As part of the Tourism Sector Deal and the UK Government's International Business Events Action Plan, DCMS launched a new scheme in August 2019 to improve broadband connectivity in event venues, enabling them to receive full fibre access. The second round of the broadband competition for event venues is now open until 2 March 2021

This round is open to event venues with a minimum capacity of 250 delegates.

The competition also allows venues to demonstrate involvement in plans to bid for international events in the next five years, rather than the next year only (which was required during the first round of the competition).

Applicants who applied for first round funding but were not successful and now feel they meet the new eligibility criteria are welcome to apply for second round funding by submitting a new application.
All applicants will be treated equally and first round funding applications will not be considered or relevant. 

The competition will be open for four weeks and close at 11:59pm on 2 March 2021.

You can find out more about the competition, how to apply and eligibility via the link below.

We have a number of business support webinars coming up, in collaboration with Status Social, a social media marketing consultancy.

The first of these webinars is due to take place on next Wednesday 24 February 2021.

If you are interested in:

• How you can use influencers to help grow your business
• How to make sure you are doing what works on social media and measure your results
• How to improve your ability to interact with customers on social media and deliver great customer service

...you are in the right place.

You can register for these interactive webinar sessions via the link below.

The national employee lateral flow testing programme for businesses has now gone live.

How to get your work force who are not able to work from home tested for Covid 19.
 
Rapid asymptomatic testing can help identify people who are infected but do not have symptoms. This helps to prevent the spread of the virus in the community and your workplace.
 
Throughout Leicester and Leicestershire and Rutland there are a number of community rapid testing sites which are available to those who are not showing symptoms but cannot work from home at the moment (and live or work in Leicestershire).
 
Your employees must book a slot before turning up at a testing centre but the process is straightforward and can be accessed via the link below.
 
www.leicestershire.gov.uk/covidtest.
 
A new testing site is available at Market Harborough Leisure Centre however you and your employees can access any site across the County. The locations of the current sites are:

• Polish Club, Sandy Lane, Melton Mowbray
• Westfield Community Centre, Hinckley
• Blaby and District Social Centre
• Gorse Covert Community Centre, Loughborough
• Swannington Village Hall
• Wigston Fields Ward, Freer Centre

 
 
Alternatively the Government has recently widened the workplace rapid testing programme to cover work places with more than 50 employees. By registering for this programme you will be able to access resources to enable rapid testing to be undertaken directly at your place of work, rather than employees having to travel to one of the community testing sites.
 
To register your interest in this national programme just follow the link below

Again, you can register to order tests if:

• your business is registered in England
• you employ 50 or more people 
• your employees cannot work from home

For more information and advice from the Leicestershire Director of Public Health on what businesses can do to help reduce the spread of infection visit our website
 
https://www.harborough.gov.uk/info/20021/council_information/325/information_for_businesses

Calling all employers! Do you have upcoming job vacancies?

We are looking for employers to take part in our first event for businesses to advertise jobs.
Let us know what roles are coming up and they will be advertised on our website for free for the week starting Monday 22 – Sunday 28 March.

Watch out for information about further events taking place during Harborough Jobs Week.

Get in touch business@harborough.gov.uk

Is your business organised for trade with Europe?

Is your business adhering to new laws regarding exports, tariffs, data and hiring?

You can still access the Brexit Transition Hub, below. There, you can find several tools including the Brexit Checker Tool. This will provide you with a personalised list of actions for you and your business to take.

Business Gateway Growth Hub, also have a range of services, including specialist support from a team of advisers and 1-2-1 support sessions on importing, exporting, traveling and data. 
Find out about the range of support available via the growth hub here.