Don't miss out on these great online networking events
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Enterprise Nation are running a series of free 'lunch and learn' webinars
Monday 20 April: Identifying consumer trends and new consumers
Hear from global intelligence platform, Streetbees, on how to do market research to identify consumer trends and find new customers. Sign up here.
Tuesday 21 April: How to keep your food and drink business operating
John Stapleton has grown a number of successful food and drink businesses, including The New Covent Garden Soup Co Ltd. and Little Dish. John is on hand to offer insights on how you can keep your food and drink business operating through these unceratin times. Sign up here.
Wednesday 22 April: Using social media during uncertain times
Back by popular demand! Social media expert, Caroline Sumners, returns to 'lunch and learn' to answer your questions on what and how you should be posting on social media during these uncertain times. Sign up here.
Thursday 23 April: Building a customer-focused business
Sophie Segal joins Emma to let you know how you can put customer experiences at the heart of your business, and how to craft simple customer journeys that engage, convert and add value to your customers. Sign up here.
Friday 24 April: Starting a business during the COVID-19 crisis
Some of the world's most successful companies have been started during recessions. If you have an idea for a new business, but don't know where to start, this is the webinar for you. Enterprise Nation founder, Emma Jones, will talk you through the initial steps you need to take to get a business off the ground. Emma is authour of 'The StartUp Kit' and has advised thousands of businesses on how to launch. Sign up here.
Join your local Business Guild
Business Guilds are a great way to be part of your local business community.
Banstead - fully committed to helping Banstead become the most vibrant village in Surrey in which to live and work. They are a group of local businesses that recognise our responsibility to the greater community.
Redhill - enhancing Redhill as a place to live, work and do business.
Reigate - a local united voluntary voice from the business community, promoting commerce, events, activities and opportunities for the benefit of Reigate.
Horley Association of Traders - HATs is an open group that all traders and members of the public can join. They continue to drive awareness of Horley as a town and to promote local business growth.
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Funding and awards
Reigate & Banstead Business Support Grant Do you have a business based in the borough with less than four employees? Are you looking to grow? Why not apply for our Business Support Grant of up to £1,000?
Successful business grant applicants will also receive one year's membership to Enterprise Nation.
Do you need start-up funding for your business? Struggling to get funding from a mainstream provider? Have a look at responsible finance provider Fredericks Foundation, who may be able to help.
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Supporting your business through Covid-19
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Supporting our business community has never been more important. We want to signpost businesses to correct, relevant and timely information to ensure that your business can get the right support. The government has set out a package of measures to support businesses. You can read about the full package of measures on its Coronavirus business support website. With things changing so quickly these details are correct as at 16 April.
Update on cash grants
The first payment run for business grants by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council went out on 1 April, and by the 16 April we had paid over £15 million to 1,167 businesses. If you have not already done so, please fill in the online form which will facilitate the process and ensure we have the correct details.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The online claim service for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be launched on GOV.UK on Monday 20 April 2020. Any entity with a UK payroll can apply, including businesses, charities, recruitment agencies and public authorities. To prepare to make your claim you will need:
- a Government Gateway (GG) ID and password – if you don’t already have a GG account, you can apply for one online, or by going to GOV.UK and searching for 'HMRC services: sign in or register'
- be enrolled for PAYE online – if you aren’t registered yet, you can do so now, or by going to GOV.UK and searching for 'PAYE Online for employers'
- the following information for each furloughed employee you will be claiming for: Name, National Insurance number, Claim period and claim amount, PAYE/employee number (optional).
- if you have fewer than 100 furloughed staff – you will need to input information directly into the system for each employee. If you have 100 or more furloughed staff – you will need to upload a file with information for each employee; HMRC will accept the following file types: .xls .xlsx .csv .ods.
You should retain all records and calculations in respect of your claims. You can find more information on the scheme and eligibility to claim here.
