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Cambridge Business Improvement District: Reopening Guide April 2021
Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Contents
Introduction Cambridge BID have prepared this document to support and guide businesses through the reopening process which will begin (no earlier) than 12th April 2021 following the recent National Lockdown. There is a wealth of information out there, and this document is designed to help guide businesses and give some clarity on what they need to do in order to open safely over the coming months.
Reopening: The Roadmap
3
Government Support Resources
4
Staying COVID-19 Secure
5
Government Grants
6
Cambridge BID Business Support Grant
7
Signage & Infrastructure
8
Operational Support
9
Opening the Food & Beverage Sector
11
Safe Reopening of Hospitality Businesses
12
Cambridge BID Marketing Support
13
Contact/Personnel
16
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Reopening: The Roadmap The Government announced the roadmap out of lockdown on 22nd February 2021. Please see below the key dates with more details here:
1. From Monday 12th April 2021
2. No earlier than Monday 17th May 2021
3. No earlier than Monday 21st June 2021
All non-essential retail - personal care premises such as
Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able
The final step will see remaining premises including nightclubs
hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including
to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain
reopened, and the easing of restrictions on large events and
libraries and community centres can reopen. Indoor leisure
in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than
performances. Further decisions will be made on limits
facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by
the legal limits.
concerning weddings and other life events.
Indoor hospitality will reopen - venues will not have to serve
Moving to the next step is based on four tests:
people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions.
a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a
Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors.
curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink
There will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal
while seated.
with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated.
Other indoor locations to open up including indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children's play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.
¥ The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully ¥ Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated ¥ Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS ¥ Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Government Support Resources Government Advice and Support
British Retail Consortium
There is a lot of information for businesses on
Coronavirus business support for the
the Cambridge BID COVID-19 support page.
retail sector.
More details here
More details here
Working Safely During COVID-19
COVID-19 Self Certified Checklist
Guidance to help employers, employees and
Download the COVID-19 secure workplace
the self-employed understand how to work
self-certification and display prominently in
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
the workplace.
Guidance on Coronavirus from HSE.
More details here
More details here
More details here
Cambridge City Council
UK Hospitality
Frequently Asked Questions
For local business advice, support and
COVID-19 secure guidelines for
What you can do and what you can't you
grant schemes.
hospitality businesses.
do currently.
More details here
More details here
More details here
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Staying
COVID-19 Secure Businesses are required to complete a COVID-19 Risk Assessment in line with the Government and HSE (Health and Safety Executive) guidelines to control the risk of coronavirus in workplaces.
HSE guidelines here Keep a safe distance
Keep left & follow
Businesses are asked to display the 'Staying COVID-19 Secure'
from other people
directional signage
poster in the workplace.
Click here for poster You MUST display a 'Staying COVID-19 Secure' poster alongside a sign stating the need to wear face masks, prominently, at eye level, in your business front window. Hospitality venues MUST also display a 'check-in' QR code Please wash
Pay by card
your hands
if possible
for test and trace.
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Government Grants In the March 3rd budget the Chancellor announced a range of support measures for businesses across sectors that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. For further details on these grants
Click here Business Rates Holiday – additional 3 months (1st April 2021 –30th June 2021)
Reduced rate of VAT of 5% extended until 30th September 2021 (Hospitality only)
Restart Grant – up to £6k for retail and up to £18k for hospitality
The government has extended the temporary 5% reduced rate
A new grant fund will be available to businesses in England
of VAT until 30th September 2021. To help businesses manage
through a new £5 billion Restart Grant scheme to help the
the transition back to the standard rate, a 12.5% rate will then
high street, providing up to £18,000.
apply for a further six months, until 31st March 2022.
More details here
The current 12-month business rate holiday in England has
Recovery Loan Scheme
been extended by an additional three months. This discount will
A new Recovery Loan Scheme will also be launched to replace
be processed automatically by the local authority with business
the existing government guaranteed schemes which have
rates to be issued from 1st July 2021. Further business rates
supported £73 billion of lending to date and close at the end
relief is available to those businesses who are still unable to trade.
of March.
