Support for Kingston businesses

COVID-19 Support and advice for businesses

This page provides the latest information for Kingston businesses, including resources to support you. 

You can find more general community support and information on the main COVID-19 page, and general business support and information on our business homepage.

Head to GOV.UK's business support pages for the government's business support portal throught COVID-19. 

Local restrictions support grant 

Grants are now available for businesses impacted by the National Lockdown and the Tier Two and Three restrictions. Apply for a Local Restrictions Grant.

Government Support for businesses

Explore the range of support options for your business, including funding, Self Employment Income Support and guidance on managing restrictions.

NHS contact tracing app

The NHS contact tracing app has been launched by the Government.  

It gives businesses in England and Wales the opportunity to display a unique QR code on their premises for customers who have downloaded the App to click on using their smartphones.  Businesses and venues in England and Wales are legally required to create, download and display a poster containing a unique QR code on their premises. Venues not displaying a QR code may be fined £1000. 

For those customers who do not have smartphones or who do not wish to use the QR code, a written record of their personal details must still be retained by the business. 

Find out which businesses are required to display a QR code. 

The NHS has compiled an FAQ page of questions about the use of the QR codes and the App in your business and a resource pack for you to use.

Rule of Six

New Government rules means that you must not hold social gatherings of more than 6 people, unless you live with those people or they are in your support bubble. The new law applies to both indoor and outdoor settings, and to all ages.

There will be implications for your business as you will not be able to take bookings for groups of more than six people or allow groups of more than six to sit or mingle together.

There are some exceptions to the rule, such as where the household is larger than six people in total or where it is a support bubble, but it will not be possible to book events such as Christmas lunches for groups larger than six people.

You should also be aware that businesses will now be breaking the law if they do not comply with the regulations and could face summary prosecution and a fine or a fixed penalty notice of £1000.

Important guidance from council business-facing services

Service update from Licensing

Service updates from Parking

Service update from Environmental Health- changes to running a food business

Information for council service providers

Business updates newsletter

To recieve the latest information and opportunities to support you and your business through COVID-19, please sign up for our Business updates newsletter. See the previous issues here.

Government and local advice and guidance:

Specialised support for businesses

Culture at Risk Fund

The Mayor of London has announced a targeted emergency fund to help London's creative and cultural industries at risk due to the impact of COVID-19. If you are an arts organisation, business or individual working in the cultural sector, creative industries or night-time economy, visit the Mayor of London's Culture at Risk page.

Reopening Guidance - 15 June 2020

To help support businesses and organisations across Kingston Borough who are planning to reopen over the coming weeks, we have collated an overview of the projects and services we are implementing to help ensure customers and employees are confident in returning and have a pleasant, welcoming experience.

The Reopening Guidance document can be downloaded on our website. 

We will be reviewing the document as Government guidance changes. Please do share your feedback, experience or insights with us so that we can adapt our response and support our businesses and high streets over the coming weeks. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact your Neighbourhood Manager at [email protected]. 

Businesses will be responsible for ensuring that they reopen safely, with primary consideration being given to the safety of customers, staff and visitors. A risk assessment will need to be completed in consultation with trade union representatives or workers, and businesses will need to take the necessary steps to become COVID-19 secure. It is crucial for the wellbeing of the community that businesses adhere to the guidelines, and new powers are in place to enforce action if they don’t.

The government is publishing updated COVID-19 secure guidelines to help you reopen your business safely, which includes eight different types of work environments. Also available is a working safely webinar series, as well as safer workplace case studies.  

The Federation of Small Businesses has a number of resources on their website which can help, including articles and blogs about reopening and carrying out risk assessments, as well as a downloadable COVID-19 Health and Safety Checklist. 

Have you had success in transitioning your business online?

We would love to hear from you so we can share your experience and any advice with others. Please let us know by emailing [email protected].

Last Modified: 18/12/2020 15:58:16