11 February to 20 February 2022
The City Corporation is working with the GLA and Artichoke to present City Lights, a free outdoor light show taking place across locations in the Square Mile. Continue reading
External Member Recruitment For Audit & Risk Management Committee
The Audit and Risk Management Committee is currently advertising for a new External Member of the Committee to replace an imminently retiring External Member. Continue reading
Free Climate Action Toolkit For SMEs
Free resources to help SMEs get to net zero
What are your plans for becoming a net zero business?
Net zero can feel overwhelming for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). Heart of the City knows that from its 21 years of working with SMEs. But they also know that SMEs can do great things and have a real impact!
Free Climate Action Courses For Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises
What are your plans for getting to net zero by 2040? SMEs operating in the City of London can sign up to a free climate action course from Heart of the City to learn from sustainability and climate change experts now. Continue reading
Ward Might – Virtues Of Virtuality – Tuesday, 14 December 2021, 17:30-18:30 via Zoom
We had high hopes for a Ward Might that the Drapers’ Company had kindly agreed to host for the neighbours, “Behind The Curtains At Drapers’ Hall”, with a light reception and tour of the Hall. Sadly, Covid-19 restrictions put an end to that for now. Meanwhile, in a spirit of Broad Street Ward resilience, we moved online with the following agenda:
Stand For The City
All-out elections for the Court of Common Council will be taking place in March next year. The timetable for these elections can be found on the City Corporation website: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/voting-elections/common-council-elections
EXTENDED – SME Business Recovery Grant Fund – £50M
The City of London Corporation launched a Covid SME Business Recovery Fund of £50 million on 4 March to support SME businesses which contribute to the Square Mile’s vibrancy at street level and directly provide services to returning City workers, visitors, and residents. The deadline for applications to the Fund have been extended until 30 June 2021. For more information click here.
Support Scheme Through Covid-19
The City of London Corporation has agreed to launch a new £10 million grant scheme to support Square Mile businesses that have been hit by restrictions introduced in response to the Covid-19 Omicron variant. The support is targeted at businesses that primarily operate in the City of London in the retail, hospitality, leisure, and medical sectors.
An estimated 1,100 businesses are expected to qualify for support. Only businesses that were in occupation on 1 April 2021 and have been in occupation continuously since this date will be eligible to apply for a grant. The City Corporation will be contacting most businesses that qualify directly and inviting them to apply for this support through an online application process. Other businesses will also be able to apply via the City Corporation website.
The majority of funding will be provided by the City Corporation, with additional financing provided through the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant. If a business operates from more than one location in the City, they will qualify for a grant for each location.
The scheme goes further than the Government support being offered through the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme which excludes retail and some personal service sectors from the scheme. The two grant schemes will run in tandem and will both be accessible through the same application process.
Businesses with lower and medium rateable values will receive higher levels of grant on the basis that SME businesses may be more at risk and less able to cope with the reduction of “in person” trade.
- Businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will be eligible for a grant of £12,000.
- Businesses with a rateable value of over £15,001 and less than £51,000 will be eligible for a grant of £12,000.
- Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 and over will eligible for a payment of £5,334.
New Neighbourhood COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site
A new COVID-19 rapid testing site has opened at 65A Basinghall Street. The site will be open to the public from 10.30am-5pm with no pre-booked appointments required. Testing capacity will however be subject to stock availability, and you can also collect home test kits once you have undertaken a lateral flow test.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/footer/covid-19/covid-testing-information
All Change @ Bank Consultations
Public consultation on proposals to change how Bank Junction operates is open until Monday, 10 May 2021. How to take part in the consultation can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/allchangeatbank.
The All Change at Bank project is looking towards the future of the area around Bank Station. The underground station upgrade is due to open at the end of 2022.