Grants available for SMEs during Covid and how we can help your business

Despite the ongoing vaccination programme and the slight recent reduction in infection rates, there is still no clarity as to when we will come out of lockdown, putting ongoing pressure on SMEs. We look at what grants are available to businesses now and how we can help with your digital needs.

Running a business during lockdown has for many meant revisiting how we do business and how to reach new income streams and new clients where some have potentially dropped off. As the pandemic continues, it is still more important than ever to have a strong online presence so that you can connect with all of your stakeholders.

Recent grants and financial aid available to small businesses in England

In early January, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the government would extend its support for businesses during coronavirus and provide a further £4.6bn in grant aid for leisure, hospitality and retail businesses with one-off grants of up to £9,000. An additional £594m has also been made available to support other businesses during the latest lockdown, with companies required to apply via their local authority. Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed businesses) are also available to businesses that have had to close on or after 19th December 2020 due to local restrictions.

 

These are in addition to the existing funding, namely the ‘Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), Business Rates Relief (for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors) the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) (open businesses), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), VAT Deferment Payments and VAT reductions for some sectors in hospitality and tourism, and Coronavirus Future Funds where the government matches its loans to those of private investors up to £5m.

 

How could I use my business grant and how can it benefit my business?

We recommend that the starting point for assessing how to use your grant should be to look at your business goals and to prioritise them. Identify how your customers’ needs have changed. With the pandemic creating a huge shift in how and how much consumers access products and services, customers in all sectors are choosing and purchasing products online, so it is key that your website works seamlessly to maximise conversions.

If you don’t yet have a web presence this will mean starting from the ground, but the advice also applies if you have an existing website; use this time and government support to revisit your site to make sure that all aspects are optimised and functioning seamlessly to create a positive user experience and drive business.

 

How can we help make you and your business stand out and prosper?

The help that we are able to offer small businesses is two-fold:

  • Firstly, our team would be happy to assist you with any grant applications for which you want to apply to secure funding for a web-based project.
  • Secondly, we will discuss with you what your goals are and what the best package is for you. We understand that in these testing times, you may need a more cost-effective web solution than a fully bespoke design so we have tailored packages called Eonic Elements that will fit your needs.

 

Helping small businesses with Eonic Elements - our high-end, affordable offering

 

Eonic Elements offer great-looking, secure, fully content-managed websites that work across all devices, but without the premium associated with a full consultancy and bespoke design and build. We recognise that SMEs require functional websites without the high cost, particularly as the coronavirus situation has developed.  With our packages designed to help small businesses, we can guarantee the following features with each design:

  • Easy to update your site when you want to make a change
  • Responsive pages that automatically scale to the user’s device
  • A scalable system that allows your website to grow with your business
  • A professional template with a great design tailored to your needs
  • Google optimisation which allows customers find you
  • An SSL certificate which makes your website fast, robust, and secure
  • Ongoing support from the Eonic team.

 

Bespoke websites without the premium

We understand that throughout the pandemic, finances and staying afloat have been a huge concern for business owners. Our Eonic Elements packages are reasonably priced to ensure that you get the highest return on investment. We offer the following three packages:

  • Silver – from £995 + £19.95 pcm: This entry-level package will get your business off the ground and includes initial consultancy and planning, six pages of content, two hours of bespoke design and build, SEO kickstart and more.
  • Gold – from £1,495 + £19.95 pcm: This is a great-value setup that takes your business to the next level, including initial consultancy and planning, ten pages of content, six hours of bespoke design and build, as well as help from our graphic design and social media experts to refresh your logo and socials.
  • Platinum – from £1995 + £19.95 pcm: This ultimate offering - includes initial consultancy and planning, 16 pages of content, a complete logo redesign, setup and optimisation of social media accounts as well as eight professional photographs taken for your business if you operate locally in Kent.

For more details on these packages, visit our Eonic Elements page.

Whether you have an existing website that needs some improvements or you want to launch a brand new site, our flexible packages may be the answer. With ongoing government grants and loans still available, now is the time to act and make sure you are maximising your business potential. We understand that every digital business’s needs are unique and would be happy to talk to you about how we can help.

 How to reach us

If you’re interested in a new website or need help on an existing website at an affordable price, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 01892 534 044 or book a strategy call here.