With Leicester being the first Local Lockdown, it is important to understand the guidelines for businesses in Leicestershire.

Non-essential retail business owners should refer to guidance and consider their Risk Assessments, when dealing with policing customers on your premises.

Information has also been released, with regards to data collection for staff and customers, as more businesses in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industries reopen.

This guidance applies to any establishment that provides an on-site service and to any events that take place on its premises.

It does not apply where services are taken off-site immediately, for example, a food or drink outlet which only provides takeaways.

If a business offers a mixture of a sit-in and takeaway service, contact information only needs to be collected for customers who are dining in. It does not apply to drop-off deliveries made by suppliers.

You can find out more about the data that you will need to collect via the link below.

From Saturday 4th July, the Prime Minister has announced that pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they adhere to COVID Secure guidelines.

In order to begin restoring the arts and cultural sector, some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also reopen, if they can do so safely – this includes outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades, as well as libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres.

Find out more about measures you can take to ensure you reopen safely, Access our toolkit with signage you can use outside your premises and more via the link below.

New code provides support to shops and local firms planning their future recovery with their landlord.

The UK government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer.

The extension, until the end of September, comes alongside further support to help local businesses plan for economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. 

It encourages tenants to continue to pay their rent in full if they are in a position to do so and advises that others should pay what they can, whilst acknowledging that landlords should provide support to businesses if they too are able to do so.

The suspension of the forfeiture of evictions will come as a relief in particular to pubs, cafes and restaurants, after the hospitality sector called upon the government for action in this area.

Across the UK, the code will encourage tenants and landlords to be transparent in their discussions and to act reasonably and responsibly whilst recognising the impact that coronavirus has had on businesses' finances.

The purpose of this questionnaire is for the Growth Hub and it's delivery partners to better understand what support you would most value in relation to the impact of COVID-19.

It will help to invest funding wisely and work with local providers to provide more focused support.
Completing this short questionnaire is of great value, but has the potential to be of benefit to you, other tourism businesses in this area and the support you may receive.

The Digital Growth Programme have planned a great line-up of webinar topics, from getting started, to building and improving your current digital marketing.

Also read the latest article from digital expert Paul Ince, about consumer behaviours during lockdown.

Find out more about the available resources that the Digital Growth Programme has to offer below.