News - Business Gateway Growth Hub

29 May 2020

29 May: Changes to furlough scheme

Chancellor of the Exchequor Rishi Sunak today announced changes to the furlough scheme. Currently, the scheme involves the payment of 80% of workers’ wages by the government. From August, the scheme will be adjusted so that employers must pay...

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28 May 2020

Reopening High Streets Safely – Fund Guidance

On 24 May the government launched its £50m Reopening High Streets Safely Fund. Councils across England are to share £50m of additional funding through the ERDF National Reserve Fund to support the safe reopening of high streets and other...

28 May 2020

NHS test and trace: workplace guidance

The NHS test and trace service will help to manage the risk of the virus re-emerging as restrictions on everyday life are eased, as far as it is deemed safe to do so. It is vital that employers play...

27 May 2020

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme open

Small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, can now apply to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees. Employers will be able to make claims to the...

27 May 2020

Innovate UK Smart Grants open this week

The next round of the Innovate UK Smart Grants, which are open to all industry sectors have been announced, offering £25 million in funding for innovative projects, and are due to open on Friday. This is an opportunity for...

25 May 2020

Shops allowed to open in 3 weeks

At today’s government briefing, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that all non-essential retailers will be able to reopen in England from 15 June, as part of plans to further ease the lockdown. However, retailers will have to...

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22 May 2020

Employers share experience of implementing Covid-19 workplace measures

The Business Gateway Growth Hub has led a webinar featuring local employers speaking about how big business ideas can apply to small businesses when it comes to restarting and beginning to trade again. Over 90 delegates registered for the...

21 May 2020

Support package for sustainable transport

Due to restrictions and safeguarding measures around the coronavisrus crisis, many traditional forms of transport may be off-limits for large numbers of workers. With this in mind, Choose How You Move is looking to support businesses to encourage workers...

20 May 2020

£40m boost for cutting-edge start-ups

Innovative businesses and start-ups are set to benefit from a £40 million government investment to drive forward new technological advances. The competition aims to fast-track the development of innovations borne out of the coronavirus crisis while supporting the UK’s...