Andrew Dismore

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Briefing #6

Dear all,

We know how hard it’s been for business owners over the past few months. But we need to continue keeping each other safe and remember that COVID-19 has not gone away yet.

Thank-you to everyone who has played their part in helping us reduce the spread of the virus by complying with the government’s guidance for re-opening businesses and venues.

Please see a number of updates below including: new government requirements for face coverings; information about temporary street trading licenses; a new business fund from the Mayor of London; a new Council scheme to provide community toilets; and a new marketing campaign you can use to promote your business.

Face coverings mandatory in more places

From tomorrow, Saturday 8 August, facemasks will be mandatory in more settings including galleries, museums, libraries, and places of worship. It’s still important for you to encourage your customers to wear a face covering. Make sure your face covering covers both your nose and mouth but is also comfortable to breathe in.

You can read the full list of places where face coverings are mandatory on the Government’s website.

Temporary street trading licences

Street trading is the selling, offering or exposing for sale of any item or service in the street. This includes market stalls and shop-front displays, as well as cafe tables and chairs with service.

You need a license to trade on the public highway, including the pavement or any other area (not within a permanently enclosed premises) that is within seven meters of any road or footway.

To support safe re-opening and socially-distant trading, the Council is now offering temporary street trading licenses. The cost for a 6-month license is £400, and the cost for a 2-month license is £180.

Learn more and apply here.

Mayor’s Back to Business Fund

The Mayor of London’s Back to Business Fund will offer match funding to small firms through the Pay it Forward London crowdfunding platform which enables businesses to raise funds, stay afloat, rebuild and recover from the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Through this £1 million scheme, the Mayor will match every pound raised by a business up to a maximum of £5,000 – or 50% of their campaign target.

As well as supporting cash flow, the Mayor wants to help businesses to invest in their future, so the funding is conditional upon recipients spending a portion on supporting digital transformation and measures to enable safe re-opening and socially-distant trading. The money could be used for things such as new Perspex screens, contactless payment technologies or access to training in digital marketing.

Applications open on Monday 10 August. Register your interest now and receive coaching support from Crowdfunder to prepare you for your funding application

Community Toilet Scheme

Do you have a toilet available for customers? The Council is looking for businesses to join a new Community Toilet Scheme, to enable people to spend more time on the high street. By opening up your toilet you can support this, while generating more footfall for your business.

If you’re interested in participating in the scheme, please email Publichealth@barnet.gov.uk for more information.

‘Because  I’m a Londoner’ campaign

London and Partners have launched a new marketing campaign to shine a light on London’s business as they re-open.

If you run a business or organisation in London, you can sign up to the London Alliance, which gives you access to free-to-use campaign assets to promote your offering to Londoners, and help to spread the word about the campaign by using the #BecauseImALondoner hashtag.