 As we told you last week the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) (Addendum) will be paid up until 31st March and will then finish. Applications for previous payment periods need to be submitted by 31 March 2021.
From 1 April 2021, the two grants available to businesses will be the Additional Restrictions Grant and the new Restart Grant. We are expecting guidance from the government on the Restart Grant towards the end of March and will update our grants webpage with the information when we have it.
The government has promised £5 billion for new Restart Grants – a one off cash grant of up to £18,000 for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England as well as £6000 restart grants for non-essential retailers.
If you have any questions, or need help claiming grants, please call our business helpline on 023 9284 1641
 All businesses in England are now able to sign up to the government’s free COVID-19 workplace testing programme.
As part of the government’s roadmap to cautiously lift restrictions, businesses of all sizes, including those with fewer than 50 employees, can register online to order free lateral flow tests for their employees.
Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms, which means they could be spreading the virus in workplaces without knowing. Rapid testing detects cases quickly – in under 30 minutes – meaning positive cases can isolate immediately, breaking chains of transmission.
If you aren't running workplace rapid turnaround testing yet, your employees can book set appointments through the council's programme at the Guildhall – available seven days a week 8am-8pm, and appointments can now be booked at short notice.
A reminder that Shaping Portsmouth is still looking for new or old devices, or a cash contribution to help disadvantaged children in the city.
Every child in this city needs to continue their education, for their future and for their wellbeing. We need your help in supporting those who don’t have easy access to the laptops or broadband that would help them to continue with lessons.
Our commitment to provide devices doesn’t stop with our schools, we are also working in collaboration with the Hive to ensure that vulnerable adults in our community have online access. Whether that’s to keep up with the news, speak to loved ones, apply for job roles or secure their weekly online food shop. Our aim is to provide as many families as possible with a device and internet access.
We need your help in supporting disadvantaged families. We are seeking both donations of new or second-hand devices that your company no longer needs, or a cash contribution through our Crowdfunder page, that can be used to purchase additional devices to loan to families in need.
 Carrington West is looking to hire 20 new recruitment consultants to join its six specialist teams based at its Portsmouth offices, with 10 vacancies immediately open.
The company is celebrating 10 years since it launched in 2011 and has seen impressive year-on-year growth to reach its sixty-strong staff and £34 million turnover. Many recruiters have faced a tough year as the pandemic brought many sectors to a standstill, but Carrington West continued to expand its consultant and shared services teams throughout 2020.
 Shaping Portsmouth and its Board of Directors are seeking to appoint a volunteer Chair for the legal entity that is Shaping the Future of Portsmouth CIC.
This exciting role will enable the organisation to set a course to sustainability and to further support successful delivery of the Economic Development and Regeneration Strategy 2019-36 for the City and the Skills and Labour market Strategy and Action plan, which include the significant involvement Shaping has in both Education & Community programmes.
 Times are tough right now, and if you are struggling with your physical or mental health, getting help quickly can make a big difference to your business as well as your personal life.
Solent LEP has partnered with Federation of Small Business (FSB) to provide all Solent business owners with access to a health and well-being support service.
There is no requirement for you to be diagnosed with a condition to benefit from this support. Whether you’re waiting on tests or results, caring for someone else, or simply want to talk things through, they are there to listen.
In further news from Solent LEP, they have partnered with Newable and The Department for International Trade, to deliver virtual events as part of the comprehensive 'Post EU Transition Service' programme for all Solent businesses. The next one is:
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Date: 18 March 2021 Time:10:00 - 11:30 AM
Join Alexandra Wyatt, Global Project Manager at SimplyVAT.com, to discover the latest VAT rules and crucial considerations in areas including:
- Imports
- Exports
- Duties
- Incoterms
- Preventing customer liability for VAT
- July VAT reforms
Help shape plans for a proposed new swimming, sports, and community hub at Bransbury Park by completing the survey before 21 March 2021.
We want to make sure any proposals meet the needs of as many people as possible and so want you to get involved in shaping the scheme from the beginning. We want to reassure residents that this will not involve the loss of any of the existing grassed areas and we know our plans will need to address concerns over parking. There will be no changes that affect the miniature railway and there will still be some outside courts and a children's play area in the design of the scheme.
Your feedback will help us to develop more detailed plans which will be shared with the community later this year. The plans will then go through the statutory planning process where you will be able to formally have your say on the proposed scheme before a decision is made.
Those who are unable to complete it online can do it over the phone by calling 023 9261 6708.
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