The RESTART Programme is a package of Business Recovery 1:1 and webinar/workshop support for businesses across the East Midlands, fully-funded by the East Midlands Growth Hubs. This support is open to all businesses across the East Midlands, irrespective of size, that may have had to scale back or cease trading during the COVID-19 crisis and that are now looking to embark on business recovery. Dedicated 1:1 support is focused on:

• Impact Addressing the impact of COVID-19 on participating businesses
• Support Ensuring that all Government and non-Government support is being accessed
• Recovery Providing strategic and hands on support to unlock the potential for rapid business recovery, and importantly identifying the knowledge, capacity and funding requirements to achieve this
• Plan Delivering as output, a pragmatic, detailed and achievable Business Recovery Plan to inform and guide business decision making and activity over the coming 18 months and beyond.

To book a one-to-one appointment, please click on the link below:

Dedicated 1:1 support sessions

The Building Business Resilience Programme aims to ensure that businesses in the East Midlands are informed and prepared to deal with any challenges that may result from the UK’s departure from the European Union, as well as to help them spot and capitalise upon opportunities that may result. The Programme offers a range of services to businesses:

• Building Business Resilience – Getting Ready Briefings The Getting Ready briefings will combine a keynote talk from EU exit expert, Neil Warwick OBE, giving the latest insights from government, interactive support, an introduction to the Are You Ready? interactive audit tool and a chance to network with specialist advisers and support organisations from across the region who can provide you with specific advice and help.
• Building Business Resilience – Making Sense of the Next Steps seminars Using the Are You Ready? interactive audit tool, these seminars will help you to identify what steps you need to take before December 2020 and develop a plan to help you get there on time, as well as thinking beyond the EU exit transition period and the opportunities and challenges that change brings to ensure your business can get fit for the future.
• Building Business Resilience – Sector Opportunity Briefings and Workshops Sector-specific workshops for businesses in the Transport and Logistics, Engineering and Manufacturing, Tourism and Food and Drink sectors to help businesses in these sectors who may face particular challenges. For more details, please click on the link to the events listed below:
• Building Business Resilience – one-to-one support In addition, businesses can also access one-to-one support from specialist advisors, who will help them improve their resilience, ensure they are on track to be EU exit-ready and develop a bespoke Action Plan to help them move forward with confidence.

The Programme is fully-funded at no cost to your business and is available to businesses of all sizes located in:

• Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire;
• Greater Lincolnshire, or;
• Leicester and Leicestershire.

Businesses can access up to 12 hours support – including any workshops or seminars they attend – to help them prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU and a further 12 hours to develop their resilience and look for opportunities for growth.

To express interest in the RESTART or Building Business Resilience Programmes, please complete the contact form.

The Government has announced a series of measures to help businesses cope with the impacts of coronavirus:

• Self-employment Income Support Scheme Click here to check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme .
• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Click here for details of the support to continue paying part of employees’ salary for those that would otherwise have been laid off .

To check what support may be available to you, please use this business support finder on the Government business support website: https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

Government has also made available guidance to assist employers and businesses in providing advice to staff about how to prevent the spread of viruses and what to do if an employee becomes unwell – click here to view the guidance.

Other useful resources for businesses include:

• HMRC has a tax helpline HMRC has a tax helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Find all the information here. The number is 0800 0159 559.
• Companies House Guidance Companies House has produced guidance if coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected your company and you need more time to file your accounts. Find all the information here.
• Business Continuity Management Toolkit The Government has published a toolkit to help organisations develop a business continuity plan – click here to download the toolkit.
• Home working Preparing your organisation and staff – the National Cyber Security Centre has published advice to help organisations prepare for home working – click here.

The Business Resilience Programme has one-to-one remote advice sessions available for businesses located in the D2N2, Greater Lincolnshire and Leicester and Leicestershire LEP areas – to check availability and to book a session, go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/building-business-resilience-in-the-east-midlands-29583932995

Information for businesses about coronavirus is also available on the three partner Growth Hub websites:

Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub
D2N2 Growth Hub
Leicester & Leicestershire Growth Hub