Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) top up payments
Date Added: 18/06/2021
Businesses who have previously received an Additional Restriction Grant (ARG) 1, 2 and 3 will have received/be soon receiving a top up payment from the Council.
Since the first Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) launched in December, we have continued to expand the scope of the scheme in order to provide the most support for businesses. Now we have certainty around the number of eligible businesses, we are able to make additional funds available to help local businesses as they reopen.
Businesses do not need to do anything. If you have applied for a previous ARG grant, you do not need to make a new application.
Restart Grants:
The Restart grant, which are one-off payments to rate-paying businesses, that were trading on 1 April 2021, in the non-essential retail and hospitality, leisure, personal care and accommodation sectors closes on the 30 June 2021. Businesses still have time to apply for the Restart Grant Scheme via our website.
Grants to help businesses recover from Covid
The Recovery and Resilience Grants Scheme has been reopened to support local businesses to help create employment opportunities, it also offers match funding to businesses to invest in:
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New technologies
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Plant equipment or machinery
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Fund land or premises growth
The grants are being administered by SEMLEP and are between £5,000 to £50,000 and are designed to build business resilience by supporting investment projects that will create a significant impact for businesses.
The deadline is 28 July 2021 and further details can be found on the webpage.
Managing Environmental Change Seminar
This seminar on the 30 June, 2 - 3.30pm you will:
- Discover approaches to implementing environmental changes
- Find out what other companies have done and how
- Pick up tips and tricks
- Learn how to overcome obstacles
- Know what not to do
The session is free to GBN members. Non-members are welcome to attend at a cost of £30 +VAT. You can book by visiting the website.
Event management support fund
Visit Britain have launched a new Domestic Support Fund to kick-start the return of business events in the UK.
The fund is available for not-for-profit organisations and charities hosting meetings, conferences and events from 21 June to 17 December 2021. Events from 100 to 500 delegates taking place in the UK are eligible to apply.
View the website for more information and how to apply.
Don’t miss out on your chance for free business membership …
We’re offering free membership for a year for Experience Bedfordshire. Are you a business working in the tourism/visitor sector. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Experience Bedfordshire is a tourism organisation that promotes local attractions in the area. Now is a very important time to get exposure for your business and help reopen in line with the Government’s roadmap.
65 businesses have already signed up and are now able to promote their business on the website.
Mary Vincent, Director of The Willow Tree Distilling Company Ltd, who has already signed up to the scheme said, " Experience Bedfordshire highlights the importance of supporting our local community based businesses and provides us with valuable support helping us to reach out to new customers and demonstrates the vitality of this wonderful county."
Local tourist attractions who want to “register their interest” can email the team or read the press release for more information.
Workplaces - Vaccine Hesitancy
Vaccine Hesitancy reminds workplaces why they should be encouraging their workforce to take up the vaccination.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is beneficial to both employers and employees because having the vaccine can:
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Reduce sickness absence
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Improve morale, health and wellbeing of your workforce
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Improve productivity due to less sickness absence
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Protect the wider community
COVID-19 vaccination: easy-read leaflets
Celebrity Video
If you require printed copies or translation of the leaflets in a different language, please email or call 01234 718171.
Business Survey - Stratton Industrial Estate
We have created a survey for the businesses based on the Stratton Industrial Park, Biggleswade to gather intelligence, which will feed into the review of the Local Development Order (LDO.)
The primary purpose of a LDO is to simplify the planning permission process and bring many benefits, including making it simpler for businesses to set-up, diversify or expand their existing operations. It should also give greater confidence to businesses investing in the area resulting in increases in employment provision.
This survey will greatly assist the Council in its understanding of businesses in the area and their needs and with a view to adopting it later in 2021.
The survey will remain open until 23 July 2021 and can be completed online.
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