London Business Hub has created a dedicated Brexit resources Hub to assist businesses while they navigate through changes going forward. The Hub features resources such as the latest up to date information, podcasts, online workshops and free one hour sessions with a panel of experts. We know that 2021 has been a difficult year so far for London’s SMEs. Alongside the continuing impact of the pandemic, small businesses are now facing the challenges and changes of Brexit. Getting to grips with the impact of Brexit may seem a daunting task, so the London Business Hub is here to help. Click here to take you to their dedicated Brexit resources to help your business navigate the challenges ahead.

Use this service to get the forms you need to order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests for your employees. Do not use this service if you or your employees have symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should order an individual test and stay at home. You can register to order tests if: your business is registered in Englandyou employ 50 people or moreyour employees cannot work from home Before you start You’ll need: the name of your companyyour company registration numberan email address Click HERE to begin (external gov.uk site)

Haringey Council is encouraging businesses across the borough to undertake lateral flow testing for #COVID19 to help curb the spread of the virus. They’ve produced a poster with all of the key info to be displayed in communal areas – download the poster here: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/lateral-flow-testing-poster-businesses Get tested – stay safe 1 in 3 people with COVID have NO symptoms. Go to www.haringey.gov.uk for opening times and more information. Symptom-free testing sites at: 48 Station Road, Wood Green, N22 7TYTottenham Community Sports Centre, 701 – 703 High Road, N17 8ADAlexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY From Monday 1 February the centres will be open every day: Monday 8am – 4pmTuesday/Wednesday 8am – 8pmThursday/Friday/Saturday 8am – 4pmSunday 10am – 2pm Keep yourself, your workers and your customers safe.

The #lookcloser campaign will be launched from next week by The Childrens Society in partnership with UK police forces to raise awareness of child exploitation and abuse, with a particular focus on town centres and public spaces. #LookCloser to spot and report signs of exploitation Young people are being exploited and are losing hope, but it’s not always obvious. The #LookCloser campaign, developed in partnership with the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and British Transport Police, encourages everyone to learn the signs of child exploitation and how to report it if worried.  Everyone in society has a role to play in protecting children and young people from abuse and exploitation. If we learn to spot the signs, we can help keep them safe and stop this abuse from happening. Knowing what to look for Signs of exploitation aren’t obvious. This can be a barrier to identifying young people at risk or being exploited.  #LookCloser highlights that any young person can be a victim. Although they may not ‘appear vulnerable’ or ‘act like a victim’, it is our role to look closer to identify and protect them from further harm.  If we all learn to spot the possible signs of a young person being exploited, we can all help to keep them safe and stop this abuse from happening. Do you work in these industries? Banking Children who are exploited often carry cash obtained from their exploitation and will visit bank branches to pay it into their abuser’s account. They may also be made to launder money or transfer criminal proceeds through their own bank account. As employees of the banking sector you have a vital role to play to #LookCloser and report your concerns so that together we can support children to escape their abuse and prevent further children being targeted. #LookCloser for signs of exploitation and abuse Is a child or young person visiting your branch: Anxious, frightened, angry, showing signs of neglect or displaying other behaviours that make you worried about them?Behaving aggressively with you or other bank staff?Visiting a branch far from the account holder’s address?Paying in a large quantity of cash?Being instructed or controlled by another individual? Or is someone keeping an eye on them from a distance?Receiving frequent messages and calls? Do they appear anxious when answering? Is there concerning activity related to a child or young person’s account? Are they paying in small amounts frequently?Is there more activity than you would expect to see on a young person’s account?Are there cash deposits or transfers from unknown sources?Are there a lot of transport or accommodation transactions on the account? If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, report it Call the police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency). Or if you’d like to report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111. Only report your concerns when it is safe for you to do so, even if this is after the event that your concerns initially arose. Do not attempt to intervene yourself.   To learn more about how we can work together to prevent child exploitation and abuse, get in touch.   Taxis, ride shares and private hire vehicles Taxis, ride shares and private hire vehicles are sometimes used by perpetrators to transport young people for the purpose of abuse and exploitation.   As a driver you may overhear concerning conversations a young person is having on the phone. The act of abuse or exploitation may not be visible but the control, coercion, grooming and its impact on a young person may be. Whilst sharing a vehicle with a young person, you may be the only one to hear and observe signs of exploitation and abuse. #LookCloser for signs of exploitation and abuse Is a child or young person in your taxi or ride share: Travelling alone? Unfamiliar with the local area?Travelling at unusual hours (during school time, early in the morning, or late at night? Travelling to multiple destinations in one day or night?Travelling long distances and paying for a journey that is expensive and would seem unrealistic for a young person to afford by themselves? Paying for journeys in cash or prepaid? Carrying lots of cash?Anxious, frightened, angry, showing signs of neglect or displaying other behaviour that makes you worried?Using words describing criminal or sexual activity? As a member of staff working in a hire car branch, you may notice signs of exploitation and abuse. Is a child or young person:  Being instructed or controlled by another individualAppearing guarded around particular individualsAnxious, frightened, angry, showing signs of neglect, or displaying other behaviours that make you worriedAccompanied by another individual with suspicious booking information. Look out for fraudulent documents, payments in cash, regular bookings to different areas of the country or differences between names and addresses of those making the booking and those hiring the car. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, report it Call the police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency). Or if you’d like to report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111. Only report your concerns when it is safe for you to do so, even if this is after the event that your concerns initially arose. Do not attempt to intervene yourself.   To learn more about how we can work together to prevent child exploitation and abuse, get in touch.   Delivery services Postal workers, takeaway and delivery drivers are being relied upon more than ever during Covid-19 restrictions and national lockdown measures.  As a delivery driver, you are working within communities and neighbourhoods, travelling through multiple public spaces during shifts. Therefore there may be opportunities for you to identify young people being exploited or abused either within public spaces or within houses.  #LookCloser for signs of exploitation and abuse Whilst delivering in the community, look out for children or young people who are: Looking lost or in unfamiliar surroundings Regularly in a public space during school hours or late at nightOn their own or meeting different adults who don’t appear to be parentsBeing instructed or controlled by another individualAccompanied by individuals who are older than them. Exploitation and abuse can also be visible inside houses. The majority of sexual abuse happens inside the family home and vulnerable adults’ properties can be taken over by criminals and used as a base. If you are delivering parcels, takeaways or other items to a house, you may be one of the only professionals in a position to spot and report concerns.  Things to look out for in houses: Unaccompanied children visiting a house where only adults liveYoung people who are anxious, frightened, angry, showing signs of neglect or displaying other behaviours that make you worriedChildren with bruises, burns, bite marks or fracturesAppearing guarded around particular individualsShouting or violence towards a young personIncreased callers at a propertyIncrease in cars pulling up for short periods of a timeIncreased antisocial behaviour at a propertyNot seeing the resident for long periods of timeUnfamiliar vehicles at the property. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, report it Call the police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency). Or if you’d like to report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111. Only report your concerns when it is safe for you to do so, even if this is after the event that your concerns initially arose. Do not attempt to intervene yourself.   To learn more about how we can work together to prevent child exploitation and abuse, get in touch.   If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, report it Call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency You can also report to the police online. Only report your concerns when it is safe for you to do so, even if this is after the event that your concerns initially arose.  Do not attempt to intervene yourself.  Text the British Transport Police on 61016 If you are on a train, you can text the British Transport Police. Information on routes of travel, addresses, appearance, and behaviour of a child can all help to protect young people.  Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 If you have information on child exploitation and abuse or suspect it may be happening but want to remain completely anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online or on the phone. Call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 The NSPCC helpline is staffed by trained professionals who can provide expert advice and support if you’re concerned about a child. 

Choices Local Business Club have joined forces with Haringey Council to help more local people to get started in business. Date And Time Wed, 10 February 2021 17:00 – 19:00 GMT About this Event The foundations of a strong business which can withstand the unexpected, begin with a good plan Are any of the following true for you: I have a great business idea, but don’t know what to do nextMy plans for my business were coming on fine and then lockdown struck.My business was growing, then Covid-19 struckI’ve been on the internet, business seminars and courses and all I have is a book full of noteEveryone keeps on giving me advice but I just don’t know what to do next If you have answered yes to any of the above, then we have a solution for you. You see, setting up and running a business is simple; making it a success is not; if it was, everybody would be doing it and the failure rate for start-up business in the UK would not be a conservative 85% What’s more, with the current lockdown in place; setting up and successfully running a business just become more difficult. Not only because of the lockdown, but many of the businesses we have began to help during Covid-19 have struggled because they do not have a good plan in place and have found it impossible to benefit from Government loans or grants because of the same. So what’s your next move? You need a completed Business Plan; your personal step by step guide to business success, created by you, with our help. You see; people don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan. And we want to help you to avoid all the pitfalls that come with starting up a business; plus with the landscape of so many business industries changing; we want to help you to prepare launch and navigate to your business success. So join us on our Business Plan Starter Workshop and get free ongoing help to complete your business plan and start your business. If you are already in business, but haven’t got a working business plan; please take the time to prepare one now; it will be one of the best business decisions that you will make. We normally run these workshops at various venues in Haringey; however, the current lockdown situation means that we have to adapt and take our workshop onto the Zoom platform. Choices Local Business Club have joined forces with Haringey Council to help more local people to get started in business. Join us for our Business Plan Starter Workshop, where Anthony Charles will get you started on your business plan. ‘We’ll start from scratch covering your business description, aims & objectives, you niche, your USP and as much as we possibly can… And if you don’ t finish, (which you probably won’t) don’t worry; this isn’t one of those workshops run by people who only have a theory on running a business, throwing loads of information at you then leaving you high and dry not knowing what to do next. If you are serious about starting up in business and willing to put the effort in, you can receive ongoing support from Anthony to complete your business plan and take your business from idea to reality. Let us help you plan your work, then work your plan. Join us for this free workshop – Book a place HERE

Given its popularity last year, London Business Hub are re-running the social media two days’ workshop on Wednesday 10th and 17th of February, “Harness the Power of Social Media to Grow your Business”.  SMEs have a chance to learn how to develop for free a  social media strategy and create engaging content for platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Numbers are very limited for this workshop so we would encourage SME’s to book on to it soon. As part of the EU Exit Series for SMEs, London Business Hub is running a whole day virtual webinar on February 24th on “Doing Business in the EU: the New Landscape”. The topics covered will be: Importing and exporting, cross border documents and the UK Global TariffEmploying EU nationals Data and Intellectual Property Further information on how to register for webinars and on the schedule/content of webinars is available on the London Business Hub webpage here. Applications for round 4 of the London Business Accelerator closed last week with over 80 applications. 30 businesses will be selected by the end of the week to start the virtual programme in February. All ERDF eligible SME’s in London can continue to benefit from free 1:1 support of up to 12 hours with one of London Business Hubs advisers. Appointments can be booked via their website at https://www.businesshub.london/advisers/. The London Business Hub is now also offering FREE 1-2-1 advice and guidance to businesses to support them with the changes that impact them from 1st January due to Brexit. Businesses can book an appointment with an EU adviser here.  They are also now pleased to announce that they have a panel of specialist advisers on board covering a range of subjects including immigration and employment of EU nationals in the UK ,  employment of UK nationals in the EU, and business travel, tax, VAT, corporate law and import and export  support. Specialists are only accessible though the LBH/EU  advisers. They will refer businesses to this specialist panel where relevant. As part of the wider London Business Hub’s programme, there are also some other exciting initiatives currently live to support businesses. These include: Investment Readiness Programme – a programme to guide early-stage founders, especially from underrepresented groups, on how to access external finance. The next workshop is in February, for more information and to register your interest please visit here: https://www.businesshub.london/resource/investment-readiness-programme/Property Advice Service – to help SMEs find the right space and fully understand the costs associated with renting a property.  The next workshop takes place on 9th February, 10.30am-12.30pm, it will focus on COVID-19’s impact on commercial spaces, helping businesses to understand their leases, rent negotiation & business rates. To join, businesses can register interest for the programme here: https://www.businesshub.london/resource/property-advice-and-business-rates-service/Recoverand Grow – a programme in partnership with The Business School for established SMEs with ambitions to grow with a turnover of over £450,000. Businesses can register their interest here: https://www.businesshub.london/resource/recover-and-grow/ London Business Hubs website continues to be updated daily with all the latest support available to businesses, including our Covid-19 Hub and EU Post-Transition Hub

This morning (Friday 15th Jan), the Supreme Court has ruled that Insurance companies must pay out to small businesses due to the first lockdown back in March/April 2020. The Supreme Court found in favour of small firms receiving payments from business interruption insurance policies. The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), brought the test case, with eight insurers agreeing to take part in proceedings. Sheldon Mills, from the FCA, which brought the case on behalf of policyholders, said: “Coronavirus is causing substantial loss and distress to businesses and many are under immense financial strain to stay afloat. Today’s judgment decisively removes many of the roadblocks to claims by policyholders. “We will be working with insurers to ensure that they now move quickly to pay claims that the judgment says should be paid, making interim payments wherever possible.” Businesses which had business interruption policies in place during the first lock down should contact their insurance companies to discuss further.

