Focus on Lewisham

Reopening Royal Greenwich for business

On 19 September, the High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme was launched, which means some good news for Woolwich town centre...

Woolwich is one of the 68 historic high streets across England that have been offered government funding to give them a new lease of life and help them recover from declining footfall and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The £95 million governmentfunded HSHAZ programme, which is delivered by Historic England, will unlock the potential of these high streets, fuelling economic, social and cultural recovery. The council is working with Historic England to develop and deliver schemes that will transform and restore disused and dilapidated buildings in Woolwich into new homes, shops, work places and community spaces, restoring local historic character and improving public realm.

The Discretionary Business Grants Fund scheme

The Discretionary Business Grants Fund scheme opened for a second round of applications in August and Royal Greenwich received 850 applications from small and micro businesses in the borough.

We’ve given out a total of £1,863,000 to 231 applicants. Businesses will not have to pay the grant back, but it will be taxable.

The aim of the scheme, which is now closed to applications, is to help businesses and charities severely affected by the COVID-19 business restrictions which were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. This fund is significantly smaller than the previous coronavirus related grant fund schemes, but we hope to support as many small businesses across the borough as possible.

In line with the government’s guidance on the use of the scheme, the funding has been used to support local businesses with fixed ongoing property costs, those businesses that are crucial to the local economy and those businesses who fell through the gaps of the previous business rate-based grant schemes.

Councils were given discretion on how to prioritise the allocation of funding to meet the needs of the local business base and priorities for the local economy. For Royal Greenwich this included cafes in parks, suppliers to businesses in the Hospitality, Retail and Leisure sector and other businesses that could demonstrate high fixed ongoing property costs, a significant reduction in income and the potential to safeguard jobs.

Eat Out to Help Out

The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme encouraged us all to dine out and help give the economy a head start on the way to recovery. More than 11,000 restaurants in London registered for the scheme, and 215 of those were in Royal Greenwich. Diners eating out in the borough ate 219,000 meals and saved an average of £6.36 per meal up to 27 August.*

The Greenwich Access to Apprenticeship Fund

On 15 September Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB) held a virtual launch event to encourage local businesses to find out how they can access the Greenwich Access to Apprenticeship Fund. Chaired by Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, alongside a panel of experts, the event gave businesses the opportunity to learn how the levy transfer fund works, the benefits of hiring an apprentice and much more.

Over 60 local businesses attended the event and a number of them have expressed an interest in hiring an apprentice. They include businesses from a range of sectors such as charities, architecture, retail and hospitality.

GLLaB can support eligible businesses in the borough throughout the hiring process, including giving advice and guidance and linking them with training providers and apprentices. Businesses interested in finding out more can contact GLLaB on: • apprenticeships@ royalgreenwich.gov.uk

0208 921 2440

The Greenwich Access to Apprenticeship Fund was set up as part of the apprenticeship levy scheme update, which allows levy-paying employers, including the council, to transfer up to 25% of their annual levy funds to small businesses, third sector organisations, charities, social enterprises and apprenticeship training agencies.