The Government is expected to confirm on Monday whether or not the country will be moving into Step 4 of the Government’s roadmap from Monday 19 July. This change could mean the end of social distancing and limit restrictions on businesses.

Keep an eye on the Government’s website and its Working safely during Coronavirus guidance for updates.

Watch this space!  Reigate & Banstead Borough Council are delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of a new Business Growth Grant scheme which will provide business grants of up to £10,000.

The Grant will support local small businesses who can demonstrate growth and are looking for support to take their business to the next level.

Further information will be published in due course, but the grant will be for small businesses of up to 49 employees.  The grant will be a ‘one off’ award to help a small business grow by enabling them to recruit new staff, invest in new plant or premises, or gain new accredited skills.

Book your space for July's Learning Lunch.  On Wednesday 21 July (12-1pm) we will hear from Simon Bland, Head of Economic Prosperity at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council who will be exploring how Covid-19 has changed local businesses like never before.

• 14 July 09.30 RB Bitesized with Olivia "Build habits to build your business"  Book your free space. 
• 14 July 15.30-17.30 Surrey County Council Spotlight on Surrey event - Decarbonisation & the Green Economy  Book your free space
• 20 July 10.00-12.00 Surrey Chambers of Commerce Kick Start and Beyond Book your free space
• 21 July 12.00-13.00 Reigate & Banstead Learning Lunch, Simon Bland, how Covid-19 has changed local business Book your space

Litter on our high streets and in our green spaces is unattractive, unpleasant and bad for business. We need your help with our new campaign that shows how just one cup or box can quickly add up to a lot of litter. If you’re able to display one of our posters or window stickers, please get in touch. You can also share, like and retweet our social media once the campaign launches later this month.

New wine bar Veeno, is set to open its doors on July 16 at 86 High Street, Reigate. Veeno specialises in capturing ‘the tradition of the Italian Aperitivo’ – an after-work culture of drinking, eating Italian-style appetisers and small dishes while relaxing with colleagues, friends and family.

As we get closer to the end of lockdown restrictions, you may be thinking about bringing employees back into the workplace. Among the many considerations around safety and wellbeing, there may be other opportunities to ‘build back better’ at sites, including measures relating to environmental sustainability.

This could be the perfect time to look at areas such as recycling, procurement, energy, single-use plastics and other environmental considerations.

For example, have you considered how you supply your employees with drinking water? Refill is a campaign by the Community Interest Company, City to Sea, that provide support on waste reduction and moving away from single-use plastics.

There is lots of other support available to help businesses become more sustainable – our new Council sustainability pages have a section dedicated to business.

If you’d like to have a chat about how to make your workplace greener, drop us a line at sustainability@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

Redhill-based Arena TV brought advanced remote production to the FA cup final. The BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup Final in May was remote produced from Wembley by production teams working at Arena TV’s newly outfitted production hub and utilising CoreTX. This new Arena solution is a decentralised and cloud-based production service that includes a Production Centre based at Arena’s HQ in Redhill, Surrey and the ability to pop-up CoreTX galleries anywhere.

Congratulations to all the local businesses who have made it to the final round of the 2012 Muddy Stiletto Awards.  Voting is now live and they would really value your votes!

• Vineking Tasting Rooms - Reigate (Best Bar)
• The Grape Variety, Banstead (Best Bar)
  
  
• Cafe Chai, Banstead (Best Cafe)
• Canakin, Reigate (Best Cafe)
  
  
• Crumbs Brewing, Reigate (Best Local Food/Drink Producer)
• Pilgrim Brewery, Reigate (Best Local Food/Drink Producer)
  
  
• Renee Canter, The Girl who Gardens, Redhill (Best Garden Designer)
  
  
• Serendiptiy, Merstham (Best Beauty Salon)
• The Beauty Boutique, Banstead (Best Beauty Salon)
  
  
• Gerrards, Reigate (Best Women's Store)
  
  
• Jo Sweeney, Banstead (Best Photographer)
  
  
• The Reigate Pop Up (Best Gift Shop)
  
  
• Penelope Red, Reigate (Best Jewellery Store)
  
  
• Lebnani, Reigate (Best Restaurant)
• Cullenders Parkside, Reigate (Best Restaurant)
  
  
• Fabbro, Reigate (Best New Business)
• Adam's Gallery, Reigate (Best Art Gallery)
• Felicity Westmacott Bespoke Bridal, Redhill (Best Bridal Dress Store) 

Join over 20,000 organisations that have signed up. Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.

The SME Climate Hub has partnered with Oxford University to support small businesses in reducing their carbon emissions and to provide climate solutions to contribute to climate action in society. The tools and resources directly below help all SMEs take concrete steps towards climate action across multiple pathways. They’re the first step to getting started.

