You will have received your invitation to join our Local Business Recovery Summit on Wednesday 2 December at 8.30am.

This is an uncertain and challenging time for Waltham Forest businesses. We want to hear from you about what we should be doing to support you and how we can help you to succeed in the future.

Please find full details of the summit and a link to register below. Once you have registered, you will be sent a link to the meeting the day before the event.

We have also been allocated a business recovery package to ensure the survival and restart of local businesses. Please follow the link below to fill out our survey, which will help us determine how this will best be used.

We look forward to welcoming you to this hugely important summit and planning for a successful future together.

Sign up for the Local Business Recovery Summit

Take the business recovery survey 

We have now received Government guidance on eligibility and how grants to businesses closed because of national and local restrictions should be administered. We are putting the applications process in place as swiftly as possible.

These will be based on the rateable value of the business’s premises.

• Rateable values £51,000 and over =  £3,000
• Rateable values £15,001 to £50,999 = £2,000
• Rateable values Under £15,001 = £1,334

Full details of these grants can be found below. We are also working on proposals to support businesses outside of this group.

Read more on new grants for businesses

Throughout the borough, on 5 December and in the lead up to Christmas, residents are delivering online markets to support their local high street and small business owners. The Council is encouraging all residents across the borough to Choose Local.

This is an opportunity to buy unique, locally made gifts without the hassle of crowds or queues due to social distancing. Please browse and enjoy the wonderful and diverse offer of businesses that can be found in Waltham Forest.

Markets include:

• Hoe Street Market
• Highams Park Market
• Chingford Market
• Leytonstone Loves Local
• Walthamstow Village
• Black Wall Street London Market
• Waltham Forest Fashion District Market

Find out more about our Choose Local campaign

Waltham Forest Connected will host an online network meeting on Walthamstow town centre on Monday 30 November 5.15pm-6.45pm.

Local businesses, community groups and shoppers are invited to join the event with the Council, to discuss some of the work underway to assist business recovery.

The Council will give an update on the latest local high street data and will share future plans for high street collaborations.

The event is open to everyone interested in supporting the town centre.

Book your place

Does your SME or micro-business currently rent premises/office space, or plan to do so in the future?

The London Business Hub has a Property Advice Service programme, which offers free support and advice for London businesses like yours.

Their masterclasses will cover a range of topics to support London’s SMEs on the issue of being a commercial tenant. This programme is running for 18 months, from September 2020.

Register your interest for the service 

As part of our month-long Digital Month programme, we have a brilliant webinar coming up this week.

Meet the Founders – Panel Tips & Resources

Wednesday 18 November 15.00-16.00 (3-4pm) 

Details and registration for this event

Hustle & Heels recently became the delivery partner for the London Business Hub's new national Peer Networks Programme for SMEs across England.

The free peer-to-peer networking programme has been designed for business leaders who want to grow and develop their organisation for future success. There are 22 spaces available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The programme is available to any SME that has:

• Operated for at least one year;
• At least five employees;
• A turnover of at least £100,000;
• An aspiration to improve;
• And ideally has the potential to scale up or export or is exporting already.

More information can be found on London Business Hub

Restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to supply takeaway services for another year.

Legislation was introduced last March allowing businesses to supply a food takeaway service. This will be extended until 23 March 2022.

Businesses must continue to tell their local planning authority when takeaway services begin and end.

The takeaway measure applies to food. Serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to licensing laws.

Please read further information on the Government website