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Covid-19 Update – October 26th 2021

Due to the large increases in Covid-19 cases in the Southwest, and Swindon in particular, we’ve made the difficult decision to limit meetings to our Swindon, Pembroke Centre, office to essential meetings only for the time being – with a review in 6 weeks. Deliveries requiring entrance to the office will still be permitted, as will visits by maintenance staff who we will ask to use hand...
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Swindon to move into Tier 4 as of 00:01 31st December 2020

This is a developing topic and will be updated regularly. Swindon, along with many other areas, enter Tier 4 restrictions as of 00:01 on the 31st December 2020. This means that non-essential retail must now close, there will be further restrictions on movement - with a "Stay at Home" rule in place unless there is a "reasonable excuse". We have summarised some of the key points from the advice...
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Swindon moving into Tier 3 from 00:01 Boxing Day 2020

Following a review of the latest evidence, the Government has announced today that Swindon will be moved into the Tier 3 ‘Very High’ alert level from 00:01 on Boxing Day (26 December 2020). Other areas across the country including Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, the rest of Essex which is not already, Waverley in Surrey, and Hampshire with the exception of the New...
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We’re here to help you & your business through lockdown

With the first day of this new national lockdown (5th November 2020) upon us, I wanted to let you know that, as during the previous lockdown, we will be here to help you and your business, club, or other organisation through these difficult times. If you haven’t already updated your website to provide information to your customers, members, or visitors then we can help you do this – either as...
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Young people with face masks back at work in office after coronavirus quarantine and lockdown, greeting

Coronavirus: It’s up to all of us to keep each other safe

It’s up to all of us to know what we must do to keep ourselves and others safe in the weeks and months ahead. The medical advice is clear: you must self-isolate if you have coronavirus symptoms or live in the same household as somebody who does. The main symptoms of coronavirus are: High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your...
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Swindon & Wiltshire LEP open ERDF Recovery Grant applications

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...
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Swindon & Wiltshire LEP Covid-19 Recovery Grants Scheme

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...
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Social distancing marks on supermarket floor intended to stop spread of the contagious Coronavirus

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

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...
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Ideas to help keep your business running during the coronavirus crisis

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

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...
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