Covid-19: Update for businesses
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Welcome to this week’s business newsletter on the support and guidance available during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This issue features the following articles:
- Save The High Street: meetings and webinars
- Job retention bonus for employers
- Instagram networking for fashion and textile businesses
- Employment support for residents and businesses
- Just 17 days to apply for a Discretionary Grant – new acceptance criteria
- Choose Local. Support Everyone. exclusive interview and video
Save The High Street Waltham Forest kicked off last week - a campaign to support local high street businesses, market traders and community champions through the next phase of the Covid-19 crisis. Six members of the team will be visiting businesses across the borough all day tomorrow. They're here to help and hope you can give them a big Waltham Forest welcome.
On Thursday 13 August at 5.15pm the SaveTheHighStreet.org team will also be hosting a 'launch webinar' to introduce the new support that is available and answer any questions you might have.
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Save The High Street Waltham Forest will be hosting two live webinars each week, from now until mid October. Next week's webinars are about finding the right balance between safety and sustainability and success on the high street.
Tuesday 18 August from 5.15pm-6pm:
Hygiene and distancing with a great customer experience: a new normal on the high street?
Thursday 20 August from 11am-11.45am:
Delivering sustainability while growing your high street business in Waltham Forest.
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Employers will be able to claim a one-off payment of £1,000 for every employee they have previously received a grant for under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), as long as they remain continuously employed to the end of January 2021.
To be eligible, the employee must have received earnings in November, December and January, and must have been paid an average of at least £520 per month, and at least £1,560 across the three months.
As the employer, you will be able to claim the bonus after you have filed PAYE information for January 2021, and the bonus will be paid from February 2021. More detailed guidance, including how you can claim the bonus online, will be available by the end of September.
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As a part of our Fashion District project, we have launched an Instagram account to feature local designers and businesses in the fashion and textile industry.
We aim to create a fashion network and community and illustrate how talented our creatives are.
If you’d like to follow or get involved, please check out and follow the Instagram account @lb.wf.fashion.
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The Council’s Rapid Employment Support Service has been set up to support residents affected by Covid-19. It is for those who may have recently lost their jobs, are at risk of being made redundant or are self-employed and struggling.
To date, over 100 residents and 20 local businesses have engaged with the service, receiving support with employability, upskilling, mentoring and recruitment.
If you are a business requiring support to fill vacancies, please contact us below. We aim to respond within 48 hours.
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Over £1.3 million of grants have been paid to Waltham Forest businesses but now the Government has directed councils to close their Discretionary Grant schemes to new applications on 28 August. Applications from nurseries and businesses without commercial property costs are now being accepted, adding to the categories of grants already available:
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NEW: Businesses without commercial property costs;
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NEW: Ofsted registered private and voluntary nurseries;
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Larger hospitality and leisure sector businesses
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Suppliers to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors;
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Businesses using shared workspaces;
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Council licensed, permanent and casual market traders;
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Charities and Community Interest Companies;
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Community cafes based in borough parks; and
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Bed and breakfasts paying council tax.
Businesses wishing to apply for a Discretionary Grant are strongly advised to submit their application well in advance of the fast-approaching deadline.
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Leyton-business Square Root Soda was conceived by Ed Taylor and Robyn Simms as a response to the craft beer boom of the 2010s and the lack of available soft drinks of a similar artisanal quality in east London pubs.
Having grown from operating at a market stall to exporting their drinks internationally, Square Root is one of Waltham Forest’s biggest business success stories, but the Covid-19 crisis has caused setbacks.
With determination and resilience, Robyn and Ed pivoted their business model to continue operating during lockdown and look well positioned to come out of the crisis. But to do so stronger than ever, they need your support! Remember – Choose Local. Support Everyone.
#ChooseLocalWf.
Got a good story to tell? Please email our media team as we would love to hear from you.
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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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