NEWS
Our weekly Bexley for Business Newsletter provides information on local business/networking events, business related news, workshops, advice and up-to-date funding opportunities.
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15 March 2021
Specialist free support available to town centre businesses
As the government’s Covid19 road map takes a step forward now is a great time for all Bexley town centre businesses to start getting ready to re-open. The Covid-19 Business Support Programme, created with the help of funding from the European Regional Development Fund, is there to help them do just that. It is designed to support businesses to re-open in a safe and sustainable way post-lockdown, and to restructure and continue to generate sales during lockdown.
Businesses can visit the dedicated website www.bexleyportal.co.uk for free access to information videos and resources, to help them become safer and more resilient in the face of Covid-19.
The programme links to the borough-wide ‘Shop Local, Shop Safe’ campaign to help kick-start the local economy, get people back to work and customers back to the shops safely, in line with government guidance
10 February 2020
Bexley Business Excellence Awards 2020 now open for entries following launch at innovative Engine House
The eighth annual Bexley Business Excellence Awards in association with Ocado (headline sponsor) is now inviting entries after an inspirational launch event at the Engine House.
Not only were the speeches on February 5 about the tremendous success of the borough’s premier business awards, they also focused on the great work the venue itself, formerly known as the Thames Innovation Centre, was doing to help businesses thrive. The newly-renovated and relaunched Engine House, a short walk from Belvedere and Abbey Wood stations, offers workspace for start-ups, entrepreneurs and growing teams.
The Awards are organised by White Label, in partnership with London Borough of Bexley and Bexley for Business.
The Awards offer 12 free-to-enter categories and are open to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors in the borough.
The 2020 winners, including the overall Bexley Business of the Year, will be exclusively announced at the glittering, black-tie Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony hosted by a celebrity compere at Hall Place and Gardens on Thursday, June 18.
Awards sponsors also include Aitch Group, Bellway, Bexleyheath BID; Crayford Greyhound Track; London South East Colleges; Learning and Enterprise College Bexley. They are supported by the Bexley Times, D&S Frames, Maid on a Mission, Mobile Bar Hire
28 November 2019
Safe Place Scheme
Bexley Mencap is working in partnership with Bexley Council, local shops and businesses to provide a Safe Place scheme.
This is a temporary safe place where individuals with a learning disability can go if they are in danger or are feeling anxious or distressed.
By simply displaying a yellow diamond Safe Places sticker in your shop window, you are helping someone who may be lost, feel scared or anxious and offering to phone their emergency contact details for help.
Safe Places is part of the Council’s Connected Communities strategy and we would like to see as many businesses sign up as possible.
If you are interested in taking part in this scheme please contact Nick Marsden
For more info visit http://www.bexleymencap.org.uk/safeplace
29 October 2019
Start up support for women
Access funding and supplementary support to help start your business. As part of their pledge to inspire 400,000 female-led business by 2025, NatWest has teamed up with Crowdfunder.co.uk, to launch the ‘Back Her Business’ initiative, and help you raise the money you need to get your ideas off the ground.
Get free coaching, mentoring and opportunities to meet like-minded women.
What’s more, NatWest is also offering up to 50% of your fundraising target (max. £5,000) in grant funding for certain successful projects.
Find out more
02 October 2019
Get involved in the future of Thamesmead and Abbey Wood
The Mayor of London is preparing a framework for the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood Opportunity Area. Give your views on the potential for the area to accommodate more homes and jobs – what would you like to see in your local area? https://thamesmeadandabbeywoodhome.commonplace.is/
Thamesmead & Abbey Wood is one of the largest opportunity areas in London, with the potential for 8,000 homes and 4,000 jobs – and with transport improvements this could be even more. The plans will show how growth in this area benefits local people, the economy and environment - and could be supported by new transport connections. For example, a new bus transit or an extension to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
We would love to hear from you and invite you to take part in a short survey. If you haven’t got time to fill out a questionnaire, please drop a pin on our map and tell us quickly what you think. You can drop as many pins as you like.
15 March 2021
Register to order free rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests for your employees
You can order free rapid lateral flow tests to test your employees twice a week in the workplace.
You must register on or before 31 March 2021.
Do not use this service if you or your employees have symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should order a PCR test and stay at home.
You can register to order tests if:
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your business is registered in England
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your employees cannot work from home
The tests must be used in the workplace. They cannot be taken home.
Your employees can also find out if they can get a rapid lateral flow test from a local test site instead.
15 January 2020
Bexley number one for apprenticeships
Bexley is officially the most successful London borough for under-19 apprenticeship starts in 2019. An impressive 570 Bexley young people have celebrated the start of a new career.
