Help to beat the recession

A range of help and advice is available to business owners and individuals affected by the recession. Please click on the appropriate statement below to be taken to the most relevant information for you.

• I am a business owner (including self-employed)
• I am a Small Medium Enterprise (SME), how do I get quicker payment of my invoices from the council?
• I am unemployed or about to be unemployed and I need information on looking for work and receiving benefits
• I am being made redundant and I have questions
• I need debt advice
• I am considering self-employment
• I need careers advice and information on gaining new skills
• I want to know where I can get free internet access to look for work
• I need information on childcare (as I am returning to work)
• I need a list of recruitment agencies

Directgov

There is also a huge range of information on the UK government's Directgov website. Topics include:

• Employment
• Money, tax and benefits
• Education and Learning
• Health and well-being

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I am a business owner (including self-employed)

Business Link provides an extensive range of help for businesses facing the credit crunch or wanting to recession proof their performance. Help includes:

• A free 'beat the credit crunch' guide
• A business health check with an experienced adviser
• A guide to local credit crunch events and clinics
• Links to national support

For more information go straight to the Business Link South West 'Help for businesses affected by the economic downturn' page, call 0845 600 99 66 or email enquiries@blpeninsula.co.uk.

Business rate relief

If you wish to apply for business rate relief, visit our rate relief page for more information.

Training opportunities

If you are an employer interested in improving the skills of your business, call Train to Gain on 08456 047 047, visit the Train to Gain website or email traintogain@blpeninsula.co.uk.

Have you considered doing business with Plymouth City Council?

Guidance is available for businesses wishing to supply the council with goods, materials, services or works. Please visit our doing business with the Council page for more details.

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I am a Small Medium Enterprise (SME), how do I get quicker payment of my invoices from the council?

Plymouth City Council is aiming to pay SME’s within 15 days of receiving an invoice.

To find out how this may be possible for your business, please view the SME prompt payment document in the documents table below.

For more information about how you can help us to help you, please contact the creditors helpdesk on 01752 304439 or email creditors@plymouth.gov.uk.

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I am unemployed or about to be unemployed and I need information on looking for work and receiving benefits

The Jobcentre Plus website has a large amount of information and practical help available on finding work and claiming benefits.

The Job Kit factsheets might be of particular interest; they provide helpful advice on finding work, CV and interview tips, information to help you overcome any concerns, and finding and getting the job you are looking for.

You can also search for jobs held on the Jobcentre Plus database via the phone by contacting Jobseeker Direct on 0845 606 0234 or, if you are deaf or hard of hearing or have speech difficulties, via text phone on 0845 605 5255.

To make a claim for working age benefits, such as Job Seekers Allowance; telephone 0800 055 6688 or use the text phone service on 0800 023 4888.

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I am being made redundant and I have questions

The redundancy payments helpline is 0845 1450004, and detailed advice and information on all aspects of redundancy entitlement may also be found on the Insolvency Service website.

If you receive a lump sum payment, it may include a Payment in Lieu of Notice as well as a Redundancy Payment. These payments might affect your benefit entitlement. If you have to claim benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions, they may need to know how any such payment was spent. You can seek advice from an independent advice agency.

Citizens Advice has recently updated its online guidance for people facing redundancy or who have been made redundant. The web pages offer comprehensive advice and guidance in the following areas:

• Redundancy
• When your employer can make you redundant
• Procedures your employer must follow
• Redundancy pay
• Your money situation on redundancy

For information on redundancy topics please visit their website.

A range of employment factsheets are also available.

To see the Citizens Advice top tips for people at risk of redundancy, please view the Citizens Advice tips document in the documents table below.

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I need debt advice

I need help paying my Plymouth City Council bills

If you are experiencing problems paying your council bills please contact us to discuss payment options. It is important to talk to us at an early stage, to help us to help you.

The key areas of debt are listed below with the relevant contact details:

Council tax

Contact the call centre on 01752 668000.

Business rates (national non domestic rates)

Contact the business rates helpline on 01752 304966 or 01752 304897.

Housing rent

Contact your local Housing Branch Office or email housingrentenquiries@plymouth.gov.uk.

General (sundry) debt

Contact the recovery helpdesk on 01752 305537 or email recoveryteamexchequer@plymouth.gov.uk.

