Business support grant update 12.03.21

Date Added: 15/03/2021

Additional Restrictions Business Grant criteria changed - still time to apply

We've amended the eligibility criteria of our Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG2) to enable more businesses to apply for higher values of grant funding.

The ARG2 is not sector specific and can support any type of relatively small business, in any setting, from being in a rated premise to home based, provided the business has seen at least a 25% reduction of income.

The changes include:

removing the need for businesses to have been open and actively trading on 11 March 2020 (businesses are now only required to have been open and actively trading on 5 November 2020.)
reducing, from 50% to 25%, the income reduction that needs to be evidenced by businesses (this evidence can be provided in several different ways e.g bank statements.)
increasing the values of the grants; the self-employed (no employees) grant is now £4,000, the businesses with fewer than five employees grant is now £6,000, and the businesses with more than five employees grant is now £9,000.

Business can continue to apply for the ARG2 scheme via our website until 24 March.

Do you have innovative ideas to drive business productivity and growth?

As the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK gives your business the opportunity to bid for government funding to develop and realise the potential of new commercial ideas.

Cranfield University has a successful track record in winning Innovate UK funding, and is dedicated to solving real-life problems with skill sets in: aerospace, transport, manufacturing, water, energy and power, environment, management and defence. The University's Knowledge Exchange team can best support consortia working with us, which includes:

Initial discussions about the scope of your project, application process and tailored support plan;
Support with finding additional partners;
Strengthening your application by providing a content review and development service;
Potential detailed assistance with the market and exploitation application questions from one of the University’s trusted subcontractors.

Want to find out more? Contact Kala Kennedy and take a look here to find out more about how we can support you with Innovate UK funding applications.

MIND mental health coaching
The Public Health Workplace Team have worked in partnership with MIND Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to produce a variety of mental health training to support local businesses and their employees across Central Bedfordshire. To equip participants with rapid practical knowledge and awareness in mental health, there are some free webinars for businesses:

A webinar dedicated for managers and and employees
Emotional Wellbeing Coaching hosted by a MIND specialist dedicated for managers
Emotional Wellbeing Coaching dedicated for employees

Free webinar to help aspiring and existing female entrepreneurs
First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, is holding a free webinar on Wednesday, 24 March to access expert advice and support to help them start and grow their businesses.

The business finance provider has joined forces with three successful female business owners:

UK Digital Woman of the Year (2020), Debbie Clarke
New organic skincare business owner, Stella Verdoes
Business adviser from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, Emily Guest

Join the all-female panel of business experts as they share their experiences, offer advice and answer your questions. Emily will also discuss the different finance options available to attendees to help them start or expand their own business.

Click here to register and find out more.

Is anti-social behaviour and crime effecting your business?
Theft and anti-social behaviour can be difficult to deal with when running a business. Our Community Safety team has expanded to now include a Safer Business Officer, who has knowledge and experience of how businesses can be affected by these issues and can offer you support to combat crime and disorder in your business and local area.

Some of the tools available are Pubwatch, Shopwatch, Radio Link and Best Bar None. These will provide you with an additional network to support you fight against everyday crime that is on your doorstep.

The Community Safety Team have a number of officers, who all work to make Central Bedfordshire a safe place to live and work. The team also work alongside other agencies, such as Bedfordshire Police as Safer Central, a statutory partnership, with an aim to reduce crime and disorder in Central Bedfordshire.

Contact your local officer by email or telephone, 0300 300 5688. Additionally, visit our website.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announcement
The Chancellor’s budget announcement last week included:

An extension to the furlough scheme and VAT rates
Another round of the self-employed support scheme
Business rates holiday
Further grants and loans

View the government’s press release from the budget for more details.

More EU export support for Central Bedfordshire businesses
A new funded programme of webinars are available from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce to understand the new processes and paperwork requirements when working within the EU.

Businesses interested in finding out more about the programme, topics or wanting to book, should view:

18.03.2021 I Import Customs Declarations and Compliance

22.03.2021 I Incoterms 2020

30.03.2021 I Rules of Origin

31.03.2021 I Tariff Classification

Be ambitious. Be connected. BeCentralBedfordshire

website: www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk

email: [email protected]

twitter: @BeCentralBeds

linkedin: Linkedin