FREE Businesses Support Packages to Help you Thrive in a Covid World
Stay Safe, Stay Open is offering small businesses in Hertfordshire access to a range of free support which will help you to navigate the changing advice and regulations, update risk assessments to ensure that you continue to trade safely and plan for future success with financial support and continuity planning.
As a business, you will have already spent time, effort and money on making your premises as safe as possible for staff and customers. Maintaining vigilance and ensuring you’re implementing the latest guidance through the winter will not only ensure you remain compliant, but also provides you with a positive sales message which will give your consumers the confidence to visit.
The following support is all free to access for eligible businesses in Hertfordshire and is delivered in partnership with Hertfordshire Growth Hub, Better Business for All, Visit Herts and Local Authorities.
- Practical Health and Safety Consultancy, Operational and Business Planning Advice. Up to 8 hours of bespoke 1:1 support to review Covid-19 risk assessments and implement simple changes to bring you in line with the latest guidance. Experienced, personable, industry experts will run through the ‘customer journey’, providing practical business planning, operational, communications and training advice. This support is available for businesses with up to 50 employees in certain sectors with premises in Hertfordshire.
- Funding to help improve ventilation. Up to 8 hours of bespoke 1:1 support to review Covid-19 risk assessments and implement simple changes to bring you in line with the latest guidance. Experienced, personable, industry experts will run through the ‘customer journey’, providing practical business planning, operational, communications and training advice. This support is available for businesses with up to 50 employees in certain sectors with premises in Hertfordshire.ty.
- Funded legal support package. Need help with HR, health and safety, commercial contracts, or tax? Hertfordshire businesses with fewer than 50 employees can access a year of free legal advice through funded membership to either Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce or the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) which includes including a 24/7 legal helpline, legal documents, templates, and policies available online. To determine if you meet the eligibility criteria, all businesses interested in applying must book an initial 1:1 advisory visit. Following the visit, eligible businesses will be referred to Hertfordshire Growth Hub and invited to apply for the ventilation funding.
- Better business for all Trading Safely Toolkits. The Better Business for All partnership has produced a toolkit of resources to help businesses trade safely and comply with the law. These bitesize documents break down the advice into practical guides, checklists, and case studies with links to where organisations can find more local support and information.
- Get the Safe to Trade Accreditation. Already a successful pilot in Broxbourne, and soon to be launched in five further Hertfordshire districts, businesses will be able to access a free accreditation as part of the Safe to Trade Scheme managed by Shield Safety Group. This accreditation gives businesses the confidence that their premises are protected by COVID-19 control measures and shows customers and employees a commitment to their safety.
To find out more on all the upcoming and available support through the stay safe, stay open campaign, visit www.visithertsbusiness.co.uk/stay-safe-stay-open.
You may also be interested in Help to Grow, which is a 12-week government funded programme which combines online sessions with face-to-face learning. Thank you to Louise Towler at Indigo Tree Digital in Tring for providing the information.