COVID Update 41

Thank you to the 38 Hinckley town centre businesses who have joined in this promotion so far. They represent Furniture and Homeware, Cafés and Restaurants, Phone Accessories, Leisure Centre, Health and Training, Ladies Fashion and Clothing, Menswear, Jewellery, Travel, Giftware, Florist, Vaping, Butchers, Security systems, Hairdressers, Tearooms, Opticians, Bars & Pubs and more. Each of those businesses has confirmed that they will advise the BID of a special offer(s) solely for this half-term week.

We intend to circulate their offers far and wide through our Consumer e-mail database (14,000+) and also have a window decal printed for all businesses who are taking part. We will print posters, banners and promote heavily through Social Media. And we are organising a Treasure Hunt during that half-term week around Hinckley town centre to encourage footfall into Hinckley to show how safe the town centre actually is - and thus to encourage people to support our shops and services.

Time is running out, so if you would like to join in with this promotion and show your support, please e-mail steve@hinckleybid.co.uk with your business name and the word "YES", and we will contact you again in about two weeks for details of your special offer.

Today HMG are launching the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme which will put young people at the heart of the economic recovery by supporting young people at risk of long term unemployment into six month placements across the private, public and charity sectors.

It is open to employers of all sizes to create new Kickstart roles, and they are urging them to get involved, take advantage of government backing and give potential a chance.

Employers will need to show that the Kickstart role is an additional job that will provide the experience and support a young person needs to improve their chances of permanent employment. Funding available for each job will cover the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions where applicable. There is also an additional £1,500 funding to set up support and training for people on a Kickstart placement, as well as helping pay for uniforms and other set up costs.

The first participants will take up Kickstart roles from November, and HMG expect the scheme to remain open until December 2021 with the final cohort of six month roles to end in Summer 2022.

Hinckley BID are investigating if and how we may be able to work with a suitable organisation to create a ‘Partner Programme’. More info in due course.

UK Government Kickstart Scheme

The LLEP have commissioned consultants to provide a free online webinar for businesses seeking to encourage customers to return. Please click on the booking links shown to find out more about each webinar.

Getting Customers Back - Retail Sector
8th September 2020 – 17:00-18:30

Full details and place booking.

Getting Customers Back - Night-time Hospitality Sector Webinar
15th September 2020 – 13:00-14:30

Full details and place booking.

Getting Customers Back - Tourism Sector
18th September 2020 – 17:00-18:30

Full details and place booking.


Please stay safe and well and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.