Notices

News & Information for West Oxfordshire Businesses February 2022

Additional Restrictions Grant

Applications for the new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant are now open. This grant is intended to support some of those businesses who were not eligible for the previous Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

You can view the criteria and make your application via the link below. The deadline for applications is Monday 28th February.

The funding we have received from Government for this grant is very limited and the Council will be prioritising those businesses that have been hardest hit.

In line with Government guidance, we will need to carry out bank account and company verification checks. Following this, the Council will undertake an assessment and allocation process in line with the funds available from the Government. This will take place between the 28th February 2022 and 13th March 2022. Businesses will be notified of the outcome, and successful applicants will receive payment by 31st March 2022.

I appreciate this funding is vital to many of you and would like to reassure you we are working as fast as possible to get the money to you. Thank you for your patience as we process these grants.

Please note that applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant are now closed and we are working hard to process all the payments which will be with businesses as soon as possible.

 

Other helpful organisations

Several business groups are coming up trumps with help and advice for businesses. The ones below are good but do also check the trade association for your own sector.

  • Cotswolds Tourism – useful information on everything regarding tourism in the Cotswolds
  • Enterprise Nation – a vibrant community of small businesses and business advisers with a website packed full of resources
  • Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – the UK’s largest grassroots business campaigning group
  • OSEP CIC – supports social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, enterprising charities and purposeful business across Oxfordshire
  • Prince’s Trust – useful advice, guidance and resources targeted at young entrepreneurs under the age of 30.
  • Institute of Directors (IoD) – business organisation for company directors
  • Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) – represents the UK’s self-employed including freelancers, interim managers, consultants and contractors
  • UK Hospitality – represents the broad hospitality sector – covering everything from bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues
  • Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) – Growth hub for Oxfordshire
  • MD2MD – helps managing directors compare notes on business MD to MD. Now operating online with a free trial period for qualifying business leaders.