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, the Chancellor has announced. Chancellor announces one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring£594 million discretionary fund also made available to support other impacted businessescomes in addition to £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of furlough scheme This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement last night that these business will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the virus, and, together with the wide range of existing support, provides them with certainty through the Spring period. The cash is provided on a per-property basis to support businesses through the latest restrictions, and is expected to benefit over 600,000 business properties, worth £4 billion in total across all nations of the UK. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge – and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.Throughout the pandemic we’ve taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we’re announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the Spring.This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen. A further £594 million is also being made available for Local Authorities and the Devolved Administrations to support other businesses not eligible for the grants, that might be affected by the restrictions. Businesses should apply to their Local Authorities. The new one-off grants come in addition to billions of existing business support, including grants worth up to £3,000 for closed businesses, and up to £2,100 per month for impacted businesses once they reopen. The government has also provided 100% business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, £1.1 billion existing discretionary funding for Local Authorities, the furlough scheme now extended to April and 100% government backed loans, extended until March. Further information the one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows:£4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under£6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000£9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000any business which is legally required to close, and which cannot operate effectively remotely, is eligible for a grantbusiness support is a devolved policy and therefore the responsibility of the devolved administrations, which will receive additional funding as a result of these announcements in the usual manner:the Scottish Government will receive £375 millionthe Welsh Government will receive £227 millionthe Northern Ireland Executive will receive £127 millionthis will contribute to the funding which has already been guaranteed by the UK Government, to continue to provide the devolved administrations the certainty they need to plan for their COVID-19 response in the months aheadsmall businesses in the devolved administrations should also be able to benefit from other UK-wide measures in the government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including the various business lending schemes (where the repayment terms were made easier as part of the Winter Economy Plan), and the extension of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Click HERE for further updates from gov.uk

The newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Night Time Economy has launched an urgent inquiry into the devastating impact of Covid-19 on British nightlife. This comes as the night-time hospitality sector has faced debilitating constraints on operating due to the pandemic and ensuing restrictions. The inquiry is being led by APPG Chair, Jeff Smith MP, who worked in the sector for several years in his earlier career. The APPG is calling for evidence from night time economy businesses, employees, freelancers and consumers to share their views on the challenges facing the sector, its importance to our society and economy, and how nightlife can be reopened. Consultations will run throughout the month of January for a report scheduled to be released in February. Evidence for the inquiry can be submitted via an online survey accessed at: www.ntia.co.uk/appg The group will also be contacting several Night Time Economy organisations and representatives from the Government and local authorities to provide written testimony. The APPG was formed in December to provide a cross-party voice for the sector in Parliament. The group is supported by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which provides industry insight and secretariat services. The group believe their inquiry will be a significant step to uncover the extent of the crisis facing the night-time economy, to identify what further support will be required to save thousands of businesses from collapse, and to demonstrate how nightlife can drive the UK’s wider economic and cultural recovery post-pandemic. Jeff Smith MP, Chair of the APPG for the Night Time Economy, comments: “As we move now into a third national lockdown, there has never been a more important time for Government to address the urgent needs of Night Time Economy businesses, their supply chains and those that rely on them for employment. Despite playing such a vital role in our local communities and UK economy, nightlife businesses have been repeatedly overlooked by the Government, and we are determined to ensure that the specific challenges facing the sector are addressed. This inquiry will be a vital first step in our work.” Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, comments: “Since March, we have seen the night-time sector berated, scapegoated and even blamed for rising infections. Our sector has slipped through the cracks of insufficient support packages and borne the brunt of ever-changing and inconsistent restrictions. We urge all those who work in the night-time economy, or simply enjoy a night out, to take part in the APPG survey to help policymakers understand the importance of our vital sector.”

As a business owner, it’s important to equip yourself not only with the knowledge and skills to deal with current challenges, but also a clear vision of where you want to take your business in the future – and how to get there. Recover & Grow, the new initiative from the London Business Hub and the Business School (formerly Cass) will help you strengthen your business, build your resilience and set the foundations to grow. The free, intensive six-week course is designed to fit in with the busiest of schedules. You’ll learn from the best minds at a leading business school, pick up practical knowledge on finance, technology and changing markets and build a network with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs. You’ll also come away with a tailored action plan for growing your business based on your own challenges and aspirations. Applications for the next intake of the programme close on 31 January 2021. Learn more here.

Reducing crime through partnership and prevention Business advice post Lock‐down 2 – 2020 Due to the second national lockdown, the missing of Black Friday for many businesses and the re-introduced tier system, you may find your businesses busier than usual even for this time of year. The Metropolitan Police Service are advising retail stores to review their security and ensure that adequate resources are in place to respond to the increased demand. Retailers should provide their own security arrangements and consider police assistance only as a ‘last resort’. Using last years “Black Friday” as an example, there were incidents of overcrowding across London and arrests were made as shoppers clashed over bargains. Think about how you can improve on what you did then and be prepared for large crowds. Add to this the need for shoppers and staff to wear face coverings and the anger this can bring against those who don’t, you see the need for greater awareness. The following points are a list of considerations but are by no means exhaustive: Businesses should have sufficient trained staff to cope with the increased demand, this may include managing external queues.Have the ability to control access points in to your premisesSecurity officers should have a highly visible presence, clearly display ID badges and be briefed. Crowded places can lead to more pickpocket opportunities.If your store has access to a ‘BusinessWatch’ radio, ensure it is used effectivelyEnsure your staff are fully briefed to positively engage with customersStaff must remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security or policeReview your emergency communication plan and ensure all necessary equipment, including first aid supplies, are readily availableCheck and test building security and emergency systemsEnsure staff are fully aware of any emergency/evacuation proceduresEnsure CCTV is fully operational and that you have available staff members who are trained to operate itContact your local police if you have specific events which you feel they should be aware of If you require any further information regarding Wood Green Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), please visit our pages here, or contact us.

It has been announced that from Wednesday 2nd December, London will go back into Tier 2 restrictions. While many businesses can operate, there are new rules within the Tier 2 guidance. Tier 2: High alert This is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of  infections, where some additional restrictions need to be in place. While we are in Tier 2: you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public placeyou must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubspubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial mealshospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:provide table service only, in premises which sell alcoholclose between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)stop taking orders after 10pmhospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-throughearly closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances  that start before 10pmpublic attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoorspublic attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoorsplaces of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption appliesweddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes  or stonesettings.organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continueorganised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixingyou can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possibleif you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities.You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journeyfor international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list Wood Green BID have been working on a plan in conjuction with many of the businesses to ensure when they can reopen next week, its done to keep both the staff and members of the public safe. The BID is supplying Crowd barriers to those who may need it. Many of the retailers are changing their opening times to open earlier and later in the day to allow those who are shopping more time to do so.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant LRSG (Closed) Addendum supports businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions between 5 November and 2 December 2020. Your business may be eligible if it: is based in Haringeyoccupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)has been required to close because of the national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December 2020has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises For example, this could include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses. It could also include businesses that operate primarily as an in-person venue, but which have been forced to close those services and provide a takeaway-only service instead. Eligible businesses can get one grant for each non-domestic property. You cannot get funding if: you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example accountants)you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of national restrictionsyou have exceeded the permitted state aid limit How much is the grant and when will it be paid? The amount you get depends on the rateable value of your premises. You will receive support on a rolling 28-day basis for as long as national restrictions apply, as shown below: Rateable value of premisesGrant payment 28-day restriction period£15,000 or under£1,334£15,001-£50,999£2,000£51,000 or over£3,000 You can find the rateable value of your premises on your latest business rates bill, or check the commercial premises register online. Do state aid rules apply to you? The Local Restrictions Support Grant counts towards state aid. The rules are fully explained in the government state aid guidance (external link).  You must confirm that you are not in breach of these rules before we can pay you. How to apply If you meet the criteria for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) you can apply online. We will review your application and let you know if you are entitled to a payment. Click here to apply for the Grant

The government has announced new national restrictions that have come into force from 5 November. You should check the most recent government guidance (external link) and ensure that your business falls within one of the relevant categories to remain open. This includes essential retail such as food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services.  As we continue to experience the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to support businesses to operate in a COVID-safe way. We have created the COVID-Safe Business Campaign to do just this. By completing the COVID-Safe questionnaire, you will be declaring that you are following government guidance to operate within safe parameters with regards to protecting your customers and staff. If you meet all the criteria, you will be sent a personalised COVID-Safe Business poster, which you can display on your premises, providing extra confidence to your customers. To register, business premises or venues must: declare compliance to a range of measures including:undertaking a comprehensive COVID-19 risk assessmentputting in place appropriate controlstraining staff so they adhere to COVID-19 control measurescomplying with government and industry guidance to operate safelydeclare that they will keep up to date with that guidance and advice. Each month, we will publish the names of all businesses who have successfully registered on the council’s website, on social media and in the Haringey Business Bulletin, helping you to get the message to customers that you are operating in a COVID-Safe manner. To complete the short questionaire and to download your poster, please visit the Haringey Council website by Clicking here.

The government’s Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be expanded to protect jobs and support businesses required to close their doors as a result of coronavirus restrictions, the Chancellor announced today, 9 October. Job Support Scheme will be expanded to support businesses across the UK required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictionsgovernment will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to protect jobs over the coming monthscash grants for businesses required to close in local lockdowns also increased to up to £3,000 per month Under the expansion, firms whose premises are legally required to shut for some period over winter as part of local or national restrictions will receive grants to pay the wages of staff who cannot work – protecting jobs and enabling businesses to reopen quickly once restrictions are lifted. The government will support eligible businesses by paying two thirds of each employees’ salary (or 67%), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: Throughout the crisis the driving force of our economic policy has not changed.I have always said that we will do whatever is necessary to protect jobs and livelihoods as the situation evolves.The expansion of the Job Support Scheme will provide a safety net for businesses across the UK who are required to temporarily close their doors, giving them the right support at the right time. Under the scheme, employers will not be required to contribute towards wages and only asked to cover NICS and pension contributions, a very small proportion of overall employment costs. It is estimated that around half of potential claims are likely not to incur employer NICs or auto-enrolment pension contributions and so face no employer contribution. Businesses will only be eligible to claim the grant while they are subject to restrictions and employees must be off work for a minimum of seven consecutive days. The scheme will begin on 1 November and will be available for six months, with a review point in January. In line with the rest of the JSS, payments to businesses will be made in arrears, via a HMRC claims service that will be available from early December. Employees of firms that have been legally closed in the period before 1 November are eligible for the CJRS. The scheme is UK wide and the UK Government will work with the devolved administrations to ensure the scheme operates effectively across all four nations. This comes alongside intensive engagement with local leaders today on potential measures are coming in their areas. In addition to expansion of the JSS, the government is increasing the cash grants to businesses in England shut in local lockdowns to support with fixed costs. These grants will be linked to rateable values, with up to £3,000 per month payable every two weeks, compared to the up to £1,500 every three weeks which was available previously. This could benefit hundreds of thousands of businesses, including restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, bowling alleys and many more. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from a £1.3 billion increase to their guaranteed funding for 2020-21 – allowing them to continue their response to Covid-19 including through similar measures if they wish. These measures will sit alongside the original JSS – which is designed to support businesses that are facing low demand over the winter months – and the £1,000 Job Retention Bonus (JRB) which encourages employers to keep staff on payroll. They build on the government’s wider package of unprecedented measures to help protect, create and support jobs through the pandemic, to ensure that nobody is left without hope or opportunity.

