Chamber News

Commenting on GDP statistics for April 2020, published today (12 June) by the ONS, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:

“With a monthly fall in UK GDP over thirty times the average month on month decline during the global financial crisis, the economic impact of Coronavirus has been put into sharp relief.

“With lockdown restrictions gradually easing and shops beginning to reopen, April is likely to prove to be the low point for the UK economy. However, any prospect of a ‘V-shaped’ recovery remains unlikely, with many sectors continuing to operate at reduced capacity. Some firms, including those in our hospitality, leisure and tourism industries, may remain closed for some time and will require flexible and open-ended government support to weather the economic storm.

“Over the coming months, further action will be needed to limit the long-term economic damage and kickstart a recovery, including close gaps in government support and providing incentives to help stimulate consumer demand and business investment. Establishing air bridges between countries with low infection rates would provide a much-needed boost to key parts of the UK economy.”

A database for sharing offers of PPE and return to work equipment has been launched by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to support the reopening of businesses

A simplified directory was set up in March and this has played a key role in the supply of PPE to frontline workers in the health and social care sector. On the back of that success, and thanks to the production and supply of equipment by local companies, the LEP has now expanded the service.

More than 1,200 products – from face masks, visors and aprons to sanitiser and other return to work equipment – have already been listed by around 250 suppliers, many of which are based in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Entrepreneurial businesses across the region began producing PPE as a way of continuing to operate and pay their staff during the pandemic, while at the same time helping to meet the desperate demand.

Organisations based in Norfolk and Suffolk can log in here to access the database after a short verification process.

Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia LEP, said:

“Whether you are a small business needing a small batch of masks or a care provider requiring a large amount of stock, you can log in to this digital database and find the PPE you need,” he said.

“Helping businesses to protect their employees and their customers as they return to work is going to be key to the recovery effort and having all these products in one place will support them in this important phase.

“It is also a way of the LEP rewarding the local businesses which have manufactured these desperately needed items during this emergency and helped slow the spread of Coronavirus.”

Requests to view the database are moderated and granted on a case by case basis. For businesses sharing offers of products or services, the LEP will be requesting Companies House information, as well as details about stock and production capacity, and how products conform to required standards.

For full details on how to access the database click here.

The British Chambers of Commerce is delighted to be a ‘Supporting Organisation‘ of the China-Britain Business Council UK-China Business Week 2020, which will take place online from 15th – 19th June.

Our colleagues in China, the collective British Chambers of Commerce in China are a key partner for the event and will be presenting their  British Business in China: Position Paper 2020 on the first day.

Designed to shine a spotlight on China’s economic recovery and call attention to opportunities for UK businesses of all sizes and sectors to re-engage with China, the event programme will highlight the importance of why now more than ever, China remains a vital business proposition for the UK.   Each day will have a specific theme to guide you and your business. The interactive sessions will be held over five consecutive days and will focus on current trends in the following sectors: Retail & Consumer, Education, Tech & Innovation, SMEs and FDI from China to the UK.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to hear from thought leaders sharing cutting edge insights into bilateral trade and key members of the UK-China business community sharing macro perspectives and practical advice on doing business in China.

The full programme is available here (subject to change) and all British Chambers of Commerce members across the UK are invited to register for free.

We are running a series of FREE webinars with the help and expertise of our members, do you have knowledge you would like to impart and think would be useful for businesses during this period.

The webinars will be 30 – 60 minutes long and will focus on key topics or subjects relevant to businesses of different sectors. These can focus on a particular software, how to work remotely, how to motivate your team or the rise of e-commerce for particular markets for example. 

If you’re interested in delivering a webinar with Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, please complete the online form to register your interest. We will be in touch to discuss your webinar and arrange a date and time for this to take place.

For any questions please contact Kalene Herrington, Events Coordinator on kalene.herrington@norfolkchambers.co.uk or telephone 01603 729712.

“The Government must ensure its engagement with business over the coronavirus recovery is not just a “box-ticking exercise.”

That’s the message from Norfolk Chambers of Commerce as business secretary Alok Sharma prepares to launch five new business-focused groups as part of the plans to kickstart the economy.

• The future of industry: How to accelerate business innovation and leverage private sector investment in research and development
• Green recovery: How to capture economic growth opportunities from the shift to net zero carbon emissions
• Backing new businesses: How to make the UK the best place in the world to start and scale a business
• Increasing opportunity: How to level up economic performance across the UK, including through skills and apprenticeships
• The UK open for business: How to win and retain more high value investment for the UK

The groups will form part of the Government’s plans for restarting the economy, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly set to unveil them with a major speech next month.

