Dover District Council has offered support to over 3,000 local businesses as part of its campaign to help the district get back to business.
The Back to Business Hub was launched by the Council on 15 June to provide proactive support to help local small and medium size enterprises re-open safely as lockdown restrictions started to ease.
A dedicated team of officers from the council has provided a wide range of support to local businesses, including advice on when and how to open safely, making workplaces Covid-secure, social distancing to manage customer flow, and licensing arrangements.
The advice was particularly sought after by local independent shops and hospitality businesses, including pubs and bars, cafés, restaurants and takeaways, hotels and B&B’s, and hair and beauty salons.
As part of the service, Dover District Council has also helped to promote local businesses with a new map-based app to help residents find businesses open local to them. Over 300 businesses are already featured on the map and more businesses are being encouraged to sign-up online.
Alongside practical support and advice on re-opening safely, Dover District Council has administered grants totalling over £24 million to over 2,100 local businesses.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’ve been working hard to support the business community throughout the pandemic, working quickly to get them access to grants during lockdown, and then working proactively to help them re-open safely as soon as restrictions were eased.
“We know the recovery is going to be a long process. We’re committed to working together with local businesses, and town and parish councils to support local initiatives to help our town centres adapt to some of the changes that may become a more permanent part of life.”
Dover District Council has supported temporary changes to improve the pedestrian access in both Deal and Sandwich, and a new cycle and bus lane on Maison Dieu Road in Dover.
Local businesses looking for support can contact the Back to Business Hub through the website, or emailing backtobusiness@dover.gov.uk.
Posted on 18 August 2020