Covid-19: Update for businesses
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Welcome to this week’s business newsletter. This issue features the following articles:
- Waltham Forest: buzzing with creativity
- Managing outbreaks
- Grants for offering work placements and hiring apprentices
- Sign up for Save the High Street support
- London Councils reviewing Discretionary Grant scheme
- Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) support
A Fashion District hub has been created at Market Parade in Leyton Green, providing co-working spaces for designers and upskilling workshops to the public from late September.
Applications are open for the new support programme, Forge Fashion, which will help local fashion and textile businesses via networking events, 1:1s with expert advisers, and a tailored workshop.
A Waltham Forest Fashion Instagram @lb.wf.fashion has been launched to promote individuals and businesses in the fashion and textiles industry, and to help nurture a sustainable network.
To find out how to get involved, please join us for a drop-in session on 10 September from 12-1pm.
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Making plans for business continuity and management of risks? The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) has developed ‘action cards’, which reflect the latest advice on how to identify, manage and report a Covid-19 outbreak. The cards are designed as a useful checklist for businesses and local organisations, to be kept on-hand.
To manage any cases of Covid-19 in the borough, we have developed the Local Outbreak Control Plan for Waltham Forest. This plan outlines how we aim to prevent the spread of the virus while also planning for the possibility of a second wave to protect our community’s health, lives and freedoms should one occur.
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The £2 billion DWP Kickstart Scheme launched on 2 September to create six-month work placements for young people and is now open to any employer.
The DWP has produced a guide for employers and there is a page for young people.
On top of a wage subsidy, £1,500 per job placement is available for setup costs, support and training.
If your organisation is creating more than 30 job placements as part of the #Kickstart Scheme, you can submit your application directly.
If your organisation is creating fewer than 30 Kickstart job placements, you must first partner with other similar employers, local authorities, trade bodies, or charities.
The National Apprentice Service is offering grants for businesses that hire new apprentices between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021. Any organisation can apply for the payment, no matter the size or the sector. The important thing is that you hire an apprentice who is new to your organisation, and starts employment in the above timeframe.
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The next few months will be critical for the future of our high streets and we have taken further action to increase the support available.
We have commissioned national organisation SaveTheHighStreet.org to provide a range of free, personalised, hands-on support for independent high street businesses, market traders and local community champions in Waltham Forest.
Together, we will be helping high streets to reopen successfully, recover quickly, and build resilience through the next phase of the Covid-19 crisis.
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London Councils is undertaking a review of the Discretionary Grant scheme in London to better understand the additional support needed by local businesses.
Since the Government announced its business support measures at the start of April, London boroughs have distributed £1.6 billion to around 108,000 businesses.
To date, London businesses have received a higher share of funding than those outside the capital (96.1% share of funding paid so far in comparison to the England average of 88.8%).
However, demand from London businesses is proving far greater than the additional funding available to boroughs.
Waltham Forest has issued 100% of our allocated grants to eligible businesses.
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Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their business idea into a reality.
Through our network of 10 London boroughs and the British Library, we deliver free grassroots support on your doorstep.
Whether you want to start a business, are unemployed and want to upskill, or have just taken your first steps into entrepreneurship, we will help to give you the skills, 1:1 guidance, and know-how you need to build a viable enterprise.
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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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