With many businesses now permitted to reopen, North Tyneside Business Forum together with North Tyneside Council are working in partnership to encourage and support businesses in the borough to get back to work in a safe way through the ‘Restarting Business in North Tyneside’ campaign.
Restarting Business in North Tyneside
With many businesses now permitted to reopen, North Tyneside Business Forum together with North Tyneside Council are working in partnership to encourage and support businesses in the borough to get back to work in a safe way through the ‘Restarting Business in North Tyneside’ campaign.
We want to support businesses to start thinking about returning to work, preparing the workplace to be Covid-19 secure, when they are permitted to do so; and to provide Forum members with peer-to-peer advice and signposting to business recovery support available regionally and nationally.
We are doing this by showing businesses which are thinking about reopening how other businesses, which have already reopened or have remained open throughout the pandemic, have continued to operate, adapted and the measures they have introduced.
We’re sharing blogs, videos and tips on our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn) as well as through emails to members. Plus with blogs from our members, all of them are highlighted on this page.
This page is in three sections Reopening, Recovery, Supporting Local Business
Reopening
Businesses which are NOT permitted to re-open are bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, casinos, exhibition halls and conference centres, nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars and indoor play areas, including soft-play areas. Guidance can be found here.
Workplace Ready
Every sector must think about how they are going to socially distance staff and customers from themselves and each other.
There’s guidance available for close contact services; construction and other outdoor work; factories, plants & warehouses; heritage locations; hotels and other guest accommodation; other people’s homes; restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services; shops and branches; vehicles; and the visitor economy. This can all be found here.
When you’re looking at your premises, assess whether it is something you can do safely and use one-way system if necessary to keep your distance.
Put markers on the floor or move desks apart, put a screen up at the tills, close changing rooms and use appropriate PPE.
Let’s be sensible and support each other to keep distance.
Here’s some of the things you may not have thought about in preparation for re-opening…don’t forget to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and check the guidance for your sector on the Government website
Employers should also display a notice visibly in their shop windows or outside their store to show their employees, customers and other visitors that they have followed this guidance. Any business with over 50 employees is expected to display this. You can download the poster here
Test & Trace
There is a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 in premises where customers and visitors spend a longer time in one place and potentially come into close contact with other people outside of their household. To manage this risk, businesses including hospitality, tourism, leisure and other close contact services such as hairdressers and barbershops are expected to collect and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors.
Please encourage customers and visitors to share their details in order to support NHS Test and Trace and advise them that this information will only be used where necessary to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Detailed guidance on collecting and maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors is available here
Support not report
We’re asking members of the public to also support businesses as they adapt to the new challenges of reopening. So, if you visit a business, whether that’s a shop, office, factory, and see a mistake around social distancing, or PPE, for example, don’t take photos and ‘shame’ them on social media. Instead speak to staff or the owner and let them know your concerns. Support them. Don’t report them.
Everything is new to businesses when reopening and business owners are trying their best to make it safe for everyone and run their business. Let’s help each other.
*Of course if it is a big issue, do report it through the appropriate channels.
Recovery
North Tyneside Business Recovery Programme
North Tyneside Council, through the North of Tyne Combined Authority Capacity Fund is supporting businesses with a fully funded diagnostic support and expert consultancy to help the business community in North Tyneside into recovery.
This will include consultancy in a range of areas such as identifying new markets, online trading & booking systems, property health checks, financial and business advice to trade out of difficulty and more.
More info can be found on the North Tyneside Council website here
Regional and National Recovery Funding, Support & Advice
We’re working with the North East Growth Hub to highlight regional and national support schemes to help out businesses recover from the pandemic. There are a range of fully funded, pro-bono and grant funds available to businesses over the coming months.
Regionally (Tyne & Wear, Durham & Northumberland)
- BT Small Business Support Scheme – boost connectivity, cash flow and confidence. This includes funding for ultrafast business connections; bursaries for UK tech start-ups and support for small businesses through mentoring. Read more
- North East Fund – provide loans or equity investment, ranging from £20k to £1m+ to help North East companies sustain their activities and to grow. Read more
- Open North Foundation – £1-5k grants for business with job growth prospects. Read more
Nationally
- SME Restart & Recovery Grant – £1-3k grants for consultancy & technology. A national fund, delivered regionally by North East Growth Hub. Read more Open from 10 Aug for Expressions of Interest.
- Kickstarting Tourism – £1-3k grants for consultancy & technology. A national fund, delivered regionally by North East Growth Hub. Read more Open from 10 Aug for Expressions of Interest.
- Culture Recovery Fund – £50k to £2m grants for the support art forms delivered by Arts Council, England. Opens 10 Aug. Read more
- Hiring Apprentices funding – £2,000 for each new apprentice hired by Jan 2021. Read more
Temporary reduced rate of VAT for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions
Guidance is now available for businesses to reduce rate of VAT from 20% to 5% from 15 July until January 2021. Guidance is available for Hospitality, Hotel and holiday accommodation, Admission to certain attractions, The Flat Rate Scheme, The Tour Operators Margin Scheme and Accounting for supplies that straddle the temporary reduced rate.
Further detail and how to apply the reduction can be found on the Government website here
Supporting local business
Eat Out to Help Out
Businesses can register their restaurant or establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. Eligible businesses can register for the scheme from 13 July 2020. Registration will close on 31 August.
Businesses can register if their establishment:
- sells food for immediate consumption on the premsises
- provides its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meals
- was registered with North Tyneside Council as a food business on or before 7 July
Guidance on eligibility and how to apply can be found here
Covid Supplies
When doing a risk assessment, think about what products you need to keep your staff and customers safe. Have you thought that there may be local businesses out there that can supply these items? Members can buy from each other in our dedicated Facebook Group.
