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This information came from Bristol City Council’s Business e-bulletin. You can subscribe here.
Business support grants
If you pay business rates and haven’t applied for a business support grant please apply now.
Businesses should apply once per premises. Once submitted, we’ll assess your application for all grant schemes that are relevant to you. Businesses who have already been paid a grant since November, do not apply again as you will automatically be paid under the later schemes.
Visit the website for further details on the grants available and apply
Discretionary grants latest
We are working on the policy for discretionary grants funded through the Local Restriction Support Grants (Open**) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). We expect the application process to open shortly. We will share the information here, in the business newsletter, and update the website with the latest information when it becomes available.
Support deadline for pubs
A reminder, the application deadline for the Christmas Support payment (CSP) for wet-led pubs is Sunday 31 January. Pubs where less than 50% of income is derived from food who have not yet received the one-off £1,000 grant or been contacted by the council regarding eligibility will need to visit the website to make another application
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
The UK Government recognises the continued impact that COVID-19 has had on the self-employed and has taken action to provide support.
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of two further grants, each available for three month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.
To make a claim for the third grant your business must have had a new or continuing impact from COVID-19 between 1 November 2020 and 29 January 2021, which you reasonably believe will have a significant reduction in your profits.
You must make your claim on or before 29 January 2021.
For more information and to make a claim, visit the GOV.UK website
Originators fund open for applications
Apply now for grants from £500 to £5,000 for creative projects taking place between June 2021 and May 2022.
The Originators Fund is one of the three grant programmes that make up Bristol City Council’s Cultural Investment Programme. The programme is designed to develop Bristol’s national and international reputation as a creative cultural city, to actively advance equality and diversity and to improve people’s lives through the arts.
If you would like to learn more about the fund, talk about your project or idea, network and talk to our team, we are running a series of information sessions throughout February.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 8 March 2021. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of their submission in mid-May 2021.
Self-isolation for employees with symptoms
Employees that develop COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are mild, must get tested as soon as possible and stay at home. They must not travel to work to help protect your staff, families and customers, to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep your business open. Get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus.
Employees should only return to work when they have self-isolated for the required time or when they receive a negative result. View details on how long to self isolate on the NHS website
Test and trace payments
If any of your employees are unable to work from home and are on a low income they may be eligible to apply for a £500 grant as part of the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. Visit our website to find out more about test and trace support payments
Quick updates
- A new West of England Combined Authority (WECA) campaign called ‘Together West of England’, was launched this week to illustrate the wide range of partners and stakeholders working together to help the region, as part of the West of England Recovery Plan. Download the Business Support Guide to help navigate the wide range of support on the West of England’s dedicated business support service, the Growth Hub.
- WECA has also announced the next steps in ambitious plans to transform the region’s transport network to meet the needs of the growing population. Over the next few months route options will be developed across the region that have the potential to connect more people to jobs, leisure and shopping opportunities, help reduce congestion and improve air quality. Visit the WECA website to read more about the West of England mass transit project
- Lloyds Bank Academy has an extensive range of online courses for businesses covering such topics as Making the Most of Social Media; Understanding Your Market; and Growing Your Presence Online. There are a number of upcoming free-to-attend events.
- Register for the Bristol Black Business Networking event on Friday 5 February (9.15am)
- Register for the How to Tell Your Story Online training on Tuesday 23 February (10am)
- Three new murals are planned for Wilder Street in Stokes Croft. Visit the Upfest website to find out more and have your say on what they should depict. People can contribute all kinds of ideas from local stories and anecdotes to specific colours and styles. But hurry, the consultation closes on Thursday 28 January.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed business start-ups to a new record. Business formations grew by 14% in 2020 to reach a new record of 772,002. Read the summary and key findings of the Centre for Entrepreneurs’ seventh annual analysis of Companies House data
- The Bristol Innovators’ Group exists to drive innovation learning and spark great conversations. The group brings its members together to inspire collaboration, making Bristol a better place to work and live for current and future generations. Learn more about the team and join the conversation on the Bristol Innovators’ Group website
- The Small Business Leadership Programme supports senior leaders to enhance their business’s resilience and recovery from the impact of COVID-19, and develop their potential for future growth and productivity. The fully-funded 10 week programme will be delivered online by small business and enterprise experts from world-leading business schools, and is supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Visit the Small Business Charter website for further details on the programme
- WECA has secured over £3m from the Government to explore new uses of 5G to help improve people’s lives and boost businesses. WECA’s 5G Logistics project programme will develop 5G products and services to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus. The project will focus on security, traceability, and real-time tracking of goods. Read the full news article on the innovative 5G trial to boost business on the WECA website
- The Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG) is hosting a webinar on Weds 27 January to discuss the border / procedural formalities required for moving goods through non short straits RoRo locations in Northern Europe. If you are a UK & EU importer, exporter, freight forwarder, transporter or logistics company register your interest on the Eventbrite website
- Leading green logistics service Zedify has launched in Bristol, and received a £100,000 grant from the council. The money will be invested in a fleet of electric cargo bikes and trikes, as part of the One City Plan to have 95% of deliveries within the city centre made by electric vehicles within 10 years, helping to cut congestion and air pollution. Read the full press release on the Zedify website
