 Today West Berkshire Council is launching a new grant scheme designed to drive footfall in our high streets and shopping areas, and support our visitor economy this summer.
We are inviting businesses to apply for Welcome Back Business Grants of between £1,000 - £10,000 which can be used to implement temporary changes or host celebratory events that will allow them to welcome additional visitors and encourage new footfall.
Some examples of what could be funded are: temporary tables and chairs that allow a business to seat additional visitors, gazebos to make use of outdoor space, or event activities that attract customers and celebrate reopening.
Read more and apply for a Welcome Back Business Grant here
The deadline for applications is 21 June 2021, but we will be reviewing proposals on a rolling basis and aim to respond to everyone by 2 July.
 We are thrilled to see that the majority of businesses across West Berkshire have re-opened fully this last week. The only venues that must now remain closed are nightclubs, dancehalls and adult entertainment.
We have witnessed a massive effort from businesses to prepare for this week, and we hope the Welcome Back Business Grants can offer an additional boost.
If you have begun welcoming customers back inside this week, then please check the new guidance relevant to your industry.
The Public Protection Partnership has put together an essential Covid-19 Toolkit for local businesses which contains logistics resources, a risk assessment template and action plan, communications and other guidance:
Covid-19 Toolkit for businesses
The Government website also contains various useful resources:
How businesses should use the NHS test and trace app
Updated guidance for the hospitality and food industries
The Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub is running a fully-funded business start-up course this June for Berkshire residents who want to start their own business.
Following increasing demand for its Pre-Accelerator Programme, the Growth Hub is offering Berkshire residents another chance to apply for the popular three-day online course, which will equip attendees with the fundamental skills and knowledge they need to successfully start their own business.
The Pre-Accelerator Programme is being delivered through a series of interactive virtual workshops. The sessions cover everything from creating a business plan, registering a business and raising finance to developing sales and marketing strategies.
There are 20 free places available on the programme, which begins on Friday 11 June 2021 and runs every Friday for three weeks. The deadline for initial applications is midnight on Monday 24 May 2021.
Read more and apply for the Pre-Accelerator Programme here
The Berkshire Business Growth Hub hosts fantastic regular webinars and clinics alongside larger programmes like the Pre-Accelerator. These events are free for Berkshire residents, provide in-depth advice on issues affecting businesses, and often include an opportunity for 1-1 feedback.
We found these events particularly interesting:
The Real Business Club: Tax and Finance Masterclass - 26 May
Finance Clinic: 1-1 Advice - 27 May
How to Win R&D Funding in the UK - 8 June
Developing your Sales and Marketing Engine Masterclass - 11 June
To view a full list visit the Berkshire Business Growth Hub events page
 The Government has launched a new scheme to help small and medium sized businesses across the UK learn new skills, reach new customers and boost profits.
Help to Grow: Management is a 12 week programme that is 90% subsidised by the Government as part of its Plan for Jobs to help businesses to drive growth and create jobs. Participants will be charged £750.
It is a practical management training programme with 1-1 mentorship, delivered by leading business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter.
Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, there are a wide range of modules available, including financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, leading high-performance teams, and approaches to digital adoption.
By the end of the programme you will develop a tailored business growth plan to help lead your business to its full potential, and have access to an extensive alumni network.
Register your interest and read more about Help to Grow here
  The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently released a training package to guide small organisations through the actions to prevent successful cyber attacks against them.
The course is online, free, and focuses on these 5 topics:
- Backing up an organisation’s data correctly
- Protecting an organisation against malware
- Keeping the devices used by employees secure
- The importance of creating strong passwords
- Defending an organisation against phishing
According to the Government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021, 38% of all micro and small organisations experienced an attack in the last 12 months. This training may help you defend against this, and is especially suitable for organisations that do not have a dedicated IT department.
Cyber Security E-learning Package
The Community Education Fund provides funding for projects or courses that focus on widening participation in education for adults aged 19+ and families living in West Berkshire. A variety of projects are fundable, ranging from employability to skills training to health and wellbeing, and they can range from a single day to weeks in length.
Any organisation that provides education and training opportunities can bid for funding for their proposal, up to a maximum of £10,000. This includes colleges, training companies, voluntary organisations, charities, housing associations, community groups, schools and nurseries.
West Berkshire Council is accepting applications for funding until 5pm on Monday 7 June 2021. Click on the link below to read more and make an application.
Community Education Fund - further guidance is at the bottom of this page.
The We Offer Testing to our Staff (WOTTOS) endorsement scheme is a free promotional scheme for businesses that have signed up and are participating in the Government's workplace rapid Coronavirus testing programme. The programme was free to businesses that signed up before 12 April, and we publicised it heavily.
If your business signed up you can now access a suite of materials to publicise your involvement in the scheme, such as posters and physical and virtual stickers.
Read more here
Thanks for reading! The West Berkshire Business Newsletter will be back with regular bulletins.
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