Swindon & Wiltshire LEP open ERDF Recovery Grant applications

Andy Smart September 14, 2020 0 Comments

We've spoken to many customers over the last few weeks and months. It goes without saying the ongoing COVID pandemic continues to hit small businesses hard across all sectors. Today, the application process opened for something called the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF Recovery Grant (which we blogged about last week) is available to small and medium companies, with a...

Swindon & Wiltshire LEP Covid-19 Recovery Grants Scheme

Chris Grant August 27, 2020 0 Comments

Every small business has had new challenges to deal with this year. All of us are busy trying to come to terms with this new reality, and it's easy to miss opportunities while you're tending to your business. We recently became aware of a programme run by the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Economic Partnership and their Economic Plan. Catchy, I know. The Swindon & Wiltshire LEP is...

Shops and shoppers must stick to the follow official government guidelines following reopening from 1st and 15th June

Chris Grant June 01, 2020 0 Comments

The government has released a list of rules and guidelines that shops and shoppers must follow to keep everyone safe when retail starts to reopen on the 1st and 15th June 2020. One of the most widely-discussed bans has been that on changing rooms. One of these measures include banning shoppers trying on clothes in changing rooms for fear of spreading the virus. According to the official...

Back to business – What does post-lockdown business look like?

Alex Swabey June 01, 2020 0 Comments

It has been over two months since the government asked us all to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With restrictions beginning to ease, businesses up and down the country are trying to figure out how to start welcoming customers again while minimising risk to themselves or their patrons. According to the latest government statement, retailers who operate outdoors will now be...

Ideas to help keep your business running during the coronavirus crisis

Chris Grant May 23, 2020 0 Comments

If you run a salon, shop or any business that requires feet through the door and staff on hand, it can be difficult to know what to do for the best - the government is telling people to avoid people, pubs and the office, but can you afford to shut up shop? The situation is ever-changing, but to some degree the current social distancing and self-isolation measures look set to be in place for the...

One eye to the future for small business, post Covid-19

Andy Smart May 17, 2020 0 Comments

It seems at the moment the world is moving at lightspeed.  The news every day is changing and, whilst some of the lockdown restrictions are being eased, we’re still very, very far from “normal”.  I for one long for the days when Microsoft Teams was a bit of an irritation when I turned my computer on - here at O’Brien Media it’s now become central to the way we work together! ...

New Gov funding of £617m to help co-working tenants, market traders, Bed & Breakfasts

Chris Grant May 02, 2020 0 Comments

New funding of £617m is being made available to co-working space tenants, market traders and other businesses in England who aren't being given funding through the coronavirus business rates grant scheme due to not being in full-time commercial properties. This funding will be assessed and paid out by local authorities, these being Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, and Vale of White...

Fintechs need to be accredited for CBILSs and Bounce Back Loans

Chris Grant April 30, 2020 0 Comments

A fifth of SMEs bank with fintechs, such as Tide. Financial technology - fintech for short - describes the combination of financial services and technology to provide a larger range of convenient financial services and financial products. Examples of products and services provided by fintechs include primarily app-based banking (such as the service offered by Tide), mobile payments, peer-to-peer...

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Let customers know your special hours for May on Google My Business

Andy Smart April 28, 2020 0 Comments

When your business has an irregular schedule, like holidays or special events, you can enter special hours in advance to let customers know when you’re open via the special opening hours option on Google My Business (and Google Maps). If you haven't updated your hours, we recommend that you do. Google may call you to make sure they’re accurate. Visit Google My Business Help to learn more...

Criminals are exploiting fear of COVID19 pandemic to scam victims out of cash

Andy Smart April 25, 2020 0 Comments

Scams over the phone are nothing new, but, in the current climate, they are being adapted. Criminals are exploiting the need to keep ourselves safe and take protective measures during the COVID19 pandemic and are reinventing their scams to use Coronavirus as a hook. Any unsolicited phone calls should be treated with extreme caution, and if they’re asking for payment details it’s highly likely...

Coronavirus (COVID-19)