Welcome to this week’s business newsletter on the support and guidance available during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This issue features the following articles:
- "Choose Local. Support Everyone." campaign launched
- Opportunity Through Adversity at the NLA
- More businesses reopen across Waltham Forest
- Could you be in-line for a grant of up to £25,000?
- "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme launched
- Business Travel guidance available from TfL
- HSE publishes COVID-secure guidance
- Get expert advice to launch a new business in Waltham Forest
 This week we have launched a marketing campaign to encourage residents to choose local in the weeks and months ahead.
The last few months have shown us the extent to which local businesses are at the heart of our communities during the Covid-19 crisis. From tradespeople bravely visiting homes to provide essential repairs, to the shopkeepers helping residents access food, and the countless other business owners who used their resources to support others - thank you.
We know that as lockdown measures ease, many businesses are now relying on the confidence of residents to visit your shops or call for your services. Our economic recovery campaign - Choose Local. Support Everyone. - aims to create a step-change in how local residents choose to shop and support local businesses, and to showcase an impressive variety of borough businesses with strong ties to their local community and a passion for their trade which reflects the very best of Waltham Forest.
We are also providing a range of resources on helpful information on opening and operating safely, downloadable assets, access to our business support offer and rapid employment service.
The Council and Barts NHS Trust are jointly hosting a New London Architecture webinar on plans to counter the Covid-19 crisis, detailing how the local authority's Economic Recovery Action Plan will bring forward ambitious plans to support our residents and business, such as a new world-class hospital at Whipps Cross.
It takes place on Friday 24 July and speakers include Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Housing Development, Councillor Simon Miller; Stewart Murray, the Council's Strategic Director for Economic Growth and Deborah Sinclair-Day, Associate Director of Development, Barts Health NHS Trust.
Join us as we set out the measures we intend to take over the next year and beyond with partners to build our way to a better future.
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Indoor pools, indoor gyms and leisure centres will reopen on 25 July.
Whilst many businesses have reopened there are still some sectors with no fixed date for reopening and must remain closed:
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Nightclubs
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Bowling alleys
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Indoor skating rinks
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Indoor play areas including soft play
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Conference centres
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Discretionary Grants support certain small businesses that were not able to access previous grants administered by the Council.
There are seven categories of grants available:
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Larger hospitality and leisure businesses;
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Businesses using shared workspaces;
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Council licensed market traders;
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Charities and Community Interest Companies
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Suppliers to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors;
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Community cafes in borough parks;
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Bed and breakfasts paying council tax.
Applicants must have a commercial premises; suffered a loss of income due to Covid-19; have been trading on 11 March; and be classified as a small/micro business.
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Waltham Forest restaurants and other establishments serving food on their premises, can now sign up for the "Eat Out to Help Out" Government initiative for the hospitality industry.
Restaurants, bars, cafes and other establishments who use the scheme will offer a 50% reduction, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to all diners who eat and/or drink-in throughout August.
Businesses can reclaim the discounted amount through an online service, supported by HMRC. Claims can be made on a weekly basis and will be paid into bank accounts within five working days.
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The five steps that all businesses should take to become "Covid-secure" have been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The steps include carrying out a risk assessment, allowing people to work from home and managing social distancing.
The HSE has also confirmed that inspectors will be carrying out spot checks to ensure businesses are complying with health and safety law.
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Since April 2020, over 100 people have provided glowing feedback about the Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) programme and the free business support webinars on offer in light of Covid-19.
Do you have an early-stage enterprise, or are you thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? Let SiLL help you to start or grow your business through our expert workshops and one-to-one sessions.
Take it from our participants: "It was one of the best presentations I have ever attended!‘ and "The conversational style was ideal. I found it very useful and will definitely use the resources recommended. I can’t fault the session at all and now I’m really enthused and ready to get going on my Business Model Canvas"
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We will continue to update you as new information is available. We know that this is a fast-moving situation, but we are confident staff will continue to provide support and guidance to local businesses in Waltham Forest.
You can sign up to our email newsletter with up-to-date information about Covid-19 below.
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