London Business Hub are delighted to announce that applications for the London Business Hub’s COVID-19 Recovery Grants will open on Friday, 16th October at 10.30am. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), eligible SMEs will be able to secure grants of between £1,000 – £5,000 to help them access professional, legal, financial or other advice and /or new technology and other minor equipment to address their immediate needs in response to the impact of COVID-19.  SME’s can apply for 100% of the costs, but please note that funding will be paid in arrears. Therefore, after they have accepted the offer and have purchased and received the support or items that the grant has been approved for. In all instances we need to see copies of supplier’s invoices and a copy of the statement from the dedicated bank account for the business, evidencing that payment has been made to the relevant suppliers. Eligible applicants will have one calendar month, from the date of the grant offer letter, to accept the offer and purchase and receive the support/items that the grant has been approved for and submit a grant payment claim. Please note that the VAT element of any support or purchase is not eligible for grant support. It is also worth noting the grant cannot retrospectively fund activity that has already started.  All information and criteria to assess an SME’s eligibility and prepare for the grant application are now available. Read our project information page and FAQs. As part of the grant application support, we will be running a webinar on Thursday 15th October 2020 from 10.30am to 1.30pm. It will cover criteria and application process for this specific grant as well as other scheme/grant opportunities. Note that places are limited. SME’s can click here to register their interest. If businesses are not able to attend, we will also be posting the webinar content on the project page on the same day. Whilst funds are limited, we would encourage you to share with your network of SMEs. We particularly welcome applications from eligible SMEs that face particular barriers to running a business such as BAME, women and disabled business owners. How much grant funding is available in London? The London LEP Area has the following funds to allocate: Visitor Economy: £ 377,210Wider Economy: £1,081,112 To keep up to date on all the latest news from the London Business Hub, please register for our newsletter or visit our brand new online portal at https://www.businesshub.london where you will find all the free, impartial, practical advice that you need to start, sustain and grow your business.

The Met continues to work with local authorities to help enforce COVID-19 legislation. The Metropolitan Police and London boroughs have signed up to a partnership agreement to assist in the enforcement of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 and amendments. The report covers the key principles of the joint approach between London boroughs and the Met. Police officers, alongside council officers and council wardens will work together to ensure members of the public comply with the legislation that came into effect on Monday, 14 September. The Met will continue with the 4E’s approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging members of public to follow with the regulations. If people refuse to comply, only then will officers take enforcement action. Local authorities will take primacy for enforcement activity around closure of licensed premises as well as restriction of access to public places. The new legislation prohibits gatherings of more than six people, unless exemptions apply. It is the responsibility of those wanting to attend or organise any large gathering to take personal responsibility to ensure they are complying with the regulations and keeping themselves safe. To find the regulations, look on line at www.legislation.gov.uk. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, leading the Met’s response to COVID-19, said: “Londoners have made enormous sacrifices during the response to this virus and this partnership approach is designed to target those who continually flout the rules. It isn’t fair, and all of those who have tried hard to stop the spread of the virus rightly expect us to do something. “The council officers and wardens will be able to feed intelligence and work with businesses and licensed properties to ensure the legislation is complied with. Where necessary and proportionate, we can enforce the legislation, either by Fixed Penalty Notice or arrest. “The majority of the public continue to comply with the rules and appreciate the risk that COVID-19 poses. By working together with local authorities, those who continue to break the rules, be they individuals or businesses, can expect to have their illegal gatherings dispersed and face the consequences of business closures or fines.” Cllr Danny Thorpe, London Councils’ executive member for Crime and Public Protection, said: “With coronavirus cases increasing across the capital, Londoners must pull together and do the right thing. This means abiding by the regulations to protect our communities, families and loved ones. “London boroughs are working hard to inform residents and businesses about the regulations, explain what to do to keep themselves and others safe and provide support if needed. “However, if businesses or individuals persistently flout the rules and put other people at risk of coming into contact with COVID-19, London boroughs will not hesitate to take firm action, working with our Metropolitan Police partners.” To support Businesses, Haringey Council Trading Standards team have produced a leaflet to pick up on the main points that ALL businesses need to adhere too. This leaflet is being handed out to businesses throughout the borough but you can also download it here. (pdf)

On Tuesday 22nd September, The Prime Minister is announcing new rules and laws which will effect all Hospitality, retail and offices in England. Here is a run down of the announcements which will effect you: It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours: HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.FACE – Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place. Closing Times: As from Thursday 24th September, You MUST BE CLOSED between the hours of 10.00pm to 5.00pm. This means all customers are off the premises by this time. If you offer a Delivery service, this can still operate after this time but no members of the public are to enter your premises. Retailers are not effected by this rule. Cinema’s can continue to show films after 10.00pm as long as the film has started before this time. Face Coverings: As well as customers wearing face coverings in retailers, banks, libraries etc., this is now extended into the hospitality industry. Customers will now need to wear a face covering when in any hospitality premises except when they are seated at a table. All staff also will now be required to wear a face covering, this includes anyone working in retail, hospitality etc. unless they are exempt on medical grounds. Groups and Social Distancing: You can if you have space to seat up to a maximum of Six people in one group. This includes All guests of any age. (there are different rules for other parts of the UK.) The area between guests seating in your premises is still two metres unless you have made changes to comply with the 1m+ rules. This includes a barrier (most are using perspex screens) between each of your tabled areas. Table service only: (For guests eating in) In licensed premises, you must operate a Table service only. This means that guests, once they have completed the track and trace information before they enter your premises, are shown to their table. You are required to take any orders from the table (or via a online platform) and then take any food and drinks to their table. Remind guests that if they are not to mingle with other guests, wear a face covering when they are not sitting at their table (For example when using toilets, entering, or exiting the premises.) For un-licenced premises (cafe’s etc.) Customers can still order at a counter but must be seated at a table to comsume any goods. They also still need to register using the Track and Trace system and wear a face mask until they are seated. Takeaway Services: If you operate a takeaway and seated service, any customers who are in your premises to order a takeaway still are required to wear a face mask but do not need to do the track and trace. Please ensure that guests are social distancing. If you run a takeaway only service, this is not effected by track and trace. (you have no indoor or outdoor seating), your guests and staff still are required to wear face coverings but do not need to do the track and trace. Track and Trace: All close contact businesses which include Restaurants, Bars, Hairdressers/Barbers, Nail Salons, Tailors, Tattoists, Libraries, Museums and Churches must operate a track and trace system. Already in force, you MUST collect the personal information from each guest that arrives to eat in or enters your premises. All premises must now download a QR code and show this at your entrance for guests to register. For those who do not have phones etc, you still need to collect the details and keep it for 21 days. CLICK HERE TO CREATE YOUR QR CODE Enforcement of non-compliance From the 28th September, Stricter enforcement is being put in place. Failure to ensure that your business is keeping to the laws or rules including keeping Track and Trace information or ensuring your guests are completing the information could lead to a £10,000 fine. The fine for not wearing a face covering has been raised from £100 to £200 for the first offence. Supporting local Businesses in Wood Green The BID is keen to ensure that while it is the responsibility of each of the Businesses to ensure they are operating under the laws and rules, the BID has a range of resources to support them including supplying signage, vinyl floor signs and Plastic Face Visors. If you require any of these, please get in touch. Further information For further information or support, please visit the governments website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-what-has-changed-22-september

Starting on Friday 18th September, it will be law for all hospitality businesses or organisation to collect certain personal information on any visitor or staff member on a premises. Up to now, while many venues or establishments have already been collecting information, this has been voluntary but from Friday, this is now LAW and if you own or manage a venue including bars, restaurants, cafe’s, pubs or cinemas, you must collect the information below and keep it for a 21 (twenty one) days. Create a NHS Track and Trace QR Code for your business The Government has a simple online section for establishments to create a QR Code for their premises which can be used by all guests, visitors or staff. The information collected will include the full name, contact number, date and time of arrival. (Click below for external link to .gov website) Create a QR Code for your business Information Collection YOU MUST COLLECT INFORMATION ON ALL GUESTS, VISITORS and STAFF from FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER. THIS INCLUDES THOSE SEATING BOTH INSIDE OR OUTSIDE YOUR PREMISES. The information you must collect includes their full name, Contact Telephone number, the Date of Visit, Time of Arrival. Other information which can be useful includes the departure time and table or seat number. Social gatherings limited to a maximum of six The government has already introduced new rules that there must be no more than six in any social gathering. This includes visiting hospitality or any other business or venue unless its a workspace, wedding, funeral or other named activity. (Click link below for updated information from .gov) Visit the updated page on .gov for new Rules What happens if I don’t follow these rules The Government has also introduced new rules and penalties for those not complying with the changes. Due to the increase of cases, it is paramount that all businesses support these changes. However, for those who breach the rules, fines of £100 which can double to a maximum of £3,200 can be issued. Business Premises which do not comply can also be reported directly to the local authority or police by any visitor, staff member or even someone who witnesses a breach. This could lead to a visit by enforcement teams or police who could take action against your business.

The Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for young people. As part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country. The 6 month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment. They will be available across a range of different sectors in England, Scotland and Wales. The first placements are likely to be available from November. There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job. Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions. Kickstart Scheme Applications are being accepted now from employers or groups of employers – check the guidance for employers. Young people can find out more about the Kickstart Scheme at the jobhelp site.

The Home Secretary has today (Tuesday 7 July) set out plans to crack down on abuse and violence against shopworkers. The steps, which are detailed in the Home Office’s response to a call for evidence on the issue, are designed to improve support for victims and ensure perpetrators face justice. They include working with the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on a best practice guide to support staff in reporting these crimes, strengthening and making full use of existing laws, and improving data sharing between businesses and the police. In addition, the Crime and Policing Minister will write to PCCs and Chief Constables underscoring the importance of working closely with local businesses to tackle this issue and emphasising that the theft of goods valued up to £200 from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: As the daughter of shopkeepers, I know what a vital role they play within our communities and just how tirelessly they have worked during the coronavirus pandemic.I will not tolerate violence and abuse against any shopworker and it’s right that those who commit these crimes must be caught and punished. Kit Malthouse, Minister of State for Crime and Policing said: Shopworkers are the beating hearts of our communities and violence or abuse against them is utterly unacceptable.Through the NRCSG, we are developing solutions which address concerns highlighted by the retail sector.We are determined to drive down these crimes and crucially, ensure that shopworkers are fully supported in reporting incidents to the police.The government is taking action to tackle violent crime of all types, including by recruiting 20,000 new police officers over the next 3 years. The call for evidence was open for 12 weeks. Organisations and individuals were asked to contribute to the government’s understanding of the problem. Responses were sought from retailers, trade associations and unions, as well as those working in the retail industry. Nearly 3,500 individuals, businesses and other organisations engaged in the process. The majority of respondents believed abuse toward shop staff has increased and a significant number said they did not report incidents to the police. The government response sets out a programme of work designed to address the drivers of violence and assaults against shopworkers and provide effective support to victims in reporting such crimes. In terms of sentencing, laws announced in the Queen’s Speech contain proposals for tougher community penalties, tackling the underlying drivers of offending such as mental health or drug and alcohol addiction. The Sentencing Council is reviewing its guidelines for courts on assault and published interim guidance in April 2020 clarifying that it should be treated as an aggravating factor when assault involves threats around Covid-19 (eg spitting or coughing). It is already an aggravating factor for an offence to be committed against anyone providing a service to the public. More widely, the government is taking steps to improve support for all victims of crime, including a future consultation on a Victims’ Law.

As the capital eases out of lockdown, the Metropolitan Police Service is raising awareness of the devastating consequences drug supply has on young lives across the city. A short film titled ‘Fair Trade’, written and directed by London filmmaker Leon Oldstrong, in association with the Met, follows the life of a 15-year-old Jason Bojai who is groomed by an exploitative gang in south London. The film captures how Jason’s life is forever changed, as he is manipulated by older gang members. As they gain his trust, they lead him down a path which isolates him from his friends and family and puts him in danger. Conversely, ‘Fair Trade’ also highlights one of the drivers of drug supply in the capital, middle-class and recreational drug users, whose demand for products invariably helps fuel gang activity across the capital. Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose, of the Met, said: “The ‘Fair Trade’ film is a powerful reminder of the true cost of illegal drugs. We know drugs are linked to a high proportion of violence in London. Young vulnerable people have lost their lives and will continue to be painfully exploited by gangs because of demands as a result of middle class drug use. “Ignorance is not bliss. By purchasing drugs off the street, you are supporting this poisonous and illicit industry. We want people to watch this film and understand how they can help us in fighting violence and stopping those gangs exploiting children and vulnerable people.” Leon Oldstrong, writer and director of Fair Trade, said: “This was a challenging film for me as I believe there are too many films that portray the Black experience and gang culture as synonymous, however I felt that it was well past due to address the role of white middle-class drug use in youth violence – the role of the drug user who doesn’t need to turn to crime to fuel their habit and is continually ‘let off the hook’. Conversely I felt that I could illustrate the fact that those who end up involved in gang culture and selling drugs are victims too. As London moves out of lockdown it is clear that things will not be the same as they were before, they can’t be. My hope is that ‘Fair Trade’ will play a part in serious youth violence no longer being seen as normal.” To support the roll-out of Fair Trade, dedicated resources are also available to teachers and schools – which can be accessed remotely by visiting www.fairtrademovie.co.uk

More start-ups and innovative firms will be able to apply for investment from the government’s Future Fund from today, Tuesday 30 June 2020 Changes to the scheme’s eligibility criteria will mean that UK companies who have participated in highly selective accelerator programmes and were required, as part of that programme, to have parent companies outside of the UK will now be able to apply for investment. To date, more than 320 companies have benefitted from £320 million of Future Fund support. Under the scheme, early-stage, high-growth businesses from a diverse range of sectors can apply for a convertible loan of between £125,000 and £5 million to help them through the Coronavirus outbreak. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: Our start-ups and innovative firms are one of our great economic strengths. As we begin to bounce back from coronavirus they will help drive our recovery and create new jobs.This change means that those start-ups who have strived to be the very best, and taken opportunities to grow their business, will be able to benefit from our world-leading Future Fund. The Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: As we restart our economy, it is crucial that our innovators and risk-takers get all the support they need to flourish.Our decision to relax this rule recognises the importance of many of the UK’s most cutting-edge start-ups as we bounce back from coronavirus. Initially, £250 million was made available by the government under the Fund, to be matched by private investors, with the Treasury making clear the amount could be increased if needed. Due to the popularity of the Fund, more funding has been made available, with around £320 million having now been invested. The scale of the scheme will be kept under review. Accelerator programmes, such as TechStars or Y-Combinator, give businesses access to finance, mentorship and expert networks. Participants in accelerator programmes are often required to set up a non-UK parent company in order to participate which means some did not meet the Future Fund criteria of having a UK parent company when it opened for applications in May. Further information The Future Fund is backing high-growth, innovative firms across the country through Covid-19. The scheme has already provided £320.6 million of convertible loans to 320 businesses.The change announced today covers accelerator alumni only. The government remains committed to using the Future Fund to support economic activity in the UK.Companies will still be required to meet the ‘substantive economic presence’ tests (that half or more employees are UK-based and/or half or more revenues are from UK sales).