Further general debt advice

You can also get free independent debt/money management advice face-to-face from your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). If you live in the Plymouth area, telephone 0870 126 4011 Monday to Friday between 10am and 1pm and they will be able to discuss your problem and provide further help, including an appointment with your local CAB if required.

Free independent telephone advice on debt is also available from, amongst others:

• Payplan - 0800 716 239
• National Debtline - 0808 808 4000
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service - 0800 138 1111
• Community Legal Advice - 0845 345 4345 (community legal advice is means-tested)

Mortgage repayment advice

Plymouth homeowners worried about keeping up their mortgage payments can get free advice and help from a new service. In partnership with the Devon Strategic Housing Group and local debt advice charity Homemaker Southwest, we offer free, independent and confidential advice to home owners struggling to manage their mortgage repayments during the economic downturn.

• Homemaker Southwest Mortgage Arrears Helpline - 01392 686760

This helpline will give worried homeowners and landlords initial advice about their options as well as a free, comprehensive advice pack.

Plymouth residents who fear they may be in danger of losing their homes, either through rent or mortgage arrears, can also contact our Housing Advice Service on 01752 305950.

Credit Unions

Credit Unions encourage members to save regularly, provide loans to members at low rates of interest and can provide members with help and support on managing their financial affairs. Credit Unions welcome everyone within their area regardless of income, employment status or age.

Further information on the services offered by credit unions and how they operate can be found on the Association of British Credit Unions website. This website also provides details of credit unions found in the local area including the following:

• Hope Credit Union, Stonehouse, Plymouth
• Fortress Credit Union, Crownhill, Plymouth
• City of Plymouth Credit Union, Devonport, Plymouth

For further useful information, please visit our debt advice page.

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I am considering self-employment

A range of information, advice and support is available from Business Link to help you consider if self employment may be right for you.

Help includes:

• A comprehensive information pack of the issues you should consider.
• Events to cover all aspects of starting a business, from raising finance through to branding and finding customers
• Access to a range of information, either by speaking with an adviser on the phone or by downloading information fact sheets from the website

If you want to discuss the possibility of self employment visit the Business Link website, telephone 0845 600 99 66 or email enquiries@blpeninsula.co.uk.

The Business Advice Centre Plymouth also has specialist facilities for training and counselling new businesses. Please call 01752 211211 or visit the Business Advice Centre website.

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I need careers advice and information on gaining new skills

nextstep South West offers practical help and careers advice about learning and work options for adults aged 20 and over, whether in work or unemployed. They can provide information about training courses, grants, how to find work, write CVs, help with interview techniques and how to improve your skills.

Contact the Regional Telephone Access Point on 0845 850 5070 (local rate) to book an advice session in your area with a qualified Careers Adviser or access nextstep South West website.

Further careers and skills information

Please read the careers advice document in the documents table below to find out about:

• Volunteer work to help gain new skills
• Careers advice for the under 20’s

Health and safety/food safety training courses

Plymouth City Council provides a range of subsidised training courses which are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Please visit our courses and training page for further information.

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I want to know where I can get free internet access to look for work

More and more employers are opting for advertising job applications on the internet.

Free access to computers including high speed internet is available in libraries throughout Plymouth. To find out more about accessing the internet in Plymouth libraries, please visit our computer access in your library page.

Free access to the internet and all online recruitment vacancies are also available from UK Online approved IT resource centres. Every town in the UK has this free provision and you can find your nearest centre by visiting the UK online centres website.

Alternatively you can call free on 0800 771234 to find your nearest IT resource centre.

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I need information on childcare (as I am returning to work)

Family Information Service and Children's Centres

The Family Information Service is a source for all registered childcare in Plymouth.

They also provide information to families with children from 0 to 19 years, and signpost to relevant contacts and services. The service has details on childcare, leisure activities for children and families and family support and information services.

For further information, please contact 0800 783 4259 or visit the Plymouth Family Information Service website.

Children's Centres

Children's Centres provide a range of services such as childcare, play activity sessions and parenting support. They work closely with health visitors, midwives, and other health professionals who can provide specialist support for families.

Centres also link with Jobcentre Plus to provide advice and information to parents who are considering returning to training or employment.

More information and contact details for centres in Plymouth can be found on the Plymouth Family Information Service website or on our children's centres page.

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I need a list of recruitment agencies

A list of recruitment agencies can be downloaded from the documents table below.

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A variety of useful documents are available to download below.

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