Mr Sharma will this week chair the first meetings of new ‘recovery roundtables’, bringing together businesses, business representative groups and leading academics.

Norfolk Chambers is also encouraging our members to let us know about the measures that would best support them to restart, recover and grow.

Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said: “It is critical that the Government works in genuine partnership with businesses in order to support a return to economic growth.

“Engagement cannot be a tick box exercise. We welcome the announcement of these new groups and look forward to learning more about their composition, remit and measures that are taken forwards from them in due course.

“There is no denying the significant impact that this pandemic has had on the Norfolk business community.  What this period of disruption and change does give us is an opportunity to do things differently and radically rethink the way in which the Government engages with and enables good business growth in the UK.

“We will continue to deliver a strong Norfolk business voice for our members both locally and nationally through the British Chambers of Commerce, who will be actively involved in these groups.  Please send all feedback to nova.fairbank@norfolkchambers.co.uk

The government has provided local authorities with additional funding to target small businesses with high fixed property related costs, but were not eligible for either the small business grant or the retail, hospitality and leisure grant. 

The scheme is discretionary to allow local authorities to use their local knowledge, within the government guidelines, to prioritise who can apply.

As this fund is limited Norwich City will close the scheme to new applications on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

Read the full grant criteria.

Who can apply?

Priority will be given to the following:

• Small business in shared offices or other flexible workspaces e.g. units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment
• Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment
• Bed & breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business rates: and
• Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief.

Any grant award will be limited to one per business.

Other businesses which may apply

Norwich City will use its discretion for assistance to businesses in the cultural, creative and technical sector, if there is sufficient funding remaining once the above priority groups have been addressed

Eligibility

This funding will only be available to businesses that are not eligible for other support schemes including:

• The Small Business Grant Fund
• The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
• The Fisheries Response Fund
• Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme
• The Zoos Support Fund
• The Dairy Hardship Fund

Businesses that have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are eligible to apply. 

Businesses must have been trading from the premises they are claiming for on 11 March 2020 to be eligible for this scheme.

Companies in administration or are insolvent including where there has been a striking off notice will not be eligible to apply for assistance under this scheme.

A grant will not normally be payable to a subsidiary company that occupies premises if a parent company or another part of the group is liable for payment of the business rates. 

Discretion may be applied in exceptional circumstances and where the subsidiary is not primarily financed by the parent company.

State aid

These grants are subject to normal state aid rules as defined in the scheme.

How to apply

You can apply online up to midnight on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

You will need to provide:

• the company registration number or charity number
• your VAT registration number
• your business rate or council tax account number if relevant
• your bank account details
• details of your most recent hygiene report (if applicable)

You’ll also need to write a statement explaining how your business was affected and attach either:

• your income and expenditure accounts
• business bank statements from February to May 2020 and the corresponding period in 2019

Click here for full details and to apply now.

King’s Lynn businesses and local people are being asked to have their say in a two-fold consultation that will help to inform investment in the town.

The Vision King’s Lynn Business and Consumer Insight surveys aim to understand the current challenges and concerns for local businesses and the town centre, in light of the impact of Covid-19.

The feedback gained will inform the development of the Town Investment Plan, and more specifically, will help to identify short term investment priorities for the town centre.

The Town Investment Plan is currently being developed and will potentially allow King’s Lynn to access £25m of Town Deal funding that has been allocated by the Government. 

The Plan will be the overarching vision and strategy for the town, specifically in relation to regeneration, land use, connectivity, skills, and enterprise.

The insight from both surveys will also be used to inform the wider recovery and renewal of the town in response to Covid-19. 

The consultation is being carried out by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk in partnership with the town’s BID, Discover King’s Lynn

Councillor Graham Middleton, Cabinet Member for Business Development and Board Member with Discover King’s Lynn said:

“We know that Covid-19 has brought significant pressures and challenges for our town, especially for local businesses which have had to adapt and respond, and in many cases, cease operations temporarily.

“We are committed to supporting the recovery and renewal of the town and through this consultation, we want to gain an understanding about how people feel – what the concerns are, what the challenges are – for both businesses and consumers.

“The feedback that people give us will help us to inform our Town Investment Plan, and more specifically, short-term interventions and investment that can support businesses and help people to have confidence in the town centre.

“We want to see our town centre thrive and not simply survive. We want it to be a place where businesses can succeed, and where people want to be.”

The Consumer Insight survey seeks to understand how people feel about coming back into the town centre, any concerns they might have, and thoughts around measures that could be taken to increase confidence. The survey also aims to gain knowledge about any changes to how people access shopping and services.  Take the Consumer Insights Survey now.

