RBKC News, 09.04.2021.
All Grant information is on this page on our website: Covid-19 support for businesses
- On this page on the Council’s website is information for the Additional Restrictions Grant – The closing date for applications is today 5pm on Friday 9 April 2021. Businesses are to check their eligibility and submit all information and evidence as part of the online application form on this page.
- Information on the Restart Grant will also shortly be on this page. Colleagues were on a call with the Government last Thursday with reference to the guidance. We are working on getting an online application form set up. We will require customers to apply for this grant, even if we have paid them other grants as the government requires us to capture additional information for this grant.
- Also on this page is information on one-off payments for retail, hospitality and leisure, funding for employers through the Kickstart scheme, extra protection for commercial tenants who miss rent payments, plus additional information on loans, information for self-employed and one to one information, advice and guidance provided through our partner the Portobello Business Centre.
- The four current Government grant schemes shown on this page (Tier 2, Tier 3, and 4 Local Restrictions and National Lockdown Restrictions) plus the one-off payments for retail, hospitality and leisure closed on Wednesday 31 March 2021.
You can apply for a pavement licence via the Council website.
Al fresco dining and shopping is due to make a welcome return to our streets in April. We’ve issued more than 200 pavement licences for businesses to operate outdoors since last summer and 24-hour road closures are in place in Pavilion Road, Bute Street and Elystan Street so that cafes, bars and restaurants can trade safely when lockdown eases.
RBKC Hospitality business helpline.
Supporting businesses providing al fresco dining space once they reopen from 12 April. Twitter. We have a dedicated hospitality business helpline for specific Covid-19 queries, such as re-opening, on 020 7361 2161 – Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. This line is purely for matters directly related to Covid-19. For standard service queries find other advice and guidance here
West is Best session for borough-based business forums
22nd April 12.30pm to 2.30pm. KCCC is hosting the first West is Best Networking Event in conjunction with RBKC based business forums. To book go here https://www.businessjunction.co.uk/events/west-is-best-thursday-22nd-april. Once the event is added to the basket, please enter the discount code west22421 to book free of charge. Forums so far include, Earls Court Business Forum, Kensington Business Forum, King’s Road Partnership and North Kensington Connected. If colleagues know of any other business or arts and culture related forums who would like to take part, please make sure they sign up.
TfL Helping restart our capital
TfL have developed some business guidance notes. These form part of their continuing communications about safety, cleanliness and reliability of public transport and the availability of walking and cycling facilities. “Support your team by encouraging them to travel at quieter times” provides a guide on the quieter times to travel. TfL will have guidance notes setting out our flexible fares and ticketing and more on active travel facilities on their website over the next few weeks.
Financial Support from Government. Recovery Loan Scheme Launches
A new government-backed loan scheme was launched on Tuesday 6 April by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to provide additional finance to those businesses that need it.
- Loans will include 80% government guarantee and interest rate cap.
- The Recovery Loan Scheme will ensure businesses continue to benefit from Government-guaranteed finance throughout 2021-opened until 31 December 2021.
- The Recovery Loan Scheme can be used as an additional loan on top of support received from the emergency schemes – such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – put into place last year.
- From 6 April, businesses – ranging from coffee shops, and restaurants, to hairdressers and gyms – can access loans varying in size from £25,000, up to a maximum of £10 million. Invoice and asset finance is available from £1,000.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement is here. For more information on what other financial support you can get for your business, click here.
Covid-secure business spaces
A COVID-19 Workplace Checklist has been compiled by the GLA as a guide for employers based on government safe guidelines. A guide for business on covid testing webinar can be viewed online. The Department for Health & Social Care has “masterclass” sessions, explaining why and how to set up testing sites for staff and visitors. Link here to join these webinars.
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) webinars
FSB is holding a series of webinars in the upcoming weeks. You can view the list here.