Andrew Dismore

Supporting business resilience

As part of our ongoing support for local business and workers we’ve partnered with the Pop-up Business School to deliver two free pop-up business courses.

• Camden online business resilience course 10 – 12 August
• Camden online business start-up course 7 – 18 September

Both courses are free and will be of particular interest to those who want to start or restart their own business, or who are looking to build on their business skills as an owner or employee.

The courses will be tailored specifically for the post-COVID-19 business and working environment. Topics include:

• starting a business with no money
• sales
• building a website,
• social media
• search engine optimisation
• tax and accounting,
• motivation & networking

Helping businesses reopen safely

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented impact across all areas of daily life in Camden, including our local high streets and town centres. We are doing everything we can to find new ways to support businesses through this difficult time. As lockdown measures ease and more businesses reopen we’ve been working hard to make sure owners and workers have the information, guidance and support they need to reopen safely, with measures in place to protect customers, visitors and workers.

As part of our support offer, we have put together a new guide and poster to help businesses open safely. The reopening your business safely guide steps through the safety measures that need to be in place both inside and outside businesses. This includes: social distancing and how to manage queues, signage, planning and licencing guidance, as well as information on NHS Test and Trace and what owners need to know, both as employers and workers to help protect themselves and others.

Planning and licensing Bill

Local businesses are now able to benefit from new legislation making it easier for them to adopt social distancing measures and reopen safely, following the disruption of temporary business closures and the wider lockdown measures.

New legislation called the Business and Planning Act 2020 has recently been passed which will make it easier for cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars to be able to apply to the council for a licence to use their immediate outdoor space to seat and serve customers outdoors.

We have worked quickly to introduce a new online application process to support our hospitality sector to apply for a ‘Pavement Licence’ which allows the placement and use temporary of outdoor tables and chairs on adjacent footpaths and streets.

The new easy-to-use online application process is available online now on the council’s website. Businesses applying for the new outdoor license, must display a public notice about the application in their shop-front window for seven days.

Improving Camden’s high streets and town centres

COVID-19 has created new challenges for Camden’s high streets and town centres.

As lockdown eases and businesses follow new guidelines to reopen safely, people are spending more time in the areas where they live, using their local high streets to shop and socialise.

Camden Council is working on a new plan to improve high streets and wants to hear from local people. Share your feelings about your high street or town centre – this might include an idea to improve it or something that matters most to you about the shopping areas you visit. Visit camdenfuturehighstreets.commonplace.is to have your say.

Contact: economicdevelopment@camden.gov.uk