£1.9m shared via Portsmouth’s discretionary grant fund
Small or micro businesses in Portsmouth have received more than £1.9 million worth of support in recent months via Portsmouth City Council’s discretionary grant fund. Over 370 businesses successfully applied for grants under the scheme that was designed to support small firms such as B&Bs, market traders, charitable organisations run as businesses, businesses in shared premises or facilities, and home-based businesses – those that had not qualified for previous government coronavirus support schemes.
You can find out more about current grant schemes and other support available to local businesses via our business support pages or by calling our dedicated coronavirus business helpline on 023 9284 1641 (Monday to Friday).
Build a network of trusted peers
SMEs looking to overcome business challenges and improve their performance can now get the support they need to grow through Peer Networks – a peer-to-peer networking programme delivered by Solent LEP. The programme is open to SME leaders who have been in business for over a year, have at least five employees and an annual turnover of at least £100,000. Supported by expert facilitators, members will work to overcome common business hurdles, covering topics from finance to HR, with support from a network of trusted peers.
Take action ready to leave the EU
To support businesses as we prepare to leave the EU, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take. There will be live webinars for a wide variety of sectors from aerospace to construction and retail. These online events will provide information on key actions for businesses in these industries. Following the live events the webinars will be available on demand.
You can also apply for the a place at a free virtual workshop on winning and delivering business internationally. Presented by industry experts, this event will cover how to mitigate risks and trade safely, selling and pricing overseas, where to trade and finding your best route to market, and how to engage with agents, distributors and partners.
Have your say on private rentals
We want landlords and private renters across Portsmouth to help inform a citywide strategy to make renting privately easier and safer. An initial consultation in January 2020 engaged with almost 850 people and a draft private rental sector strategy was developed.
Consultation on that strategy was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we’re now looking to consult with anyone interested in the issues surrounding the private rental sector in Portsmouth. We’re asking renters and landlords to take a short survey asking about their circumstances and what their priorities are for a property. This consultation gives you an opportunity to have your say to help create housing solutions in the short and long term that will benefit the whole city.
Making the air around us cleaner
Over lockdown, there was a significant drop in air pollution with four-out-of-five adults noticing less traffic in their area and a significant reduction in car use. As we begin to use our cars again for commuting, visiting friends and family, and travelling around our city – now is the time to consider how we make those journeys. Can you walk, cycle or take public transport for journeys under two miles?
If your business or workplace is affected by the proposed Clean Air Zone in Portsmouth, our Workplace Engagement Officers (WEO) can help. Their role is to provide support and guidance to your business in securing grants or funding, signposting to information and helping you to understand the impact the CAZ may have on your business.
Payment plan for self assessment
HMRC has increased the threshold for paying tax liabilities to £30,000 for self assessment customers to help ease any potential financial burden they may be experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Self assessment customers can now apply online for additional support to help spread the cost of their tax bill into monthly payments without the need to call HM Revenue and Customs.
Fraudsters targeting job seekers
Fraudsters are targeting job-seekers with a recruitment scam that has already claimed 35 victims with losses totalling over £51,000. The fraudsters use recruitment websites and apps to identify potential targets.
To protect yourself don’t share personal information such as your full address, date of birth, or NI Number on your CV or public profiles on a recruitment sites. Always verify that the employer/recruiter you’re speaking with is who they say they are. Contact the employer via a telephone number or email address on their official website, or via the company’s verified social media accounts.
