Finance for Employers, Shop Local, Shop Safe and Key Dates for Business
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Shop Local, Shop Safe
Supporting local high streets and encouraging residents to Shop Local, Shop Safe is the focus of a new council PR campaign.

Promoting visits to stores, cafes and local venues, a video has been created for businesses to share on social media.

Funded by the government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, the free to use video is available to download (valid for 6 days).
 
Businesses are also encouraged to re-tweet and share posts on the council's own social channels: twitter , instagram and facebook .
Lifting Restrictions on Business
The 1 August is the Government's proposed date to lift some restrictions on businesses, if prevalence remains at or below current levels, and Covid-19 Secure guidelines are followed.

  • Employers will have more discretion on how they ensure employees can work safely.

  • All close contact services can resume, including treatments to the face such as eyebrow threading.

A government webinar on working safely:close contact services is being held on 28 July.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Key Dates
Employers are being reminded of key dates in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough).

31 July : the last date for claims up to 30 June.

31‌‌‌ ‌July: details published on the Job Retention Bonus, a payment of £1,000 for each furloughed employee who is continuously employed until at least 31‌‌‌ ‌January 2021.

1 August : the National Insurance and pension contributions of furloughed employees will no longer be funded by the Scheme. Employers will have to make these payments.

1 September: employers will start contributing to the wages of furloughed employees.

31 October: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes.

Live webinars offering support on changes to the Scheme are available to book online .
Business Events and Conferences from 1 October
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Business events and conferences will be permitted to resume from 1 October, provided rates of infection remain at current levels.

A Government announcement on business events explains the plans to test social distance practises, and provide guidance on keeping guests and staff safe.
Free LinkedIn Webinar
A free webinar on using LinkedIn effectively to promote you and your business is being held on 30 July.

Hosted by the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub with Intandem Communications, the webinar is in response to demand following successful social media events.
Apprentices and Trainees: New Financial Support for Employers
The Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs announcement in early July included new support for employers that recruit apprentices, or offer traineeships.

Businesses will be given £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 for new apprentices aged 16-18 years.

Employers offering new traineeships ( work placements) may receive an incentive payment of £1,000 per learner.
 
Eat Out to Help Out: Register Your Business
Restaurants and similar venues can now register for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (3 to 31 August).
To be eligible businesses must sell food for immediate consumption on the premises, provide a dining area and have been registered as a food business by 7 July.

Registrations for the scheme close on 31 August.
Leadership and Recovery: Free Support for Businesses
How to lead your business through unprecedented change and to recovery, is the focus of a free to attend webinar series this summer.

Delivered by Pro-Development (UK) Ltd, working with North Yorkshire County Council and others, the webinars on 29 July and 5 August highlight how teams and business can flourish.
The next Business@Harrogate news will be 29 July