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Heart of the South West Growth Hub – Newsletter April 2020

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Businesses can access a range of Government and local business support to help you with mitigating the impacts of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and to assist with actions to support your business adaption, resilience and recovery. You can find links to the latest information, advice and support on the Growth Hub Covid-19 business support pages on the website here  Covid-19 Support for Businesses.

Upcoming webinars
Our Growth Hub Covid-19 page lists upcoming webinars from a range of national and local business organisations. HMRC have a series of webinars about the measures and support available including guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. You may also wish to explore the various webinars on offer through a range of non-government organisations including Chambers of Commerce, FSB, CBI, SWMAS and others.  See upcoming webinars.

 

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There are a range of measures and schemes available to businesses such as grant funding, business rate relief and loans. You can find out the latest updates on our Growth Hub Covid-19 business support pages and further details on the Government’s Coronavirus Business Support Hub covering how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply. See  HM Government Coronavirus Business Support.

Support for the self employed
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by Covid-19. The online service you’ll use to claim is not available yet. HMRC will aim to contact you by mid May 2020 and will make payments by early June 2020. In the meantime, HMRC have published detailed guidance which continues to be updated. Read the guidance here  Claim a grant through the coronavirus (Covid-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

Small business grants and retail, hospitality and leisure grants
Local authorities have now contacted businesses eligible for a small business grant or a retail, hospitality and leisure grant by email or letter. If you have been contacted, please ensure you respond. If you feel you may be eligible but have not received contact from your Local Authority, then please look at the Covid-19 business support pages of your Local Authority or District council for details on how to apply. Detailed guidance about the grant schemes are here should you wish to know more  Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for businesses  .

Government advice and financial support for charities
Last week the Government announced a £750 million package of support for charities, including:

  • £370 million to support small local charities working with vulnerable people
  • Up to £200 million to support hospices.

Read the guidance on running your charity during the coronavirus outbreak and find a link to information on the financial support available here  Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector.

Can your business offer Covid-19 support?
The Government is calling on businesses to help with the response to Covid-19 in a range of ways, from providing hotel rooms to designing medical equipment. Find out about the types of help needed and use the Government online tool to offer support here  Offer coronavirus (COVID-19) support from your business.

If your business is able to make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you can read the technical and regulatory standards here  Technical Specifications for PPE.

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Other National and Local Support for Business

We have recently launched our Business Recovery Support. The service provides you with an opportunity to speak to an adviser about your business and business recovery options. You may wish to explore various actions to support your business with adaption, resilience and recovery considering Covid-19 impacts on your business. You must be a business based within Devon, Plymouth, Somerset or Torbay.

Apply for Business Recovery Support

Grant funding and assistance to social enterprises
Social enterprises can access local and national grant funding and other assistance to help through the outbreak. For details visit

Job opportunities
The Heart of the South West Growth Hub is recruiting for a full-time Marketing Officer, Business Intelligence Officer (both based in Exeter, Devon) and Business Support Advisor (based in Chelston, Somerset). For more information and to apply visit  Job vacancies.

Look after your mental wellbeing  
The coronavirus outbreak is impacting all our lives, both at home and in our businesses, which can leave us feeling stressed, anxious, worried or low. It’s important to take care of your mental health and wellbeing, and to get further support if you need it. Here are some resources and organisations that can help:

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Contact Your Growth Hub

For Free, Impartial Business Advice And Support

Telephone us
03456 047 047

Email us >

Visit website >

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.