UK STATISTICS
There have been about 8.5 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: 8,497,868 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 49,156 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 7,097, 3 fewer than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 45
Total UK deaths: 138,629
England Cases per 100,000: 458 (rising)
R number in UK: 0.9 to 1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 49,422,753 – 90% of UK aged 16+
Total 2nd doses: 45,377,411 – 82%
Daily 1st doses: 17,837
Daily 2nd doses: 17,265
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 43,886 to 18 October
Cases in the latest week: 1,714, 57 more than previous week
Total deaths: 758 to October 1st (+1)
Cases per 100,000: 583 per 100,000 week ending 14 October
R number in North West: 0.9 – 1.1
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 82% of over 12s to 17 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:
Foreign investment deals to create 30,000 new UK jobs
Foreign investment deals in low-carbon sectors in the UK to be announced on Tuesday will create about 30,000 jobs, the government has said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce 18 new deals worth £9.7bn as he opens a global investment summit. They include investments in sectors such as wind and hydrogen energy, sustainable homes and carbon capture. The prime minister said investors had recognised “the massive potential in the UK for growth and innovation”.
The research said there were 69,000 fewer jobs in music in 2020 than in 2019 – a drop of 35% – due to the “devastating impact” of coronavirus.
UK Music said the industry had been hit “especially hard” by the virus.
Musicians themselves as well as people working in venues and recording studios were particularly affected, it said.
Live music revenues collapsed by around 90% in 2020, according to the UK Music report, titled This Is Music 2021, which was published on Tuesday.
“The music creators and live music sectors experienced the greatest decline – the majority of those working in the industry are self-employed, and they have been hit especially hard by Covid-19,” it said.
No 10 warns of challenges ahead in battle against Covid
Britons have been warned the coming months will be “challenging” as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Downing Street said an increase in coronavirus cases had been expected over the winter and the Government would keep a “close watch” on the situation. Epidemiologist and government adviser Professor Andrew Hayward said the situation was “concerning” and there was “huge potential for the NHS to come under a lot of pressure”.
Why are UK cases so high?
The daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has risen in recent days to more than 40,000, meaning infections are approaching the levels of this time last year. While the vaccine means there are fewer cases of serious illness, soaring infections are still a cause for concern. But hospital admissions are significantly lower.
Yodel to create 4300 jobs after most successful year to date
Delivery giant Yodel has announced it will create over 4,300 jobs ahead of the busy Christmas period following its “most successful year to date”. The firm said it wants to recruit a total of 4,311 new colleagues with a variety of roles on offer – including couriers, parcel sorters and warehouse operatives. The company said the jobs will be based across its 50 locations nationwide.
Tesco opens its first check-out free store
Tesco is opening its first checkout-free store in central London today.
The UK’s biggest retailer said its branch in High Holborn had been converted to allow customers to shop and pay without scanning a product or using a checkout.
The new format, known as GetGo, follows similar stores opened by Amazon.
Customers with the Tesco.com app will be able to pick up the groceries they need and walk straight out again. Tesco said “a combination of cameras and weight sensors” would establish what customers had picked up and charge them for products directly through the app when they left the shop. The technology is provided by Israeli tech start-up Trigo, which has similar partnerships with supermarkets in Germany and the Netherlands.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Report: Manchester England’s top city outside of London to start a business
Manchester is England’s top city outside of London in which to start a business, a major new survey has revealed. A new report out today from Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst lists the top UK cities for the number of high-growth businesses outside of the capital, with the North-West city coming second to only Edinburgh. The ‘Unlocking Growth’ report aimed to identify the key to generating growth by exploring the importance of public and private sector partnerships in creating strong local technology ecosystems in which businesses can start and scale successfully.
Coronavirus infection rates are surging across eight boroughs in Greater Manchester.