In the last few weeks, TFL have spoken with many leisure and hospitality businesses to update you on our plan and listened to your feedback on what you need from us. As a result, we have developed the attached short briefing.  We will keep this updated as Government guidance changes. Following the Government’s announcement on the easing of existing lockdown measures, we are working to get London back to work safely and sustainably. Even with the recent instruction to keep a social distance of one metre plus, the number of people that our network can carry safely will continue to be significantly constrained. This toolkit sets out our latest travel advice for businesses engaged in leisure and hospitality, as well as sharing some tips for planning to return to work in the longer term. TFL Plan Help us to help you – what we ask of leisure and hospitality businessesStreetspace for London plan – Deliveries and ServicingTravel advice for your employees and customers Download TFL Briefing

Following the recent announcement from the Government on further reopening of businesses from Saturday 4th July, we take a look at some key points: The following businesses are being allowed to open from July 4th 2020 as long as they are COVID-19 Safe and have carried out all necessary changes to meet the guidelines. This includes Restaurants, Pubs, Bars, Cinemas, Libraries, Hairdressers, Barbers, Community Centres, Bingo Halls, Places of Worship, Amusement Arcades, Hotels and B&B’s. However, not all can open on this date, the following sectors must remain closed further. This includes Indoor Gyms, Nail Parlors, Beauticians, Spas, Tattooists, indoor play areas, Dance Studios, Nightclubs, Bowling Ally’s and Leisure Centres. New Guidance is now available to those who are able to open from 4th July which you can download here (PDF document) The new relaxion of the social distancing will also come into line at the same time. This allowes businesses to reduce from the current 2 metre to 1m plus. This means that you should try and keep more than 1m at all times. Other changes will include details of customers being requested for visits to Pubs, bars and restaurants, Table service is only allowed, No live performances and many others.

The government has announced extra funding for businesses in Haringey through the new Discretionary Grants Fund. This fund is aimed at small and micro businesses who were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund.  As there are limited resources available for this fund, and in order to support as many local businesses as possible, grant payments will initially be capped at £5,000. It is likely that most grant payments will be lower than this. A set of criteria has been established to calculate grant payments that is intended to be fair, proportionate to relevant business costs and to reach as many eligible businesses as possible. Grant payments will be made to eligible applicants based on three months rent and fixed property costs. If an applicant has received a rent holiday from their landlord, then any grant payment will be reduced accordingly. As there are limited resources available for this fund, and in order to support as many local businesses as possible, grant payments will initially be capped at £5,000. It is likely that most grant payments will be lower than this. A set of criteria has been established to calculate grant payments that is intended to be fair, proportionate to relevant business costs and to reach as many eligible businesses as possible. Grant payments will be made to eligible applicants based on three months rent and fixed property costs. If an applicant has received a rent holiday from their landlord, then any grant payment will be reduced accordingly. For full information, criteria and to make an application, please visit the Haringey Council Website by Clicking here. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MIDNIGHT 28th June 2020

New code provides support to shops and local firms planning their future recovery with their landlord. The UK government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer. The extension, until the end of September, comes alongside further support to help local businesses plan for economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic.   A new code of practice has been developed with leaders from the retail, hospitality and property sectors to provide clarity for businesses when discussing rental payments and to encourage best practice so that all parties are supported. These interventions are in addition to the comprehensive financial package provided by the UK government to businesses during this difficult time and is in recognition of the strain that the sector is currently under. The code is voluntary for businesses and is relevant to all commercial leases held by businesses in any sector which have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  It encourages tenants to continue to pay their rent in full if they are in a position to do so and advises that others should pay what they can, whilst acknowledging that landlords should provide support to businesses if they too are able to do so. The suspension of the forfeiture of evictions will come as a relief in particular to pubs, cafes and restaurants, after the hospitality sector called upon the government for action in this area. Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: As our high streets come to life and our town centres open for business, it is crucial that both landlords and tenants have clarity and reassurance as they seek to keep their finances stable and bounce back.That is why we are extending measures to protect those who are unable to pay rent from eviction so that businesses have the security they need to plan for their futures.And in recognition of the strain that the virus has had on our high streets, our new code, backed by leaders across the industry, will help unlock conversations on rent and future payments whilst ensuring best practice is displayed across the board as we confront the challenges of this pandemic. Business Secretary Alok Sharma MP said: From clothes stores to our local book shop, we want as many high street businesses as possible to emerge from the pandemic, in the best position to bounce back.During this particularly challenging time for businesses, our retail stores are safely welcoming shoppers back and taking the necessary steps to drive economic recovery.By putting a stop to unreasonable evictions, these measures will protect jobs and provide further flexibility to our high street businesses that were trading successfully before the COVID-19 emergency, so they can focus on continuing to deliver for their customers and communities. Across the UK, the code will encourage tenants and landlords to be transparent in their discussions and to act reasonably and responsibly whilst recognising the impact that coronavirus has had on businesses’ finances.  The UK government has confirmed the following changes to the existing package of measures for the commercial sector: We will lay a statutory instrument to amend the Coronavirus Act to extend the time period for suspension of the forfeiture of evictions from June 30 to September 30, meaning no business will be forced out of their premises if they a miss a payment in the next three months.We will also lay secondary legislation to prevent landlords using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery unless they are owed 189 days of unpaid rent. The time period for which this measure is in force will be extended from June 30 to September 30. An amendment to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill has been tabled which will extend the temporary ban on the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions where a company cannot pay its bills due to coronavirus until 30 September. UK Finance has also confirmed its members’ continued support for commercial landlord customers including amendments to facilities and capital payment holidays. The UK government’s financial package of measures to support businesses during the economic emergency includes: A Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme where small and large employers can  apply for a government grant of 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 a month. The scheme will be backdated to 1 March 2020 and available for at least 3 months, with first grants to be paid within weeks.Deferral of the next quarter of VAT payments for firms, until the end of June – representing a £30 billion injection into the economy.£330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses. A Bounce Back Loans scheme, providing loans of up to £50,000 to benefit small businesses with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders. These loans will be interest free for the first 12 months and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form. A Self-Employed Income Support Scheme to help eligible freelance workers receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least 3 months. To download or read the Code of Practice, please click here

The SIA have published a guide for businesses who are expecting to have external queues outside their premises. From Monday, it is the responsibility of each business to manage customers both inside and outside their premises and this guide highlights that you may require someone with a SIA badge to manage this for you. Please click here to download the pdf of the guide. The Street Rangers, who are managed and funded directly by the BID are here to support all businesses within our area. They will be as normal there to support any of you with issues but we cannot allow them to be used to manage your queues or other in-store issues if you do not have security to hand. Please do take note of this guide and ensure that you are aware of the regulations in reference to what the roles are. If you are a BID Levy Payer in Wood Green and would like to be on the Town Centre radio scheme which connects over 50 stores and Rangers etc, please register here: https://woodgreenbid.co.uk/themes/safe-and-secure/wood-green-town-centre-radio-scheme/

Wood Green BID has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on behalf of the Muslim Business Community over a concern in reference to the CBILS and BBLS interest free period. After meeting and discussing the loans with Muslim Business leaders, due to beliefs, they feel that they can only take out the loans and pay back in the first year meaning many will take out a lot less than they actually need to keep trading. The BID is keen to support all of its Levy Payers and it was becoming clear from businesses owned by Muslims, especially those who missed out on either of the recent grants due to their rotatable value being over the £51,000 threshold, many are looking at the Bounce Back loans as an alternative but feel that they will need to, under the current information, pay it all back within the first 12 months so they do not have to pay the interests of fees which come in after this period. A Copy of the letter in full

We know that this year has been unusual to say the least, but that does not stop us wanting to promote the brilliant, diverse and adaptable small businesses from across the UK. There has never been a better time to make the most of the support, networking and promotional opportunities that being a SmallBiz100 provides. Applications for SmallBiz100 2020 will open on Monday, 1st June.If you are wondering whether it’s for you, our blog this week has more information and encouragement on why you should apply including: What is the SmallBiz100?Why apply?What do former SmallBiz100 think?What if I’ve had to close my business temporarily due to Covid-19? Can I still apply? (YES) Applying to take part in SmallBiz100 2020 is quick and easy – just click here to register your small business on our small business finder if you haven’t yet done so, then be ready to start the application process on Monday!

In line with Government plans to increase national rail services, TfL is working hard to return Tube and bus services to normal levels while many of their staff are themselves ill, shielding or self-isolating.From Today, Monday 18th May, TfL plans to increase service levels to around 85 per cent on the bus network, 75 per cent on the Tube and London Overground (in line with national rail services), 80 per cent on the DLR and a full service on TfL Rail.However, given the national requirement to maintain 2 metres distance between passengers wherever possible, the capacity on all services will be hugely reduced. On the Tube, for example, capacity will only be around 13-15 per cent of normal even once services are back to full strength.This means transport must operate very differently.In line with Government advice, everyone who can work from home should continue to do so. Public transport should be avoided, wherever possible, to free up the limited space available to those who have no alternative way to travel.If you must travel, please plan ahead and travel outside of the busiest times, particularly first thing in the morning. The busiest times on the network are 05:45 to 08:15 and 16:00-17:30. It would help enormously if you were able to travel outside these times if you possibly can. Please also try to take the most direct route and avoid busy interchanges.TfL has  produced a list of the busiest times and places on our Tube and rail network. This list and the busiest times might change over time. Please be aware that Wood Green Tube Station is on this list for Entry at Morning Peak time. TfL is also updating our digital tools such as journey planner, our Facebook TravelBot and the real-time data they provide to third party apps.. TfL is taking measures across the network to enable social distancing of 2 metres wherever possible. Please wear a face covering and respect the space of fellow passengers to help maintain this distance. Do not travel if you have any symptoms of the virus.You may be asked to wait to enter a station. Some stations will have one-way systems, or you may be asked to walk on the left. You are also asked  to maintain social distancing throughout stations, for example on stairs, escalators and in lifts.If travelling by bus, please maintain social distancing at stops and bus stations wherever possible. Currently you will also need to board the bus using the middle doors. Please allow other passengers to get on and off while maintaining social distancing. When in the bus please use all available space, including the upper deck, if possible, to maintain social distancing. Consider walking or cycling If you can, please walk or cycle for all or part of your journey, including to complete your journey if travelling into central London. Please consider getting off a stop or two early to reduce the numbers of people travelling on Tubes and buses. Congestion Charging To prevent London’s roads from becoming unusably congested, the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be reintroduced on Monday 18 May.These schemes reduce congestion and pollution and help tackle the climate emergency. If your place of work is located inside the Congestion Charging Zone and you are an employee of an NHS Trust, the London Ambulance Service or a care home, please speak to your employer about the NHS reimbursement scheme. The Low Emission Zone, which discourages the use of the dirtiest lorries and large vans, will also be reintroduced at the same time. TfL is doing everything it can to maintain the cleanliness of the network with regular cleaning using hospital grade antiviral disinfectant.It is also important that you continue to follow the Government advice on hygiene. Please wash your hands before and after travel and carry hand sanitiser with you. TfL is also putting hand sanitiser dispensers in Tube and bus stations as quickly as possible. Thank you for all your help as we work together to keep everyone safe.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have produced guidance for safe working in Offices and Contact Centres. The document is to help employers, employees and the self-employed in the UK understand how to work safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, keeping as many people as possible 2 metres apart from those they do not live with. The Government states: We hope it gives you freedom within a practical framework to think about what you need to do to continue, or restart, operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand how important it is that you can work safely and support your employees’ health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that many businesses of this type are currently closed for their usual service. We hope this document will help those who are already working because they cannot work from home, as well as help other people think about how to prepare for when they return to work. The government is clear that workers should not be forced into an unsafe workplace. For further information and to read the guidance, please visit the Governments website here.

