Issue #89 - Time to give your business a boost? 💸

Is your business eligible for a grant? | What to if your business energy supplier goes bust? | What does business insurance NOT cover? | How much do we rely on WiFi in 2024? | Words | Tunes | More

🦾 GO

Rural internet, EVs, NI relief, startup grants, and more 💷

Welcome to Issue #89 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.

Has your business been trading for less than two years? Do you run a small business in a rural area? Are you in research and development? Have employees? Business premises? Or have taxable profits less than £50,000 a year?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, you could be eligible for a business grant to give you a much-needed financial boost.

Even if you answered ‘no’, you might still be eligible for an industry-specific or location-based business grant.

Unlike loans, grants don’t need to be repaid. They are usually publicly funded schemes awarded to businesses by the government, charitable organisations or trusts. Although there’s no need to repay the money you get from a grant, you’re business will need to meet certain conditions or eligibility criteria to be awarded the funds.

• The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme offers development awards of up to £500 to help younger people access training courses, cover job licence fees, buy tools, equipment or uniforms for a job or qualification, and more.

• The UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme provides vouchers of up to £4,500 to cover the cost of gigabit broadband installation for small businesses in rural areas.

• Small businesses in rural areas might also be eligible for business rates relief, along with shops, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses, charities, sports clubs, and local newspapers.

Different types of grants are made available to businesses in specific regions. To see what’s available in your area, check out your local government or Chamber of Commerce website, or do an online search for “[your region] business grants”.

It’s also worth noting that grants can sometimes be used alongside other forms of funding, such as business loans and crowdfunding platforms.

We’ve more information on business grants in our guide to the best grants for small businesses and startups.

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🤝 COMMUNITY

Join our community of small business superheroes 🦸‍♀️

Small business owners are the superheroes of the high street. But small business owners rarely get their voices heard. Now there’s a place where they can chat, share advice and help each other through the lows and highs of running a business. To get involved, scan or click the QR code above or click the button below to sign up.

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🗞 READ

🔥 Energy - What to do if your business energy supplier goes bust or ceases trading

If you’re an Opus Energy customer then you probably already know that it will cease trading from September this year when EDF Energy will take over its current non-domestic energy contracts. 

But what if your energy supplier goes bust? Our guide explains what happens next and what you need to do.

🔒 Insurance - What does business insurance NOT cover?

One size does not fit all with business insurance. And trying to find the best option for your business can feel like trying to find your way through a maze. You know you need cover, but do you know what’s normally covered and what's not? 

To help you make your decision easier we’ve pulled together what isn’t often included so you can opt for extras (if needed) and sort your next renewal with confidence.

🌐 Connectivity - How much do we rely on WiFi in 2024?

WiFi is no longer a luxury — it's a necessity. We now rely on the internet for (almost) everything, from work and entertainment to keeping in touch with loved ones. In 2024, its importance has soared to new heights, enabling remote work, powering entertainment, and driving small businesses forward through connectivity. 

But just how reliant are we on Wi-Fi in 2024? Find out in our report.

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🗣  SHOUTOUT

#BionicBusinessStory - 5 businesses, 1 question 🤔

Running a business can be hard work, but there’s a real sense of achievement in doing things your own way. We asked five business owners what was their favourite thing about running a business. Here’s what they said.

Bionic - What’s your favourite thing about running a business?

🐕 “The animals! I still don’t really think of myself as a business owner! I always think ‘it is what it is’, I’m really grateful that people have decided to use my services. I could have been left floundering and not had anything. So, I’m so grateful for that.” - Jane Bellamy, Jane Bellamy Dog Walking

✂ “Seeing my team develop in their careers is definitely my favourite part of running a business. It’s so rewarding!” Sonya Roberts, Brandon May Hair Salon

🐶 “The community aspect is really nice, we have lots of owners who used to come on their own with their dogs but have now made friends at our events, so they now come together as a big group. They’ll meet up separately and go on dog walks. It’s so nice to encourage things like that.” Marcus Akford, The Pup Up Café

🍫 “My independence is the most important thing, the lack of which is probably what caused me to leave my other jobs. Self-motivation is essential when running a small business. If you have it, it gives you wings, and work can be just perfect.” Isabelle Alaya, Melange Chocolate Shop 

🍻 “We get to put on some really cool, fun events, marathon weekend in London was our first birthday party, and on marathon day the whole community is there; literally hundreds of people, kids and families. Everyone comes and the route runs down the road next to us. That sense of community, especially in London, doesn't happen very often. It's a lot of fun to be a part of and a real privilege to be a part of it.” James Gadsby Peet, The Star of Greenwich

Want to read more small business stories? Head over to Bionic 🦾

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👩‍🤝‍👩🏾 S H A R E

If you love The Backbone (or even if you just quite like it) share it with someone who has equally great taste in email newsletters.

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📊 BUSINESS

Get your business costs sorted 💷

Bionic - the business price comparison experts - compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.

Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms, and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness 🦾

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🎧 LISTEN

Playlist 🎶

Music scenes tend to go through a bit of a revival every couple of decades or so. It’s been 20 years since The Libertines’ second album (as if!) and post-punk is coming around again. Today’s Punk gives a good account of what’s doing the rounds now, including IDLES, SPRINTS, Sleaford Mods, Loose Articles, and loads more.

Podcast 🎙

No sooner has the Euros finished and the domestic leagues are upon us again - the SPL kicks off tomorrow, the EPL next week, and the PL the week after. So let’s get back into the swing of things with Athletico Mince - Andy Dawson and Bob Mortimer’s football podcast that’s not really about football.

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👩‍🤝‍👩🏾 SHARE

If you love The Backbone (or even if you just quite like it) share it with someone who has equally great taste in email newsletters.

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🏡 HOUSEKEEPING

Check your folders 📁

If The Backbone isn’t landing in your inbox every other Friday, please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If it isn’t in your spam folder, it may have been moved to another folder, like ‘Promotions’ or ‘Social’.

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🚫 STOP

Thanks for making it to the end of another Bionic small business bulletin 🤝🏻

Carry on the conversation at our Bionic socials 🤳

Please leave a comment and let us know if there’s anything else we should be featuring.

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