The figures are from the Department for Education statistics for 18/19 for the number of apprenticeship starts in London.
Bexley’s annual apprenticeship event will take place on Monday 3 February at the Civic Offices, Bexleyheath.
Visit www.bexley.gov.uk/apprenticeshipevent for more details and to register your interest.
To find out more about apprenticeships available in the borough visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
28 November 2019
Government Launches New Development Corporation Competition
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the launch of a new £10 million capacity fund to generate innovative proposals for new business-backed development corporations and similar delivery models. Local authorities can apply for up to £10 million over three years for proposals focus on housing and economic growth to regenerate their areas.
Up to 10 proposals will be funded.
Local authorities are eligible to submit expressions of interest (EOIs), whether individually or in partnership with other local authorities. The Ministry strongly welcome applications from private or third sector organisations made in partnership with local authorities.
Applicants will need to:
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demonstrate that they can use the requested funding to progress work and generate proposals for innovative delivery models such as development corporations
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demonstrate that the delivery models being explored are intended to deliver a transformational housing or regeneration project
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endeavour to make key learnings from the funding available to other local areas and to central government in order that best practice and lessons learned can be disseminated, not including commercially sensitive information
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To register an interest in applying for the competition, please contact Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government at . The competition is open to applications on a rolling basis.
29 October 2019
Applications are open to Alzheimer’s Society’s Accelerator Programme
The Innovation Team at Alzheimer’s Society (AS) is committed to creating innovative solutions to tackle challenges, working together with people affected by dementia.
As well as hearing people’s ideas through the Innovation Hub, AS works with enthusiastic innovators through its Accelerator Programme.
Last year AS invested in two promising projects bringing creative solutions to challenges that people with dementia face around hydration as well as completing tasks or remembering activities.
A new call for applications is now underway. AS is offering bespoke business support and investment up to a value of £100,000, along with a 12-month partnership.
Applications are open to innovators, engineers, designers, developers, entrepreneurs and anyone with a great idea. The deadline is 7 November.
Find out more by visiting the Innovation Hub at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/our-research/accelerator-programme
02 October 2019
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
Full fibre broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable speeds available, and the government is committed to a vision of a full fibre Britain. As part of this commitment in March 2018, we announced our £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
Gigabit vouchers can be used by small businesses and the local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit-capable connection. Businesses can claim up to £2,500 against the cost of connection either individually or as part of a group project. Residents can benefit from the scheme with a voucher worth £500 as part of a group project.
For more information visit https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/
08 September 2020
Still time to enter Bexley Awards, as ceremony goes virtual for 2020
Bexley businesses still have time to join the borough’s best at the 2020 Bexley Business Excellence Awards, which are held in association with Ocado.
The deadline to enter has been set to 5pm Friday, 25 September and more than 100 businesses have already entered to win one of 13 categories, including the prestigious Business of the Year award.
The awards ceremony, taking place virtually on Wednesday 18 November, will see businesses, employers and employees come together virtually to celebrate the previous 12 months and share stories of their entrepreneurship, adaptiveness and flexibility to remain trading and serve their customers and community.
You can enter online here – and customers and residents can nominate their favourite businesses using this link. Businesses can enter up to three categories.
For more information, visit www.bexleyawards.co.uk
10 December 2019
Diverting surplus food to charity
If you are a food producing business, it is much easier than you think to redistribute your surplus food to charities and community groups helping vulnerable people.
Apply for up to £50,000 worth of funding (or more) from the FareShare Surplus with Purpose Fund to help offset the costs you could face in diverting your surplus food to frontline charities.
Learn more
12 November 2019
Community spaces are everybody’s business
Do you have ideas that will grow the trading activities of the community space you manage and help generate a more sustainable income?
Apply for loans of up to £50,000 (interest-free for up to five years) from the Co-op Foundation’s Community Spaces Fund, to help your organisation boost its income.
The business ideas must be viable and benefit the whole community, particularly those facing greater challenges. Depending on the local needs you are addressing, the Foundation might also be able to offer some grant funding alongside a loan to support your work.
Find out more
02 October 2019
Prepare for Brexit
The Government has launched an online tool to help businesses and organisations prepare for Brexit. You can use this tool to find out; what your business or organisation may need to do to prepare for the UK leaving the EU, what’s changing in your industry, and information on specific rules and regulations such as:
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employing EU citizens
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importing, exporting and transporting
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operating in the EU
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regulation and standards for goods and products
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using personal data
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European and domestic funding
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intellectual property
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energy and climate
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public sector procurement.