Coronavirus Business Advice for Local Businesses - 2 April

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Plymouth business news

2 April 2020


Please find below an overview of the latest advice and guidance for COVID-19. In today's newsletter you will find news on the COVID-19 business grants, Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme, funding streams, social enterprise impact survey and business support webinars.

If you have any specific concerns or are in need of support please contact us.


More than a third of eligible Plymouth businesses have requested grant funding

Since sending letters to all eligible businesses last week, Plymouth City Council has received over  2,300 completed submissions for the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Fund, which offer support with grants of up to £25,000.

We are now working hard to process the requests as quickly as possible and aim to pay money directly into business bank accounts within 10 working days of receipt – the first payments to businesses have been made, with money starting to land in bank accounts on Friday 3 April.

We sent letters to nearly 4,000 eligible businesses, which should all have arrived by Tuesday 31 March. The letters contain a link to the online application and contact details for a telephone helpline, which is currently manned daily from 7am to 7pm by experienced Council staff. They have helped more than 400 businesses since Friday.

Find out more here.


Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme

The Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme is now open to businesses who want to help with the community fight back against coronavirus.

Having been contacted by a variety of companies from a range of industries, we've adapted our registration page to accept offers from business as well as from individuals.

If you can spare premises, staff, equipment or anything you think might be useful, let us know by clicking the link below.

Find out more here.


Funding streams

Charities Aid Foundation Emergency Fund

In this time of national crisis, Charities Aid Foundation has launched a rapid response fund to help smaller charitable organisations affected by the impact of COVID-19.

Find out more here.



British Film Institute (BFI) COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund

The BFI and The Film and TV Charity have partnered to create the new fund, established with a £1m donation from Netflix, to help support the creative community, which has been devastated by the pandemic.

Find out more here.



PRS for Music Emergency Relief Fund

We want to help our members in these extraordinary times.  We’ve come together with our partners at the PRS Members’ Fund and the PRS Foundation to launch the PRS Emergency Relief Fund. 

Find out more here.



Help Musicians Financial Hardship Fund

Help Musicians has launched the Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund, a new offering specifically created to alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures that many professional musicians may currently be facing.

Find out more here.

 

Arts Council England Emergency Response Fund for Individuals

Arts Council England (ACE) has announced further details of the short-term, exceptional funds it has created in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Emergency Response Fund for Individuals provides grants to artists, creative practitioners and freelancers who have had their work affected by the COVID-19 emergency, resulting in a loss of income, additional costs and financial challenge.

To apply, applicants must first register on ACE’s Grantium application portal.

 

Arts Council England Emergency Response Fund for Arts and Cultural Organisations

Due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Arts Council England has launched an emergency response fund for organisations outside of the National Portfolio.

The main focus for this fund is ensuring the arts and culture sector can continue and survive during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Any applications should demonstrate how the development they want to undertake will enable the organisation to do this.

To apply, applicants must first register on ACE’s Grantium application portal.


Social enterprise COVID-19 impact survey

The COVID-19 health emergency is having a huge impact on every social enterprise in the country and around the world. 

We want to help provide the right support to our members and continue lobbying government for effective help for the sector get through this difficult time.

To do this, we need as much information from social enterprises as possible. 

Please take 5-10 minutes to tell us how your social enterprise is responding and your ongoing needs.

Complete the survey here.


Business Support Webinars

ChamberLive

On Friday 3 April at 10am, Devon Chamber will be on Zoom talking about the best ways of communicating with your customers and employees remotely alongside invaluable advice for cyber security.

On Monday 6 April at 2pm, ChamberLive will take an in-depth look at managing, motivating and inspiring your teams remotely with techniques for reducing a feeling of isolation and raising collaboration at a time of social distancing..

Find out more and register here.

 

Real Ideas Organisation

RIO will be holding regular online events and webinars so that together, we can figure out the way forward. Join as a free member to get upcoming event listings direct to your inbox. Already a member? Click on the events below to find out more and sign up.

Find out more and register here.

 

BT – Skills for Tomorrow

Improve your online presence with free webinars from BT Business. They can help with a wide range of topics including digital marketing, using collaboration tools and how to get your business online.

Find out more and register here.


LinkedIn

Did you know we are on Linkedin? Join us here for more regular updates.


InvestPlymouth

Keep up to date with news and advice on our COVID-19 business support page 

Know someone who isn't receiving our newsletters but would like to stay in touch?
Sign up for our newsletter here