The Business Insight survey aims to find out the thoughts of King’s Lynn companies on the existing challenges and the impact that Covid-19 has had, and what support companies need right now.  Take the Business Insight Survey now.

The consultations launched online on 5th June and will run until midnight on Sunday 14th June.

Information about the consultation, including links to both surveys can be found on the newly launched Vision King’s Lynn website www.visionkingslynn.co.uk Vision King’s Lynn is the collective name for the investment, funding, and plans for King’s Lynn and the site provides information about the Town Investment Plan as well as other investment and programmes including the Future High Streets Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone.

Following confirmation of a 14-day quarantine and the requirement to provide information for those arriving in the UK from 8 June with a quarantine exemption, the government has published exemption guidance for specific travellers. Many of the exemptions are highly specific, although some are slightly more general (e.g. exemptions 26 and 37).

For further information and to view the Government’s suggested exemption letter template click here.

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill is set for House of Commons passage this week and is expected to proceed to the House of Lords on Tuesday 9 June.  Factsheets have been produced to explain different aspects of the Bill covering:

• Overview of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill                                                           
• Summary of Retrospective Provisions
• Financial Services Exclusions
• Moratoriums
• Restructuring
• Statutory Demands and Winding Up Petitions
• Wrongful Trading
• Termination Clauses
• Annual General Meeting
• Filings
• Delegated and Henry VIII powers

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is inviting applications for grants from small businesses impacted by Covid-19, which were not eligible for the Government’s previous grants scheme or other support.

The council has already handed out more than £28m in Government grants to local businesses under the national scheme. Additional Government funding of just over £1.7m is now allowing the council to support even more local businesses during these challenging times.

Using national guidelines, local authorities were asked to develop their own policies and criteria on administration of this additional funding. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of either £2,000, £5,000 or £10,000, with one grant award per business.

Those that will be prioritised for the scheme are small businesses in shared offices and regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessments, bed and breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rate and charity properties that are in receipt of charitable business rates relief.

Businesses must have been trading on 11 March 2020 to be eligible for this scheme and must be able to provide evidence of a significant fall in income resulting from Covid-19. The scheme is aimed at businesses that have ongoing fixed property overheads. Companies that are in administration, considered bankrupt or where a striking-off notice has been made will not eligible for this funding.  

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council’s main political groups, said: “The council has already handed out more than £28m to local businesses under the national scheme and we’re now pleased to be able to offer support to even more small local businesses.  

“We’ve designed the local scheme criteria to help as many small businesses as possible among those which were not eligible for the previous Government support, and we encourage those businesses to submit their applications swiftly via the website.

“Council staff will be working quickly to get as many grants paid out to those eligible as soon as possible.”

For full details on how to apply click here.

On 1 May 2020 the government announced it was allowing local authorities to develop policies to pay discretionary grants to local businesses affected by COVID-19.

Initial guidance was issued by central government on 13 May 2020, version 2 was published late on 22 May 2020 and a set of Frequently Asked Questions was published on 27 May 2020. Whilst local authorities are able to decide their own policies, government has asked that four specific types of businesses are prioritised for the grant, and has specified three mandatory criteria all applicants must meet in order to receive the grant.

As funding is limited this policy is restricted to those businesses the government has specified are a priority plus businesses the council consider to be local priorities. Full details of eligible businesses and the eligibility criteria are below.

Eligiblity:

Government’s mandatory criteria:

Any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must first meet the government’s mandatory criteria:

1.     They are not eligible to claim a grant (regardless of whether they have actually claimed a grant) under:

a.     The Small Business Grant Fund

b.     The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund,

c.     The Fisheries Response Fund,

d.     The Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme,

e.     The Zoos Support Fund, and/or

f.      The Dairy Hardship Fund

2.     They were trading on 11 March 2020 from the premises they are claiming the grant for, and

3.     They were not in administration, insolvent or subject to a striking off notice either on, or since, 11 March 2020.

Additional eligibility criteria:

In addition to the mandatory criteria, any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must also pass the council’s initial eligibility checks:

4.     They are operating or trading within the boundaries of the Borough Council’s area,

5.     They have fixed, ongoing, property related costs,

6.     They can demonstrate they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis which has impacted their business, and

7.     They are not a Precepting Authority of any local authority

Any business or trader failing to meet the criteria above is not eligible to claim a Discretionary Grant.  Only one grant is payable per business / trader under this policy.

For full information and how to apply click here.

In April the government announced additional funding for local authorities to use for discretionary business grants.  They have now provided sufficient detail for the local authorities to start opening up for grant applications.  Below are the Norfolk local authority funding applications that are live now.

