News and information for West Oxfordshire’s businesses - 23 Oct 2020
Importance of keeping up to date
Two issues now dominate business news - the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. While both issues seem to have been going on for an age, it is really important that businesses keep abreast of the changing situation and ensure they are prepared for all eventualities.
In terms of COVID, evidence shows that in the past two weeks, the virus has spread to a much wider age range across Oxfordshire and is no longer confined to younger people in urban areas. Hospital admissions have begun to increase as a result. It is therefore really important that everyone is extra vigilant, particularly over half-term.
The definitive source of advice for everything from keeping staff and customers safe to financial support is the gov.uk website. We will always do our best to help in any way we can but do please make sure that you keep updated with government announcements.
The UK is leaving the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union at the end of the year and there are some definite actions businesses need to take now. These actions are required whatever trading arrangements we end up with.
If you sell goods to the EU you must prepare for new customs procedures. Visit GOV.UK to check duties and customs procedures for exporting your goods worldwide from 1 January 2021.
If you travel to the EU for work purposes you will need to check if you need a visa or work permit and apply if necessary.
If you employ overseas nationals you will need to prepare your business for the implementation of the new immigration system. From 1 January 2021, if you want to hire anyone from outside the UK, including from the EU, you must be a Home Office licenced sponsor.
If you are a UK business or organisation that receives personal data from contacts in the EEA, you may need to take extra steps to ensure that the data can continue to flow legally at the end of the transition period.
If you provide services in the EU, you must ensure that your qualifications are now recognised by EU regulations to be able to practice or service clients in the EU.
Businesses can get a personalised summary of the actions they need to take by using the simple tool below.
Peer Networks is a national peer-to-peer networking programme for SME leaders who want to grow and develop their business.
Delivered locally by OxLEP, the scheme creates diverse cohorts of individuals to collaboratively work through common business issues. By working together, participants will:
Overcome business challenges and recognise and act on new opportunities
Build a trusted network of connections to support them now and in the future
Improve their long-term personal and business performance
The launch of the 2021 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards takes place online at 08:30 on Tuesday 03 November.
As well as hearing about the 2021 awards from employer and apprentice winners, attendees will also be able to find out about some of the capital projects that are driving the future of Apprenticeships in Oxfordshire, including the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills Centre in Culham and the new Abingdon & Witney College construction skills centre in Bicester.
After the event has taken place, the 2021 awards will be open for entries and nominations until 1st February 2021.
The Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme (RGCP) is a national voucher scheme offering business and residents additional funding towards the cost of installing ultrafast broadband when part of a group project. Further funding has just been secured by Oxfordshire’s Digital Infrastructure Partnership which means the vouchers are now worth £7,000 per premises.
The vouchers are valid for rural properties whose current speeds are less than 100 megabits per second.
We are reviewing the content on our website and would like your feedback. Let us know if you use the business section of the website, what could be improved and what you find useful.
Buying local is the best way to support the local economy. Several local businesses stock a wide range of 'back to work' products including PPE, sanitising equipment and signage.
We are more than happy to add other local suppliers to the list - please let us know at business@westoxon.gov.uk.
Other helpful organisations
Several business groups are coming up trumps with help and advice for businesses. The ones below are good but do also check the trade association for your own sector.
Enterprise Nation - a vibrant community of small businesses and business advisers with a website packed full of resources
UK Hospitality - represents the broad hospitality sector – covering everything from bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues
MD2MD - helps managing directors compare notes on business MD to MD. Now operating online with a free trial period for qualifying business leaders.
Keeping up to date
Please forward this email to others to whom this might be useful and encourage them to sign up to further updates. Please note that you can access previous editions of this newsletter too.
The council Coronavirus web pages have updates about business support, communities and leisure, bins and recycling, elections and council meetings, planning, building and council news.
We hope you found this newsletter useful. We would like them to be as relevant as possible so please let us know what you think and don’t forget to send us your news to business@westoxon.gov.uk