From butchers and bakers, to candlestick makers, and everyone else in between: Clear Channel UK is proudly offering 250 free of charge digital Out of Home campaigns to the UK’s local business owners that have worked tirelessly to support their local communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative – #BusinessAsUnusual – has been set up so that the neighbourhood business owners, who’ve worked hard to adapt and continue trading, can drum up some new trade. They’ll have the opportunity to broadcast new opening hours, deliveries, takeaways and the many other imaginative ways that they’re operating to keep offering products and services. Clear Channel’s 2300+ screen strong Adshel Live (digital six-sheet) network will host the local advertisements, playing them on screens within a mile radius of the local business. As many local businesses won’t have the facility to create their own advertisements for the screens, Clear Channel is offering design support to bring the free campaigns to life if required. Business owners will simply be able to share an image and the words to be used, and the team will do the rest. One of the first businesses to join the initiative is The Griffin pub in Brentford (image attached). The pub has adapted to keep its kitchen open and offer a takeaway meal services four days a week, including a Sunday roast. The #BusinessAsUnusual initiative has been designed to support those local independent businesses that are the cornerstones of our communities.Free Out of Home campaigns will help local entrepreneurs across the UK to highlight how they’ve adapted to continue trading in the current circumstances.Help is on hand to create the advertisements for the businesses who don’t have their own access to a designer. The Griffin’s Landlords Gerhard and Claire Peleschka, “It’s been exceptionally tricky times for us over the past few weeks, but we’ve worked really hard to keep serving the local community which we’re proudly a part of. The support of Clear Channel is very welcome and we’re so glad that we can get the word out even further that we’re open for takeaway.” Clear Channel’s Chief Marketing Officer Martin Corke says, “The efforts that local business owners have gone to keep their communities watered, fed, healthy, happy and safe are astounding and they deserve celebrating. I’m immensely proud that we can offer 250 free-of-charge campaigns to local businesses, especially at a time when they all need our custom more than ever.” Local business owners can apply for their free Out of Home campaign through the Clear Channel Direct website: www.clearchanneldirect.co.uk/BAU

Over the last few weeks, you will have received the annual BID Levy Bill for the forthcoming year. While the Levy Bill is based on the value of your Business Rates, it is a separate Bill from the Business Rate which comes under separate governance by Central Government which all Business Improvement Districts and Local Authorities follow. Haringey Council sent the Levy bills out as part of the Governance on behalf of Wood Green BID. Since these were sent, many of you have had to temporarily close and many more are worried about financial issues this is causing to your business. The BID, in consultation with the Council, is looking at different options to support businesses who pay the levy. Alongside this, many BIDs across England, with the support of the three main BID organisations including British BIDs, Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) and the BID Foundation are lobbying the Government to request support and guidance for local levy payers. For any levy payer who are experiencing any difficulties in making a levy payment, The Council are deferring payments which were due now to June 2020 and providing payment plan between July 2020 to February 2021. To apply for a payment plan, please complete the form on this website at https://woodgreenbid.co.uk/levy/ by Friday 20th June 2020.    Decisions will be made on a case by case basis and once authorised by the Council, you will be contacted to inform you of the decision, payment amounts and the dates the payments are due. Those businesses who are trading (for example Banks and Supermarkets etc.) and able to settle your levy, please do so at your earliest convenience The BID’s projects in Wood Green, during this period and especially when we can start inviting shoppers and workers back to the town centre, will offer support to businesses to help them to thrive. Our Street Rangers are out daily including Weekends working with the Police and Council Teams. The Wood Green Town Centre Radio Scheme and Intelligence Software are running and are available to all levy payers at no additional cost. Please do not hesitate to contact the BID if you require any assistance or support on any other matters by emailing us at info@woodgreenbid.co.uk. For updates, support and guidance for Business Owners, employees and property owners, please either visit https://Haringey.gov.uk or https://woodgreenbid.co.uk

The Chancellor has announced on Monday 27th April that there is a new Business Loan for businesses which will be 100% Guaranteed by the Government. The “Bounceback” loans will be available from Monday 4th May and once a short form is completed, the Loan should be paid out within 24 hours. Businesses can apply for a minimum of £2,000 and a maximum of one quarter of their last financial year’s turnover, with a cap of £50,000. There is no size limit to a businesses for this loan so it means in our view it will be open to any company that meets the criteria which at present states they must of been trading before the 1st March 2020. The Government is also covering all fee’s and interest over the first 12 months. At the present time, there is no information about how much the interest rate will be thereafter but the Treasury have said it will be very low. Please note that businesses who have already recieved a CBILS Loan will not be allowed to apply for this loan. For further information about the Bounce Bank Loans and how to apply, please visit the British Business Bank Website here: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/

Wood Green BID are supporting the #RaisetheBar campaign which was started by Croydon BID which supports businesses who missed out on any grants by Central Government as their Ratable Value was over the £51,000 threshold. #RaiseTheBar campaign, is asking Central Government to expand the rateable value threshold for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from £51,000 to a rateable value up to and including £150,000, allowing businesses the opportunity to access the £25,000 grant in order to survive.  If the rateable threshold was raised to £150k, 13,000 additional businesses in London, could benefit from the grant scheme. Wood Green BID would encourage all business owners who own properties over the £51,000 threshold to visit the website below and also to sign the petition. For more information visit – https://raisethebarcampaign.com

As part of the London Growth Hub’s business support offer, businesses can now access 100% free fundraising to help you to secure trade by pre-selling vouchers, goods and services. Small businesses are facing enormous challenges while playing an important part in the fight against coronavirus. Many have had to close their doors in recent weeks and are struggling with cashflow. Through the Pay It Forward initiative, small businesses can offer customers the option to buy goods and services in advance based on a promise to deliver in the future, helping to secure trade through this difficult time. This means that people can book and look forward to future activities – such as meals, events, hotel bookings etc. – while supporting their favourite small businesses and helping them to stay afloat. It takes moments to sign up and start a fundraising campaign, allowing the public to pledge funds in exchange for future rewards when this is all over – from haircuts in Harrow, to pints in Peckham and curries in Clapham. Members of the public can also ‘nominate’ their local businesses and encourage them to sign up. Over 700 businesses across the country that have collectively raised over £1.5 million already with the help of over 32,000 supporters who have paid it forward. Start crowdfunding for your business now. For further information or to register, please visit https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/

Following the Governments announcement a few weeks ago, there are two Grants available for businesses to apply for. These grants are one-off payments which you will get if your business fits the criteria. Small Business Grant (£10,000)The Small Business Grant is a one off payment to those who get small business rate relief which is where your rate value is under £15,000 per year. Grants for Leisure, Retail and Hospitality (£25,000)This grant is available to any business within these three sectors who have a rate value between £15,000 to £51,000 per year. How to Apply The grants are provided and administered by Haringey Council from the Guidance that is given to all local authorities by Central Government. To do this, ALL businesses in the two categories above need to complete either a paper or online form which is available from our dedicated COVID – 19 Loans and Grants page on this website. Issues being raised Over the last week, the BID has been undated with businesses contacting them in issues relating to these grants and how they get them. The BID has from the outset been working with our partners at the Council who in turn are working hard to look for solutions. The two main issues being raised are that while you are a business, you may not be paying rates as this is done by a management Company or Landlord. The second issue is that the business rate reference may cover a property but there are multi businesses within this property. The BID as said is working very closely with the Council and other business organisations to seek a solution to support our businesses. As soon as we receive any updates, we will publish them on our website here.

In recent days, the Prime Minister has told us all to stay at home and to limit our journeys outside of our homes.  Over the last week, footfall across London has rapidly dropped by nearly 45% while in Wood Green during the same period, it has only dropped by 14%. Footfall counters in Wood Green register daily amount of people within the town centre While the Business Improvement District would usually see this as a positive thing, in the climate we find ourselves we need to strongly urge people to stay away from Wood Green and other Town Centres unless they need essential food, household goods or medical supplies. Transport for London staff at Wood Green and Turnpike Lane stations are also asking for those who do not need to travel to stay away from public transport as this is putting unnecessary strain on the service.   The BID would also like to urge all those who are providing takeaway services from cafes, restaurants or their outlets to only provide a delivery service where at all possible and take orders over the phone or online. We urge people to follow the Government’s instructions to not a be in groups of more than two persons.  Please stay at home to save lives and to protect the NHS.   Haringey Council’s Director of Public Health provided an important update on Covid-19 last night. That update is available here: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/update_message_from_will_maimaris_-_covid-19.pdf The BID and other business associations around Haringey are working with the Council to support local businesses throughout this period. For the latest updates, please visit https://woodgreenbid.co.uk/covid-19/

While in the UK there are a very small amount of cases, the Government have published guidance for Businesses and Employee’s in reference to Coronavirus. Using this information, Wood Green BID are producing a leaflet using this information which it will distribute throughout the Town Centre. In the meantime, please do visit the guidance if you are concerned or worried about an employee who may have travelled to an area which is affected or how you can prepare your businesses if someone does become effected. A summary of the guidance includes: How the virus spreads and how long it can last forThe symptoms to look out for and how it effects youPrevention measures to minimise the risk of spreading the virusFacemasks – Do they really work!The important bit – What to do if an employee shows symptoms and how your business should react (You don’t need to close your business)Legal stuff about time off for someone who is affected. To read the guidance in full, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-covid-19

Terry, the Store Manager at Savers Wood Green writes I am constantly working hard to achieve excellent store standards, a long with my amazing team. We aim to have exemplary customer standards, a friendly work environment and a well presented shop. We try our best to keep our shrinkage low and team morale high. Wood Green is a particularly challenging area, in terms of customers and the level of crime and anti-social behaviour we have to contend with. Our team of 32 staff always look at the positive side of situations and try to diffuse any negativity that occurs within our shop. Sometimes this can be extremely difficult when trying to deal with the day-to-day running of the shop as well. Savers have an annual award called the ‘Christmas Cracker’ where every store in the company is able to win some money for a night out, depending on store standards. You have the first stage, involving every store, which then leads to a winner for the area which you’re in. This is awarded by the Area Manager. Wood Green store won this and were put through to the regional finals, meaning a visit from our Area and Regional Manager. First they looked at the presentation of the store, then stock replenishment and overall team morale. As a team, we became best in the South Region, therefore put through to the finals. This involved the top Managers coming to view the store, including Savers Managing Director. They spoke to all the team members within the store and asked questions about the running of the shop. From this visit, we then won the Christmas Cracker for the whole company! Out of over 400 shops, Wood Green Savers were Number 1! As a store, we were over the moon to be recognised for the continuous hard work we put in, day in and day out. We won a total of £1500 for the colleagues. From the Sales Assistants, the Supervisors, Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager to Myself, everyone has put in so much work to keep store standards high. Being recognised by the Managing Director and various other Managers throughout the company, was an amazing achievement for all of us in the shop and we were overwhelmed with the outcome. Future Wood Green BID would like to congratulate Terry and all the team at Savers for this achievement and thank them for their ongoing support.

