Welcome to the Harborough Business Update. During the COVID-19 disruption, we aim to provide weekly updates as things develop quickly. Find more information on the Invest in Harborough Website here.
Lutterworth Business launches a new social distancing app to support the Tourism Industry
Experiential design company, Holovis has developed a new mobile app which will enable destinations to reopen safely, once lockdown ends.
Zoos, theme parks, cultural centres & all other single ticket admission destinations will be offered the app for free.
This innovative venture aims to support businesses within the tourism sectors to be able to reopen their doors to the public in a controlled way.
Peter Cliff, Creative Director at Holovis explains:
"We are committed to helping the industry that we love get back on its feet as quickly and as safely as possible. It looks likely that the need for some form of safe crowd management will be around for the foreseeable future meaning attractions and entertainment venues will have to adapt and learn to operate differently in order to give guests peace of mind and confidence to re-visit.
If you would like to know more about this important new venture, or are a business in the tourist attraction industry, you can find out more via the link below.
On Monday 27 April, a new 100% government backed loan scheme for small business was launched.
Businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days
Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form
Small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders, the Chancellor announced.
The scheme will launch for applications on Monday 4 May. Firms will be able to access these loans through a network of accredited lenders.
The government will work with lenders to ensure loans delivered through this scheme are advanced as quickly as possible and agree a low standardised level of interest for the remaining period of the loan.
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We offer support on a wide range of topics from funding opportunities to digital marketing and more.
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New Business Gateway Growth Hub Webinars
The Business Gateway Growth Hub has released a new programme for May.
The Business Gateway Growth Hub now has a host of webinars to help you and your teams learn new information, improve skills and knowledge whilst working remotely.
Topics range from contingency planning, pricing, well-being and marketing, through to organising your time effectively whilst working from home.
New Measures to protect UK High Street from aggressive rent collection and closure
High street shops and other companies under strain will be protected from aggressive rent collection and asked to pay what they can during the coronavirus pandemic.
Landlords and investors asked to work collaboratively with high street businesses unable to pay their bills during COVID-19 pandemic.
The government will temporarily ban the use of statutory demands (made between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020) and winding up petitions presented from Monday 27 April, through to 30 June, where a company cannot pay its bills due to coronavirus.
This will help ensure these companies do not fall into deeper financial strain.
A national High Street Survey is currently underway asking how the lockdown has affected perceptions of the High Street.
The survey includes what elements of visiting the High Street have been most missed, how they will use the town centre when it reopens and the importance of the High Street as a community hub.
The link to the survey is as below and there are 4 questions to answer, which will take 5 minute to complete.
