BID Business Support through Covid-19 - Newsletter 9
Hello! Hope you are all well, what a week we've had! The long awaited announcement has come and gone, our Zoom call was filmed by Channel 4 News and we launched a new online shopping platform!
We are working hard to get the best deals for BID businesses. We have ordered some brand new floor vinyls to encourage social distancing which are free for BID businesses and we have struck a great deal with a local supplier of perspex screens.
We do, however, need to understand a bit more about how we can support you so please fill in this form, it takes two minutes and it will help us in planning our recovery.
We have teamed up with LoyalFree to launch a marketplace website that is FREE for all BID businesses, this is a great opportunity to sell future vouchers, experiences and get some cash through the tills during this time. Read more about it in this newsletter.
I am working very closely with all partners to ensure that we have a good plan to help us through the recovery. I cannot wait to see the town come to life again, we will be here to support you every step of the way.
Please get in touch with me and let us know how you are doing, and let us know how we can support you. Please give me a call on 01707497930 or email bid@welwyngarden.co.uk
Mariana
mariana@wgcbid.co.uk
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FREE Posters and Floor Vinyl, Discounted Perspex Screens
We have ordered some safe shopping posters and floor vinyls from Kallkwik which are FREE for all BID businesses. Please let me know how many do you need and we can drop them off or you could collect from Kallkwik.
Snappy Snaps have also designed a lovely poster to say thank you to our workers, and they are kindly offering these for free to town centre businesses so if you would like one please get in touch.
We have signed a deal with a local WGC company to provide discounted plastic screens for shops and businesses. Please get in touch if you need these and I can source it for you.
Need something else? please fill in this quick survey to let me know what I am missing https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/wgcbid
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BID Virtual Meeting - Soon to be seen on National TV!
Thanks to everyone that joined the Zoom meeting on Monday which was filmed by Channel 4 News. The programme will be aired early in June, I will keep everyone informed as soon as I have more information.
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LoyalFree Marketplace - sell online for free!
As some of you heard on Monday, we have again teamed up with LoyalFree to offer businesses a FREE marketplace service. LoyalFree marketplace is there to provide vital sales and support during COVID-19, allowing businesses to sell products, as well as gift vouchers which can be posted / emailed out for future use whilst securing spend now.
This is a bolt on service to the app which is proving very necessary at this time, particularly within the hospitality sector.
You can visit the site here: https://www.loyalfreemarketplace.co.uk/
This service will be FREE for all BID businesses and LoyalFree will take 0% commission (note: there is a 3% standard payment fee from Stripe).
There is a FAQ support page, which will be regularly updated to help with any fiddly bits: https://www.loyalfreemarketplace.co.uk/business-guide-how-to/ and the LoyalFree team will also be on hand to support.
Want to join?
Just pop us an email back so we can get your place set up and then we can help provide pre-written content to businesses (plus a demo video coming next week!)
There will also be press releases and social media copy / imagery to support with the promotion of this.
Some examples of what can be offered through the marketplace
- Gift cards / vouchers - eg. Gift cards of differing amounts sent out as vouchers (email or post) to secure money now for future purchases
- Experiences for now - eg. A food ‘banquet’ which can be bought through the site as per our example earlier
- Experiences for future - good for hospitality - future experiences such as ‘Cocktail masterclass for 2’ or ‘Beer tasting experience’
- Products - ideal for pet shops, gift shops, health shops and the like to sell their products and post out
Please get in touch to set up your online shop, it takes no time at all!
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Floor Vinyls - Perspex Screens - Help with queue management, let us know what you need
We have created a very quick survey, we need to understand how best to help and support you so please take 2 minutes (I promise it only takes 2 minutes) to le us know.
Survey link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/wgcbid
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Government Financial Support for Businesses
We keep updating this information every day to ensure you receive the most up to date data.
Job Retention Scheme extended until October
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will continue until end of October
furloughed workers across UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500
new flexibility will be introduced from August to get employees back to work and boost economy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-furlough-scheme-until-october
Top-up to local business grant funds scheme
A discretionary fund has been set up to accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme.
Businesses must be small, under 50 employees, and they must also be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restriction measures.
There will be three levels of grant payments. The maximum will be £25,000. There will also be grants of £10,000. local authorities will have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000. It will be for councils to adapt this approach to local circumstances.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme
GUIDANCE ON THIS SCHEME HAS NOT YET BEEN ISSUED, we are in conversations with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and will let you know as soon as we hear.
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