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UK STATISTICS
There have been 8.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 138,000 people have died, government figures show. Around 86% of people in the UK aged 12 and over have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and around 79% have had their second.
Total UK Cases: 8,449,165 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 45,140 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 7,086, 44 more than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 57
Total UK deaths: 138,584
England Cases per 100,000: 412 (rising)
R number in UK: 0.9 to 1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 49,398,211 – 90% of UK aged 16+
Total 2nd doses: 45,358,472 – 82%
Daily 1st doses: 23,706
Daily 2nd doses: 32,983
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 43,256 to 15 October
Cases in the latest week: 1,704, 181 more than previous week
Total deaths: 758 to October 1st (+1)
Cases per 100,000: 579 per 100,000 week ending 9 October
R number in North West: 0.9 – 1.1
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 82% of over 12s to 14 October
2nd dose: 76%
The R value and growth rate
The R range for England is 0.9 to 1.1 and the growth rate range for England is -1% to +2% per day as of 15 October 2021
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Updated with slides to accompany coronavirus press conferences
UK NEWS UPDATES:
Co-op to offer apprenticeships for hundreds of potential LGV drivers
More than 300 LGV driver apprenticeships are being created by the Co-op in response to the current crisis. The programme will run for 12-15 months across the UK, with drivers becoming fully operational after three months. Starting salaries will range between £23,753 and £25,584, depending on location, the PA news agency reports. Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield said: “The transport sector needs long-term sustainable change. Through our apprenticeship programme we’ll be able to help driver recruitment by attracting new talent and make the sector more appealing to younger people.”
EY: Covid 19 forces COOs to adopt new ways of working ahead of schedule
Over the last several years, empowered consumers, employees and investors, climate change, geopolitics and technology innovations have disrupted organizations, pushing them to change how they operate. Over the last 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic turned that slow push into a giant, forceful shove. And COOs have had to figure out on the fly how to operate in this changed environment. Organizations may still be making the same products and services, but everything about how these products and services are designed, manufactured and delivered to customers is different. This shift is forcing COOs to reimagine their supply chains for agility and sustainability as much as optimization. Across the enterprise, technology innovations are helping COOs transform how the business operates to meet multiple, simultaneous demands from a range of stakeholders — and increasing the chances of cyber infection. Reskilling and upskilling the workforce can help accelerate digital transformations and address cyber risks. And all this in the global context of economic and techno-nationalism. To navigate this increasingly complex and volatile world, COOs need to reframe their future for operational resilience and sustainability. READ THE FULL ARTICLE
The Scottish government’s vaccine passport scheme has become enforceable by law from Monday morning.
Nightclubs and large events, like some football matches, will only be able to allow entry to people who can show they have had two doses of a Covid vaccine.
The scheme came into effect on 1 October after MSPs voted to back the proposals.
Businesses were given a 17-day “period of grace” to allow venues time to test out their procedures. Everyone over the age of 18 must now show – if asked – that they have had both doses of the vaccine before they are allowed entry to certain venues and events.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
GM Mayor to set out accelerated plans to reduce carbon emissions
Andy Burnham is expected to set out accelerated plans to reduce carbon emissions in the city-region during a speech to delegates attending the Greater Manchester Green Summit 2021 today. At the annual summit, which is taking place at The Lowry, Mr Burnham will encourage over 1,000 attendees to support his plans to reduce CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester by 1 million tonnes in the next three years. The city-region has set a target to achieve net-zero carbon by 2038.
The drive to reduce emissions forms a key tenet of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s levelling up strategy and he has urged the Westminster government to commit to action on climate change the upcoming Spending Review to ensure the country can meet its carbon emissions targets.
Consultation moving Stockport Central Library services to Stockroom closes today!
A consultation on plans to move library services from Central Library to a new learning and discovery centre in Merseyway, provisionally named Stockroom, closes today at midnight (18th October). The proposals will see book lending, IT provision and other services currently offered at Central Library moved to a new £14.5 million hub in the Merseyway shopping precinct, following a successful bid to the government’s Future High Streets fund. Plans for Stockroom’s library offer will allow space for up to 20,000 books with floorspace five-times greater than currently available in Central Library; the scheme will occupy retail units formerly occupied by Mothercare, Topshop and Next in Merseyway. The additional size will also allow for longer opening hours, greater provision of digital services and make services more accessible as part of the council’s plans to reverse long-term decline of use of the town centre library: book borrowing from Central Library fell 42% between 2012 and 2020.
Digiknow: It’s Get Online Week in Stockport
Stockport is marking Get Online Week (18th to 24th October) with more than 60 sessions at the One Stockport Hub in Merseyway and other venues across the borough, where people can learn the essential skills needed for today’s digital world. The theme of Get Online Week this year is ‘Get online. Get connected.’ Getting online confidently, safely and affordably has never been more important. The pandemic has shown it is now essential for everyone to be able to connect with friends and family, access services, learn and work from home and keep up with the latest news.
