COVID-19 latest news
This morning the Chancellor of the Exchequer has outlined additional support to businesses in High and Very High Alert areas (Tiers 2 & 3) including grants to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, additional support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and additional support for the Self-Employed.
We are awaiting the finer details of these schemes, how they will benefit local businesses and how they will be distributed. While we wait for these details, including the amount the government will be providing to Nottingham, we will update the?Nottingham City Council Support for Businesses web page. In the meanwhile, please do not contact Nottingham City Council to allow us to work through the detail of the new grants.
Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre, said: ?I?m pleased to see that the Chancellor has responded to our stark warnings relating to the urgent need for further business support measures to protect jobs. We will be looking closely at the detail and having further conversations with Government to maximise the safeguards on local business survival and the earnings of Nottingham people who are affected by reduced working hours.?
This month's guest article
It doesn?t seem that long ago that I was talking to a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) member just off Hockley. It was after the Summer Budget and his independent coffee shop had just re-opened after lockdown.??
Despite a troubling spring, hope remained as August and ?Eat Out to Help Out? approached.
Fast forward three months and Nottingham is facing entering Tier 3 of Covid restrictions and I wonder about my latte-making friend and how he feels now and how his hardworking staff are doing?
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First things first, the FSB will always support a safe environment for everyone, small business, shopper, whoever. But equally small businesses cannot carry the can for this unprecedented pandemic.
We don't know yet whether or not the city will enter ?High Alert? this week but we've known for some time that businesses in Nottingham and across the region have been suffering and continue to suffer under the COVID restrictions.
How valuable today's announcement by the Chancellor will be to these businesses, many of whom have eaten into their reserves to stay afloat over the summer, remains to be seen. It is encouraging though to see that thanks to lobbying from businesses and agencies across Nottingham, the voices of local businesses who provide jobs and economic security to the region have at least been listened to.
I?d remind all our Nottingham small businesses ? FSB member or not ? to check out our helpful COVID-19 Hub here as it has a wealth of information.
Michael Watkinson, Federation of Small Businesses Development Manager for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Celebrating Black History Month
This month we wanted to start our newsletter by recognising the contribution of black business owners to the economy and culture of our great city by sharing what they told us about their experiences and why Black History Month is important to them.
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We can't include them all here but our partners the B-Global network will be running a special Black History Month email newsletter next week - sign up here to receive your copy.
"I set up my Afro Carribean shop 13 years ago to serve the community and provide them with a tailored, convenient service, situated in Nottingham city centre. To me, Black History Month is important to highlight progress, and although change has not come about fast enough, if black people can get behind organisations such as B-Global, I am confident that significant headway can be made."
Trevor, Ty's Continental.
"I've has been running a taxi company for 4 years in Nottingham and have seen the kinds of discrimination?and abuse me and my black colleagues have experienced. This highlights the importance of Black History Month to educate and empower people."
Akin, B&G Distribution Ltd.
Business Resilience Programme
Friday 30 October 9 to 10am
Are you struggling wondering what to do and how to cope with the current crisis?
This one to one support to help give you some direction and guidance on how to move forward in the ever changing and uncertain times, cope with the current COVID-19 situation and any internal issues arising from the EU Exit.
Book your place through the Eventbrite page.
 Monday 2 November 2 to 4pm
This webinar explores the role that SMEs can play in making a positive impact on our local community and the environment. It offers good insight into the barriers that SMEs face in creating social value and the support that is available through Nottingham Jobs to overcome them.
The government?s Kickstart Scheme has now been launched and aims to support 16 ? 24 year olds to gain work experience and training that will support them into employment. You will learn about the funding and support available to businesses that wish to participate in this scheme and the social impact you can make by offering a placement.
The session will end with a business perspective from TTK Confectionary Ltd, a local SME that is making a significant impact on our local community through their corporate social responsibility strategy.?
The session will cover the following key elements:
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What is social value and social impact and why is it important
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The types of activities you can implement to build your strategy
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The Kickstart Scheme, the social impact it creates and support available to businesses
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How to overcome barriers that SMEs face when thinking about social value
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What it could mean for your business
 The Nottingham City Council (NCC) Procurement Team is responsible for the purchasing of all goods, works and services required across all Departments of the Council. The team sits within the Contracting and Procurement Service area alongside the Contracting Team which manages all centrally held and managed contracts. Procurement is undertaken through a strategic category management approach, and the team is organised into 3 procurement categories: ?People? (commissioned services for citizens), ?Places? (construction and development works) and ?Products? (other services and supplies).
This webinar will support delegates to understand:
- NCC Procurement strategy & process
- How to access NCC contract opportunities
- Tips for bidders
- Where to find information and guidance
There will be a formal presentation, followed by Q & A. Delegates will have the opportunity to have a follow-up post event with NCC procurement team. Book your place through the Eventbrite page.
About B-Global:
B-Global is a pioneering black-led business network set up to support start-ups, established and scale up businesses of African heritage and the wider BAME business community in Nottingham city. To find out more or to join the network, click here.
Council launches Big Conversation on future of key city centre site
 The future of the one of the most important parts of Nottingham city centre is the subject of a Big Conversation being launched by the City Council on 20 October to get people talking about what they would like to see happen there.
Share your views, take the Broadmarsh survey here.
Council Leader Councillor David Mellen has described it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-imagine and reshape a significant space in the heart of one of the country?s Core Cities and build a new vision for how cities should look following the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more on the Broadmarsh Big Conversation website.
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