Restart Grants: for non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care and gymnasiums.
The Restart grant is a one-off payment of up to £18,000. The grants application will go live on the 1st April 2021 with a closing date of 30th June 2021. For more information please visit the Wealden District Council website and click on ‘restart grants’. Guidance for the council on allocation of the grant can be found here so worth reading this first.
Ready to Grow
South East Business Boost are offering businesses younger than 12 months old free access to a wide range of expertise. Businesses will receive a consultation with a business advisor followed by participation in 11 x One hour workshops (online) and a few masterclasses. The Ready to Grow programme is targeted at businesses who have been trading for less than 3 years. Find out more on the Ready to Grow website and watch the video testimonial from Chamber member, Social Media Sussex.
SEED Project: South East Export Development
A free virtual programme of support for exporting funded through SELEP (South East Local Enterprise Partnership). The programme focuses on helping companies to make new virtual connections overseas. The project runs for one year from March 2021 and will focus on food and drink, health and life sciences and digital and creative sectors. Please visit the SEED Project website for more information and to express your interest.
Support for food and drink businesses
Buy Local South East are holding 1:1 sessions for food and drink businesses focusing on getting online, online retail, digital marketing, PR and marketing. There are also recorded webinars to re-watch including Embracing eCommerce, Content Marketing and PR Strategy. Bookings for the 1:1 sessions and links are available on the Buy Local South East website although the webinars have now happened but you can watch back.
BT Small Business Support Fund
This scheme has been designed to help businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It enables firms to build their recovery and growth and includes a series of measures aimed at boosting connectivity, cash flow and confidence. The scheme will help fund the cost of ultrafast business connection by subsidising the total cost by up to £2,500 alongside a new bursary scheme to give 1,000 tech start-ups and entrepreneurs a financial head start. More information on BT Small Business Support Fund webpages.
Covid-19 Workplace Testing Webinars
Organised by the Department of Health and Social Care, the free webinars are to support workplaces in the delivery of COVID workplace testing. Employers already undertaking workplace testing will share their experiences and answer queries. Sessions are taking place on Monday 29th March 3pm and Wednesday 31st March 3pm. Register your interest here.
The future of UK-EU Trade relations webinar series
The British Chambers virtual events library has recordings to help guide businesses on the new trading environment. The events cover topics such as ‘Building on the Deal’, ‘Services and Data’, ‘Looking at VAT Implications’, ‘The NI/GB Border Arrangements’, ‘UK-EU Customs and Border’, ‘Rules of Origin’ and ‘The Future of the UK-EU trade relations’. All are available to view on the British Chambers of Commerce website.
Make it Click – Build a business
Learn how to get your small business online and start selling products or services to customers. Then start promoting your work and using social media, all while staying secure. The Make It Click small business hub provides free online resources, tools and courses. For more information visit the Make it Click website.