274-29th April 2020

New business hub launched for town centre businesses

Our new business support hub is now live - designed to help Luton town centre businesses manage during the coronavirus crisis.

The BID has set up #LutonBusinessSupport to offer businesses a safe space to ask questions, share experiences and find out about everything from grants and government updates to online events and business support.

It has also been designed to act as a matchmaking service for town centre businesses – to link those who can offer support with those in need of help, advice and guidance. 

"So many of our town centre businesses need advice and support during this time and are struggling with the snap downturn in custom. We feel passionately that now is the time to support each other so we would urge all town centre businesses to make use of this new Facebook group.”
Fergus McLardy, BID Project Manager
Bounce Back Loans

The Government has announced a new scheme for those in need of small loans.

Businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. These loans will be interest free for the first 12 months. Applications can be made online from Monday, 4 May.

Find out more HERE.

Find out what other financial support schemes you may be eligible for HERE.
 
You can also contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free advice: 0300 456 3565.
How the BID can help

Thank you to all town centre levy paying businesses that have contacted the BID in the last few days to request support with grants.

We are delighted to have been able to help so many of you. If you need help please get in touch. As a reminder, if you are a levy paying business, have made an application more than 10 days ago and have not received any funds the BID can request an update on your behalf.

Email the BID at info@lutonbid.org with the following information:

• Business Name
• Contact Name
• Contact Number
• Full business postal address including postcode
• Date of application
• COVID grant reference number received on submission

The BID will contact Luton Borough Council on your behalf to get a status update on your application, we will then reply individually to those BID businesses requesting this support. Please note that grant applications are currently taking around two weeks to process and pay.
Raise the Bar

Luton BID is calling on central government to do more to help the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors survive COVID-19.

The BID is pledging its full support for ‘Raise The Bar’, a national campaign which is urging government to expand the rateable value threshold for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from £51,000 to £150,000.

This would enable more businesses to access a £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) grant.

There is a dedicated website, which includes a parliamentary petition - click HERE.
Live webinars - how to make a claim

As part of the government’s commitment to supporting employers through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you can now claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees’ salaries through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Join a live webinar which provides a step-by-step guide on how to make a claim through the scheme.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim

These are running today (29th) and Thursday (30th).

During this webinar you will be taken through the following steps:

  • essential information
  • before you make your claim
  • calculating your claim
  • processing your claim
  • after submitting your claim.

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   info@lutonbid.org
www.lutonbid.org

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