More details here
More details here
More details here
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Cambridge BID Business
Support Grant In May 2021 Cambridge BID will launch a new business support grant scheme specifically for our levy payers worth up to £4,000 per grant. Purpose of the grant
The Principle of the Grant Scheme
The grant is broadly for customer facing business improvements,
The principle being if a business improves their premises,
hence the customer who visits your business in a physical or
product offer or online presence then this is a good thing for
online way, must have their experience improved by the project
the business but also for Cambridge as a city and the customer
the grant funds.
who uses the business and the city.
Examples of what the grant can be used for
Application Process
¥ Scaling-up existing on-line capability and product provision.
This will launch in May 2021, be on a first come basis and the
¥ Enhancing premises such as refitting a business. ¥B uying new equipment such as tables and chairs, display equipment, products to enhance your offer - commercial coffee machine, dough making machine. ¥D eveloping a website or improving your current website to enhance the customer experience.
scheme will be open to applications until September 30th or until the scheme funds are allocated.
Claims Process Businesses will apply, receive a confirmation email, complete the work, receive an invoice from their supplier, then claim showing evidence the supplier has been paid for the project work. Then Cambridge BID will pay the claim.
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Signage & Infrastructure Reopening Signage Queue Management
Queuing Resources Cambridge BID have both internal and external floor
A set of guidelines has been developed by Cambridge BID
stickers to assist managing the queues within your business.
in partnership with Cambridge City Council and other major
If you would like some, please contact Becky Burrell
stakeholders within the city to ensure the city opens in a safe
becky.burrell@cambridgebid.co.uk
and coordinated manner. The guidelines are designed to enable you to:
Opening Resources
1. Open your business safely for both staff and customers
As suite of resources has been developed to assist with your
2. Manage customer queues safely and without impacting
instore signage. Posters have been developed to help businesses
on neighbouring businesses 3. Provide a safe, welcoming and pleasant experience for all visitors to the city
Guidelines here
inform their customers of any one way systems, entrance and exit points and a poster to place in their window indicating how many people are allowed in store at any one time.
Resources here
On-Street Signage Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council have implemented a range of 'Keep left' floor stencils and Highway signs encouraging users of the city centre to keep their distance. Bollard wraps have also been introduced to encourage and educate people to adhere to social distancing rules.
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Operational Support Schedule Cleaning
Ambassadors
Keeping Cambridge clean is a top priority for Cambridge BID.
Out team of City Ambassadors are ready to hit the streets again
As part of our reopening programme, we have continued our
on 12th April. We will have a team of four who will work a 7-day
contract with Cambridge City Council to provide a full,
rota, ensuring we have a presence at all key times.
12 month cleaning schedule for the city, this compliments the work that they undertake themselves. Ensuring the city is clean
Business Engagement
will encourage consumer back into the city and give them a
The team will be back performing business visits and be the key
pleasurable experience whilst they are here.
link between businesses and the core BID team. They will be providing information and support to the business community
Rapid Response The Rapid Response team are available to businesses within the BID area for the removal of bodily fluids, broken glass, pigeon fouling and other detritus.
along with delivering welcome packs to new businesses, newsletters, social distancing merchandise and generally ensuring the businesses are kept up to date with all BID projects.
Consumer Engagement The City Ambassador team will play a vital role as the city opens
We encourage anyone who works in the city to use the service
helping and assisting users and visitors to the city, giving them
for their place of work or if you see something whilst you are
key information about what's on and where to go. In the absence
walking around the city.
of a Visitor Information Centre, their role will be crucial in the
Please call 07773 369 117 to use the service 7 days a week 8am - 11am.
months to come as the city opens up and we see an increase is visitors. They will soon be back at the railway station with their pop up information stand.
