Tēnā Koutou, As we approach the end of our first full week in lockdown, it is a great chance to recap on the Government's recent announcements and outline the schemes that have been established to support local businesses at this time. Below you'll find the details of additional business funding available through the Regional Business Partner Network, an update on the Government's finance guarantee and wage subsidy, and essential resources, business webinars and contact details for you and your business in response to COVID-19. It has been incredibly heartening to see the support shown across the Southland business sector and we are incredibly grateful for our essential workers across the region. We still have a long way to go, but together we will get through this. Both the Southland Chamber of Commerce and Great South are committed to connecting businesses with the resources and support needed to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, so please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can help! In the meantime, stay home, stay safe and help unite against COVID-19! Ngā mihi, kia kaha! Graham Budd Sheree Carey COVID-19 Business Advisory funding As the Regional Business Network Partner for Southland, Great South has received additional funding from the Government to support businesses in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. Great South is using this funding to connect Southland businesses with one-on-one support and advice in the areas of:
Learn more about this opportunity, including eligibility criteria, below. Please keep in mind that demand for this funding is high so it may be a few days before our team can get back to you. Business Finance Guarantee - applications now open Businesses can now start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme. Key points of the scheme:
Modifications to the wage subsidy scheme The Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery. The modifications focus on keeping businesses and workers connected and include:
*Different rules apply to part-time workers COVID-19: Support for business R&D Are you registered for Research and Development tax credits? If not, and you've carried out R&D in your business over the last year, now is the time to act! New Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) refundability rules have been introduced as part of the Government's COVID-19 response to help ease the financial burden on businesses that are performing R&D. The new rules:
For more information, speak to your accountant or visit the Hub website below Business resources and information Google My Business essentials Do you have a Google My Business account? This information aims to provide some clarity around the options and best practices for using Google My Business during New Zealand’s COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown and beyond. Southland Accommodation Provider survey In partnership with Emergency Management Southland, Great South is undertaking an audit of accommodation providers to understand how many of their current visitors are self-isolating and identify if there is the capacity to accommodate further guests who need to self-isolate. If you are an accommodation provider in Southland, it would be appreciated if you could fill in the below brief survey. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirement for essential workers Basic hygiene measures for everyone include; physical distancing, good hand hygiene, cough etiquette, regular cleaning of surfaces and frequently touched items, avoid touching face, eyes, mouth and nose. Use the below guidelines to check what other PPE is recommended in your sector Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards At this stage, planning is continuing for the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards which are scheduled to be held on the 19th August. You can learn more about the award categories and the application process below! Exemption for foreign nationals connecting to international flights Foreign nationals returning home will be considered to be engaging in “essential travel”, and therefore able to travel domestically (whether by air or land) when they have a confirmed and scheduled international flight out of New Zealand, subject to requirements which will be set out on www.covid19.govt.nz. Business support webinars Chamber member coffee catchups - Southland Chamber of Commerce If you are a member of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, you are invited to join the Chamber team for a virtual morning coffee or tea catchup. Pop into our ZOOM meeting and tell the team what you’re up to. Business Continuity Plan Webinar - Malloch McClean The impacts of COVID-19 on health and business are evolving fast. It is essential that every business has a plan for dealing with the fallout from this pandemic. Malloch McClean is hosting two free webinars to help you learn about this process from the CEO’s of its two offices - John Schol (Invercargill) and Manoli Aerakis (Tasman) COVID-19 and your leadership playbook -Economic Development New Zealand There is no right or wrong way to lead in times like this. It’s unprecedented. There is no manual but this webinar hosted by Nick Sceats will provide you with some ‘plays’ to try in your business Free remote support for COVID-19 affected businesses - productivity people Productivity People are offering 30-minute remote support sessions for anyone who needs help with issues that affect you and your organisation right now, including:
Important contact details Great South If you are needing business advice or support, please call 03 211 1400. After we have your details we will organise for a member of our business team to get in touch. Southland Chamber of Commerce For support accessing the Government’s Business Support Package please call 029 214 6900 and for general enquiries and Certificates of Origin call Nikki 03 218 7188. Emergency Management Southland With a state of national emergency declared, Emergency Management Southland is coordinating the region's welfare response to COVID-19. Southlanders who urgently need assistance with access to essential household goods and services due to the COVID-19 lockdown can now contact Emergency Management Southland in the following ways: Phone: 0800 890 127 The email and 0800 number will be operated between 7 am-7 pm, 7 days a week. COVID-19 resources for your business You can find information and resources for your business on the Great South website or by going to the unite against COVID-19 site, both links are listed below |