North Norfolk District Council

https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/tasks/economic-growth/north-norfolk-district-council-s-discretionary-grant-scheme/

The North Norfolk Discretionary Grant Scheme is intended to support certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the earlier business grant funds scheme. The scheme is aligned with Government guidance which has stipulated a number of key conditions and sector priorities.

The Government have advised that grants should be primarily and predominantly aimed at:

• Small and micro businesses
• Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs
• Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis

The Government have further stipulated that grant funding is for businesses that are not eligible for other support schemes. Businesses which are eligible for cash grants from any central government COVID-related scheme are ineligible for funding from the Discretionary Grants Fund. Such grant schemes include but are not limited to:

• Small Business Grant Fund
• Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
• The Fisheries Response Fund
• Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme (DSSS)
• The Zoos Support Fund
• The Dairy Hardship Fund

The following business types are eligible to apply for this scheme:

• Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include mills, units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment;
• Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as pitch fees or storage costs, who do not have their own business rates assessment;
• Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
• Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
• Businesses which are wholly involved in the hospitality, leisure and events industry but do not have a business premises open to visiting members of the public.
• Public Houses with a rateable value of £51,000 or higher
• Hotels with a rateable value of £51,000 or higher
• Day Nursery Premises

Businesses who do not fall within these categories will not be able to apply for this grant.

Please see the Grant Guidance web page or downloadable PDF for the full details of the grant scheme. Please read this in full before completing an application.

You will need to provide a number of supporting documents with your application. These documents are listed within the Grant Guidance. Please have these documents to hand before you commence the application form as you will require this information.

Breckland Council

https://www.breckland.gov.uk/discretionary-grant

Breckland Council has secured additional funding of almost £1.5m from the Government, to help us address the needs of businesses which were not eligible under the original COVID-19 grant schemes. The original schemes are still in operation and cover businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief and businesses eligible for Expanded Retail and Hospitality Relief (further details are available on our website.)

They want to make sure every penny of this is directed to businesses in greatest need, and as quickly as possible. However, they are aware the scale of demand may well outstrip the limited funds they have available.

Breckland will consider making grant awards to individual businesses under two separate award categories;

Category A: Government-Priority-Listed Businesses:

Specifically Bed and Breakfasts; Regular Market Traders; and businesses in shared spaces / flexible work spaces. Where a business can confirm their specific eligibility, they will make awards between £2,000 – £10,000 (depending upon the size of the business and the hardship experienced due to Coivd-19-imposed trading conditions). These awards will be made on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis. They anticipate starting to make payments from around the 5th June, or as soon as they are able to start confirming eligibility from applicants.

Category B: Small Businesses and Charities who have suffered significant hardship due to Covid-19 and are important to the local economy / local recovery.

They have deliberately set only limited minimum criteria for this category, based on government guidelines. This includes: businesses must be ‘small’; have business premises in Breckland; must have been trading on 11th March; and cannot be eligible for other Covid financial support. They will use the information supplied in the application to make a relative assessment of the hardship experienced, and the impact on the Breckland economy.  They will then make grant awards of up-to £10,000 to as many of those in greatest need as possible, using whatever monies are left over after paying out the Government-priority-listed awards (category A).

In order to run the above programme, Breckland Council are limiting the window for grant applications from the 1st June to 23rd June (close of business).  They will make their assessments using the above guidelines, and continually review as they progress.

Important Information – Please read before progressing

The Council will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud. Any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to clawback.

Under the two categories set out above they will make specific eligibility / hardship checks, and require you to provide evidence to enable these.

However, all businesses must also meet the minimum eligibility criteria, by demonstrating all of the below:

• Occupying a business property, or part of a business property, within Breckland
• Having suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis
• Are ‘small’ including employing fewer than 50 employees
• Were trading on the 11th March 2020 (and are not in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made)
• Not being eligible for other for cash grants from any central government COVID-related scheme (apart from Self-Employed Income support scheme)

Unfortunately Breckland Council will not be able to provide grants beyond the total value made available to them by the Government (£1,433,750). This means they may have to end their application window early, if all of their available funds are committed through Government-Priority-Listed Businesses.

Breckland Council will have incredibly limited scope to consider ‘appeals’, likely only in areas of extreme manifest error, and the onus will be on applicants to ensure accuracy of information (they will not, for example, be in a position to query typos and form errors which may lead to ineligibility).

The application form will require you to upload documents to help evidence key criteria. You can save the form as you go along, but they recommend you assemble your key evidence before proceeding.

Apply Now

So far just North Norfolk and Breckland Council have gone live with their discretionary grant applications.  Norfolk Chambers will update our website as soon as we hear from more Norfolk local authorities. We are aware that King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council and Norwich City are also looking to open their schemes very shortly.