Wokingham Borough Connect
 Staying safe under Plan A Covid measures
With more workplaces opening up again following the move to Plan A measures, please make sure you and your employees are staying safe by:
- Ensuring anyone who has Covid-19 symptoms stays home and books a PCR test to avoid any outbreaks in the workplace
- Encouraging staff to take regular lateral flow tests, especially if they are coming to work daily and meeting with people frequently
- If you choose to, keeping protective measures in place to protect staff and customers, such as encouraging people to wear face coverings
Avoiding an outbreak in your workplace is very important to ensure the successful running of business operations and the safety of staff and customers. For this reason, employers and local leaders are urged to act cautiously and consider the risk of Covid-19 when moving back to Plan A measures.
Both employers and staff should follow the working safely guidance, available on the Gov.uk website. These guides cover a range of different types of work, you may find that you use more than one of the guides.
 Apply now for an Omicron grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding scheme aims to support businesses severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant.
Who will receive this funding? Your business must have been actively trading as of 30 December 2021 and meet other eligibility criteria to apply for funding under this scheme. These criteria include:
- Funding will be distributed on a first come first serve basis
- Each business who meets the eligibility criteria will receive a one-off discretionary payment of £1,000
- The business did not receive a payment from the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (this grant is still open to applications to eligible businesses)
- Only one discretionary payment will be paid per businesses irrespective of the number of properties / premises they have
- All payments will be made by the 31 March 2022
Please ensure you have read the policy document to confirm your eligibility under this scheme. You can start the application process using the button below.
If you would like advice before applying then email: economicdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk
 itsLocal Business Directory
Are you a local business owner? Then why not sign up to our free on-line business directory.
itsLocal makes it easy to find services and companies nearby. The website has new features including links to events and available commercial property.
An updated e-book version of the Business Directory will be available shortly. We'll provide updates on this in the future. Increase your companies reach and sign up now using the button below.
 Arts and Culture offer in the Borough.
To help develop and promote the arts and culture offer in Wokingham Borough, we engaged local company volume.ai to create an app called WOCCA.
If arts and culture relates to your business, the app is an excellent tool to reach out and give information to the local community.
Full details and how to download onto your mobile device can be found on the Wocca App webpages.
 Upcoming construction projects
We have a number of construction projects ongoing and upcoming in the Borough and would like to encourage developers and contractors to make use of our fantastic range of local businesses in Wokingham.
If you think your business might be able to supply goods and services, please do get in touch.
In particular if you work in food and drink, transport, physical and mental health, wellbeing, waste and recycling, or the arts.
Whilst we can’t guarantee any commissions or contracts, we would welcome your expressions of interest and we will liaise with you further. Please email us on economicdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk
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