Extended qualifying criteria for second phase of  grant scheme

Small business owners are being invited to apply for the second phase of BCP Council’s Local Discretionary Grant scheme with the eligibility criteria now extended.

The council has already implemented the first phase of funding.

It attracted more than 800 applications and awarded over £2m to local businesses from the available £4.3m Local Discretionary Grant fund.

The secondary application window is now open until Sunday August 2.

To be considered eligible, businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole must have been trading on or before March 11 2020 and not received any other grant support so far.

The wider criteria will now cover businesses which trade from a residential premises and businesses that can demonstrate a significant fall in income because of Covid-19.

The restriction of 50 per cent or more has been removed.

In addition, phase two will be open to businesses with fixed property costs and a Rateable Value below £100,000 that are still unable to open from July 25 due to government rules.

Previously this only applied to those with a Rateable Value below £51,000.

Businesses who previously applied for this scheme but did not meet the criteria in the first phase may now be eligible.

These applications will be automatically reviewed and considered in phase two.

For more information and to apply, please visit: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/DGSbusiness

The expanded criteria will now include businesses which:

• conduct their business and provide services from a domestic premises
• businesses who conduct their businesses/provide their service from a domestic premises and are visited by customers.

A distinction will be made when considering grant allocation.

All applications will be reviewed and payment made as soon as possible after the closing date.

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New division gets over 150 new applicants in first five days

A newly launched ‘Experienced Travel Agent Division’ by a Dorset-based travel company received more than 150 applicants in just five days.

Not Just Travel, which recently won the travel industry’s Homeworking Agency of the Year award, recently headhunted Cherie Richards to head up the new division.

Paul Harrison, who co-founded the business with Steve Witt, said: “We have created two fantastic packages for travel agents with experience in the field – with a managed and non-managed service option.

“Lucrative commission, coupled with numerous features and benefits, are already attracting many people in our industry.

“However, this new division will be kept small and exclusive.

“We want to appeal to high-quality, entrepreneurial people who share our vision, values and work ethic.

“We are looking for experienced people who want a bright future with fresh opportunities; people who want to build something significant.

“Entrepreneurial forward thinkers who, with our guidance and mentorship, can explode their business and realise their dreams.

“We are not just another agency or consortium offering the same old deal – we are looking to develop members both in personal and business development.

“There is so much talent in our industry who are ‘just getting by’… not realising where their impressive skills can take them.”

Cherie, pictured left, who is Chief Business Development Officer and Head of the Experienced Travel Agent Division, said: “Between Steve, Paul and myself we have over 50 years’ experience supporting people in travel.

“We have seen and witnessed pretty much most things in our industry.

“We understand what people need and the importance of relationships.

“These guys really do encourage ‘outside the box’ thinking.

“It has been so refreshing in my first five weeks to be doing so much positive planning for the future, even during this crazy pandemic.”

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HR company links up with Marketing West

Bridport based DTHR Solutions has joined up with Marketing West, the West Dorset marketing company, to promote a specialist HR training course.

Marketing West recently launched an SME marketing plan for start-ups and SMEs.

DTHR has signed up to the programme.

As part of the plan, the two companies are planning a series of HR training sessions later this year.

Numbers attending will be controlled although an online live stream is also being considered to open up the course to all businesses.

Nigel Reeve, of Marketing West, pictured left, said: “There will be a series of weekly DTHR Solutions training sessions spread over six to eight weeks.

“People will be able to book for a single session or at a reduced rate for the full course.

“As people start to return to work the whole environment will have changed.

“Having up to date HR knowledge will be key.”

David Thomas, of DTHR Solutions, pictured right, added: “We are delighted to be working with Marketing West – a fellow South West business.

“Relying on their experience, expertise and knowledge of the area and the local businesses will be vital as businesses reopen.”

DTHR has also produced a free ten tips HR guide for working from home.

It can be found on the DTHR website at www.dthrsolutions.co.uk