Additional Restriction Grant – third round
The third round of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is now available.

Luton Council has developed this discretionary grant scheme to help those businesses who:
  • ​are unable to access funding through the Local Restrictions Support Grants or Business Restart Grant
  • have been severely impacted by the restrictions put in place to control the spread of Covid-19

The scheme has now been broadened to support all businesses below 250 employees, in any setting. It will also help businesses outside the business rates system, such as taxi/private hire drivers which have been severely impacted by the restrictions put in place

Further details and the online application form can be found HERE.
Restart Grant Scheme - NOW OPEN
A reminder to our BID businesses that applications are now open through the Luton Council website for the Restart Grant Scheme.

The scheme is a new system of one-off grants to replace the Local Restriction Support Grants (LRSG), and is open to non-essential retail businesses, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym or sports related premises.

The application closing date is 30 June 2021 and final payments will be made by 31 July 2021.

Please remember that the grant income received by a business is taxable so will need to be included as income in the tax return of the business.

Luton Council is also reviewing the local Additional Business Support Grants scheme to support businesses in Luton that do not qualify for a restart grant.

Click HERE for more information.
Make the most of the Big Trunk Trail with offers & discounts
We're urging BID businesses to make the most of our Big Trunk Trail sponsorship by sending us your offers and discounts to promote on the App.
Luton BID is a proud sponsor of The Big Trunk Trail - the most high-profile art event to hit the town this summer.

As a Trail Progress Partner, town centre businesses will be able to promote special offers to visitors via the App, which is in development.

How to get involved...
Submit your offers for us to promote during the event - from 10th July through to October.
 
Examples of offers can be things like:
·   Buy One Get One Half Price
·   Buy an item and get another item free
·   Discounts off purchases
·   Discounts over a certain limit of spend
·   Spend over a certain amount in our store in November and get a discount of X% voucher to spend in December
 
These are just examples, you may have other ideas.
 
Contact...
Please provide the following information to [email protected] as soon as possible.
 
·   Your business name and street that you are located on
·   Details of the offer
·   When the offer is valid from and to
·   Any other conditions you are placing on the redemption of the offer
·   Your contact name, email and phone number (this is for office use only)
·   Please also send us a copy of your business logo or a relevant image

How we will promote your offer
Your offer will be showcased on the BID website (www.lutontowncentre.co.uk), via the BID's social media channels AND on the App.
 
Shoppers will be able to click on a link to view and display your voucher on their mobile device when they visit your store/venue. They will show the voucher to redeem their offer - so please ensure you have briefed your staff.

If you have any questions or other ideas, please do let us know - 01582 510657.
Fast Track Pavement Licenses - expand your outside trading space free of charge in Luton
The fast track pavement license is still in place for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to place removable furniture on the public highway outside their premises, for the sale, or service and consumption, of food and drink.

The license - introduced by the Government last year - will be applicable until at least September 2021 and is available to pubs, restaurants, bars, snack bars, coffee shops and ice cream parlours.

Luton Council will not be charging the £100 fee for pavement licenses to support businesses to attract more business. For full details and to apply for a free pavement license please click HERE
ShopKind
The ShopKind campaign started this week on the 19th April as a way to unite the retail sector to tackle violence and abuse against shopworkers.

ShopKind is backed by the Home Office and asks people to ShopKind when in stores - it is for the whole retail sector.

Retailers are encouraged to download the print and social media campaign materials and use them in stores.

Access more information and the downloadable materials can be found HERE.
Business Support Guide
Read our latest Business Support Guide by clicking on the link below.

You are receiving this email as an existing contact on the Luton BID Business Improvement District (BID)  update list either because you have consented to receive our ebulletins, or under the GDPR legitimate interest criteria because you have an interest in the BID activities.
If you wish, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.


Luton BID is project managed by Partnerships for Better Business Ltd


Luton BID 01582 510657  [email protected]
www.lutonbid.org

Luton BID is project managed by Partnerships for Better Business Ltd (pfbb UK)