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In this episode we are joined by Helen Groves of food safety logic. Helen who is a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner works with many small businesses to ensure they stay the right side of the law. Helen takes you through what is a COVID risk assessment and why you need to complete one as well as the main steps so you can complete your own COVID 19 risk assessment and show your COVID secure

With the government announcement of a second lockdown starting at 00.01 on Thursday 5th November we are joined by Mike Byrne to discuss what support businesses can access in this difficult time. We discuss the extension to the furlough scheme as well as support for the self-employed. In this ever changing situation we aim to bring the most up to date information for businesses.

Today we are joined by Anita Kiss from the Hive Library and IP centre in Worcester. In this episode we look at what resources Libraries have to offer businesses including information and support. We discuss the changing use of libraries and how they have adapted to support businesses. We look at some of the resources now available including online databases such as COBRA and the many free seminars and networking events that they run.

Today we are joined by our resident accountant Mike Byrne and we discuss the support measures released for business in October. In this episode we look at the job support scheme as well as the extension to the self-employed support scheme. We discuss who is eligible as well as who it is aimed at and how calculations work for employees and employers. We also look how this effects the newly self employed and those on zero hours contracts

Today we are joined by Andy Moss from the FSE group. Andy is one of the fund managers for the FSE group who is responsible for administering part of the debt fund on behalf of the British business bank and the midlands engine investment fund. Andy and I talk about what is the midlands engine investment fund and the support available, who should take advantage of the different funds be it debt or equity and how to access these.

Today we are joined by Keith Turrel Chef and hospitality training mentor. In the episode we take a look at the hospitality industry and how this has been affected by CODID 19. As one of the hardest hit industries we look at how its has adapted and some of the support it has received from Eat out Help out to the VAT reduction.

Today we are joined by Claire Hill from Hill HR and we talk about the Job retention scheme and furlough, we discuss who is eligible, how employees can return to work, holidays and redundancies. With many now working from home we look at some of the trials and tribulations of working from home in the current climate and some good practices for people working from home as well as what may need to be in place if you are moving to more permanent home working.

The Chancellery announced today several new measures to support businesses who are reopening from COVID lockdown. Today Mike Byrne and Peter Daniel talk through these measures and what they mean for business. We speak about the ‘Eat Out, Help out’ scheme, Job retention payments and VAT reductions to hospitality how they work and what impacts they will have on businesses and peoples pockets.

Today we are joined by Chris Haliwell a Blue Orchid business advisor who works on the NEA program. In this episode we speak about the new enterprise program and the support available. We look at eligibility what the process is and how you access this. Chris and I speak about some of the example businesses we have seen that have successfully accessed the program and their experiences. We talk about what you need to have ready for the advisor and what to expect when you start the program.

Today we are joined by Mike Byrne and discussing the second and final round self-employed support scheme. The self-employed support scheme affects over 3.5 million people and so in this podcast we discuss what the scheme entails and how to access it. We look at what is meant by your business being affected by COVID 19 and what records you may need to keep.

Today we are joined by Andy Dyer of the Magic app Machine where we look at what apps can do for your business and how you as a small business can access these. We look at some real-life examples of apps that Andy have supplied and talk through what features apps can offer from shops to hospitality, ordering takeaways for collection to drinks to be delivered to your table in a pub! Apps are a part of everyday life and many of us use these without even thinking.

Today we are joined by Mike Byrne accountant and business advisor and talk about the new ground-breaking bounce back loans and adjoining start up loans. We look at who should look at both these loans what the eligibility is and what they can be used for. Bounce back loans are a new government backed low interest loan fund open to all businesses trading before March 1st 2020 and allow easy access to loans of up to £50,000 over 6 years where as Start up Loans have been about for many years and offer loans of up to £25,000 over 6 years.

Blue Orchid senior business advisors Peter Daniels and Jane Pallister discuss the governments plans to ease the lockdown and allow most businesses to re-open and how to prepare your business for social distancing and becoming 'Covid Secure' .