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
COVID Marshals
CAMBAC
As we follow the government's 'roadmap' on the easing
CAMBAC is committed to supporting partners and retailers
of lockdown restrictions some of the measures that the
with the reopening of Cambridge City Centre, following the
City Council will provide to support the reopening of the
national lockdown. Supporting Cambridge BID with their
City Centre include:
'Clean and Safe' pledge and linking with partners, CAMBAC
¥ Provision of COVID marshals to encourage social distancing
will provide advice and intelligence to aid the successful
and assist in queue management. ¥ Messaging through social media, press, and signage in town, on buses etc. ¥ Additional seating in public areas for people to use safely in an outdoor setting, and to support the hospitality businesses and general shoppers and visitors. COVID Marshals will work in conjunction with the City Council Street Enforcement team. There will be a team of Marshals
reopening of all retail sectors. All hospitality businesses will be invited to attend the next Pubwatch meeting that will further support the City. If you would like to be added to this mailing list, please email manager@cambac.co.uk. This is an open invitation. All businesses trading in these sectors are warmly invited to join us.
during the day on the Market assisting with queue management.
CAMBAC members can access business crime information
There will also be some during the day and early evening in the
and support by visiting www.cambac.co.uk - Member's Area.
Peas Hill area and Kings Parade and Round Church area. The street enforcement team will be patrolling the parks and open spaces from 6am - 7pm each day. In the evening there will be COVID Marshals monitoring and reporting on the parks
There will be a 'Hub' that will log, record and respond to any
and open spaces and assisting where possible with queue
observations or queries that come in via the Marshals or from other
management in the city.
key partners (police, Cambridge BID, car parks, Environmental Health, Highways, etc.). Every week there will be a review of the measures to see if they need to be altered based on feedback and change in activity.
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Opening
To ensure a speedy application, you will need to provide: Contact details - ensure you supply an email address along with a telephone number A plan showing the location of the premises shown
the Food & Beverage Sector
by a red line, the application site is easily identifiable A plan showing the dimensions of the proposed area the license will cover. The plan must include; - Property boundary - Building and kerb lines - Furniture layout with measurements clearly shows space between furniture
Pavement Licenses
- Points of access & egress
Cambridge BID and Cambridge City Council are supporting
- Position of any street furniture for example benches, lamp columns, bins etc
businesses across the city to enable them to open on 12th
- Ares set aside for smoke free seating
April under the new Pavement License, introduced by
Images of types of furniture proposed
central government in July 2020.
Photo showing your notice of application on display Copy of your public liability insurance policy
Click here to apply
(minimum £5m cover) Risk assessment if you intend to use heaters
Communal Seating
Note
Cambridge City Council are developing several communal
¥ The Consultation process has been reduced to 7
seating areas to aid businesses that cannot offer outdoor
consecutive days
seating. The areas being looked at include Peas Hill,
¥ Alcohol licenses will still be required
Sussex Street, Christ's Lane and Fitzroy Street.
¥ Planning permissions will not be required ¥ Once approved, the licenses can remain in place until 30th September 2022
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Safe Reopening
of Hospitality Businesses
Below is guidance from central Government on the safe reopening of the Hospitality sector:
Venues are being asked
Encourage contactless payments only
to keep customer records
£45 maximum spend is
(name, phone & email)
soon to increase to £100
Track & Trace
Table service only
Social Distancing Minimum 1m rule
Increased cleaning regimes
Booking systems are encouraged
Detailed guide here
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Cambridge BID
Marketing Support
Cambridge BID are ready to help support you and your business. There are a number of ways we can so this:
Newsletters & Emailers
Love Cambridge Social Media
Gift Card
We send out a weekly B2B emailer to all businesses on our
Cambridge BID operate a consumer brand called Love
The Cambridge Gift Card is a pre-loaded Mastercard-based gift
database. This includes information from Cambridge BID,
Cambridge which included social media channels, website
card which can be used in participating businesses within the
Cambridge City Council, city stakeholders and much more.
and literature. We are happy to support your opening and
Cambridge BID area. The Love Cambridge Gift Card works in the
We try and keep it informative and include information that
future activity through the appropriate media type.
same way as department store / shopping centre gift cards but
we feel will benefit you and your business.
