As we approach 4 months since the lockdown started Surrey Chamber of Commerce wanted to find out from businesses how their business is doing.

The Chambers have many opportunities to influence government policy, so it is critical that they find out what is most needed.

Please take 5 minutes of your time to complete their 3^rd Survey carried out in conjunction with Enterprise M3 and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnerships and Surrey County Council.

Take the survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QDPVZVH

Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership is looking for a new Non-Executive Director from the private sector to join our diverse and highly respected board.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking for a new challenge and who wants to use their talent and valuable experience to make a tangible difference to our region’s economy as well as to the lives of the people who live and work here.

If you are a strong communicator and influencer, with senior level business experience, great connections and a proven leadership record, EM3 would like to hear from you.

For further details on how to apply

https://search.green-park.co.uk/enterprisem3-ned/

More than 53,000 food outlets across the UK have so far signed up to the UK government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme - and a new official government online finder is available to help diners locate them.

If you want to register your business to this scheme, go to

Eat out to help out registration

The government has made new legislation that will enable businesses like cafes, pubs and restaurants to apply for a temporary licence to put furniture out on pavements adjacent to their business to make their businesses more viable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details can be found on the Government website.

From August to January, any firm that hires a new young apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive £2,000, while those that hire new apprentices aged 25 and over will be paid £1,500.

Announcing the incentives during his summer statement, the Chancellor told the House of Commons that, "ninety-one per cent stay in work or go on to further training".

For the next six months the government will pay employers to create new apprenticeships.

The Treasury has since published a “plan for jobs” document, which states these payments will be in addition to the existing £1,000 incentive the government already provides for new 16 to 18 year-old apprentices, and those aged under 25 with an education, health and care plan where that applies. More detail can be found on the government website

£12,618,443 in grants have been paid to 1002 business premises within Runnymede.

These grants have been vital to our local economy - helping ensure the survival of shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants and many other businesses.

We are in the final stages of this programme. The vast majority of eligible businesses have now claimed grants.

Details of the qualifying criteria are set out below. If you think that you are eligible, but have not yet been in touch with us about this, please do so as soon as possible.

• The Small Business Grants Fund will close at midnight on 28 August 2020
• The Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grants Fund will close at midnight on 28 August 2020
• The Discretionary Grants Fund for businesses closed on 23 June 2020

Read more information about business grants

https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/article/19345/Grants-for-Business-Rates

Businesses will be able to benefit from larger loans under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), the government announced.

The maximum loan size available under the scheme will be increased from £50 million to

£200 million to help ensure those large firms which do not qualify for the Bank of England’s COVID Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) have enough finance to meet cashflow needs during the outbreak.

John Glen, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: “We’re determined to support businesses of all sizes throughout this crisis and our loans and guarantees have already provided over £32 billion to thousands of firms.”

Companies borrowing more than £50 million through CLBILS will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments, senior pay and share buy-backs during the period of the loan, including a ban on dividend payments and cash bonuses, except where they were previously agreed.

You can find more information by reading here.

Since Tuesday May 26, small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, have been able to apply to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees.

Employers are able to make claims to the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme through a new online service. Employers will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after March 13.

HMRC has published online guidance which includes information about who can use the scheme and the records employers must keep. Read here to find out more.

ALPS is a network of training providers and colleges who come together to support the local area in apprenticeships, study programmes and other vocational courses. ALPS was established over 20 years ago and have a reputation for working closely with schools delivering the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme across the Surrey schools and run the Apprentice Graduation event at Guildford Cathedral annually.

During the pandemic, it may mean that businesses' needs have changed and that they will have noticed skills gaps within their work environments. ALPS can help and support, whether it be training the existing workforce or looking at recruiting for a new role. ALP can also advise on spending businesses levy contribution if they are a larger company.

For more information on support and advice please feel free to contact ALPS.

Email: [email protected]

www.alpsurrey.co.uk

Despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, there are still thousands of critical jobs out there. The DWP website, Job Help is there to help with information on what types of roles are good to apply for right now, whether people are looking for permanent, temporary, full or part time work. Employment Advisers in each Jobcentre are also getting in touch with local employers to see if they can help with their vacancies

We will be posting regular updates on our website, as well as sending out our e-newsletter and messages on our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, please ‘follow’us.