Sandwell still has very high rates of infection with around 300 new cases each week.

So please remember, wash your hands, wear a face covering and make space. 

Please follow the government restrictions in Sandwell to keep you, your employees and your customers safe.

Please ensure your premises are Covid Secure and that you are following the restrictions - 

• Not meeting with people you do not live with in your home or garden
• Not visiting people you do not live with in their home or garden – inside or outside  Sandwell
• Staying two metres away from ANYONE you don't live with at work and outside
• And wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces

This applies to your employees too - in and out of the workplace!

Still time to sign up for the Black Country Business Festival

The Black Country Business Festival (BCBF) is an annual, nine-day festival incorporating hundreds of free business events which take place throughout the Black Country region.

Events of all descriptions are staged by local organisations and businesses to benefit the people and businesses in the Black Country; help business growth; challenge and stimulate, and to draw attention to the region. 

BCBF is a fantastic way to demonstrate the Black Country’s strengths, innovation, commerce, culture and huge investment potential to the rest of the world. 

There is something for everyone at BCBF taking place until Thursday 15 October.

Tomorrow, Thursday 8 October find out how you could win work on the £267m Midland Metropolitan University Hospital project – as Balfour Beatty’ and Sandwell Business Ambassadors hold a virtual event supported by Think Sandwell.

And on Tuesday 13 October Sandwell Council's Think Sandwell Employment and Skills team will provide a one-stop-shop solution for all your recruitment and upskilling needs.

Walsall Council are also holding a superb event tomorrow if you are thinking about starting your own business, you will also be able to hear from partners at Black Country Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Find out what other events are also taking place on the Black Country Business Festival website.

Can your business offer meaningful, six-month placements for young people?

If you can then register with the government’s new Kickstart Scheme and the costs could be covered.

Any organisation, regardless of size, can apply for the Kickstart funding, but employers offering fewer than 30 placements will need to apply through an intermediary, such as the local authority or Chamber of Commerce. The placements created must be new positions and not replace existing roles, staff or contractors.

Sandwell Council's Think Sandwell employment team are offering advice and support about the scheme as an intermediary and you can read more on the Think Sandwell news pages. 

Have you got your QR Code?

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas and other venues across England and Wales must download QR codes for the Covid-19 tracing app.

The NHS Covid-19 app launched on Thursday 24 September, customers need to have downloaded the app onto their smartphones.

Healthy Sandwell have produced a comprehensive page of information on the NHS Covid-19 app, just scroll down to a dedicated section for businesses and organisations.

Brexit preparations - are you ready?

Leading audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe are holding a session aimed at businesses involved with the cross-border trade in goods on Friday 16 October.

They will provide attendees with an overview of ‘what we know so far’ and ‘what is still to be resolved’ in relation to the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU.

The content will help businesses with their Brexit preparations, explain the key areas of change and provide insights into how these changes can be managed.

You can find out more and register for this online event on the Crowe website.

Chancellor outlines Winter Economy Plan

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined additional government support to provide certainty to businesses and workers impacted by coronavirus across the UK.

The Chancellor announced a package of measures that will continue to protect jobs and help businesses through the uncertain months ahead as we continue to tackle the spread of the virus. The package includes a new Jobs Support Scheme to protect millions of returning workers, extending the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and 15% VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors, and help for businesses in repaying government-backed loans.

Full details can be found on the gov.uk website.

Time is running out to find funding to bolster your business

If your business has taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic, there may be funding available to help it back on its feet. Find it through the Idox Open4Business online portal GRANTfinder.

The portal is free to use for Sandwell businesses until the end of October 2020 - find out more about the portal and how to access it through Think Sandwell.