On Friday 17th January, a call came across Wood Green Town Centre Radio’s that a well known Shop Lifter had just hit Boots on the High Road. The BID’s Street Rangers spoke to the Local Police and both the Police and Rangers started going to the known places to locate him. Thanks to the Radio Scheme, it wasn’t to long before another retailer spotted him and he was Quickly picked up by the Rangers and taken back to Boots where he was put in the detention room. Police then came and took him away. He was later charged after he was found shoplifting over £800 worth of Goods. Orville Miller, 39 years old from Moselle Avenue N22 was interviewed and later charged. He has attended Highbury Corner Magistrates Court and the result is as follows: * Surcharge to fund victim services of £122* Committed to prison for 6 weeks suspended for 18 months

Next month, the new polymer £20 note will begin to appear in ATMs and tills across the UK. It is printed on polymer, features the artist JMW Turner on the reverse but retains the distinctive £20 purple colour. Retailers and anyone who regularly handles cash should make sure they know what to expect before 20th February 2020. It is the most secure banknote yet with sophisticated security features making it difficult to counterfeit but simple and quick to check: See through windows – Look at the metallic image over the main window. Margate Lighthouse appears in gold foil with the Turner Contemporary gallery in blue and the foils are silver on the back. There is another small see-through window in the bottom corner of the note.Hologram image – The metallic patch under the main window contains the word ‘Twenty’. This changes to ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted from side to side. The note also features JMW Turner’s self-portrait, painted c. 1799 and currently on display in Tate Britain.One of Turner’s most eminent paintings The Fighting Temeraire; a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire which played a distinguished role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The painting is currently on display in the National Gallery.The Queen’s portrait in the see-through window with ‘£20 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.A silver foil patch with a 3D image of the coronation crown.A purple foil patch containing the letter ‘T’ and based on the staircase at the Tate Britain.A quote “Light is therefore colour” from an 1818 lecture by Turner referring to the innovative use of light, shade, colour and tone in his pictures.Turner’s signature from his Will, the document with which he bequeathed many of his paintings to the nation. The new £20 note will be the first to feature the signature of Sarah John, the Bank’s Chief Cashier. She said: “The new £20 is an important part of our commitment to providing banknotes that people can use with confidence. Our polymer notes are much harder to counterfeit and, with the £20 being our most common note, this marks a big step forward in our fight against counterfeiting. I hope the public will look forward to spending their new Turner £20s from February next year.” Paper £20 notes, featuring Adam Smith, will remain legal tender and should be spent and accepted as usual. These notes will be gradually withdrawn as they are banked. Notice will be given six months ahead of legal tender status being withdrawn. For further information about the new £20 note, please visit https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer-20-pound-note

Using click and collect, green delivery slots and grouping deliveries can help reduce emissions on the capital’s roads TfL is asking businesses and consumers to consider greener options to get their items around London as the capital takes advantage of Black Friday offers and the festive shopping season begins. Lorries and vans are vital for London’s economy as half of the value of household expenditure, around £79 billion per year, relies on road freight.  However, TfL data shows that increased van and lorry traffic, partly driven by online shopping, contributed to 29 per cent of harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions in central London alone in 2016.  Nitrogen dioxide is a key contributor to London’s toxic air, which is threatening the health of millions of Londoners. As retailers across the capital offer various options to reduce deliveries, it has never been easier to find ways to help reduce the impact of festive deliveries on London’s air quality and congestion. Options include: When ordering online, try a click and collect facility near home – shoppers can get their parcels delivered to a local store or use locker facilities to collect parcels. Click and Collect options can be found across London and by having parcels delivered near home, there is less need for vehicles to come into central London thereby reducing vehicle miles, emissions and road danger. It only takes a few moments to collect parcels and helps avoid missed delivery attemptsWalk, cycle or use public transport to make the journey to and from local high streets – TfL services will run throughout the festive season (excluding Christmas Day) and off-peak fares in Zones 2-6 start at £1.50For festive food deliveries from supermarkets, check if they offer green slots outside peak hours or where they can group deliveries together and avoid several trips being made to the same areaFor essential car journeys, drivers should remember to turn off engines when parked or waiting in long queues of traffic and try to drive as smoothly as possibleShoppers with smaller parcels could cycle home using Santander Cycles. Santander Cycles is offering a discount of 25 per cent off annual memberships for Black Friday, which people can access by entering the code ‘BlackFriday19’ onlineTfL is also giving everyone free access to Santander Cycles for 24 hours throughout December, which includes all 30 minute journeys. Just enter the code ‘SCXMAS2019’ at the terminal or on the app Click and collect lockers are available at eight Tube stations across the capital and TfL has committed to opening more. TfL is also planning to make more land available for micro-distribution centres in key locations to support sustainable last mile deliveries in neighbourhoods across London, including by bike. Delivery company DPD opened an all-electric depot on TfL land earlier this year which serves a two square mile radius in the heart of Westminster. The depot is completely zero emissions for both incoming and last-mile deliveries. Alex Williams, Director of City Planning said: “Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year and is a really important event for London’s shoppers and retailers, but the rise in personal deliveries is affecting air quality in the capital and ultimately our health. Making a simple change like using click and collect or getting to the shops by public transport gives people greener ways of getting their bargains home, making a real difference to congestion on London’s roads and air quality.”   TfL is also working directly with business improvement districts to change how they get items delivered. Since December 2017, TfL has invested more than £400,000 in new schemes to make deliveries more efficient, from enabling cycle freight to encouraging waste consolidation. Using TfL funding, businesses in Hammersmith set up a “Parcels not Pollution” service where local shoppers can have items delivered to a hub and couriered by bike the next day. In the first nine weeks since it was set up, 95 businesses and individuals have signed up for the service.  Livia Caruso, Business Engagement Manager, Hammersmith BID said: “With the large increase in deliveries across Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the festive period, swapping to electric cargo bikes is a more sustainable way to deliver items and reduce the number of freight vehicles on the roads in Hammersmith, particularly at peak times. Parcels Not Pollution offers local businesses, workers and residents a free and easy way to make a positive environmental choice for their shopping this Christmas.” Notes to editors•    More details about the Santander Cycles scheme is available here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles •    The ‘BlackFriday19’ code for 25 per cent off annual memberships is valid on 29 November only•    The ‘SCXMAS2019’ code is valid throughout December, one code per person. 30 minute journeys are included and users must dock cycles within 30 minutes to avoid being charged•    To reduce unnecessary trips or reduce traffic, companies can use TfL’s online personal delivery toolkits which give tips for more efficient deliveries and how to consider the environmental and financial impact of sending personal items to their places of work•    For more information on delivery toolkits please see: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/deliveries-in-london/delivering-efficiently/deliveries-toolkits•    For more information on how TfL is improving air quality please see: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/air-quality  •    To find your local Click and Collect point see https://clickcollect.london/•    For more information on Hammersmith BID’s Parcels not pollution scheme please visit: https://hammersmithbid.co.uk/our-projects/cleaner-greener-town/parcels-not-pollution/

Future Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) Limited was founded in July 2018 to deliver a range of projects and activities within a defined area of Wood Green, Haringey. The BID, which has already secured a five-year term has an exciting plan to deliver improvements to encourage footfall, decrease empty retail and business units, create a clean and safer environment and to support local businesses. The right candidate will have a ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to be able to adapt to the flexible activities within this role. This is a client facing role and involves self-organising appointments and being first point of contact for current and new contacts, therefore, being proactive and approachable is a must. Confident and precise computer and multitasking skills are a requirement. Phone manner must be clear, upbeat and easy to understand when speaking. The day to day work for this candidate will take place at our offices currently based at Wood Green Works. The position is for a full time 12-month maternity contract with the opportunity to continue Part Time after the 12 month period subject to performance review at the end of the 12-months. Candidates must be aware that though core working hours will be Monday – Friday 9am-5pm, this vacancy requires flexibility on event days where hours may vary. These events can range from early breakfast events to evening dinner events (once per month on rotation breakfast, lunch or dinner). Events will also take place on Saturdays during core event periods such as September and December. These dates are planned in advance with the BID Manager and Team Members. This is an excellent and exciting opportunity for the right person. Please be sure to provide us with a covering letter with your application to explain why you would be the perfect fit for our team. Interviews will be held on the week commencing 9th December with a required start date of January 6th. Please note that due to the high interest we usually have in our roles only successful candidates will be contacted. Many thanks Click HERE for further information

Double your impact and give to local good causes this year! Haringey Giving is working with residents, businesses and funders to support local people and communities to take action and make improvements on the things that matter to them this year. Our Haringey Big Give Christmas Challenge 2019 runs from 3-10 December 2019 and every pound donated by the public, businesses and funders during this time will be doubled, to a total of £75,000. All funds raised will go to local good causes through two grants programmes: Changing Lives – grants of £10 to £500 to enable people experiencing disadvantage to take action and overcome a barrier that will help improve their quality of life. Together We Can – grants from £500 to £10,000 to enable people and communities to come together to take action and make improvements on the things that matter to them. Everyone has something to give and we all can play a part by making a donation, spreading the word, promoting the event, doing a charity fundraiser for the campaign, giving time and skills to support the campaign. Join in the fun and help promote the Big Live Music Event at Tottenham Brewing Company, N15 on Thursday 5 December 2019. Find out more at www.haringeygiving.org.uk and on social media @HaringeyGiving.

The council wants to speak to: Community & Faith LeadersParentsLocal Businesses To work in partnership with you on community issues that require focus and follow up. Monday 4th November 6.30pm @ Haringey United Church N8 0RG

Councillor Mark Blake, Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities is hold a meeting at Haringey Civic Centre on Monday 28th October from 6.00pm and would like to invite business owners, parents and community group and faith leaders to join him to discuss and to work in partnership on issues that require focus and follow up. There is no requirement to book for this event, it is an open conversation meeting.

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS’ RESILIENCE Our free workshops are designed to help businesses remain resilient and find new opportunities to sustain and grow, even during times of economic uncertainty. Join us to explore how Brexit, a changing global economy and local consumer insights could result in changes for your business – and how you can get ahead of the competition. Our workshops are best suited for sole traders, small or medium sized businesses looking to provide their clients, investors and employees with the assurance that they can and will continue to trade in a changing economic landscape. PREPARING FOR ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY In the face of economic uncertainty, our advice and resources will help you identify the next steps you need to take to make sure your business remains successful. Whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal – the way the UK does business with the EU will change. This may cause disruption for business, but could mean unexpected opportunities. We’re here to guide you through these changes with up-to-the-minute advice from EU experts in a FREE workshop helping you to spot new opportunities and navigate any risks. SECURE THE FUTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS Our workshops and advice clinics will help you to: Develop a Brexit plan – actions you can take to show partners, clients and suppliers you are preparedUnderstand how Brexit will impact on import and export arrangements and what you need to do to maintain your trade with EU countriesKnow what you need to do to for current and future EU staff, including new employment requirementsNavigate potential changes to contracts and insuranceMap key opportunities and risks for your business with sector-specific insights and case studies ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS Each session is practical, interactive and completely free to attend. Our presenters are renowned EU and business experts. Our workshops are open to all London sole traders, small and medium sized businesses with a turn-over of less than £44m, and that have been trading for over six months. These workshops are presented by the London Growth Hub and delivered by BrexitHelp.net. They are part of the Mayor of London’s #LondonIsOpen campaign – promoting a city that is, and will continue to be, the best place in the world to start, build or grow a business. PLANNED RUNTIME 10.00 – 10.15 – Preliminaries and Welcome from Haringey Council and BrexitHelp.net 10.15 – 11.15 Brexit, Your Business, Risk and Opportunities 11.15 – 11.25 Short Coffee/Tea Break 11.25 – 12.15 Preparing for a new commercial environment (workshop) 12.15 – 13.00 Q&A and Networking WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AT THE VENUE This event will be hosted by Haringey Council at Wood Green Works, N22 7SG. Registration starts at 9:15 am and our session will start at 10:00 am sharp. There will be a short break with light refreshments provided. Photos may be taken for future promotional purposes. To Book your FREE Place, please click here

Statements/letters from the Leader of Haringey CouncilEU Settlement SchemeAdvice and supportAdvice and support for EU citizens in HaringeyAdvice for voluntary organisations and businessesOther useful linksPrevious events 42,000 people in Haringey are from other EU countries (almost 1 in every 6 Haringey residents). Friends, neighbours, family and colleagues, these people make an enormous contribution to the cultural and economic life of our borough. Haringey Council is determined to ensure that Haringey, its residents and businesses receive the best possible deal from Brexit. Haringey is not alone in needing to address the impacts of Brexit. We are working with a number of regional and national partners and our business partners, in order to ensure Haringey’s voice is heard, and the rights of our residents are protected. Statements/letters from the Leader of Haringey Council Brexit – Letter of support to EU citizens (PDF, 263KB) – 1 February 2019Full council: Leader’s statement on Brexit – 11 October 2018Leader’s Brexit commitment to EU citizens – 10 October 2018

The London Skolars Rugby club will be hosting their annual City Touch tournament at the Honourable Artillery Company ( https://www.hac.org.uk/events/ ) on Friday 9th August (from 12:30). This year, the club are putting together a Barbarians squad (of 10 players) that will (hopefully) be made up of supporters and other friends of the club. The Skolars are looking for local members to participate. The cost is £40.00 per person and this includes the following: At least three fixtures within a wonderful settingBBQ mealOne beer (or drink of your choice)Invitation to the exclusive after party For further info visit the website –http://www.skolarsrl.com/major-events/pcubed-city-touch-2019/

Partnering with DriveElectric – the UK’s leading electric vehicle provider, Haringey Council is offering, residents and businesses living and working in Wood Green, the opportunity to trial a Renault Zoe or Nissan E-NV200 van for a 2-4 weeks.  See the below leaflet for more information.  Follow the links below to register for the scheme. Residents:-  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Haringeyresident Businesses:-https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HaringeyBusiness).  Trials are subject to vehicle availability.

