A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
Follow the links to see the latest updates from Government on working safely here and find financial support for your business.
The Government has set up a business support helpline on 0300 456 3565. This is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.
Visit the Malvern Hills website for the latest Covid business advice. If you are not receiving this newsletter directly, please sign up to our regular email newsletter for the latest updates on business support.
The Government has introduced new restrictions to help slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. For the most up to date information please see: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest updates to advice and restrictions are:
From 15 December
From 14 December
- Fully vaccinated contacts of someone with COVID-19 should take rapid lateral flow tests every day for 7 days. If you test positive or develop symptoms, you need to self-isolate for 10 days.
From 13 December
- You should work from home if you can.
10 December
- You must wear a face covering in most indoor public places, at large venues and events, and on public transport.
Visit England has some useful resources on the new restrictions for tourism and leisure businesses. Click here to read more.
|
Are you planning to recruit, train, change or expand your business? We want to know more about any issues you have so we can provide support. Let us know by taking part in our survey before 31 January 2022. You will be entered into a £1,000 prize draw. This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
MHDC’s Economic Development Team is working in partnership with the Worcestershire Growth Hub to deliver a range of business engagement visits and events across the district, focussing on rural businesses. This is a great opportunity for businesses to find out about the support and funding that’s available, to let us know about any specific challenges you are facing or requirements that would help you innovate and grow, and to discuss how we can help support you to deliver your future development plans.
Over the coming months the Worcestershire Growth Hub will be visiting rural businesses across the district in person and will also be hosting engagement events at strategic locations, further details to follow. We would encourage businesses to make the most of this opportunity, if you would like to make sure your business is included in these visits then please contact Joel Keller to register your interest: joel.keller@malvernhills.gov.uk
The new Sustainable Tourism project for Visit The Malverns was launched at the NEW Morgan Experience Centre on Thursday 18 November 2021. The project includes a Sustainable Tourism Grants Scheme for tourism businesses operating across Malvern hills district, the new Green Tourism Toolkit, the new Green Mark to create a Local Sustainable Tourism Business Community, as well as discounts with the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Find out more about the Sustainable Tourism Project here.
|
The WINN Innovation team are running a Christmas Challenge throughout December on the Innovation Platform entitled “All I want for Christmas”. They want to hear all about what support from you would like to see across all the Business Worcestershire programmes. You are able to add your own suggestions or vote for some pre-populated ones submitted from various programmes.
WINN innovation is excited to hear what YOU want from them for Christmas! Find out more about WINN and the Innovation Platform here.
|
To prevent your business getting in a jam in January get ahead of new rules for doing business with the EU. To read more about changes to customs declarations, tariffs and pre-notification requirements read this article from the Worcestershire LEP.
nexGworx, the UK’s first 5G Service testbed, based at Malvern Hills Science Park, has launched a regular newsletter to keep businesses up-to-speed with the latest developments in 5G.
Its packed full of funding information, how to guides, event and industry news so will be a useful read for manufacturers, healthcare providers and advisors.
Click here to see the latest edition.
Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.
Get your business ready to welcome guests to Birmingham and the West Midlands for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and beyond. FREE online training for your staff will be available. The new programme will be launched in January 2022, but find out more about it here.
Here2Help Business has already made such a difference helping Worcestershire Businesses recover, adapt, develop and support future resilience. The programme has already helped over 200 businesses through:
• New Job creation: 185 • Jobs safeguarded: 455 • Private sector leverage: £3.8m • New Graduate roles: 45
The second phase of Here2Help has now launched including match-funded grants of up to £15,000 as well as further graduate grants. Click here to learn more.
Specialist Financial Advisor, Ormerod Rutter has written a concise Spending Review Article on the governments Autumn budget. This includes information on changes to minimum wage, Universal Credit and other tax changes.
MHDC and WDC has recently gained funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund. This means there is more grant money available for businesses who take on apprentices and trainees. So, the Council can offer you, if you are an employer with fewer than 250 staff, up to £2000 for each new apprentice or other trainee of any age, whether previously on the company pay role or not. The main requirement is that your apprentice must have started their training after 1st April 2021 and be currently continuing their course. The scheme is open for applications from now until March 31 2022.
Click here to apply for the grant.
In addition, The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) already covers up to 100% of the cost of training an apprentice but is now giving an additional £3000 to any firm first employing an apprentice between 1st October 2021 and 31st January 2022. You can apply for this money through your apprenticeship service account from 11th January 2022.
For full information on apprenticeships and this funding please visit the EFSA webpage.
Did you know that we are giving new apprentices and trainees £500? They can also get help with the cost of travel, equipment and other costs related to their training up to a maximum of £1,000. This project is also funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund.
To qualify for the payments they need to: • live in the Malvern Hills or Wychavon postcode areas. • be a new apprentice or trainee of any age. • earn less than £15,000 a year. • claim for the funding themselves and have their employers support. • complete the first three months of their apprenticeship/training (this only applies to the £500 incentive bonus)
The deadline for application for these payments is also 31 March 2022.
For full terms and conditions and to apply please visit our website.
To find out more about the Upskilling Project as a whole, please visit our website:
Over 50 people attended a recent Tourism Forum, inspiring local tourism businesses to become more sustainable and environmentally conscious. The event launched the new Sustainable Tourism project which includes a Sustainable Tourism Grants Scheme.
Malvern Hills District Council will provide 50% match funding for projects which cost a maximum of £5,000 (£2,500 grant). Advice will be given for how to access other grants for projects costing over £5,000. Follow this link to find out more about the grant.
|
|
|
One small business in the UK is Hacked every 19 seconds. Take this free seminar on how to make your business more cyber resilient and don’t become part of the statistics! There will also be an opportunity to network with business peers and understand how to achieve a Cyber Essentials accreditation. |
The Sustainability Forum is a series of free events open to businesses aimed at helping them draw upon good practice from industry experts and local businesses to help promote sustainable business practices and resource efficiency. This event includes a range of speakers and a Q&A.
The Food and Drink Forum aims to promote the region’s food and drink produce, champion policies that benefit food and drink producers, capitalise on business opportunities and optimise funding, innovation and knowledge transfer. Speakers TBC.
|
|
This short 30 minute course will provide an introduction to vulnerability awareness in the night-time economy. This is designed for all staff working at venues; bar staff, glass collectors, first aiders and anyone else who has contact with customers. By the end of the training, everyone learners will have an understanding of the effects of alcohol and the best person in the venue to contact in these situations. |
|