Useful Information & Guides

InvestSefton Growth Hub is part of the City Region Growth Platform

There is a wide range of local and national support if you’re looking to start or grow a business in Liverpool City Region. The Growth Platform website lists programmes and services that are available to help you on your business growth journey, whether you’re just starting out or have an established business: Business Funding & Support Programmes |Growth Platform

Support in Southport 

There is support available for both businesses and residents following the tragic events that took place in Southport last year. A full list of all the support available can be found on Sefton Council’s website on the support for you page, alternatively contact us at InvestSefton and we will direct you to the support. 

Government support

The gov.uk website is regularly updated with business support and finance schemes. They can all be found here: Finance and support for your business – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Cost of Living 

As well as residents juggling the rising costs of essentials such as heating and food, so too are businesses.

On the 9th January 2023 the Government announced a new energy scheme for businesses, charities, and the public sector, ahead of the current scheme ending in March. The scheme will mean that all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024. Read the full announcement and guidance here. 

Sefton Council’s Business Support Team- InvestSefton are speaking to businesses to identify key issues impacting on them and, where possible offering help or signposting to wider support available across the Liverpool City Region.

Call 0151 934 3452 for an informal chat about how we can help you, this support is FREE and impartial. Alternatively email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk and a member of the team will contact you.

InvestSefton can help you replan your business, this support includes reviewing your costs, prices, and processes, exploring new markets, increasing your sales, understanding and using FREE digital marketing tools as well as providing a listening ear during this difficult time.

Hints, Tips and Practical Steps for Businesses: 

  • If possible, standardise working hours ensuring energy use is contained within a certain timeframe.
  • Ensure equipment is turned off when not in use.
  • Install energy-efficient lighting.
  • Add smart meters to monitor consumption
  • Enquire about free carbon assessment
  • The Government announced an energy relief scheme for non-domestic customers. Further details about this scheme are available on the Government’s website

Control costs

  • Assess all costs – by completing a thorough review of all costs, you could identify those that could be cut or identify a cheaper alternative.
  • Source locally to save on import costs and support other local businesses.

Support your team

  • Provide employees with the option to work flexibly
  • Develop and retain staff through funded training courses
  • Sign up to corporate staff discount schemes with the benefits passed on to your staff with savings in supermarkets or meals out.
  • Provide staff with tea, coffee, milk, or food items (such as tins of soup) for them to use whilst at work.
  • Signpost available support to your employees – factsheet available here 

Other cost of living support

 

Business Rates Updates

(Business Rate Update from 1st April 2024) 

At the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, the Chancellor announced a package of support worth £4.3 billion over the next 5 years to support small businesses and the high street.

For 2024/25 the Chancellor announced, that:

  • the small business multiplier will be frozen at 49.9p and will also now apply to properties that are vacant and those occupied by charities where the Rateable Value is below £51,000
  • the standard multiplier will be increased from 51.2p to 54.6p
  • the 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) scheme will be extended for a fifth year into 2024-25, retaining the existing scope and providing eligible properties with 75% relief, up to a cap of £110,000 per business
  • Introduction of Improvement Relief. Where a business makes improvement to their property that they occupy and they meet certain qualifying criteria, they will receive this relief for 12 months.

Full details of the schemes can be found on Sefton Council’s Reliefs and exemptions web pages.

 

Business continuity planning

Guidance to help businesses plan to deal with the impact of a major incident or disaster. Business continuity expecting-the-unexpected Jan 23 Expecting the Unexpected: Business Continuity in an Uncertain World explains the importance of creating simple but effective plans, helping business to build resilience against any disaster.  This guide is the result of a unique partnership between the business community, police and business continuity experts.  Our aim is to provide you with a checklist and useful ideas on matching key business continuity management processes to your company.  This Joint publication is from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, London First and the Business Continuity Institute.   

Cashflow Planning

Cashflow planning has an important role to play in managing a business.  Now more than ever, businesses will be assessing the impact of Covid-19 on their finances, and planning for when the situation improves.  The following is a selection of cashflow planning resources from some of the main banks

  •  Barclays

www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/business-insight/cashflow-forecasting/

  • HSBC

www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/gb/article/cashflow-forecast

  • Lloyds

www.lloydsbank.com/business/improving-cash-flow.html

  • Royal Bank of Scotland

https://www.business.rbs.co.uk/business/running-a-business/run/cashflow.html

 

Lloyds Bank Academy 

The Lloyds Bank Academy provides free support to business owners through interactive webinars, online learning, mentoring, face to face support and a helpline. 

For more info visit www.lloydsbankacademy.com

 

Business Insurance

Business insurance cover for Covid-19 disruption and related issues varies, depending on the cover taken out, and your insurer’s terms.  Businesses are advised to check with their insurers what their cover includes.  Your insurance may also include access to a legal helpline, for specific issues.  The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also provides independent advice about business insurance, during the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.

ACAS 

Acas provides free, impartial advice on workplace rights, and help to resolve disputes.  Their site has free template letters for employers and employees, including Covid-19, working from home, employment contracts, redundancy, and health and wellbeing. www.acas.org.uk/advice

Support for the Armed Forces

There are a number of initiatives both local and across the country that can support veterans.  

Veterans in Sefton CIO | Veterans’ Charity Organisation in Sefton

Military Veterans (liverpoolfc.com)

Cammell Laird | Armed Forces Support (cammell-laird.co.uk)

Armed Forces Engagement  | JLR Corporate Website (jaguarlandrover.com)

Everton in the Community – Veterans Provision

Financial And Employment Support | Royal British Legion

Veterans UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How we help | SSAFA

 

Sefton growth and strategic investment programme 

Sefton Growth and Strategic Investment Programme Update – Sept 2023