City by 2025.
As we rebuild our local economy, post-pandemic, we’re working with other Manchester employers to make this a fair pay city. Evidence shows that joining the Real Living Wage movement increases your business’s productivity and boosts morale. It makes it easier to recruit and keep good staff.
Consultations and Surveys
City Centre Active Travel Phase 2
The latest plans for walking and cycling improvements in the city centre are laid out in a new consultation. Phase 2 of the City Centre Active Travel Scheme consultation has launched and runs until 19 June.
Read more at: Consultation sets out expanded walking and cycling plans in Manchester city centre | Manchester City Council or if you have any questions email: atscitycentre@manchester.gov.uk
A face-to-face drop in event is planned for Wednesday 1st June, 4.00pm to 7.00pm at the Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester MM2 5NS.
This City housing development site in Ancoats
A consultation has started asking for views from local people and businesses about the Rodney Street housing development site. The consultation will be open until Tuesday 7 June. This will be the Council’s first project via its new housing delivery company, This City.
The adjacent Ancoats Green will also see significant improvements as part of the wider Back of Ancoats Public Realm Strategy.
Read more at: CONSULTATION: Local people asked for views on first This City housing development site in Ancoats | Manchester City Council
Events
First Street Festival
Following the success of Homeground 2021 – HOME is delighted to present First Street Festival 2022, a five-week (weekends) event in Tony Wilson Place from 2 June 2022. Delivered in partnership with Ask Real Estate, supported by CBRE, First Street Festival will provide a range of free activities throughout June and July 2022.
A central stage in Tony Wilson Place (in front of HOME) will form the focal point of the festival. All events will be free and open to the public.
Read more at: HOME announces First Street Festival 2022 - (homemcr.org)
IP Considerations for the Creative Digital Industries
Knowing what your creative work is worth and how to protect it is crucial for freelancers and small businesses in navigating the digital landscape. In this event, experts will take you through aspects of protection for intellectual property (such as copyright and branding) and introduce you to additional approaches for creating equity. The event will focus on the most pressing considerations for IP at the intersection of creativity and technology, along with networking and drinks.
SODA (School of Digital Arts), Monday 6 June, 17:00 - 19:00
Book your free place: IP Considerations for the Creative Digital Industries | Eventbrite
Manchester Tech Festival - Forces for Tech Event
Are you a tech company struggling to recruit talent?
There’s a large pool of candidates out there who possess the skills you need, and they’re ready to work. In fact, over 100,000 veterans are unemployed in the UK alone.
The "Forces for Tech” event on Tuesday 7th June 6-9pm at Bonded Warehouse in Manchester will explore how to transition from the Armed Forces into the world of Technology.
Book your place at: Forces for Tech, Tue, Jun 7, 2022, 6:00 PM | Meetup
Build a Business in GM Libraries
This free business support drop in session at the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) in Manchester Library on the 2nd floor can help you with all aspects of business, planning, registering your business, marketing, Intellectual Property, funding, 3D printing and much much more.
Visit Build a Business for more information on their programme of workshops.
Wednesday, 8 June 2022, 13:00 – 15:00, Manchester Central Library
Register for your free place at: Drop in business support at the BIPC | Eventbrite
Tech Thursday - Growth and networking session
Join Bruntwood SciTech and Mills & Reeve as they bring a wide range of business support services, industry partners and funding networks from across Manchester together. Offering a range of business growth support including funding & finance, access to talent, IP, professional services and many more.
Thursday 9 June, Manchester Technology Centre, Circle Square, 12:30 - 19:00.
Register for your free place at: Tech Thursday - | Manchester Digital
GC Business Growth Hub - BGH Match
BGH Match is GC Business Growth Hub’s free business connector network, providing opportunities for Greater Manchester to reconnect in person once again across the region.
Businesses from across Greater Manchester are invited to Manchester Art Gallery in Manchester city centre for a morning of creating new contacts and expanding your business network. Representatives from GC Business Growth Hub and Manchester City Council will be on hand to discuss the business support available to you.
July 12, 8:00 - 10:00am, Manchester Art Gallery.
Book your free place: BGH Match - Manchester | Eventbrite
Training
Action Counters Terrorism Awareness Training
Join CityCo, Manchester City Council Licensing and Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) for crucial training to meet new licensing regs. Training is free to attend and is aimed at Venue Managers, General Managers, Assistant GMs, Operations Managers and Bar Managers.
Sessions are in support of Martyn’s Law: now a compulsory requirement for licence holders following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. All events are kindly supported by Figen Murray OBE.
Next Dates:
Wednesday 15 June 2-4pm, Manchester City Centre Venue: Register Here
Tuesday 19 July 2-4pm, Manchester City Centre Venue: Register Here
Lean Manufacturing Training
Skills for Growth - Lean Manufacturing has been designed to support the growth and productivity of the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing employers in the Manchester region can access fully funded skills development programmes for their employees and managers.
Join the Lean Lunch Webinar to hear about opportunities that are available and how you can access funding to drive continuous improvement and efficiencies within your business.
Wednesday 8 June – 14:00 – 14:45, Register your interest at:
Lean Lunch Webinar (Manchester) | Eventbrite
Sustainable construction skills training
The built environment contributes around 47% towards the UK’s total carbon footprint. We need to build better and retrofit our current building stock. Fabric have developed a series of training workshops (embedding Carbon Literacy) to give a clear overview as to why and how we should be building much more sustainably, embracing modern and lean construction processes.
This series of 3 full-day workshops, starting on 9 June has an emphasis on low carbon retrofit. The course is fully funded for residents/project based in Greater Manchester.
For more information and to book your place visit: training | fabric (fabric-cic.org)
Fully-funded Summer Internship Programme for GM businesses
This summer, the GM Chamber of Commerce is working with Manchester Education International (MEI) to facilitate the GM Summer Internship Programme. The Summer Internship programme will provide GM businesses with energetic, young and talented interns.
The fully-funded programme empowers GM businesses to access the thriving Manchester student population and all of it's potential.
Register your interest by completing this short Registration Form (typeform.com)
For any questions, please email benefits@gmchamber.co.uk
OPEN SME, new online course to help business leaders develop skills
Four universities in Greater Manchester are collaborating to create a new, online-only programme for busy small business leaders looking to develop their skills.
OPEN SME features one-hour sessions across four modules, with topics including finding and keeping talent, cash flow, and pricing.
The free programme is a partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Bolton, University of Manchester, and University of Salford.
The course is fully funded by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Business Growth Hub. Find out more here: https://opensme.ac.uk
Safe Urban Driving Training - subsidised by TfGM
Do you employ HGV, LGV or PCV drivers? If so, you can equip your drivers with the training to share the road safely with vulnerable users. TfGM are working in partnership with Nationwide Cycling Academy who provide this course for £10.
This course is designed for professional HGV, LGV and Passenger Carrying Vehicles and offers the following accreditations:
• Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) approved
• Meets requirements for managing Work Related Road Risk (WRRR)
• Meets requirements for the Construction Logistics and Cyclists Safety (CLOCS)
• Counts towards a driver’s CPC
The Safe Urban Driving courses will run throughout the year, with bookings now available for Spring and Summer 2022. For further information about the campaign please email: engagement@tfgm.com
Help to Grow: Digital - UK
Access 12-weeks of learning designed to fit alongside work commitments, to enhance your business’s resilience, recovery, and long-term growth, following the impact of COVID-19.
By the end of the programme, you'll have developed a business growth plan to help you lead your business to release its potential. You'll also have one-to-one sessions with a mentor, who'll provide you with personalised support to develop your business growth plan.
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
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).
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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