Self-employed reminder - don't miss tax return deadline
The Government's coronavirus support for self-employed people will be based upon your 2018-19 tax returns. If you missed the January 2020 deadline, you can now take advantage of an extension to submit your returns by 23 April 2020. How to submit your tax return for 2018-2019
Business Interruption Loan Scheme update
A government-backed loan scheme for businesses affected by coronavirus has been expanded to cover all viable firms now including large businesses, the Chancellor has announced.
- all viable businesses with turnover of more than £45m will be able to apply for government-backed support
- firms with turnover of more than £250 million can borrow up to £50 million from lenders
- this complements existing support including the Covid Corporate Financing Facility and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
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In these challenging times, our businesses continue to do amazing things for their local communities. This week we are shining a light on:
Pippas House Nursery Reigate day nursery has been hard at work preparing hot meals for NHS workers as well as making up essential #PippasParcels (food parcels for distribution via local foodbanks) supported by kind donations from the nursery and local people.
The Merstham Mix Local Community Interest Company is busy delivering hot and wholesome meals to Merstham residents to assist during lockdown. A contact-free, door-to-door service is being provided by their amazing staff and volunteers from @VARB2020
Kasookoo Redhill communications company @Kasookoo are offering support to frontline local community organisations by providing their innovative cloud phone system and video conferencing free of charge
The Five Star Cat Hotel in Horley has kindly offered to provide free cat boarding for NHS workers, police and those in need who may be having problems looking after their cats
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Food safety during Covid-19
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Current scientific advice is that it is very unlikely that Covid-19 can be spread through food. So, if you’re continuing to operate your food business, you should familiarise yourself with the latest guidance issued by Public Health England. This includes advice on social distancing measures as well as general hygiene information.
For food businesses that are offering takeaways and food deliveries where they have not done so before, please refer to our website for further advice.
The Council’s Food Safety team is on hand to offer support and guidance to the range of food businesses in Reigate & Banstead. If you have any queries, contact the team on 01737 276417 or email food.safety@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
More convenience retailers are looking at home delivery as an option to reach local customers that are self-isolating or otherwise unable to travel to their local shop. This new guidance from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) details what retailers should consider when starting a home delivery service.
The guidance covers the following areas:
- How to take an order
- How to take payment
- How to operate a collection service
- How to manage data security
- Plastic bag charging for home deliveries
- Age restricted products
Download the guidance from the ACS website
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Huge thank you to:
DPR Motorsport , for providing blue paper towels following our PPE request in our last newsletter.
The Caterham High Performance Centre is based in Redhill, Surrey and, when normal times return, offers a full range of specialist services to help customers derive the most from their Caterham ownership. They perform servicing, repairs, car set-ups and new race car builds together with providing full support for Caterham racing for both car and driver.
Crumbs Brewery - for setting up 'buy a beer for a local hero' and to all the local residents for buying them, the refuse team were so very grateful to receive over 200 cans of beer!! Beer was also sent to East Surrey Hospital too. This scheme is still running, so why not nominate your local hero and buy then a beer!
Food Donations We’re receiving food deliveries to our Community Support Centre, based at the Harlequin from four major supermarkets and Fair Share UK to help us supply local food banks and residents in need. Thank you Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council are struggling to maintain a good steady supply of PPE for key workers. From collecting refuse to supporting vulnerable residents, the safety of our staff and residents is our primary concern. We are looking for:
• Hand sanitiser gel (greater than 60% alcohol)
• Disposable gloves (single use) EN:374/5 (Viral protection)/nitrile purple/ nitrile blue
• Hand soap
• Surface Cleanser Spray
• Universal Cleaner
• Cleaning cloths
• Disinfectant
• Blue Wiper Roll
• Industrial Cleaning Wipes (excess of 60% alcohol or a disinfectant)
• Jumbo Toilet Roll
• Paper Hand Towel
If you or any of your suppliers are able to help with any of the equipment above we would love to hear from you please e-mail us.
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Further information and support
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