If you would like to share messages of support for the Restarting Business in North Tyneside Campaign, we have made easily accessible all of our graphics, these can be downloaded here
Reopening
Businesses which are NOT permitted to re-open are bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, casinos, exhibition halls and conference centres, nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars and indoor play areas, including soft-play areas. Guidance can be found here.
Workplace Ready
Every sector must think about how they are going to socially distance staff and customers from themselves and each other.
There’s guidance available for close contact services; construction and other outdoor work; factories, plants & warehouses; heritage locations; hotels and other guest accommodation; other people’s homes; restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services; shops and branches; vehicles; and the visitor economy. This can all be found here.
When you’re looking at your premises, assess whether it is something you can do safely and use one-way system if necessary to keep your distance.
Put markers on the floor or move desks apart, put a screen up at the tills, close changing rooms and use appropriate PPE.
Let’s be sensible and support each other to keep distance.
Here’s some of the things you may not have thought about in preparation for re-opening…don’t forget to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and check the guidance for your sector on the Government website
Employers should also display a notice visibly in their shop windows or outside their store to show their employees, customers and other visitors that they have followed this guidance. Any business with over 50 employees is expected to display this. You can download the poster here
Test & Trace
There is a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 in premises where customers and visitors spend a longer time in one place and potentially come into close contact with other people outside of their household. To manage this risk, businesses including hospitality, tourism, leisure and other close contact services such as hairdressers and barbershops are expected to collect and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors.
Please encourage customers and visitors to share their details in order to support NHS Test and Trace and advise them that this information will only be used where necessary to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Detailed guidance on collecting and maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors is available here
Support not report
We’re asking members of the public to also support businesses as they adapt to the new challenges of reopening. So, if you visit a business, whether that’s a shop, office, factory, and see a mistake around social distancing, or PPE, for example, don’t take photos and ‘shame’ them on social media. Instead speak to staff or the owner and let them know your concerns. Support them. Don’t report them.
Everything is new to businesses when reopening and business owners are trying their best to make it safe for everyone and run their business. Let’s help each other.
*Of course if it is a big issue, do report it through the appropriate channels.
FREE poster packs
Businesses which are restarting are all required to have conducted a Covid19 Secure Risk Assessment and are recommended to display a poster showing they have completed the risk assessment.
Businesses across North Tyneside are able to access printed packs of the Government poster and a special poster designed by us with the support of North Tyneside Council.
Initially 600 packs will be available free of charge to any North Tyneside-based business planning to reopen. Collection or delivery will be from two town centre-based printing companies – YPD Creative in North Shields, and Request a Guest in Whitley Bay.
Whether you’re in Wallsend, Forest Hall, Longbenton, Killingworth, anywhere across North Tyneside, businesses can order from either of the shops, and they’ll pop them in the post or you can collect.
Orders can be made via the following forms. You will be contacted within 2 days of submitting the form by the relevant printing company.
If your business is not in one of the town centres, please select the town which is closest to you.
Recovery
North Tyneside Business Recovery Programme
North Tyneside Council, through the North of Tyne Combined Authority Capacity Fund is supporting businesses with a fully funded diagnostic support and expert consultancy to help the business community in North Tyneside into recovery.
This will include consultancy in a range of areas such as identifying new markets, online trading & booking systems, property health checks, financial and business advice to trade out of difficulty and more.
More info can be found on the North Tyneside Council website here
Regional and National Recovery Funding, Support & Advice
We’re working with the North East Growth Hub to highlight regional and national support schemes to help out businesses recover from the pandemic. There are a range of fully funded, pro-bono and grant funds available to businesses over the coming months.
Regionally (Tyne & Wear, Durham & Northumberland)
- BT Small Business Support Scheme – boost connectivity, cash flow and confidence. This includes funding for ultrafast business connections; bursaries for UK tech start-ups and support for small businesses through mentoring. Read more
- North East Fund – provide loans or equity investment, ranging from £20k to £1m+ to help North East companies sustain their activities and to grow. Read more
- Open North Foundation – £1-5k grants for business with job growth prospects. Read more
Nationally
- SME Restart & Recovery Grant – £1-3k grants for consultancy & technology. A national fund, delivered regionally by North East Growth Hub. Read more Open from 10 Aug for Expressions of Interest.
- Kickstarting Tourism – £1-3k grants for consultancy & technology. A national fund, delivered regionally by North East Growth Hub. Read more Open from 10 Aug for Expressions of Interest.
- Culture Recovery Fund – £50k to £2m grants for the support art forms delivered by Arts Council, England. Opens 10 Aug. Read more
- Hiring Apprentices funding – £2,000 for each new apprentice hired by Jan 2021. Read more
Temporary reduced rate of VAT for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions
Guidance is now available for businesses to reduce rate of VAT from 20% to 5% from 15 July until January 2021. Guidance is available for Hospitality, Hotel and holiday accommodation, Admission to certain attractions, The Flat Rate Scheme, The Tour Operators Margin Scheme and Accounting for supplies that straddle the temporary reduced rate.
Further detail and how to apply the reduction can be found on the Government website here
Support local businesses
Eat Out to Help Out
Businesses can register their restaurant or establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. Eligible businesses can register for the scheme from 13 July 2020. Registration will close on 31 August.
Businesses can register if their establishment:
- sells food for immediate consumption on the premsises
- provides its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meals
- was registered with North Tyneside Council as a food business on or before 7 July
Guidance on eligibility and how to apply can be found here
Covid Supplies
When doing a risk assessment, think about what products you need to keep your staff and customers safe. Have you thought that there may be local businesses out there that can supply these items? Members can buy from each other in our dedicated Facebook Group.
If you would like to share messages of support for the Restarting Business in North Tyneside Campaign, we have made easily accessible all of our graphics, these can be downloaded here