January 22, 2021
| Check whether you are eligible for the new lockdown grants The two new lockdown grants are administered by Lewisham Council on behalf of the Government. They are only available to eligible business rates payers and are in addition to the existing grants for the tier restrictions that were imposed in November and December. The new grants are as below: National Lockdown Grant This grant is available to support businesses that were legally forced to close due to national lockdown restrictions starting on 5 January 2021. These businesses include: non-essential retail leisure personal care sports facilities hospitality sectors The closures will be in place for an initial period of 42 days, with a possibility that the government may extend it. We will let you know at the first opportunity if that is the case. Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP) This is a one-off, top up grant in addition to National Lockdown Grant. It is to support businesses required to close from 5 January 2021 due to national lockdown restrictions. Businesses that are eligible for National Lockdown Grant (3) are also eligible for the CBLP. Businesses that have already applied for the Local Restrictions Support Grants for November 2020 will not need to reapply for the new lockdown grants. Your applications and payments will be processed automatically. Businesses that have not previously applied for any Local Restrictions Support Grants will need to complete an online application form. Full details of our lockdown grants and all previous Local Restrictions Support Grants are available on our website. Click here to check your eligibility and apply. |
| Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) supports businesses that have been impacted by tier restrictions but are not covered by other grant schemes e.g. businesses that don’t pay business rates. Applications for the first phase of our Additional Restrictions Grant are open until 26 February 2021. We are launching Phase Two in mid-February and will announce full details including eligibility criteria via this business bulletin and on our website. Find out if you’re eligible for the Additional Restrictions Grant. |
| Already applied for an LRSG, ARG or Christmas Support Payment? If you are waiting on a grant payment or application, please bear with us. We know this is a challenging time for business owners and our team is working tirelessly to ensure all applications are processed, and payments are issued to all eligible businesses as soon as possible. |
| Rapid Covid-19 testing available for frontline workers If you, your employees or workers are in frontline, public-facing roles in the community, or coming into regular contact with customers, it is believed that you are more at risk of spreading COVID-19. One in three people with COVID-19 have no symptoms and will be spreading the virus without realising it. To help protect everyone in your workplace and the wider community, we recommend getting tested for COVID-19 twice a week. Rapid testing is now available at the Civic Suite in Catford and the Green Man in Downham for people without coronavirus symptoms. Book a test and find out more about community testing. |
| Let’s all play our part in keeping Lewisham safe We know it’s a challenging time for businesses in Lewisham but we all have a part to play in the fight against COVID-19 and must stick to the rules. Our enforcement teams have been out and about in our high streets and markets to help stop the spread of the virus. A huge thank you for all you’re doing to keep Lewisham safe. Please follow Government guidance to check whether your business should close. |
| Could an apprentice benefit your business? National Apprenticeships Week will be taking place next week (8-14 February). As part of this, we will be celebrating the contributions that apprentices make to businesses and organisations in Lewisham. Businesses who have supported our apprenticeships programme to date have told us how apprentices can bring benefits including fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a desire to learn. We provide a wide range of support to employers to take on apprentices through the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Programme. Any local business who takes on a new apprentice before the end of March can benefit from a hiring incentive of up to £2,000, plus access to our apprenticeship levy funds and support with recruitment. Learn more about apprenticeships here or email for further information. |
| Feature in our blog for local health and wellbeing businesses We’d love to share and promote the fantastic local businesses and services here in Lewisham who are keeping us fit and healthy during lockdown. Perhaps you offer Zoom workout sessions, the latest sports gear, or take a more holistic approach to wellbeing. If you’d like to be considered for our blog, please get in touch. What we need from you: Please email by Friday 12 February 2021 a summary (75 words max) explaining what you offer and including your: Address and phone number Link to your website (or Facebook page) Twitter and/ or Instagram handles if you’re on social media A photo of you or your goods – please send us a good quality image (3MB max) |