BUSINESS
COVID-19
Business Support With over 8,200 businesses in our borough, we understand and value the vital contribution they make to our economy and society as a whole, which is why our continued support is a key priority for us.
Through our Business Support team and in partnership with our economic partners, we have been committed to helping local businesses make sense of the uncertainty brought on by Covid-19. We continue to provide the most up-to-date information, guidance and advice available to us to help businesses respond and recover. Here’s an overview of some of the ways we’ve helped businesses and self-employed individuals based in the borough since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
INTRODUCED A
FREE
PAVEMENT CAFÉ LICENCE
application process
KEY SECTORAL RECOVERY PACKS ISSUED to retail, hair, beauty and hospitality businesses
FACILITATED OVER 1,000
BUSINESS SUPPORT TEAM
face-to-face business visits since their reopening
made up of colleagues from: • • • •
Economic Development Regeneration Tourism, Arts and Culture Environmental Health
HANDLED OVER
1,500 local business queries
DELIVERED COVID-19
BUSINESS IMPACT SURVEY
in partnership with Business Partnership Alliance to help shape recovery plans to rebuild and support local economy
Over 60 targeted business updates to almost 4,000 businesses and self-employed individuals based in the borough
160 Facebook and Twitter posts
DELIVERED
41 FREE BUSINESS WEBINARS
featuring industry guest speakers who covered issues from the initial response to reopening and returning to work safely
ONGOING ENGAGEMENT
with business community, Business Partnership Alliance, Chambers of Commerce and Traders’ Associations
3,000 NEARLY
Letter drop to over 1,000 businesses providing recovery and reopening advice
participants tuned into webinars
HOURS OF MENTORING ADVICE TO OVER 100 LOCAL MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
18 BOROUGH LINK 2020
500 OVER
