New COVID-19 business support grant open for applications
Date Added: 19/11/2020
Applications for the first of two new COVID-19 business support grants administered by Central Bedfordshire Council are now open.
This scheme is aimed at businesses required to close by the current restrictions and who have a business rates bill number with us. A second scheme to support other businesses which have been ordered to temporarily close or have been badly affected by the pandemic is expected to open shortly.
Intended to help cover commercial rents or commercial mortgages the payments are linked to a business’s rateable value. Those with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under will receive a payment of £1,334 per 28-day qualifying period, over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of £2,000 per 28-day qualifying period and those exactly £51,000 or above, will receive £3,000 per 28-day qualifying period.
These grants are different in nature to the previous ones and are intended to help meet regular fixed costs.
The Government has set the rules for the first scheme but is allowing us to tailor the second much more closely to the Central Bedfordshire economy. As well as covering those businesses which effectively pay their business rates in their rent, we will be able to offer financial support to other sectors, badly hit by the pandemic and the restrictions, but not directly required to close.
This inevitably makes setting up the second scheme a much more complex and rather lengthier process than simply following a set of rules set by Government. Nevertheless we expect to have that scheme open for applications soon.
SEMLEP Growth Hub - Business EU Exit Webinars
SEMLEP’s Growth Hub is a government-funded local business support service, providing information, advice and support to business directors. They have developed a trade focused webinar series, providing you with more in-depth advice on exiting the EU on the 1 January 2021.
The upcoming webinars are free to join and you can register your interest.
• Importing post EU transition, a practical guide for novice and seasoned importers – Thursday, 26th November 2:00 pm-3:00 pm·
• Understanding international trade documentation post EU transition -Wednesday, 2nd December 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
• Understanding the new UK Global Tariff and trading under preference – Wednesday, 9th December 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
• Navigating Customs formalities and ensuring HMRC compliance – Wednesday, 16th December 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
To contact the team, please email or call 0300 01234 35 and for more information on the support available go to the website.
Brand new fully serviced office space available to view today!
Pristine, ready to occupy office space in an out of town location with ample parking space:
• Flexible easy in – easy out terms
• Phase 1 release 17 offices – only 4 remain available
• Ultra-fast broadband
• VoIP telephony & Wi-Fi
• 24/7 secure access
Wrest Park Enterprise, a 24-acre business park in the heart of Bedfordshire, is pleased to announce the expansion of the business centre campus to incorporate a further 10,000 SqFt of office space in 2 phases.
Phase 1 saw a release of 17 offices in Endeavour House and Phase 2 will be available in 2020 and consists of 22 offices & studios to suit businesses needing between 2 and 12 desks.
If you are looking to relocate your business, take an office for the first time or have moved the majority of your staff to home working and need a smaller office as a hub, on a flexible licence rather than a long lease commitment then view the website for further details or call 01525 306000 to book a tour of our facilities today.
Emotional Wellbeing to support local businesses
The Public Health Workplace Team have worked in partnership with MIND BLMK to produce a variety of mental health training to support local businesses and their employees during these extremely difficult times.
Businesses can use these free evidence informed webinars, one for managers and one for employees. They are pre-recorded and are 15 minutes long and will equip participants with rapid practical knowledge and awareness in emotional wellbeing and domestic abuse and how to approach the conversation with those around you. View the videos.
Flitwick business group goes online
The breakfast club is moving to a virtual business networking forum and taking place on Thursday, 3rd December 2020 at 09:30. Please join them for some engaging presentations.
The Kickstart Grant scheme is open for expression of interest
Businesses directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can submit an expression of interest to receive grant funding through SEMLEP’s Growth Hub Kickstart Grant Scheme.
Business interested in applying for the grant funding are invited to submit a short expression of interest and have until 2pm on Wednesday 25th November to apply. There are a limited number of grants are still available for businesses impacted by Covid-19.
Grants of between £1,000 – £3,000 are available and can be used to access external expertise, consultancy support or equipment that will help the business to respond to the impact of COVID-19. External support can include marketing, operations, HR, finance, health and safety and strategic planning.
If you have any further questions about the South East Midlands Kickstart Grant Scheme, please email the team or visit the website.
www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk
[email protected]
@BeCentralBeds
Linkedin