Hospitality business helpline.  We’re here to help.

Our new Covid-19 hospitality business helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm on 020 7361 2161 The line is only for queries directly related to Covid-19 but for other info and guidance you can visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/reopening-business. 

Human Resources Advice for SMEs in the Covid-19 era

A RBKC Supply Chain Workshop in association with CrosseHR.  Online on 17th September at 9.30am -11.30am.  RBKC Supply Chain is offering a FREE workshop on Human Resource issues for small and medium size companies in construction or related sectors.  To find out more and to reserve your place please click here.

Online Creative Conversation 23 September 10am to 2pm

Join in to share views about what Culture in the borough means to you and how, working together, we can achieve cultural recovery from the pandemic.  This is an event run by Exhibition Road Cultural Group, Kensington + Chelsea Art Week and RBKC’s Culture Team.  Click here for your ticket.    

Join the Arts Grants Panel

We are recruiting new members to our Arts Grants Panel. Could that be you?  We are looking for residents in Kensington and Chelsea aged 18+ who feel passionately about the importance of creativity within their community, and who would like to get involved in the assessment and decision making process of our Arts Grants Scheme. The closing date for applications is 4pm Friday 18 September 2020.  Apply here

The Arts Grants Scheme 

This scheme welcomes applications from individuals and organisations looking to produce innovative and engaging art projects across the borough, and offers grants of up to £3,000. Both in person, and digital projects to be run online, are welcome. All applicants to read carefully the Guidance Document here before making an application. Submit completed applications by 10am Friday 16 October.  The Application Form is undergoing maintenance and will be available here shortly – bookmark this page!

Are you in the business of film making?

Bringing short film onto the big screen in in Earls Court 18 – 30 October.  Now in its sixth year, the Earl’s Court Film Festival as gone from strength to strength.  For entrepreneurs and small enterprises in film making, see what has been submitted here.  See also the government’s £500m Film and TV Production Restart Scheme.  Go to details on scheme and bookmark.  Poster to print out is attached.

Government and Partner News

UK Theatre Association

Maximum value: £ 1,000.  Application deadline: 10 Sept 2020.  The Theatre Artists Fund has been set up to provide emergency support for theatre workers and freelancers across the UK. It is for theatre professionals who are in need of urgent and critical financial support due to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the theatre sector. More details.

The London Resilience Fund working with the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), innovation grants of up to £50k

Grants of up to £50,000 will be available to support designing and testing innovations.  The Fund is open to: town teams and business improvement districts, workspace providers, community groups, social enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, charities, boroughs and sub-regional partnerships.  More details here.

Kickstart Scheme

The government has introduced a new Kickstart Scheme a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit.  Funding available for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. Employers check if you can apply for funding.  If you are considering becoming a representative for a group of employers (e.g. you are a Chamber or a business forum), check what information you need to provide to apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme. Find more guidance and promotional materials here.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the scheme:

• From 1 September the government will pay 70% and employers will pay 10% of employees’ wages for the time they are being furloughed. Employers will also continue to pay their National Insurance and pension contributions.
• From 1 October the government will pay 60% and employers will pay 20% of employees’ wages for the time they are being furloughed. Employers will also continue to pay their National Insurance and pension contributions.
• You will continue to pay employees wages at the contracted rate for the hours they work for you.
• The scheme ends on 31 October 2020. Find out more here.

London Growth Hub: Public Relations for Small Businesses

Thursday 10 September 2020, 10.00am – 1.30pm.  Discover how proactive PR as part of your content marketing strategy can be transformative for your business. Hear expert advice to help strengthen your company’s reputation with customers, employees and investors through effective PR.  Click here.

London Growth Hub: Harness the Power of Social Media to Grow Your Business
Day 1: Tuesday 15 September 2020, 09.30am – 4:30pm.  Day 2: Tuesday 22 September 2020, 09.30am – 4:30pm.  Join this two-part virtual event to learn how to leverage the power of social media during COVID-19. Uncover how to align your marketing strategy, build online visibility and attract, engage and convert leads. Click here.

London Growth Hub: Innovating Your Business Strategy: Reset and Recover
Thursday 17 September 2020, 10.00am – 1.30pm.  Your business model and strategy play a critical part in overall business success. On this intensive webinar, hear expert guidance to assess, adjust and improve your existing strategy to help fast-track growth rates. Click here.