The Mayor of London has launched a scrappage scheme to help tackle London’s air quality crisis. It supports micro businesses, sole traders and charities to replace vehicles that don’t meet the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards. If your vehicle doesn’t meet the new, stricter ULEZ emissions standards you will need to pay a daily charge to drive within the zone. Under the Scrappage scheme, eligible micro businesses, sole traders and charities can apply for funds to scrap up to three older, more polluting vans and charity minibuses and switch to cleaner vehicles. Find out more about the scheme or if your vehicle meets the ULEZ standards here.

Enjoy a drink while networking  with local business owners, professionals within the local community. ·       Venue: Metro Bank Wood Green. •         Date: Wednesday 26th June •         Time: 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

Tuesday, 11 June 2019 from 12:00 to 14:30 (BST) @ London Skolars RLFC, White Hart Lane, N22 Join The BID and other business owners from around Wood Green/Haringey for a networking session which will be over lunch, taking place at the home of our very own local rugby league team ‘London Skolars’, at the New River Sports Centre in Wood Green on White Hart Lane. Are you a Rugby Fan? Enjoy supporting your local team? London Skolars are kindly giving away match tickets for business owners/staff who attend the N22 Networking Forum this month. We will be organising a raffle game to support a local charity in Wood Green, the prize winner will win x2 season tickets to the London Skolars remaining season games. Food and refreshments will be catered by Neo’s Bakery and London Skolars have kindly sponsored us drinks behind the bar to ensure we all are hydrated and enjoying a fun networking environment.

Wood Green Business Improvement District in Partnership with the Police invite you to attend a Action Counters Terrorism Training session which is taking place at the Management Suite, The Mall Shopping Centre in Wood Green on Friday 10th May from Midday. The Workshop will take just over an hour and during this time, the police will cover items which all businesses including retailers will find useful and informative. WHO SHOULD ATTEND This is a free workshop and open to anyone who works in Wood Green. Those who are Store Managers, Work in Security, Operations or Shift Managers or those who look after staff or property. Places are limited due to the size of the meeting room. The BID and Police will be looking at running further workshops in the future. For further information and to book your FREE place, please click here

Metrobank in Wood Green would like to invite you to their free business networking event “Saving for a rainy day”. The free event takes place at the branch on the High Road on Wednesday 17th April 2019 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Come along to hear from guest speakers while networking over refreshments and meeting with other local business owners and others from the local community. If you would like to attend, please contact Christine Patterson, Local Business Manager via e-mail at Christine.patterson@metrobank.plc.uk

Haringey is one of six boroughs awarded funding from TFL and the Mayor of London (external link) to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. The Wood Green project will: Offer business and residents free trials of electric vehiclesInstall charging infrastructure including a rapid charging taxi rankProvide businesses with free support to review opportunities to switch to electric vehiclesElectrify all car club bays in Wood Green Why we chose Wood Green Wood Green High Road is the heart of Haringey and draws in nearly quarter of a million shoppers, visitors and employees from across the borough and beyond to shop, work and relax each week. The project is based between Wood Green and Turnpike Lane underground stations. The area is currently the focus for major residential-led regeneration and is subject to an Area Action Plan. Whilst the focus of the project is in Wood Green there are plans to increase the number of electric charging points throughout the borough.

Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) have been awarded funding through the Mayor of London’s Greener City Fund Community Grant Scheme to transform the front of the Library area on the High Road. Working in Partnership with the Council, the BID submitted an application for additional funding to look at creating a space which can be utilised to improve the look of the area while supporting community activities. The BID was keen after feedback from both businesses and the general public to look to improve the area of derelict planters outside the Library to create a new community garden over which the community feels a sense of ownership. The project will incorporate a community gardening and volunteering opportunities through a new “Community Garden Group“. Working in partnership with local social Enterprise “Grow N22”, the project will deliver increased access to green space, seating and a platform space for community use. The project which will be delivered in May/June 2019 but the BID is keen to here from anyone from all ages who would like to be involved. For further information, please visit our website at https://woodgreenbid.co.uk/themes/place-and-connectivity/wood-green-library-garden/ Cllr Charles Adje Cabinet Member for Strategic Regeneration, Haringey Council “High Streets are the heart and soul of our community and as a council we want to ensure that our High Streets remain a vibrant and bustling part of community life. We are delighted that the Wood Green BID were successfully awarded a grant to green Wood Green High Road. Residents, shoppers and businesses will really benefit from these positive changes.” Paul Collins, Wood Green BID Manager adds “Since last summer, many have fed back that the area around the library lets down the surrounding area. Delivering a fantastic project as part of our Place and Connectivity theme during 2019 will help support the other projects we have planned to brighten up the area of the High Road. It is great news that the GLA Green City Fund has awarded the funding as this will help transform a space but also activate a project for which the community can help design, create and have ownership” Luke Newcombe Founder of GrowN22 “GrowN22 has established its roots in Wood Green as a community driven project enhancing green spaces across Haringey, North London, by putting the community at the very heart of our focus. Partnering with The Bid: Future Wood Green on the Wood Green Mile Project is a logical step in GrowN22’s evolution!  “The enhancement to the entrance of Wood Green Library is the first phase of Wood Green Mile; a project designed to put the Green back in Wood Green!  NOTES: The Green City Fund Community Grant Scheme is funded by the Mayor of London. The Wood Green Library Project application was submitted by Future Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) and in November 2018, an assessment panel met and along with other projects, was successful. The project is part of the Mayor of London’s commitment to be the first National Park City, with a target of making more than half of the city’s area green by 2050. To help do this, he created the Greener City Fund in summer 2017. In spring 2018, this fund was increased to £12 million.  For further information, please visit: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/parks-green-spaces-and-biodiversity/greener-city-fund GrowN22 exists to transform unlikely, disused and neglected spaces across Haringey into vibrant community gardens and growing spaces made for and by local people. Established in 2017 by Hugh Chapman and Luke Newcombe whom share a passion for nature and green spaces with the aim is to transform Wood Green into a lush green urban paradise through creating community gardens and adding green infrastructure in the public realm. #GrowN22 project manages the Westbury Banks Nature Reserve, a community food growing garden at St Mungo’s WestGreen Road, New Southgate Station and transformed a car park into a thriving green space for the Green Rooms Hotel and the Wood Green Mile. You can find out more about GrowN22 via www.GrowN22.com  Future Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) was founded in July 2018 after successfully being voted by businesses to deliver a five year plan of improvements and other projects within the Wood Green High Road Area. The Wood Green Library Project is part of the Place and Connectivity Theme which also includes improvements to the cleanliness of the public spaces, better signage and micro-greening, Shop Front improvement program and Shop window dressing support. For further information about the BID and the Themes for delivery, please visit our website at: https://woodgreenbid.co.uk/ For further information, please contact Wood Green BID office on 020 3011 0504 or e-mail, info@woodgreenbid.co.uk

Monday 8th July – 10.00am – 1.30pm Venue –The Management Suite, The Mall Wood Green Shopping Centre, London N22 Due to unforeseeable circumstances, The BID is rescheduling this workshop to Monday 8th July from 10am, The BID apologises for any inconvenience caused. Getting a logo or brand which works for your small business is something many get wrong. This workshop looks at examples of both those which are good and bad. The workshop also looks at ideas and concepts which can be used to help you decide on what is best for your business and your budget. Our Guest presenter, Ian Fooks is currently the Founder and Experience Director of start-up creative agency Curious Ways (curiousways.com) based in Frome, Somerset. Graduating from Falmouth University in 2007 with a BA(Hons) in Graphic Design he immediately made the leap to the Golden streets of London Town. He started his career at award-winning digital agency Dare on the graduate scheme, working for clients such as BMW, Vodafone, Sony, The FA amongst others. After 6 years he ventured into freelance working across user experience, print digital design & art direction. Working across advertising (Saatchi & Saatchi) and fashion (Burberry). 2 years followed as Design Director at start-up agency Lucky Generals (http://www.luckygenerals.com/) before making the move to Curious ways when moved out of London to the South-West. Curious Ways is a start-up creative agency, 1 and a half years into the journey they already work with Pernod Ricard, Campari, Nike, and Virgin Sport amongst others. They see themselves as an all-purpose creative marketing shop, who base their approach on an essential truth; “People do business with people they like, and our job is to make people like you” This workshop will help you look at ideas, colours and concepts which matches your business to your customers. If you already run a business or looking to start a business, this workshop is ideal for you to attend. The Management Suite, The Mall Wood Green Shopping Centre, London N22 Book Here

Tue, 30 April 2019 10:00 – 13:30 BST Do you and your staff know the difference between what is Advertising and what is marketing? This workshop looks at the differences and breaks down how as a small business you can look to market, promote and sell. It also looks at different ways of creating a marketing strategy and Advertising Campaign to suit your budget and requirements. This workshop is ideal to those who aleady run a business, those who work in Sales or Marketing and also to those who are just starting out. Wood Green Works, 40 Cumberland Road . London N22 7SG Book Here

Fri, 29 March 2019 – 14:00 – 16:30 GMT As business owners, we create business plans but the question is what do we do once you have reached the goals you first set. This workshop looks at how to execute, deliver and monitor progress to ensure you succeed at building a strong business. This workshop is especially for those who have already started a business and also those who are looking at starting a business. Wood Green Works, 40 Cumberland Road, London N22 7SG Book Here

Thursday 28th February – 10.00am Venue – Wood Green Works, (off Station Road), Wood Green, N22 7SG How well does your business do using Social Media? This workshop looks at the different social media platforms available for businesses to use and why it is so important for business owners to use them not only as part of your marketing strategy but also as a communication tool. This workshop also looks at ways you can build up your audience, get others to share or like what you are doing and keep in touch with both present and future clients. No matter of your experience in social media for business use, at the workshop there will be opportunities to discuss what has or hasn’t worked for you. There will also be a opportunity to network with others towards the end of this workshop. This workshop is Free to Levy Members and £15.00 per person for Non-Levy Members. For further information and to book your place, click the button below. [dt_default_button link=”https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-media-for-businesses-a-guide-to-help-your-business-get-out-there-tickets-55904244099″ button_alignment=”default” animation=”fadeIn” size=”medium” default_btn_bg_color=”” bg_hover_color=”” text_color=”” text_hover_color=”” icon=”fa fa-chevron-circle-right” icon_align=”left”]Book Your Place Now[/dt_default_button]

Tuesday, 12 March 2019 from 07:30 to 09:30 (GMT) THE NEW N22 NETWORK FORUM B2B NETWORKING join us and other business owners from around Wood Green for a networking session which will be over lunch, taking place at Mc Donalds on Wood Green High Road within Holly Wood Green/ Sprouts Corner. CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY We are pleased to welcome our Guest Speaker for this event, Catherine West MP This event is a great opportunity for those in Haringey and Wood Green to expand their business connections and seek new opportunities in a relaxed and fun environment. The idea is, if more businesses connect within an area or community, then more actual business is created, whether it be referals, cross promotion with other businesses, connecting with a business owner who provides a service that you can sale through your own company to gain profit etc, the possibilites are endless, especially when you expand and connect with others to your network. An entrepreneur knows that their network is their networth. N22 Network Business Forum is Free to Wood Green Levy Members including thier nominated staff.  Our Business Forum also welcomes and encourages other businesses and organisations to attend for which there is a small fee to cover your attendance. This event is open to both Levy and non-levy members of Future Wood Green Business Improvement District. N22 Network is looking for venues to hold our monthly networking forum meetings.  If you would like to offer a venue which is located around N22, please get in touch with Teelo, our Events and Marketing Coordinator at the BID office. Register Here  

Tue, 12 February 2019 12:00 – 14:30 GMT N22 NETWORK FORUM – B2B NETWORKING For us in business we know that the start of the year is time to catch up with established connections and to establish new connections, that allow us to create new business for 2019. So why not join us and other business owners from around Wood Green for a networking session which will be over lunch, taking place at Chiquen on Wood Green High Road within the Mall Shopping Centre. This event is a great opportunity for those in Haringey and Wood Green to expand their business connections and seek new opportunities in a relaxed and fun environment. The idea is, if more businesses connect within an area or community, then more actual business is created, whether it be referrals, cross promotion with other businesses, connecting with a business owner who provides a service that you can sale through your own company to gain profit etc, the possibilities are endless, especially when you expand and connect with others to your network. An entrepreneur knows that their network is their networth. N22 Network Business Forum is Free to Wood Green Levy Members including their nominated staff. Our Business Forum also welcomes and encourages other businesses and organisations to attend for which there is a small fee to cover your attendance. This event is open to both Levy and non-levy members of Future Wood Green Business Improvement District. N22 Network is looking for venues to hold our monthly networking forum meetings. If you would like to offer a venue which is located around N22, please get in touch with Teelo, our Events and Marketing Coordinator at the BID office Register Here  

The Mayor would like to invite you all to this fundraising Quiz Night where there will be lots of fun, food, drinks and snacks. We shall be fundraising for Ambitious About Autism and John Dewey Specialist College who educate and teach life skills to young people with autism and complex needs. Tuesday 29 January, 7-10pm At Chiquen, 17a The Mall, N22 6YQ – next to Cineworld Book you team of up to six people at only £15 per head on the Eventbrite website (external link). Contact the Mayor’s office for more details.

