Here at the Heart of the South West Growth Hub we look to keep you updated on the latest 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, recovery and growth.
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 Business.
UPDATE: Kickstart Grant Scheme – Reopening for tourism sector businesses
After the first round of applications earlier this September, we are delighted to announce that the Kickstart Grant Scheme is reopening for applications from businesses operating in the tourism sector.
The Kickstart Grant Scheme will reopen for tourism sector businesses only on Monday 21 September at midday. It will close on Tuesday 22 September at 6pm. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants who meet the sector criteria on a first come, first served basis according to the date and time of submission.
Businesses can apply via the online application form or by completing the PDF application form which will be available on the Kickstart Grants page on the Growth Hub website. All completed PDF applications must be emailed directly to the Kickstart Grants Team at Support.bsi@devon.gov.uk
If applicants have any questions prior to the 21 September, they should refer to the Information and Guidance sheet and the FAQ available online or email Support.bsi@devon.gov.uk
Read the full Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme press release here.
Tradespeople urged to sign up to offer green homes improvements
Business Secretary Alok Sharma has urged tradespeople across England to step forward and sign up to be able to offer services through the government’s new Green Homes Grants scheme – as over 1,000 businesses across the country have already applied to do so far.
The £2 billion Green Homes Grant Scheme will see the government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements up to £10,000 to make over 600,000 homes across the country more energy efficient, supporting over 100,000 jobs in green construction, cutting carbon emissions and helping people save money on their energy bills.
To take part and offer their services through the scheme, all tradespeople must register with TrustMark. Where tradespeople are installing energy efficiency measures, they must also be certified to installation standards. To install low carbon heat measures, tradespeople must be TrustMark registered and certified through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for the relevant heating technology. Anyone wishing to do so can simply register with TrustMark via their website
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme is now open and taking applications for its 14th cohort and will be starting in early 2021.
The 10,000 Small Businesses programme aims to help entrepreneurs create jobs and drive the economy forward. Through the programme, participants will be able to identity and enact strategies to scale up their businesses, create employment and expand into new markets.
Over the four-month programme, participants will benefit from 100 hours of quality input and tuition online and in-person. The programme is open to businesses who have been operating for three or more years, with between 5 and 50 employees and a turnover of £250,000.
The deadline for applications is the 6 October 2020. For more information and applications, please apply online.
You can find out the latest updates on our Growth Hub Covid-19 business support pages and further details on financial measures and schemes on the Government’s Coronavirus Business Support Hub. See HM Government Coronavirus Business Support Hub.
Better Business for All Covid-19 Toolkits
The Better Business for All Toolkit has been further improved. To help businesses with the implications of Covid-19, two new resources are now available on our website and to download:
Digital Advantage in Northern Devon
Businesses in and around northern Devon can access specialist digital support from Cosmic’s Digital Advantage Programme.
The programme aims to develop knowledge, strategy and insights for SMEs to gain competitive advantage through their digital offer, operations and business models. The project is set-up to offer eligible businesses up to 12 hours of guidance and support through a range of digital workshops and 1:1 support.
A range of free workshops are available for eligible businesses and are scheduled to run from September to November. Take a moment to look at the courses available online.
Allergen Awareness Webinars for Businesses
Businesses selling or serving food in catering establishments are invited to attend one of three webinars to help them prepare for changes in food labelling legislation next year.
The webinars are being hosted by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards, and are open to any business in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Area, in Somerset, Torbay, Devon and Plymouth.
These webinars will help businesses understand what their responsibilities are and where they can obtain support and guidance.
The webinars will take place on Monday 28 September, 10am-11am, Tuesday 29 September, 2pm-3pm and Monday 5 October, 2pm-3pm.
Book your place via the Eventbrite page.
#SheMeansBusiness
On the 15 September, the HotSW Growth Hub was proud to take part in the #SheMeansBusiness Facebook event run in partnership with Enterprise Nation, Facebook and Natwest.
The #SheMeansBusiness programme brought together businesswomen from across the UK for a day of inspirational online talks and expert-led seminars. Guests heard from a range of business leaders on the importance of digital marketing and how to use social media platforms to reach new customers and drive sales.
The HotSW Growth Hub was one of a few Growth Hubs across the country to host a special follow up session after the main event. Katherine from Oh So Social, a social media marketing company based in Cornwall, led a live session on finding new customers through Instagram. To watch the event recording, please visit our Facebook video page.
2020 ScaleUp Survey
Take a moment to complete the ScaleUp Institute’s 2020 Scaleup Survey – the UK’s largest survey of scaleups and growing companies. The survey will help the Scaleup Institute to know and understand what sort of barriers are preventing businesses from future growth. It is important that businesses make their views known during this challenging time.
The deadline for completion of the Scaleup Survey is 5 October 2020 and it takes no longer than 15-20 minutes to complete.
Please access the survey here
UK Transition – New resources available online
New resources are now available on the Growth Hub’s UK Transition webpage including the latest Tariff Schedule and the Better Business for All (BBfA) Exporting Animal and Animal Products Toolkit.
If your business trades with the EU, we recommend that you check our UK Transition page as it will be regularly updated in the lead up to January 2021.
Further information about the UK Transition can be found at www.gov.uk/transition
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