The University of Surrey is a partner in the Blockstart Programme, set up to support SMEs in using Blockchain technology to boost their business. SMEs in healthcare, agrofood, logistics or supply chains are invited to join this free training programme, which is tailored to your needs to offer you a learning platform, business support and networking opportunities, as well as access to academic expertise and a testing environment. 

If you are an SME and are interested in the Blockstart Programme, please contact collaborate@surrey.ac.uk or apply on link below 

Visit our Supporting Local Business web pages for the latest business updates.

Information about Council services can be found on our website.

Follow RBBC on our social media channels.

Four projects to help revitalise Horley town centre were given the go-ahead on 17 September by the Council’s Executive. The 'Delivering Change in Horley' programme will deliver a set of four interrelated projects.

Residents and visitors to Redhill are being asked their views on the town centre’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The existing order, now due for review, was issued in 2017. The Council is now running a six-week consultation in which it is asking the public to share views of the Protection Order’s impact over the past three years, as well as consider an extension and/or amendments. 

Great progress is being made on the Council’s new cinema, retail and homes development at Marketfield Way in Redhill despite the coronavirus outbreak. The first stage of works, to get the site ready for the main construction, is now virtually complete.

Residents have named Reigate & Banstead’s 11 new rubbish trucks. Almost 250 people took part and it was a tough decision for the crews to choose their favourites.

Following the reopening of the Waller Studio cinema in July, the Harlequin reopened its Café on 14 September. The Café is under new management and has a fresh look and a brand new menu.

The emergency community response has changed in line with residents’ needs and the easing of lockdown. The food store moved out of the Harlequin Theatre into new premises from where we continue to supply local food banks. Emergency food and prescription deliveries, as well as weekly welfare calls, have been phased out and alternatives put in place for vulnerable residents.

Have your say on a £1.5m project to revamp Merstham Recreation Ground. If you live in Merstham or use Merstham Recreation Ground, we'd like to hear your ideas for improving the park, located between Weldon Way and Albury Road. The consultation runs until 5 October. 

MEL Research is carrying out surveys on our behalf to seek local views to help improve our services. Research includes an online and telephone survey - please spare the time to take part if you are contacted. Anyone who wants to have a say can complete the online survey until Monday 5 October.

The new NHS Covid-19 app launched on 24 September. You’ll get alerts if you’re near someone who has tested positive for the virus and it's the fastest way to see if you’re at risk. The more people use the app - the more we can keep each other safe and stop infection rates rising.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Councillor Derek Allcard on Monday 7 September 2020.

Make sure your electoral registration details are up to date in the annual electoral canvass. Changes to the canvass process this year mean that residents may receive an email or text message from us about this for the first time.

Dorothy Ross-Tomlin and Michael Selby officially have been honoured for their long and outstanding service to residents of the borough. They received the title of Honorary Alderwoman and Honorary Alderman, respectively, during the virtual Extraordinary Council Meeting on 24 September.

The Redhill Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which regulates anti-social behaviour in the town centre, has been approved for a further three years following a review of feedback from residents, businesses, and local community groups. Look out for new and improved PSPO signage being introduced in the town centre.

Do you have experience in software development and technical ICT? We are seeking a full time Business Improvements Analyst, who has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to help deliver our ICT and Digital Strategy. Closing date 4 November. Keep up to date with current vacancies and find out about working at RBBC.

The Council is working hard to help tackle food poverty in the borough. Last week, children and young adults up to 19 ate for free at The Harlequin Theatre. Plus, three local Food Clubs – in Woodhatch, Horley and Merstham – are aiming to be set up ahead of Christmas, using FareShare’s community food membership scheme. 

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has been awarded £132,264 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of their £56 million Welcome Back Fund.

The Funding will help councils prepare for the safe return of shoppers and tourists and can be used to:

• boost the look and feel of their high streets by investing in street planting, parks, green spaces and seating areas to make high streets as beautiful and welcoming as possible.
• Run publicity campaigns and prepare to hold events like street markets and festivals to support local businesses.
• Install signage and floor markings to encourage social distancing and safety.
• Improve high streets and town centres by planting flowers or removing graffiti.

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels to see how our town centres will benefit from this allocation.

The second issue of the quarterly Redhill Marketfield Way development newsletter is out now with an update on project progress to deliver a new cinema, commercial units and new homes, along with what’s coming up next and a chance to ‘meet’ the VINCI project team. 

You can also keep up to date by following VINCI’s dedicated project Twitter feed www.twitter.com/marketfieldway