Ford to invest £230m at Merseyside’s Halewood plant saving 500 jobs
Ford’s Halewood plant will manufacture electric powerunits with a £230m investment as the company moves to manufacture only electric cars by 2030. The investment will mean the plant will run for many years longer, said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe. He also said that huge improvements to the EV charging infrastructure will be required at homes, in public places and at places of work to meet demand. Mr Rowley added that 1 EV charging station will be required per electric vehicle. Ford’s Halewood plant will begin manufacturing electric power units – which replace the engine and transmission in petrol cars – in 2024.
Infection rates in Greater Manchester meet a 3-month high
In Stockport there were 1,694 positive tests over the last week which is 70 more than in the previous week. The week-on-week trend in Stockport is up by four per cent and the latest infection rate is 575.8 cases per 100,000 people. In Greater Manchester, rates are spiking in eight boroughs, according to the latest data from Public Health England. And infection rates in one area have nearly doubled in the last seven-day period. The number of cases per 100,000 people in Rochdale rose by 47 per cent in the week ending October 13. Trafford still has the highest infection rate across the conurbation by some distance, with 707.6 cases per 100,000 people recorded in the last seven-day period.
Vernon’s 2022 Stockport Charity Calendar on sale now
Vernon’s Charity Calendar – created from the winners of the building society’s annual photography competition – is now on sale in the building society’s six branches. All proceeds from the sale of this year’s ‘Celebration of Stockport’ calendar will go to St Ann’s Hospice. The worthy charity was chosen by Vivian Bath, who won the front cover spot with her vibrant photograph of Stockport’s historic marketplace.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
COMMUNITY:
Community Leaders Webinar: Engaging with young people on vaccines
?????Community leaders have played a vital role during the pandemic. As the colder months begin to set in, we will be holding a series of Keeping Communities Safe During Winter webinars on Zoom to support community and faith leaders, voluntary and community groups with their ongoing engagement and communications.
The next webinar takes place on Thursday 21 October 2021 at 3.00 pm and will focus on engaging young people about vaccinations. Attending the Zoom webinar will give you an opportunity to:
– Get the latest information from government officials and hear from health officials on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
– Ask questions and discuss ideas for effective engagement, particularly young people
– Inform the Government about challenges, barriers and experiences in communitiesAll community leaders are encouraged to attend. Please forward this invitation to leaders in your community.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Scams: cost of impact on wellbeing calculated at £9bn a year
That is the equivalent of £2,509 a year for each victim, but the impact can be higher for someone hit by online fraud. People targeted by fraudsters have spoken of suffering from anxiety and ill-health after being scammed. Which? says the cost to well-being is higher than the typical financial hit of £600. The consumers’ association appointed consultants to study data including 17,000 responses to the Office for National Statistics’ Crime Survey for England and Wales.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey Technical Article: Impact of vaccination on testing positive in the UK, October 2021
Data about positivity after COVID-19 vaccination from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Public Health England and Wellcome Trust. This study is jointly led by the ONS and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) working with the University of Oxford and UK Biocentre to collect and test samples.
HOSPITALITY & LEISURE:
Loungers to open 10 new sites as sales rise post-Covid
Bar and restaurant chain Loungers is planning to open 10 more sites across the UK in the next financial year, it has announced. The Bristol-founded group, which operates 150 Lounge cafe-bars and 31 Cosy Club restaurant-bars, said sales have been “consistently strong” since reopening after the easing of lockdown restrictions. According to the company’s latest trading update, like-for-like sales grew 26.6% over the 20 weeks to October 3 – compared to the same period in 2019. The AIM-listed firm said the strength of its performance was “testimony to the relevance and resilience” of its brands.
PROPERTY:
Manchester tops list of property hotspots in 2030
Research by Share to Buy has revealed the top locations to buy houses, with the biggest increase in property value over the last decade. The average UK property value has increased 10% this year alone — and some locations have increased in value more than others. Share to Buy also analysed Land Registry data to speculate what these property hotspots could be worth in 10 years’ time if growth continues at the current rate. Manchester topped the list, with the average property value in the city rising 112.1%, from £139,783 to £296,536 over the past ten years. At this rate, the average property price in Manchester in 2031 would be around £629,000.
TRAVEL:
Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Check what COVID-19 tests you need to take and the quarantine rules for travel to England – From 22 October, if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you will be able to book an antigen lateral flow device (LFD) test instead of a PCR for your ‘on arrival’ test.
Covid-19 Webinars:
Remote education webinars
How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice – new dates for webinars for teachers added.
Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
Watch videos and register for the free webinars to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus. The YouTube video for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Universal Credit and Child Benefit has been updated.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim:
This guides you through making a claim, including the essential information you need, what to do before you make your claim, calculating and processing your claim.
Choose a date and time
If you’ve missed any of HMRC’s live webinars, you can catch up series of recorded webinars on HMRC’s YouTube channel – available at a time to suit you.