As a supporter of Small Business Saturday, The Post Office are delighted to be giving you and your small business the chance to win special prizes through our festive competition! Christmas is a time for giving, that’s why during this festive time, we have four amazing prizes to be won! Two lucky small businesses will have the opportunity to win £1000 There are two ways you can get involved, each with the chance to win £1000! Share a photo of your festive shop window display with us. Or, tell us about the special festive communications you have planned for your customers. This could be anything from direct mail to email, a social media campaign or any unique festive packaging! There will also be one runner up for each part of the competition. These runners up will both win £500. How to enter To be in with a chance of winning, please send your entry in one of these ways: On our contact form below. Via our email: win@royalmail.com with the subject line Small Business Festive Competition. By uploading your photo or comment to Instagram, including #RoyalMail and #SmallBizFestiveCompetition as well as your username. Don’t forget to tag @RoyalMailOfficial on Instagram. Direct message our Facebook account  with the hashtags #RoyalMail and #SmallBizFestiveCompetition. Make sure all entries are in before midnight on 16 December when the competition closes. All winners will be announced no later than the 21 December. We wish you the best of luck and a successful festive period! Terms and conditions Small Business Saturday 2018 – Festive Windows terms & conditions  Small Business Saturday 2018 – Festive Communications competition terms & conditions   

The government is inviting landlords to take part in a pilot scheme to help regenerate the high street and support community groups. We are seeking applications by 14 December 2018, and the application form is included in the prospectus published here. The scheme will take place in 5 areas, matching landlords struggling to find tenants for their empty properties with community groups looking for space. Temporary use of premises in this way is known as meanwhile use, and the pilots will be managed by independent charity, Meanwhile Foundation, chosen for their existing work and experience in operating a brokerage service matching vacant premises with community groups looking for spaces to work. The scheme is open to all landlords, whether a local authority or other public body, a small business owner or a major property portfolio-holder. There will not be a cost to landlords to take part, as the pilot will fund remediation and set-up costs as well as business rates for the occupier. There are a significant number of financial and social benefits to taking part including the chance to make a real difference to the community you are investing in, and thereby significantly enhancing the reputation of the participating landlord; and providing security against squatting and unauthorised entry. This pilot will support community groups who may need premises for several hours a day but are unable to take on a full lease, or who can often struggle to pay rents on town centre premises. It will also help regenerate struggling high streets by bringing empty properties back into use, increasing footfall and bringing life back into an area. The prospectus invites landlords to submit a bid to become one of the pilot areas and covers: details of the funding arrangements eligibility for places and criteria transparency and engagement how to apply Once landlords are identified we will issue a similar call to community groups to come forward with proposals to use these spaces. Meanwhile Foundation will then undertake a matching process to place a community group in the premises. There will be no cost for groups to take part. For further information and to download the prospectus and application form, please click here

Tuesday 20th November 2018 – From 5pm Shine Cafe, Tunrpike Lane Future Wood Green BID invite all to attend a workshop to look at useful tips for those either looking at starting or already running a business. No matter where you are in your business journey, this workshop will cover areas which relate to all. The FREE Workshop lasts for about 2 hours and takes place at the Shine Cafe in Turnpike Lane. For further information and to book your place click here

TUESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 5.30pm – 8.30pm Join us and other business owners from around Wood Green for a networking meeting which is taking place at the Green Rooms on Station Road. This event is a great opportunity to those wishing to expand their business connections and seek new opportunities in a relaxed and fun environment. GUEST SPEAKER SLOT: We welcome Rebecca Flaherty from the Police Business Crime Hub who will be sharing crime prevention for businesses. At the Event, there will be lots of opportunity to network with lots of other local business owners while enjoying light refreshments. There will also be a guest Speaker who will be presenting for around 10 minutes. This event is open to both Levy and non-levy members of Future Wood Green Business Improvement District. Costs:  Wood Green BID Levy Members and Staff: FREE    –  Non-members: £15.00 per person. To book your place, please Click here N22 Network is looking for venues to hold our monthly networking forum meetings. If you would like to offer a venue which is located around N22, please get in touch with Teelo, our Events and Marketing Coordinator at the BID office.  

Are you starting out in business and looking for the ideal property to lease? Or you may be coming to the end of your current lease and need advice on next steps? Not sure whether a commercial lease is right for your business? This masterclass will equip you with the fundamentals you need to put in place to ensure you can get the best property lease for your business. The session will be delivered by Panikkos Euripides, a UK Commercial Lease expert and a fully qualified member of the RICS. Did you know that 95% of start ups end up signing a lease without fully understanding the commercial implications, simply through lack of knowledge. Don’t let this be you! We’ll cover the different types of commercial leases available for your business, crucial areas you need to be aware of such as building your power team of professional advisers, planning requirements, break clauses, lease terms, renewal rights and most importantly how to avoid the pitfalls when sourcing a new lease or negotiating an existing property lease. The course will help you to decipher the legal jargon in property lease agreements and understand the key aspects that apply to your business. For businesses looking to negotiate on a lease, we’ll help you to identify the opportunities available to leverage your position and get the best deal for you. With an opportunity to ask any property related questions specific to your business, you’ll leave the session better informed and better equipped. Benefits of attending: Understand the different types of commercial agreements such as a Lease, Licence, Tenancy at Will and Periodic Tenancy Be better informed of the key terms covered in agreements and the implications to your business Learn why your professional power team is so important and how to select the right ones to ensure a smooth and advantageous transaction Understand which order to do things in to avoid losing money and wasting time Translating any lease terms and answering your specific business/property related questions Lots of Q&A opportunities This Masterclass is part of the The London Growth Hub Property Advice Service programme, which is designed to give owners of small and medium-sized businesses the knowledge, expertise and confidence to help them to take on a lease. Delivered by Nwes on behalf of the London Growth Hub, the programme of support gives individuals the chance to access a free 2-hour, one-to-one session with a property expert as well as a series of free masterclasses and panel events to allow participants to get expert advice. To register your place for this Masterclass, please click here Are you a London-based SME and are currently: Negotiating or renegotiating a lease, or searching for premises and intending to take on a lease within the next 6 months? Click HERE to apply for a completely Free 2-hour mentoring session with a property expert! CLICK ABOVE to book your “Top tips on negotiating the best commercial lease for your business” masterclass place today.

The Business Crime Hub, part of the Met Police have published advice for retailers and organisation in reference to the forthcoming launch of the new iPhones. The new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR have been launched by Apple and are due to go on sale on Friday 21st September 2018. This launch may see in increase in crime, as criminals try to obtain the new phones. The Metropolitan Police Service are advising retail phone stores to review their security and ensure that adequate resources are in place to respond to any increase in demand; Any security staff should have a visible presence and clearly display their ID badges. Also ensure you are able to control all access points into the premises and review and communicate and emergency/evacuation procedures with staff and security. Check CCTV is fully operational and that you have staff members available that can operate it. Remain vigilant and please report any suspicious activity to security or police. Below is advice that can be provided to staff and customers: Be aware of your surroundings at all times and keep your personal property secure. Don’t text while you’re walking you won’t notice potential thieves approaching. Keep away from roadsides if your mobile is in hand. Try going hands free or stand away from the roadside close to a wall so no one can come up behind you. Use the security features on your phone. Your phone comes with a range of security features, such as keypad locks and remote data wiping. Make sure they are all activated to stop thieves from accessing your phone and personal data. Register your phone on www.immobilise.com to help police return recovered stolen property and combat the sale of stolen goods. Police recover more than 2500 items registered to the website on average every month. Know how to identify your phone if it’s stolen. Find your IMEI number by dialling *#06# from your phone and keep a written note of it. If the phone is stolen, report it to the police and your mobile provider to stop it being used. In the event of an emergency, always call 999.

Are you a small business based in London and keen to sell to big brand retailers or the public sector? Brought to you by the London Growth Hub and delivered by small business support network Enterprise Nation, Meet the Buyer is a FREE programme that aims to bridge the gap that small businesses face gaining public sector and corporate contracts through mentoring from leading business figures, training and guidance. The programme will offer successful applicants: training and support with pitching accounting and legal advice on securing contracts the opportunity to meet buyers Evidence suggests accessing pitching sessions like these can be ‘transformational’ to smaller firms, not only increasing the bottom line, but also awareness of their produce or services. The programme is focused on five sectors (Please note there are only 20 places available per sector): Food & drink Fashion Beauty Tech & digital Cleantech The programme starts in September and runs through, with support and events taking place, until April 2019. To register your interest please click here (External Website)  

Following the successful ballot result in March this year, the bills for the Future Wood Green BID levy were sent out in June to 350 businesses in Wood Green Town Centre. In March 2018, Wood Green’s ballot about whether to set up a Business Improvement District (BID) delivered a resounding YES vote. Following this, the Future Wood Green BID is now running, having officially launched on 1st July. The money raised through the levy will be used to deliver projects within the three main strands of our business plan. These include: ‘Experience Wood Green’ – addressing safety and security as well cleanliness and greening ‘Imagine Wood Green’ – improving the image of Wood Green though, amongst other things, marketing, events and social media support ‘Stronger Wood Green’ – building the business community, championing investment and saving businesses money through joint procurement In particular, we are already exploring an on-street dedicated Ranger team for Wood Green and improvements to the Christmas lights. Further projects will be planned by steering groups of businesses that will be meeting for the first time in October. You can see our full plans for the five years on our website here. The first bills will cover a 9 month period from 1st July 2018 to 31st March 2019 and reminders will be sent out in August. After this the bills will cover full year periods from April to March. The yearly amounts are calculated by applying a multiplier to a premises’ rateable value. Across the country these range from 1% up to 3% while in Wood Green the multiplier is at the lower end of this, at 1.25%. Businesses with a rateable value of £12,001 or higher will pay the levy, raising in total approximately £380,000 every year – although the smallest will pay just £150. This money will be used by the BID to deliver the business plan voted on by businesses. If you have questions about payment, or technical questions about the levy, then you can contact the business rates team at Haringey Council, who are collecting the levy on the BID’s behalf, directly on 020 8489 1700 or by emailing business.rates@haringey.gov.uk If you would like to discuss more about how you can get involved and what the levy will pay for then you can get in touch with the BID team directly on 020 3011 0504, or by emailing info@woodgreenbid.co.uk

Future Wood Green BID is inviting all Businesses and Organisation in and around Wood Green, Haringey to attend a MEET THE BID event. The event is taking place on Wednesday 12th September from 5.30pm at the Dominion Centre. At the Event, Guests will get to meet members of the Governance Board and Paul Collins, the new BID Manager.  There will be a short presentation on the new steering groups and information on how you can get involved. Harry Rashid, Chair of the Board says “This is an exciting time for Wood Green and we want to open the Business Improvement District up to as many as we can.  The Steering Groups, with the guidance of the Board, will have their own budgets and will make the decisions on what is priority for the BID to deliver within the area.” “The BID is funded heavily by the local businesses through levy and we in Wood Green want to make the voice of delivering a exciting range of projects, events and improvements to those who support the BID.” The Event will also have a time for Q and A session and also networking where you can meet other local business owners. REGISTER YOUR FREE PLACE [dt_default_button link=”https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-wood-green-meet-the-bid-tickets-49688112482″ button_alignment=”default” animation=”fadeIn” size=”medium” default_btn_bg_color=”” bg_hover_color=”” text_color=”” text_hover_color=”” icon=”fa fa-chevron-circle-right” icon_align=”left”]REGISTER HERE[/dt_default_button]