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.
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Winter Economy Plan
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has outlined his Winter Plan for the economy. In his statement on the 24 September, Sunak put forward his plan for continued business support which includes:
- A new Job Support Scheme
- Continuation of the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
- Tax cuts and deferrals
- Flexibility on loan repayment
For an overview and access the Chancellor’s full statement, visit our website 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.
Tourism and Hospitality Support Programme
‘Be the Business’ is working with local partners across Devon and Somerset to support tourism and hospitality business leaders in rebuilding their businesses and the local economy.
The programme is now live, starting in October. Sign up now and find out more about the programme here.
What’s Available?
- Masterclass webinars
- Business surgery consultancy calls
- Peer-to-peer working groups
Should you require any further information about the Be the Business programme please email hospitality@bethebusiness.com or contact programme lead, Alexander
Rushton, on 07887 775003.
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:
Events and Workshops for Local Businesses
The Growth Hub website regularly lists events and workshops that offer free support and guidance for businesses within the Heart of South West LEP area. These events cover many aspects of business practice from importing and exporting to marketing and sales. Currently, events on offer include:
- Department of International Trade Export Masterclasses
- Bounce Back Digital Series
- Skills Support for the Workforce
- Business Information Point sessions
Check out the range of events on offer.
Kickstart Grant Update
If you have applied for the Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme, please note that the Kickstart team has received a huge number of applications, in excess of 1000. The team are processing them as fast as they can.
If you have not heard from Support.bsi@devon.gov.uk by the 26 October, please do contact them directly.
However, if you could wait until this date it would be very much appreciated and will give the team more time to focus on processing applications rather than answering emails.
Allergens Awareness Webinar – Last call
Businesses selling or serving food in catering establishments are invited to attend a webinar to help them prepare for changes in food labelling legislation next year.
The webinar is being hosted by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards, and is open to any business in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Area, in Somerset, Torbay, Devon and Plymouth.
This webinar will help businesses understand what their responsibilities are and where they can obtain support and guidance.
The final webinar will take place on Monday 5 October, 2pm-3pm.
Book your place via the Eventbrite page.
Plymouth Startup Weekend: 13 – 15 November
This year Techstars Plymouth Startup Weekend is focused on supporting and growing the entrepreneurial community in and around Plymouth.
The 54-hour event has a new online format, but the inspiration, energy and educational opportunities for entrepreneurs is as strong as ever – you’ll connect with amazing mentors, industry experts, founders, and partners.
This event is for anyone and everyone interested in entrepreneurship! Whether you have an idea to help support the recovery of Covid-19 that you want to learn how to turn into a viable business, or you are already a serial entrepreneur.
For more information and booking a place, visit the Start Weekend website.
UK Transition – New resources available online
New resources are now available on the Growth Hub’s UK Transition page including the Export Webinars, Import/Export resources and the Better Business for All (BBfA) ‘Using the UKCA Mark’ guide.
- New Export Webinars are now available for businesses who export animal or animal products. See more on our UK Transition page.
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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