Business Support

COVID-19 Business Support OVER 500 face-to-face business visits With over 8,200 since their businesses in BUSINESS reopening our borough, we SUPPORT TEAM

understand and value made up of colleagues from:

the vital contribution • Economic Development they make to our economy and society as • • • Regeneration Tourism, Arts and Culture Environmental Health

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, HANDLED OVER 1,500 local business queries DELIVERED COVID-19 BUSINESS IMPACT SURVEY in partnership with Business Partnership Alliance to help we have been committed shape recovery plans to rebuild to helping local businesses and support local economy make sense of the uncertainty brought on by Covid-19. We continue to provide the most Over 60 targeted business updates to almost 4,000 businesses up-to-date information, and self-employed individuals based in the borough guidance and advice available to us to help businesses respond and recover. INTRODUCED A

FREE

PAVEMENT

CAFÉ LICENCE

application process

KEY SECTORAL

RECOVERY PACKS

ISSUED to retail, hair, beauty and hospitality businesses Here’s an overview of some of the ways we’ve helped businesses and self-employed 160 Facebook and Twitter posts DELIVERED 41 FREE BUSINESS individuals based in the WEBINARS borough since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. 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

Letter drop to over 1,000 businesses providing recovery and reopening advice

NEARLY 3,000 participants tuned into webinars

FACILITATED OVER 1,000 HOURS OF MENTORING ADVICE TO OVER 100 LOCAL MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES

On Your SIDE

With the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our local economy, colleagues across our Economic Development, Regeneration, Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Environmental Health departments to form the Business Support team.

Taking on new roles and responsibilities, the multi-departmental team continues to work together to address the ongoing needs and concerns of the local business community. On the front line of the Business Support team, Noelle Garvey from our Economic Development department tells us a bit more:

As the uncertainty and complexity of Covid-19 mounted in early March, supporting our local businesses through the crisis became our number one priority. Joining the Business Support team alongside my colleagues, we helped field hundreds of enquiries from a wide range of sectors.

From helping businesses access government grants to providing practical advice and support including how to reopen safely - every day brought its own challenges but it was also very rewarding.

Personally and professionally, it’s been a real privilege to play my part in helping support our local businesses through the pandemic and now in this post Covid-19 world.

Here to HELP

We understand it’s not always easy for small businesses to get the right advice and support, which is why our Business Support Hub does all the leg work for you.

Listening to the needs of your company, our Business Support Hub acts as a one-stop business support shop, helping identify and match your business to a relevant and experienced mentor. Offering free, tailored and independent advice, the hub’s mentors have helped local businesses navigate the uncertainty of Covid-19, as well as provided assistance around digital marketing and innovation, supply chain management and tendering to win new business.

Paul McCullough from Pro Image NI outlines how it has helped him:

The support and guidance I received through the hub has been a real lifeline to me and my business. Faced with the many issues brought on by Covid-19, just like so many other local businesses, the advice from my mentor, Eoin Lennon of Oininteractive, helped me turn a crisis into an opportunity.

With Eoin’s skills and knowledge, we were able to develop my website further and introduce an exclusive online shopping platform for our clients, enabling us to sell online during the lock down period, without a doubt helping the business stay afloat. There was never too big a problem for Eoin and I would encourage all small businesses to find out how the Hub can help them.

Find out more about Covid-19 Business Support here armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/business-support