Welcome to the latest edition of our South and Vale Business Support newsletter!

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (for Open Businesses) is now live!

This scheme offers retrospective financial support to businesses that were open but severely impacted by the Tier 2 restrictions of 2 December to 25 December 2020.


Applications are invited from businesses operating in the accommodation, hospitality and leisure sectors only.


There are separate application forms for businesses that are registered for business rates and for those who are NOT registered for business rates.


Grants for businesses registered for business rates:

  • If your business has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, you may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £801
  • Properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £1,200
  • Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £1,800

Grant for non-rate paying businesses:
 
Businesses that are not registered for business rates may be eligible for a cash grant of up to £801. 

Please note that applications for those who are NOT registered for business rates close at midday on 25 January.

If you do not qualify for this scheme, please review the following sections for additional information regarding financial support.

Following the National Lockdown announcement on 4 January 2021, the Government has announced that £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants will be available to support businesses and protect jobs.


We are currently receiving a very high volume of emails in relation to this funding. We ask that you please bear with us while we await detailed government guidance that will allow us to provide further information on the financial support that will be available. 


Please be rest assured that as soon as we know more, we will continue to update you through our newsletter. If you know of anyone who may benefit from these updates, please encourage them to sign up to receive them on our website.


As a bit of light amidst the gloomy start to the year, we have partnered with Graham Ballantyne, Director of UK Business Mentoring Group, to bring you a FREE online workshop on the Seven Secrets to Improve your Business Profits.



Date and time

Wednesday 20 January OR Wednesday 27 January
(Second session available for those who are unable to make the first date)

14:00 - 15:00



About this event

Join our online workshop, exploring seven key areas that will make a real impact on your business' ability to make money. The workshop is specifically aimed at businesses located within South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.


Please note that there are a limited number of spaces available.


This one-hour workshop will follow the format of:
  • LEARN - discover the seven key areas
  • DISCUSS - share ideas with the host and other attendees
  • APPLY - apply these to your business to increase your profit



BONUS FOR ATTENDEES

Following the event, all attendees will be offered a confidential FREE one-hour mentoring session on how to apply the learnings specifically to their business.
COVID-19 funding: what other grants are available?
Self Assessment deadline: less than a month to go

Around 5.4 million Self Assessment customers have less than a month to complete their tax return ahead of the deadline on 31 January.

Once customers have completed their tax return, and know how much tax is owed, they can set up their own payment plan to help spread the cost of their tax liabilities, up to the value of £30,000. They can use the self-serve Time to Pay facility to set up monthly direct debits and this can all be done online. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.

To find out if they’re eligible, customers can visit GOV.UK to find out more about the Time to Pay facility.

Find out more on the government website.
Is your business open?

The new National Lockdown will hugely affect our local businesses, forcing some of them to close for the foreseeable future.

However, we know that some are able to operate a click-and-collect or home delivery service, and to champion those businesses, we've put together a list of those who are still trading during this uncertain time.

If your business is still open and trading, please let us know and we will promote your services on our dedicated webpage. This is also a great way for people to discover small businesses in their area, and encourage them to shop locally.

View the list of open businesses in full here.

Find coronavirus financial support for your business

National Lockdown rules - can my business stay open?

A fifth of UK adults want to start a business in 2021 – but they need more support

Good cash flow forecasting will show the way
 
How to find new customers for your start-up (when your product or service is expensive)

Let OAS, MTC Apprenticeships and Lloyds Bank help you fund your next apprentice
 
Lock down your SEO: Three quick tips to action now
 
Access free advice through the government’s Business Support Helpline

Mon 11 Jan: Virtual Speed Networking Oxfordshire

Tue 12 Jan: Stem Advisers Hub and Oxford Science and Technology Network Open Event

Wed 20 Jan: Wallingford Virtual Business Buzz

Thur 21 Jan: Oxford Science and Technology Network - Networking event

Sat 23 Jan: The UK's biggest start-up show of the new year

Thur 28 Jan: Abingdon Virtual Business Buzz

Thur 28 Jan: Access to Pre-seed/Seed Funding for Innovators
 
Thur 4 Feb: Access to Finance for Innovators - Grant Funding

Thur 4 Feb: Thame Virtual Business Buzz

Find out more by reading the Business and Innovation Strategy Action Plans 
on our SVBS website.

Copyright © 2021 South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, all rights reserved.

To find out more about how the council holds, uses and stores your personal data, please click on the appropriate council’s link:


South Oxfordshire District Council   |  Vale of White Horse District Council
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