Contact Kristian Foreman for more information. kristian.foreman@cambridgebid.co.uk
for the whole city. Its free to be a part of, and uses hardware that you as a business will already use. As long as you have a swipe facility on your PDQ machine - you are good to go. We currently have approx. 200 businesses in the city accept the card and last year we sold approx. £70k worth of Gift Cards.
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Events
Cows About Cambridge
City Dressing
Cambridge BID are planning a summer of events this year
Colourful Cow sculptures will soon create a feel-good factor
We are looking at ways in which we can dress the city this
to support the city and encourage people back into the city.
in the streets and public spaces of Cambridge as the city's
summer. We are looking at options for bunting, flags and
much-awaited art trail, Cows about Cambridge, prepares to
working with Cambridge City Council on some additional
launch on Monday 28 June 2021.
decorative lighting.
The event schedule is as follows: 28 June - 11th July Live Screening of Wimbledon, Station Road
Some 40 decorated Cow sculptures and 45 mini moos will
(next to The Clayton Hotel)
be put out to pasture for 10 weeks so that local residents and
23rd July AM Olympics Opening Ceremony, Market Square 23rd July PM Cinema Event, Market Square 26th July - 8th August
visitors to the city can enjoy moo-vement and exercise, as they
Visitor Guide
navigate the free trail to discover the inspirational designs that
A Summer Magazine is being produced and will be distributed
regional artists, schools and community groups have painted
from May onwards. The magazine is produced by Cambridge
and collaged on to these 3D canvasses.
BID and is designed to showcase all of what the city has to offer to residents and visitors alike. The print run is approx. 100,000 and is distributed locally, regionally and nationally
Live Screening Olympics, Station Road (next to The Clayton Hotel) 13th August Cinema Event, Market Square
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Cambridge BID Reopening Guide | April 2021
Visit Cambridge
Footfall
Various stakeholders within the city have come together to
Cambridge BID have been monitoring footfall across the city for
form a new Destination Management Organisation (DMO).
many years and each month a Performance Report is produced
The initial outputs from this group include:
which not only includes footfall information from street counters but also gathers the footfall from the shopping centres, car park
PR Strategy
information, Park & Ride and Guided Bus.
Working with a PR Agency to ensure Cambridge is on the map
There are also weekly and monthly footfall reports compiled.
as a staycation destination for 2021 and beyond. Working with
These are located on the Cambridge BID website.
National Press to organise and deliver a series of press stories, familiarisation trips and social media strategies.
For more information contact Helen Hames helen.hames@cambridgebid.co.uk
Visit Cambridge Website A new Visit Cambridge Website is under construction which will showcase all the city has to offer. There will be an opportunity for businesses to list events and offers. It will also have a booking function which allows consumers to book hotels, tours, tickets etc.
Visit website
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Contacts Ian Sandison
Jenny Granshaw
CEO Cambridge BID
Leisure & Night-Time Projects Manager
ian.sandison@cambridgebid.co.uk
01223 903304 jenny.granshaw@cambridgebid.co.uk
Becky Burrell Marketing & Commercial Manager
Sallie Wright
01223 903301
Office Manager
becky.burrell@cambridgebid.co.uk
01223 903308 sallie.wright@cambridgebid.co.uk
Helen Hames Marketing & Commercial Manager
Hannah Hancock
01223 903302
CAMBAC Manager
helen.hames@cambridgebid.co.uk
01223 903307 manager@cambac.co.uk
Kristian Foreman Marketing & Projects Manager 01223 903306 kristian.foreman@cambridgebid.co.uk
