Support for Businesses
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Additional support for businesses that have been impacted by the Omicron variant has been announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 21 December 2021.
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Closed for Applications on the 18th March
COVID–19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)
Now open for applications – Deadline Extended to 16 September 2022
This new business rates relief scheme will support those businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates. As such it is not open to businesses that currently receive the Expanded Retail Discount, Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS). Any discretionary rate relief granted will reduce the chargeable amounts in respect of the rates for financial year 2021/22.
The Government has recently published the guidance which has been sent to all Local Authorities, who are currently working to implement the above. The on-line applications will be live soon and a link will be provided from this page.
Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan
Like many areas across the country, Greater Manchester has illegal levels of air pollution on local roads across all ten local authority areas. Poor air quality affects everyone’s health, particularly the most vulnerable people in society. It contributes to nearly 1,200 premature deaths in GM every year.
Under government direction, the GM local authorities worked together to produce a Clean Air Plan to tackle harmful air pollution, including a GM-wide category C charging Clean Air Zone. Government has agreed that the Greater Manchester charging Clean Air Zone will not go ahead as planned on 30 May 2022.
That’s because the Clean Air Zone was designed to comply with a legal direction from government issued before the coronavirus pandemic. Since then there have been significant changes in the market for vehicles compliant with Clean Air Zone standards, particularly vans, and the cost of living has increased. We're committed to cleaning up the air our residents breathe – but in a way that helps people to make the change to cleaner vehicles and does not put jobs, livelihoods and businesses at risk.
Government has now agreed to lift the legal direction that GM should achieve compliance with legal NO₂ limits by 2024. It has issued a new direction for compliance in the shortest possible time and by no later than 2026. Greater Manchester is now working with government to deliver a new Clean Air Plan for Greater Manchester by July 2022. You can keep up to date on developments with the Clean Air Plan and sign up for updates at cleanairgm.com.
We are working to help our business community to access the support that exists for them. There is a range of information, advice and services available for them to access, with links below. If you have want to discuss what specifically may be available for your business, contact us at
employmentandskills@tameside.gov.uk
Rising Energy prices are currently an increasing challenge for businesses. The Citizens advice Bureau have produced a guide for small businesses to understand their rights and some actions they can take. If there is any further support announced, we will promote this through our E-shot.
Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub
The
Business Growth Hub is the main source of advice and guidance to businesses in Greater Manchester and they have put together a dedicated COVID-19 response website which has frequently asked questions,
webinars and guides on various topics such as
cash-flow,
legal issues and setting up
remote working.
Promote your town centre business through the new Tameside Whole of Place app.
Tameside Council have used the Welcome Back fund to procure the dscvr app for the borough’s town centres. Awarded to local authorities to encourage visitors and residents safely back into town centres, the Welcome Back fund has allowed Tameside to procure the app so our businesses can use it free of charge.
dscvr is a “whole of place” digital app, designed to help local businesses, services and venues to promote their offers, and support local residents to safely return to their town centres by providing information on all the activities in their local towns. By linking residents and businesses, and showcasing each town’s unique offers, dscvr has successfully increased footfall and dwell time in town and city centre across the country. A short summary of the app can be seen here.
To find out more about how you can get your business on the app contact Emilia Quinn on emilia.quinn@dscvr-app.com
Tameside Business Resilience Clinic
The Tameside Business Resilience Clinic has now launched with the aim of facilitating free advice and support to Micro and SME businesses across Tameside. The new clinic will operate across a range of platforms to make it easy for businesses to access, using webinars, emails and phone calls by appointment. The support provided includes signposting to existing help from the Business Growth Hub, such as online workshops or webinars; matching relevant professionals like managing directors, human resources specialists and supply managers to local businesses.
To find out more information and to register for support click here:
Tameside Business Resilience Clinic
From the 1st of January 2022 businesses trading with the EU will need to make full customs declarations on their imports and exports.
Full step-by-step guidance on the process has been published by HMRC:
Importing goods into the UK
Exporting goods from the UK
See the latest position on the GM Clean Air Zone here.
Redundancy Support
Tameside Council’s
Redundancy Support page has been created to enable individuals and employers to easily access support, training and guidance. If you are an employer who needs to make redundancies or an individual who is at risk or has been made redundant then help and support is available to help you through this challenging time.
Make Mental Health Your Business
During this challenging time ‘Make Mental Health Your Business’ by knowing what support is available for everyone in your business including yourself. The following links give you easy access to a wealth of mental health and wellbeing support:
Tameside & Glossop Mental Health Support including Mental Health Support for Staff –
TGMH Support
Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health and Work During the Coronavirus Outbreak –
MHF Support
Mental Health at Work, Your first stop for better Mental Health at Work –
MH@W Support
The
Working Well Early Help programme offers free personalised support and advice if you have a disability or health condition in Greater Manchester and are off work due to ill health.
– Discounted training and vouchers for digital tools.
