In this update, I have provided useful info on new funding available for town centres and rural development grants.
From the 1st August 2020, there will be changes affecting the grant employers can claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention (Furlough) Scheme. The government has provided a new calculator for the scheme and I have provided a link to it.
Newry Chamber would also like to find out how businesses are doing during the “Reopen & Recovery Stage”.
I have shared a link to a Federation of Small Businesses Survey and it would help in our understanding of the current business climate if you were able to complete this.
Brexit is back on everyone’s agenda again. The Department for the Economy (DfE) is carrying out an EU Exit Data Protection & Business Preparedness Survey and further info on how to complete this is available below.
Finally, bookings for the Newry Chamber’s Annual Golf Classic are filling up fast, which takes place on Fri 28th August 2020 at Warrenpoint Golf Club, sponsored by Matt D’Arcy’s Irish Whiskey.
Further info on how to book your tee time is included at the bottom of this update.
I hope you find these updates of value. If you have any queries which you can’t get answered, let us know. If I can, I will cover them in our next update.
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You can contact me at:
colm@newrychamber.com
Colm Shannon,
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
CAPITAL COVID-19 RECOVERY REVITALISATION SCHEME
The Department for Communities (DfC) is investing £10m in the Capital COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Scheme which will be used in larger town and city centres, with a further £1m coming from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to be used for smaller settlements.
The funding will be allocated to councils in two tranches to deliver measures that will help provide a safe environment for visitors, shoppers and workers within town and city centres, which may include measures such as shop frontage, canopies, outdoor furniture, heaters, queueing systems, PA and digital screens and other signage.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s allocation of the initial £6m is as follows:
DfC Allocation: £433,000
DAERA Allocation: £157,000
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
RURAL BUSINESS GRANT SCHEME
Capital grants up to a maximum of £4,999 are now available to support rural businesses to recover, sustain and grow through DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme administered and managed by NMDDC.
Capital grants up to a maximum of 50% grant rate are available to existing micro enterprises based in rural areas of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
As local businesses prepare to recover and grow from the recent COVID-19 pandemic the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme can assist with capital costs such as ICT equipment for remote working employees, e-commerce websites, additional equipment and awnings for customer protection while they wait.
Other examples include screen protectors, free standing sanitizer stations and elbow operated taps, flexi-panels for social distancing, collection and delivery points, along with internal and external COVID-19 signage.
Building works for economic use are also allowable under the grant and require full planning permission in place at the time of application.
It is advisable to also speak directly with a member of the Rural Development Team with regards to eligibility, the application process and your project idea.
To arrange a call back, email RDP.admin@nmandd.org or call 0330 137 4000 and ask to speak to a member of the Rural Development Team.
The scheme is open for applications from Monday 3rd August 2020, closing on Friday 11th September 2020 at 12 noon. Late applications will not be accepted.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
EAT OUT TO HELP OUT SCHEME
From the 3rd Aug 2020 to 31st Aug 2020, get a 50% Discount when you eat out at participating restaurants, cafés and bars, Monday to Wednesday that are registered for the Eat Out To Help Scheme.
Use the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme at a participating establishment:
- To get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of £10 discount per person);
- Every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday between 3rd Aug and 31st Aug; and
- Can be used as many times as you like on these days.
You cannot claim discount on alcoholic drinks or service charges.
The discount will be automatically available to you at participating establishments.
Establishments will then claim a reimbursement from the government for the discount they’ve given you.
Businesses need to register with HMRC in order to qualify for the scheme HERE.
1. USE THE ONLINE CHECKER.
2. FIND PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES NEAR YOU.
3. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HOSPITALITY SECTOR.
FIND LOCAL RESTAURANTS HERE.
CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION (FURLOUGH) SCHEME UPDATE
The government has launched a new calculator to help employers with their next CJRS claims, which applies to businesses based in Northern Ireland.
Employers can use the calculator to work out how much they have to pay their furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees, how much they can claim for employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions and how much they can claim back.
ACCESS THE NEW JOB RETENTION CALCULATOR HERE.
Please note that the calculator will be updated to reflect changes to the scheme over the coming months.
In addition, employers can now also download a template if you’re claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention (Furlough) Scheme for claims on or after 1st July 2020.
DOWNLOAD THE NEW TEMPLATE HERE.
FSB SURVEY – BUSINESS RECOVERY FROM COVID-19
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have continued to work tirelessly with government at the highest level to highlight the significant difficulties faced by many small businesses during these hugely uncertain times.
However, they are eager to hear from small business owners once more about the challenges and difficulties of trying to survive and grow in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They would like to understand the impact of COVID-19 on your business’s prospects, both from a financial point of view but also understanding how government regulations might be aiding or hindering the recovery process.
The survey (approx. 12-15 mins) closes on Wednesday 5th August 2020 at 9:30am.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY.
EU EXIT DATA PROTECTION & BUSINESS PREPAREDNESS SURVEY
The Department for the Economy Tradable Services & Investment Team are planning to carry out the EU Exit Data Protection & Business Preparedness Survey.
This survey was initially carried out in September 2019 and you can find the results of that initial survey HERE.
They wish to carry out the survey again in order to make comparisons for businesses in Northern Ireland in 2020.
The online survey is now open and live and will be until Friday 7th August 2020.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY.
NEWRY ROTARY CLUB – BUSINESS WEBINARS
Newry Rotary Club are hosting two webinars aimed at supporting businesses to help them re-boot post-COVID-19.
The First Webinar is at 12 noon on Wed 29th July 2020:
How can the leadership experience of past economic crisis help your business
re-boot post-COVID-19.
The Second Webinar is at 12 noon on Wed 5th August 2020:
How to communicate effectively to customers and employees post-COVID-19.
Please see link below for more info on these webinars and details on how to register.
REGISTER FOR THESE WEBINARS HERE.
NEWRY CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC 2020
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is set to tee off with this year’s Golf Classic kindly sponsored by Matt D’Arcy’s Irish Whiskey on Friday 28th August 2020 in Warrenpoint Golf Club, with tee times available between 11:30am – 3:30pm.
A range of attractive individual and team prizes are on offer, as well as prizes for the ‘Nearest to the Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive’ competitions.
Your business can also avail of hole advertising at a cost of £100.00 + VAT by getting in touch with us. This is a great opportunity to reward your staff or entertain your clients with a round of golf.
The Chamber’s Golf Classic is always a sold out event and we expect demand to be particularly high this year so please book early.
In line with social distancing guidelines, there will be no shotgun start this year and instead, the tee is reserved between 11:30am – 3:30pm.
Four balls will eat at the end of their individual rounds.
It is sure to an enjoyable day so please book your preferred tee slot below.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FOUR BALL TEE TIME.