RBKC News. 04.01.2021

RBKC Additional Restrictions Grant scheme deadline 10 January 2021

Apply here. Please ensure that you leave plenty of time to get the application form completed, as late applications will not be accepted.  A step-by-step guide is available. There are also Additional Restrictions Grants frequently asked questions for Council-licensed market traders. 

RBKC Local Restrictions Support Scheme Grants

Description of all the available grants are on this page. 

RBKC local restrictions grant payments

As there are now a considerable number of local restrictions schemes for which we have received Government Guidance, Finance team are working through each scheme in turn.  Payments relating to the first of the local area 2020 restrictions will start arriving in businesses bank accounts in early January.  Other payments will follow.  Currently we are working through the following schemes:

• National Lockdown (businesses closed between 5 November and 2 December)
• Tier 2 (Severely impacted businesses whilst in tier 2 in October and December)
• Christmas Support for Wet-Led Pubs
• Tier 3
• Additional Restrictions Grant (discretionary scheme)

RBKC Business Guide

The council are launching the Kensington and Chelsea Business Guide in Spring 2021 to provide information on all services that the Council provides to businesses and to encourage local buying – all businesses have an opportunity to be an essential part of our recovery programme showing the depth and breadth of businesses in the borough. Please email Antonia.hollingsworth@rbkc.gov.uk if you would like to be listed for free in this Guide.

The Guide will be in two parts:

1. A printed and digital guide to business services in the borough from Council and partners.
2. A digital map and listings of local businesses. 

RBKC Portobello Business Centre – local enterprise support.

“Setting-up Your Social Business” course between 13th and 21st January 2021.  Part of the Develop & Grow Your Social Business Project in partnership with Kensington & Chelsea Social Council.  The course is open to any resident / organisation based in Kensington and Chelsea; however, priority will be given to those who have applied to and / or have been awarded Grenfell Projects funding or Community Leadership Programme funding.  This training will help residents and fledgling organisations to identify the different types of legal structures available to them, for instance setting-up as a self-employed person working in partnership with other services, or creating a charity or CIC themselves.  The event is taking place via Zoom. Register on our PBC website.  Also see further courses: Small grant fundraising with follow-up Grantfinder search delivered by KCSC (27th January 2020, 10am – 12.30pm) and Large grant fundraising with follow-up Grantfinder search (23rd February 2021, 10am – 12.30pm)

Government Support for business

Coronavirus (COVID‑19) support is available to employers and the self-employed, including sole traders and limited company directors. You may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants, whether your business is open or closed.  Find out what coronavirus financial support is available for your business here.  A full list of financial support measures for businesses during coronavirus is available here.

Business evictions ban extended until March

Business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021. Read more here.

RBKC Coronavirus testing for people without symptoms

If you have no Coronavirus symptoms you can now get a rapid Community Test at Kensington Town Hall or Kensington Leisure Centre. Both centres are open seven days a week, except for New Year’s Day.  You do not need to book in advance but will need to register when you arrive.

RBKC Coronavirus testing for people with symptoms.

If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus do not come to the Community Testing centres. You can book a PCR test online or by calling 119. There is a permanent test centre at Malton Road W10, as well as others open some days at Kensington Olympia and Royal Hospital.

Government Transition arrangements

The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement governing future trade relations from 1 January 2021, that will see no tariffs or quotas on the movement of goods produced between the UK and the EU. Further details and a summary explainer document are available here.  Full details including sector specific advice and guidance is in the attached.

• Visit gov.uk/transition and use the Brexit checker tool for a personalised list of actions.

• BEIS business readiness bulletins will be continuing, with important updates for your business – sign up now.
• Make sure you check the latest Northern Ireland Protocol guidance, if you move goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.

Federation of Small Businesses – The UK transition: key terms

The UK transition brings new ways of doing business as well as a new set of terminology to master. FSB takes a look at the terms you need to know. Read the blog here.

Government Transition arrangements – training grant:

If you are an importer or exporter and complete, or intend to complete, customers declarations internally for your own goods, you can apply for £1,000 per organisation to support the cost of basic customs training. See guidance on GOV.UK.

The Workary ‘A London Community of Entrepreneurs’

Wimbletech are launching this new digital platform alongside their ‘Workary’ workspace in three of the borough’s libraries.  This will help borough entrepreneurs, freelancers + business owners to connect, collaborate and support each other; through Covid and beyond.  Click this link  for information.

National Lottery Grants for Heritage to Reopen for Smaller Grant Applications

National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has announced that a phased reopening of project funding will begin in late November 2020:  Phase 1 – applications for grants from £3,000-£10,000 and £10,000-£100,000 will be accepted starting from 25 November 2020. Phase 2 – applications for grants from £100,000-£250,000 and £250,000-£5 million will be accepted starting from 8 February 2021.

GLA Pay it Forward and the Back to Business Fund 

Over £1.3 million has been raised through the Mayor’s Pay It Forward London crowdfunding scheme to help businesses hit hard by the pandemic. Sign up today and get the opportunity to access up to £5,000 in match funding from the Mayor’s Back to Business Fund.

And lastly,

RBKC Make a Mayor’s Award nomination

Nominations are now open and will close at 23.59 on Sunday 31 January 2021. There are four different categories of Mayor’s Awards. If you would like further guidance please do not hesitate to get in contact with the Mayor’s Office team using the contact information provided on the Awards page.