Wokingham Borough Connect
Welcome to the first edition of the Business Matters fortnightly newsletter. Since its launch in July 2020 we have created more than 40 individual business bulletins where delivery has been on an ad-hoc basis.
We'll now be sending these out at regular fortnightly intervals. Look out for your Business Matters newsletter every two weeks on a Tuesday lunchtime. It's one of a variety of newsletters sent by the council, register for more on our sign up page.
 Join the peer networking group
We're working with Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub to offer a dedicated peer networking group for small and medium-sized businesses in the borough. This is to support business recovery and growth.
Peer Networks is a free peer-to-peer networking programme for local business leaders. It's delivered through six online sessions where you’ll work through business challenges with your peers and a trained facilitator.
You’ll share first-hand experiences, gain insights, find practical solutions to shared problems, explore ideas to improve productivity and create a trusted support network.
The pilot programme, which ran between October 2020 and March 2021 saw more than 65 business leaders from across Berkshire take part. It has received excellent feedback from participants.
It's open to small and medium sized businesses that have been operating for a least one year, have a minimum of five employees and an annual turnover of a least £100,000. Register your interest in the programme on the Growth Hub website. Deadline for registration is the end of this month (January 2022).
 Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
Applications are now open for grants to support businesses in the hospitality, leisure, and accommodation sector.
This is a one-off grant to support businesses in recognition of the rise of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
Grants may only be awarded to the registered ratepayer on Thursday 30 December 2021, but may be withheld where it is believed that the details recorded maybe incorrect. More information on the types of businesses that it is available to can be found on our website.
Refer to the supporting document pages on the Council website before applying, in order to check and confirm your eligibility.
Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG)
We have secured additional ARG funding from Central Government to continue to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are currently setting up the application process for this.
This funding is to support businesses that are severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant. Please keep reviewing our website for further details and how to apply. We will hope to have more information over the next few weeks and will provide updates.
 Help shape the green future of our borough
We are looking for a wide range of business representatives to take part in Let’s Talk Climate peer groups. If you own, manage or direct a business that operates in the Borough, we want to hear from you.
Whether you care about climate change and have made changes to your business to be more sustainable, or are still not sure about how climate change affects you or your business, we are open to all views.
We want to hear from a wide variety of industries and business sizes so if you’re interested and want to take part then please express your interest on our Engage Wokingham Borough platform.
The peer groups are going to be made up of two in-person sessions with independent, expert facilitators. The sessions will be long enough to both learn about the key issues and solutions surrounding the impacts of climate change and to have discussions amongst your peers to come up with recommendations for the council.
 Sign up for the Rebel business school
We are one of the sponsors for a free, intensive start-up course which will be led by Rebel Business School online, from 7 to 18 February.
The information and booking page is live. It's free for you to attend and you’ll learn key skills including sales, marketing through social media, building websites, tax and legal, productivity and networking.
You’re welcome to join whether you’re at the beginning of your journey, you already have an established business or you’re building a side hustle.
The course will run across 10 weekdays, live via Zoom, 10am to 3pm, on each day. Want a sneak peak at what's included? Watch the YouTube video to get a taster.
 Shape housing and infrastructure future of our area
There's not long left until our Local Plan Update consultation closes. This is the blueprint for future housing and infrastructure in our area.
The consultation closes at 5pm on the 24 January. You can respond and find out more via Engage Wokingham Borough.
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