As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Leicestershire Public Health and Active Together are working in partnership to expand their current Wellbeing@Work Programme in order to increase the amount and types of health and wellbeing support available for employees across Leicestershire and Rutland.

Therefore they want to hear your thoughts on what health and wellbeing support you and your colleagues would like to be offered to you at your workplace. This expanded programme may include, but is not limited to, support for employee mental health, financial wellbeing, returning to work from illness or maternity/paternity leave, and much more! 

They really want to hear from all business types, no matter what sector or size! Complete the survey using the button below. 

The survey is open until the 30 April 2022.

The East Midlands Manufacturing Network aims to help manufacturers share best practices and experience in a trusted peer environment. It will focus on shared issues and challenges; bring a better understanding of the financial support on offer and help businesses tap into specialist advice on regulation/compliance.

It is free to join for any business in any area of manufacturing and aims to be a dedicated supportive peer network helping to secure the future success of manufacturing in our region. Businesses are invited to get involved in their local network. 

The Leicestershire Manufacturing Forum takes place on 17 May 2022 at Space Park Leicester.

Find out more on the East Midlands Chamber website or by getting in touch with Manufacturing Networks Coordinator, Amy Kopyrko on 07879 350 140 or via email: Amy.Kopyrko@emc-dnl.co.uk 

Join in the Disability Awareness Training offered by Xtra Potential CIC, funded through Harborough District Council, and learn about the Equality Act, hidden disabilities, barriers and what you and your organisation can do to offer a more inclusive and accessible environment for people with additional needs. Following the training you may wish to take it further and gain qualifications to become a Disability Confident Employer. The session will be informative, interactive in a relaxed and open environment and we may even have a bit of fun along the way.

The training will take place on Tuesday 17 May at the Harborough Innovation Centre, 10:00am - 12:00noon and is free and open to businesses in the Harborough District. 

Businesses across the Harborough district are being given a unique opportunity to access vital support to help them recover from the pandemic.

Harborough District Council is the first District Council in the country to offer independent businesses, or those who are self-employed, one-year's free membership of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).  

The FSB members' package includes free business banking, 24/7 legal advice, HR support, tax guidance, late payment and financial help, insurances, health and safety information plus healthcare now on offer to businesses in the district.

Applications are being offered on a 'first come, first served' basis. Up to 60 businesses will be able to access their free first year of FSB membership.

Once businesses become members, they can access the full package of business support to help them plan their recovery, as well as manage HR issues and legal obligations, alongside 300 other FSB members in the district.

To register your interest, please email business@harborough.gov.uk with:
• Business name
• Business address
• Business owner name 
• Number of employees
• Contact number
• Email address
• Consent to share the information with the FSB

The Governments spring statement included some measures to support small and medium sized enterprises including:

• Increasing the Employment Allowance from £4,000 to £5,000; starting 6 April 2022. This allowance enables eligible businesses to reduce their employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) bills each year. The cut is worth up to £1,000 for half a million smaller businesses.
• Making green technology, including solar panels and heat pumps, exempt from business rates from April 2022. This is estimated to save businesses an extra £35 million in 2022-23, and is expected to be worth around £170 million over the next five years, supporting the decarbonisation of buildings. A 100% relief for eligible low-carbon heat networks which have their own rates bill will also be available.
• From 1 April 2022, eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses will receive a temporary 50% business rates relief, up to £110,000.
• Freezing the business rates multiplier for another year, saving businesses £4.6 billion over the next five years.
• Introducing the temporary super-deduction, a two-year business tax cut, where for every pound a company invests, their taxes are cut by up to 25p.
• Increasing the Annual Investment Allowance to £1 million.
• Extending the transitional relief for business rates and supporting small business schemes for 2022-23, which will restrict bill increases from between 15% to 25% for SMEs.
• Establishing Help to Grow, which affords SMEs the tools to innovate, grow, and help drive an economic recovery