Restart grant - businesses to apply now

Date Added: 24/05/2021

We are responsible for administering the Restart grant for businesses that have been impacted by the national lockdown. This support grant is available to ratepayers, whose premises appear in the Rating List on the 1 April 2021. Non-essential retail businesses can apply for one-off payment of up to £6,000, while hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses can receive grants of up to £18,000.

Online applications are open and businesses can apply for the Restart Grant Scheme via our website until 30 June 2021.

The Peer Networks Programme returns is set to return!
This programme is offered at no cost to eligible businesses within the SEMLEP region and many local business leaders have already enrolled on the previous Programme and are realising the benefits. Run by SEMLEP’s Growth Hub and designed and delivered by Cranfield University experts, this allows you to join a group of your peers to share experience, knowledge and advice, build connections, and learn new skills from business experts.

This includes:

Interactive action learning
Trained facilitators
Small groups for high impact group sessions
Flexible topic selection
One-to-one coaching

You can register your interest in the Peer Networks programme by filling in the enquiry form.

Aerospace: Exploring the opportunities for businesses
This event will showcase aerospace sector research, expertise, opportunities and the business support available to SMEs to make changes for recovery.

Session 1: Support available for companies in the aerospace sector
Session 2: Research, innovation and commercial opportunities arising from the future of aerospace
Session 3: Future of aerospace - Challenges & opportunities
Date: 25 May 2021

Time: 10:00 - 13:00

The webinar will include a Q&A session, so book now.

Funding for Research & Development projects – apply now
These loans are for highly innovative late stage projects with the best game changing and disruptive ideas or concepts. There should be a clear route to commercialisation and economic impact.

Your project must aim to develop new products, processes or services:

Open to Small and medium sized businesses
Below market interest rate
Flexible terms
Up to 100% of eligible project costs
Loan size £250k to £1.6m

For more information visit, applications close on Wednesday, 2 June - 11:00am

Search for more Innovate UK competitions.

English Heritage - investing in new office space
The magnificent 19th century French Revivalist mansion at Wrest Park, Silsoe is available to businesses as a striking venue for meetings, conferences and corporate events.

Part of the old social club has recently been redeveloped making a further 3000sqft of modern office space available and all benefiting from the services of a welcoming staffed reception area. Companies are well catered for, with all offices enjoying:

Extensive Parking
Staff Toilets
Shared Kitchens
24-hour Swipe Card Access
Included Utilities
Fibre-Optic Leased Lines Available

To find out more about the office space call reception on 01525 860000 or email the team.

English Tourism Week 2021 starts soon
We are backing national tourism board Visit England’s latest campaign, which starts on Saturday, by highlighting the range of visitor attractions people can enjoy across Central Bedfordshire.

This year’s theme is ‘Here for Tourism’ which aims to support the recovery of the sector as businesses reopen and start to rebuild as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

If you are thinking of booking a day out or a break, please view a list of visitor attractions on the Experience Bedfordshire website.

We are offering 65 businesses that rely on visitors and tourists the opportunity to promote their business for free. If you are aware of a local tourism business in Central Bedfordshire, then please ask them to consider applying for free membership and email Experience Bedfordshire team.

Importing/exporting - Rules of Origin webinar
Since 1 January, under the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement, traders don’t have to pay customs duty to import EU originating goods from the EU or export UK originating goods to the EU as long as they meet the Rules of Origin requirements under the agreement.

HMRC has developed a Rules of Origin webinar, guiding traders through the process. The recorded webinar outlines:

How to classify goods by finding the correct commodity code
How to check if goods meet the Rules of Origin
How to get proof that goods meet the Rules of Origin

Be ambitious. Be connected. BeCentralBedfordshire

website: www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk

email: [email protected]

twitter: @BeCentralBeds

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