Welcome to the latest edition of our South and Vale Business Support newsletter!
We are currently working hard to process the applications received in round two of the Discretionary Grant Fund.
Applicants should have heard from us by the end of the day on Friday 31 July. If you have not received a decision notice by then, please do get in touch with us.
Apply for your pavement licence
The Business and Planning Act 2020 has introduced a new, temporary, fast-track process for businesses to obtain a pavement licence for the placement of furniture such as tables and chairs on the highway (including footpaths and pavements) adjacent to their premises.
This will help businesses to maximise their ability to trade whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.
This permission can only be used for the purpose of selling or consuming food and drink in connection with the activity of the main premises.
Small businesses set to benefit from further government funding
Thousands of smaller businesses in England are set to benefit from £20 million of new government funding to help them recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Small and medium sized businesses will have access to grants of between £1,000 – £5,000. The grants can be used to access new technology and other equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other advice.
The Queen’s Awards relaunches Promoting Opportunity category
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise has launched a refocused Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility) category.
The Promoting Opportunity category recognises organisations that have supported people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in improving their job skills and their chances of finding work.
The category enables those whose organisations’ core aim is to provide opportunities for others, and also those with a social mobility intervention or programme, to be recognised and celebrated.
