This is our latest email bulletin relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. This weekend many more businesses, including those in the hospitality sector, are authorised to open again, so this week we’re focusing on updates related to this phase of reopening and how we’re supporting you. If you are reopening this weekend, we wish you all the very best for a safe and successful return to business.
You can find more information and updates on our new city reopening webpage, as well as previous news and useful links on our original COVID-19 webpage.
BID News
Guidance for Reopening from 4 July
A reminder, for those businesses now able to open from 4 July, that we shared links to sector-specific guidance in last week’s bulletin. We’ve also now added these links to a new ‘City Reopening’ webpage, which you can view here.
Increased Weekend Security
To help support businesses this weekend, we’ve arranged additional BID area security cover in the evenings, on top of our usual daytime support on Saturday. You can contact the security teams on the following numbers if you have any issues:
Saturday 4 July
- Daytime (12-8pm): 0772573723
- Evening (6-11pm): 07900807209
Sunday 5 July
- Evening (6-11pm): 07900807208
Also, our Executive Director, Giles Semper will be attending a Police briefing on Saturday 4 July at 6pm. If you have any issues you would like raised at this meeting please email giles.semper@gosouthampton.co.uk.
Recovery Plan
We will shortly be publishing our city recovery plan which includes a timeline of our key work since the beginning of lockdown through to our current recovery initiatives and looking ahead to projects later this year and next. This will be published next week and a printed version will be distributed to our businesses.
Urban Lecture Series
The final instalment of our Urban Lecture Series takes place next week on Tuesday 7 July from 5.30pm. Our guest speakers are set to explore the topic of ‘A Meanwhile City’, hear from: Carl Turner (Turner Works), Marcos Rosellos (aLL Design) and Thomas Bryans (IF_DO). Register your place for free here.
Southampton Inside Out
Ahead of the hospitality sector reopening, we’ve been working with the Council and other stakeholders to explore how we can increase / simplify opportunities for outdoor space to be utilised for customer dining. To find out more about our Southampton Inside Out initiative, including how to apply for the required licences, click here.
Please also see the national news section below regarding new proposed legislation that helps to speed up applications for licences for outdoor seating and caps the associated costs.
Finally, we’ve extended the deadline for our hospitality sector survey – to maximise opportunities for use of outdoor space we need to show the demand is there, so if relevant to your business, please take a few minutes to complete it here.
National News
Pavement Licence Guidance
Last week the Government announced new proposed measures to help enable pubs, restaurants and cafés to use outdoor spaces to trade and serve customers. The process for applying for a pavement licence is set to become easier and cheaper for businesses so they can quickly expand their trading to outdoor areas when they reopen. The draft guidance caps the cost for a licence at £100 and the consultation period is now 5 working days compared to 28 days previously. To see the full draft guidance go here.
New Government Funding
The latest Government funding package to be announced is the Sustainable Innovation Fund which aims to boost the UK’s economic recovery by providing £200m to businesses with innovative ideas and sustainability-focused projects. Additionally, last week the Government announced another £105m in funding to provide temporary housing for rough sleepers showing a continued commitment to support the most vulnerable during COVD-19, and is welcomed news in Southampton.
Visit Britain's Good To Go Initiative
A UK-wide industry standard mark has been developed by Visit Britain which businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector can use as part of their reopening plans. ‘Good To Go’ will be the official UK mark that lets customers know an organisation has followed Government guidance and put the appropriate measures in place. Businesses must complete an online self-assessment displaying that they have adhered to the correct national and public health guidance before they receive a ‘Good To Go’ certificate along with a toolkit. The mark can then be displayed in store and online for customers and staff members to see. The scheme is free for businesses and applications take around 20 minutes to complete. Businesses can apply here.
If you obtain the Good To Go mark for your business please let us know at content@gosouthampton.co.uk so we can update your Visit Southampton website listing accordingly.
Local News
Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund
Applications for the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Scheme close tomorrow (Friday 3 July). Small and micro businesses can receive up to £10,000 in grant funding depending on their annual turnover, number of employers and fixed property costs. This scheme is only for organisations who are not eligible for other COVID-19 grant funding. Eligible businesses can apply here.
Useful Links
- For Government guidance for businesses, employers and employees go here
- Sign up for the Government’s specific business support email bulletins here
- View the Council's latest coronavirus information here
- Sign up for the Council's business e-newsletter here
- Check if your business can reopen here
- View our business guidance here
- Read general Government guidance for food businesses here
- Sign up to the free business recovery webinar programme with Visit Britain here
- Read the Prime Minister’s speech on the economy here
- Use the Government tool for reopening your business safely here
- Use sector-specific working safely guidance for your your reopening here
Our Contact Information
If your business has any questions please get in contact with us on the following:
