Help for Business
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This page was last updated on Monday 31st August 2020.
Useful Information for Local Business Owners
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched an online form to help apply for small business and retail grants.
Businesses in each area can use the following links to apply and find further information.
South Oxfordshire, should use this South Oxfordshire District Council website.
Vale of White Horse can access the information via the Vale of White Horse District Council website.
The councils are prioritising extensions to retail rate relief to existing accounts and working to identify eligible ratepayers. Work is also taking place to identify and collate the necessary information to allow the councils to pay the Small Business and Retail Grants to those businesses that qualify. Those who can pay their bills should do so as normal, however those businesses who are genuinely having difficulty paying their business rates should contact our business rates team via: vowh.businessrates@secure.capita.co.uk.
The Government’s package of measures to support businesses
Include:
- a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England
- grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
- small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
South and Vale Business Support
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused distress to a lot of business owners and the councils want to do all they can to support them. Officers are working hard to issue the grants as soon as possible and provide feedback to BEIS on specific issues raised by businesses in our districts.
The South & Vale Business Support team publishes the latest government advice and support on South and Vale Business Support website, including rates relief and business support grants. Businesses can also sign up to receive an e-newsletter via the website. The website also lists the latest job vacancies for individuals seeking temporary employment, exercises to stay healthy while working from home, and links to mental health organisations.
Businesses Against Scams
Businesses in Oxfordshire are urged to be vigilant against:
Scams and fraud.
Malicious email attachments.
False government grant phone calls.
CEO impersonation scams.
These are among a raft of scams undermining businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oxfordshire County Council is supporting Businesses Against Scams – an initiative from National Trading Standards; with a free online training tool to protect businesses, employees and customers from costly scams.
When Oxfordshire businesses are already facing challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the proliferation of related scams are adding further strain. This includes scams directly targeting businesses (such as tax refund frauds) which can lead to significant financial losses for businesses.
Scams targeting customers also undermine businesses, causing reputational damage and potential loss of custom. The emotional and mental impact on employees and business owners who have fallen victim to a scam can also be devastating and long-lasting.
The increased risk for businesses has led National Trading Standards to encourage more businesses to join Businesses Against Scams. The initiative provides free tools for businesses to help upskill and train their workforce that will help staff identify and prevent potential scams. Businesses can take the training and sign up at: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/BAS.