Brexit Webinars:
Exporting: Actions you need to take now: An overview of the actions you need to take now before you export goods from Great Britain to the EU and move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Key processes include – staged border controls, zero-rated VAT, customs declaration, using an intermediary as well as licences, certificates, and authorisations. Please register to take part if you’re planning to export.
Trader responsibilities when using an intermediary: You now need to complete import or export declarations to trade goods with the EU. These are complex and a lot of businesses choose to use an intermediary to do these for them. This webinar explains your responsibilities as a trader if you choose to use an intermediary. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import or export.
What are customs import declarations?: If you import goods, you now need to make customs import declarations on controlled goods and all goods by the end of June. This webinar will help you understand what they are in more detail. This includes what is needed for simplified declarations, supplementary declarations, how to make them, and delayed import declarations. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import.
Importing: Staged controls and how to prepare to use them: This webinar will walk you through the three stages of the new border controls introduced on 1?? ?January?? ?2021, and what actions you need to take for each stage. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import.
LATEST LINKS:
Repayment period for Bounce Back Loans extended to ten years
Businesses that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time to repay. Companies will be contacted with options to extend the length of the loan from six to 10 years as part of a new ‘pay-as-you-grow’ initiative. The new proposals give businesses three new options:
1. Extending the length of the loan from six years to 10;
2. Making interest-only payments for six months, then repaying the principal on a phased basis with other interest-only periods;
3. Delaying repayments entirely for up to six months.
Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020.
Report an outbreak of Coronavirus in Stockport:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
Home workers can claim £26 tax relief for job expenses
If you’ve asked your employees to work from home, and you’ve not reimbursed them already, your employees may be entitled to claim tax relief on additional household expenses they’ve incurred, such as heating and lighting.
New hotline launched to report COVID fraudsters
A new hotline has been launched to stop fraudsters illegally targeting COVID stimulus schemes.
If you would like to register your interest in creating one or more Kickstart Job, please complete the Kickstart Employer Enquiry Form and a member of the Council’s Kickstart Team will contact you to explain more.
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions for employers and gateways receiving the Kickstart Scheme grant from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Kickstart Scheme employer resources
If you’ve been offered Kickstart Scheme funding, you can use these resources to show your support for the scheme.
Kickstart Scheme employer contacts
List of regional contacts for employers applying for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 30 or more job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 30 or more jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 29 or less job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 29 or less jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Visit the Stockport Council website to report details of any outbreaks online.
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
Opening times for Stockport Council Coronavirus Helpline
The helpline for vulnerable people across Stockport can now be accessed through new opening times by calling 0161 217 6046:
• Monday – Thursday from 9am to 5pm
• Friday from 9am to 4.30pm
• Saturdays from 10am to 1pm
At busy times, residents are automatically offered a call-back from one of our call handlers.
New tools and resources available from Acas:
Redundancy letter templates
Redundancy process map
Acas have also contributed to the development of a new return to work toolkit in partnership with SOM, CIPD, BITC and Mind.
Business Support in Stockport – a centre pool of information to support business owners in Stockport:
www.skbusinessrecovery.co.uk
Government – Guidance on Returning to Work safely
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Stockport Council’s FREE job matching website helps support employers with vacancies and individuals across the Stockport borough who are looking for work. The service, Stockport Jobs Match, will help to connect employers who have urgent temporary or permanent vacancies with applicants who are immediately available and in need of employment. The website also helps signpost individuals to available support services and information. www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk
Stockport Council – Health & Mental Well-being https://www.stockport.gov.uk/showcase/coronavirus
Government – Financial Support
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – online claims portal open
Government – Business Support:
Government launches new coronavirus business support finder tool
Government – Business Support Hub:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
Government – IT safety support:
Government Warnings Over Coronavirus Scams – Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Government – Financial Support:
HMRC has published guidance on how it will work out income and profits for the self-employed or those in a partnership who have lost profits due to coronavirus.
Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding
Government – Business Support:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus/resources/2020/03/coronavirus-business-support-webinar-series
Employment – Useful information for the Self-Employed:
News and Guidance for the self-employed:
Concerned how Coronavirus might impact you and your business?
Please get in touch with Enterprising You and you will be connected to someone who can help.
You can also access information and guidance including the latest Government updates via www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
Can you claim back Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay in the Rebate Scheme
From Tuesday 26 May 2020, small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, will be able to apply to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees. Health updates:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Dedicated helpline to support vulnerable residents in Stockport:
Support can be accessed by calling 0161 217 6046 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Health – Dedicated health & wellbeing services:
24/7 mental health helpline & safe haven for anyone over the age of 18 in Stockport (0800 138 7276).
Health – An Emotional Wellbeing Hub which provides information, advice, and guidance for anyone up to the age of 25 for emotional wellbeing and mental health concerns. 0161 217 6028 – 8.30am-5pm Mon – Thurs 8.30am-4.30pm on Friday.
Community – Guidance for businesses seeking to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
How businesses can offer services, funds and volunteers to civil society during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Find out more information here.