BID Business Support - Newsletter 26
We are very pleased to welcome back our businesses to Wonderful Welwyn Garden City. We are filled with optimism at the news of the newly approved Covid vaccine, we hope to be able to return to normal soon!
It has been a steady footfall stream in town since Wednesday even though the weather has not been on our side.
Our town centre ambassadors, now re-branded Covid Secure Support Team are back and on hand to help businesses with queues, sanitisers and any other covid related support.
Guidance for people who work in or run shops, branches, stores or similar environments: today the Working Safely during COVID-19 guidance on Handling goods, merchandise and other materials with the objective to reduce transmission through contact with objects that come in the store was amended. See here for details.
Shop Local Saturday is coming this weekend, please keep sharing your content on Social Media with us. See more info below.
We will be hosting the market every Saturday in December, would you like to take a stall? Follow Bebo and La Mesa Familia who have already made the most of this al fresco opportunity!
And it's not all Covid related news... remember Brexit? well there is less than a month to go until we exit the EU. Please check the Transition online checker tool which allows businesses and families to access tailored information to prepare them for the end of the UK transition period with the EU on December 31.Find out what the UK’s new start means for you https://www.gov.uk/transition-check/questions
We will be keeping you up to date as regularly as possible, but please ring 01707 497930 or email us bid@welwyngarden.co.uk if you want to speak to us.
Mariana & Nicky
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Extended Opening Hours for Christmas Shopping
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Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday (SBS) on 5 December 2020 is an annual, grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign that encourages people to support small businesses in their communities, both on the Saturday itself and beyond.
How can you make the most of this campaign
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Discretionary Grants Still Available
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has now made available the new discretionary grants through a simple application form on the website.
This grants are primarily aimed at supporting those businesses which have had less direct financial support from national schemes, such as businesses who weren’t eligible for both the 100% rates relief from the COVID-19 rate relief and mandatory grant schemes. They are also looking to support businesses that are not on the local rating list.
Apply for the Discretionary Grant Now
https://welhat.gov.uk/additional-restrictions-grant
You have time to apply until the 31st December 2020
Grants for Wet-led Pubs
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday 1 December an additional £1,000 Christmas grant was available for ‘wet-led pubs’ in tiers 2 and 3 that will miss out on business during the busy Christmas period.
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Covid Secure Support Team
Our extra ambassadors are back 7 days a week until Christmas Eve to support the safe re-opening of businesses. Please get in touch with Naomi to let us know how we can best support your business ambassadors@wgcbid.co.uk
If you need to contact the team, please use your Welwyn Garden City Watch Radio.
If you don't have a radio, you can still get a 1 month free trial.

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Stay Vigilant this Winter
Ahead of this year’s festive season, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) have released a Winter Vigilance campaign to raise awareness of the terrorist threat.
 
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First UK Vaccine for COVID-19
The first COVID-19 vaccine for the UK, developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, has been approved for use following a thorough review carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). For full details, see here.
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Gift Card Campaign is Back
Now lockdown has lifted, the car parking campaign will be re-instated from Monday 7th December.
REMEMBER EVERYONE WHO PARKS IN HUNTERS BRIDGE CAR PARK AND PAYS BETWEEN £2.50 AND £3.50 CAN CLAIM A FREE GIFT CARD TO BE SPENT OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD IN YOUR BUSINESS - INCLUDE THIS INFO IN ALL YOUR COMMUNICATIONS AS AN ADDED BENEFIT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS!
Please remind your staff of the redemption process and let us know if you have any issues.
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Wonderful Christmas in Welwyn Garden City
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