Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce

Our new business support service is tailored to help Essex businesses survive and thrive

during COVID-19 and beyond.

To help Essex based SMEs address the changes brought about as a result of the UK leaving the EU on 31st December Let’s Do Business are running practical workshops to assist companies in preparing for the changes required from 1st January under the Back to Business Essex programme which is fully funded by Essex County Council. This Brexit workshop and has been produced to incorporate the latest position and information available, enabling Essex …

The transition period has ended and the UK has left the EU customs union and single market and now enjoys a zero tariffs, zero quotas relationship with the EU as an independent trading nation.

Following the signing of the UK – EU Free Trade Agreement, there are new rules for businesses which came into force on 1 January 2021 which require immediate action. Your business needs to act now to comply with these new rules. If you do not take action, there is a risk your business operations will be interrupted.


There are new documents which cover actions that businesses must take to ensure they are compliant with the new rules which have come into force.


You should visit gov.uk/transition<http://www.gov.uk/transition> where you can use the checker tool to quickly identify the actions that your business needs to take. The checker tool will ask you questions about your business and provide all the information you need to be aware of such as new rules on:

 *   Importing and Exporting
 *   Moving goods to and from Northern Ireland including Trader Support Service
 *   Travelling abroad for work
 *   Hiring staff from the EU



You can help prepare your businesses for the new rules by using a number of support mechanisms provided by the Government:

 *   Sign up to receive the regular Business Readiness Transition Bulletin<http://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDECC/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKDECC_155> – an email newsletter providing information on major announcements and recently published guidance
 *   BEIS Webinars across a range of topics will be available on gov.uk in January 2021. They will provide specific advice on how businesses can ensure they comply with the new rules.

We understand that this is a challenging time and encourage you to take action to avoid interruption to your business operations.

Visit your local Growth Hub website Brexit Transition information for businesses and employers - Essex County Council to find out more and speak to a business navigator. Nwes | Business advice across East Anglia

Funding

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the High Sheriffs’ Fund for initiatives that help to keep people safe in their homes and their community.  Please note, the deadline is 1st December.

The UK Youth Fund – Covid Relief has been created to support youth organisations who have not had access to the crisis funding they require to survive the Covid pandemic. Youth organisations with an income of under £250,000, that are based in, and deliver their work in England are eligible to apply for up to £50,000.

Grants of up to £10k are available from the Provide Foundation, which is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF). This is to help local charities and groups with links to health and social care to adapt their work during the pandemic and support the vulnerable, and socially isolated. These grants can support core and operating costs, project costs or capital items. Provide are particularly interested in projects that improves digital and technology for people to access projects and services.

Catalyst and The National Lottery Community Fund Sector Challenge Grants Sector Challenge Grants launched on Monday 16th November 2020.

The campaign, “12 Days of Giving”, will see 120 different charities receive an early Christmas gift of a £1,000 donation, with 10 winners announced each weekday from 7 to 22 December.

Funding opportunities kindly shared with Rainbow Services for the e-bulletin by NAVCA and Community Matters Yorkshire.

An Online Gallery is now being presented by The Gallery at Parndon Mill for all those who enjoy the arts and miss the exhibitions there. The fine arts are represented as well as skilled craft work in many different styles and media - an array of artworks which are a delight to view and a joy to purchase

On view are colourful paintings and original prints by talented artists, some who have studios here at Parndon Mill and others who work locally. The crafts are represented by ceramics and glass including some pieces which are useful in the kitchen or dining room, others which are purely decorative, and some which are amusing and quirky. Four jewellers present a range of pieces in silver, glass and semi-precious stones. Textiles include scarves, purses and pictures in stitch. More unusual pieces are paintings on wood blocks and stone carved lettering.

A special feature of this exhibition is sculpture which turns on screen to show all facets. The artists are Gerda Rubinstein and John Farnham, sculptors who are both well known nationally and particularly in Harlow and the local area.

There is a lot of variety and beautiful objects to look at or choose to buy.

To view the Online Gallery visit the Parndon Mill website: www.parndonmill.co.uk

Sally Anderson

The Gallery at Parndon Mill

Off Elizabeth Way

HARLOW CM20 2HP

tel: 01279 426042

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www.parndonmill.co.uk 

Registered Charity 1168202

Parndon Mill does not have mains water and our well is running dry. If you could help us with our borehole appeal, we would be most grateful and you would be helping secure a future for creativity in Harlow.

http://justgiving.com/campaign/borehole2019