Cases are continuing to rise in a number of areas across the conurbation, with some boroughs seeing infection rates increase by more than 20 per cent week-on-week. The latest local data from Public Health England comes as the UK recorded the highest rise in daily cases since July 17. There were 1,714 positive tests over the last week in Stockport, which is 57 more than in the previous week. The week-on-week trend in Stockport is up by three per cent and the latest infection rate is 582.6 cases per 100,000 people.
GM organisations push forward with net zero targets
Greater Manchester businesses are ramping up plans as the city-region aims to become net zero by 2038. Be.EV, Greater Manchester’s largest public charging network for electric cars, has unveiled its stunning vision of the forecourt of the future. Based in green oases instead of concrete eyesores, the ultra-rapid charging hubs that are part of its future expansion plans for the North West will allow EV drivers to charge their vehicles in as little as 5 minutes.
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.’
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.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Find out how apprenticeships will continue during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – added an extension to IfATE discretions and flexibilities to end-point assessment. Removed the apprentices on furlough section as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has ended. Removed the section on temporary flexibility permitting end-point assessment prior to FSQ achievement as it has ended.
World Bank Development Committee 2021: UK Governor’s statement
FCDO Minister Vicky Ford gave a statement on behalf of the Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer at the World Bank’s Development Committee 2021 meeting.
COMMUNITY:
Private providers of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing
Lists of and information about private providers who have self-declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer – updated the general list of providers.
Exemptions from managed quarantine for compassionate reasons
Who can apply to quarantine in a different location for compassionate reasons, and how to apply.
COVID-19: arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event
Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – updated in line with changes to regulations when entering England from overseas, and to reflect the end of the shielding programme.
CONSTRUCTION:
Housebuilders had strong forward sales positions and were benefitting from strong flows of inward investment, Steve Wood, the chief executive of the National House-Building Council told delegates at the recent Housing Market Intelligence (HMI) conference in London. Also speaking at HMI, Taylor Wimpey chief executive Pete Redfern told the conference that cancellation rates are down and the reliance on the Help to Buy scheme, which is being phased out, is also decreasing.
Only 27% of reservations in the first half of this year at Taylor Wimpey relied on Help to Buy, compared to 53% last year. The company’s optimistic take on the industry was illustrated, said Redfern, by a plan to open 50 new sales offices to sell its new homes over the next 24 months and the acquisition of plots to build 8,675 homes in the first half of 2021 compared to 2,015 plots in the first half of last year, when the UK was in the grip of the pandemic.
EDUCATION:
COVID-19 vaccination: resources for schools and parents
COVID-19 vaccination guidance and resources for schools and parents – added links to translated versions of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for young people: guidance for parents.
Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: 23 March 2020 to 14 October 2021
A summary of attendance in education settings up to 14 October 2021.
ENVIRONMENT:
Manchester Airports Group announce carbonclick passenger offsetting scheme Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced that it will offer passengers flying from its three UK airports the ability to offset the carbon emissions from their flights via a new partnership with CarbonClick. The voluntary tool will allow passengers regardless of destination to purchase carbon credits to compensate for the emissions from their flights. Purchases can be immediately linked to CarbonClick’s climate projects in the UK and overseas. Offsetting will fund the development of new woodland in the Lake District and carbon-reduction projects in Ghana and Nigeria.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 8 October 2021
Provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales, in the latest weeks for which data are available – first published
Regulatory approval of Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)
Information for healthcare professionals and the public about Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) – updated information for healthcare professionals and for patients
COVID-19 test validation approved products
Find out which COVID-19 test products have been approved.
HOSPITALITY & LEISURE:
British Beer & pubs Association meets with Treasury ahead of budget
The trade association makes the case for cutting beer duty, business rates and VAT so sector can lead the levelling up agenda. The BPPA highlighted the vital role pubs and brewing play in supporting over 900,000 jobs in communities across the UK contributing £26billion to the UK’s economy across towns, villages and cities. Read more
RETAIL:
Very Group achieves record annual sales
Online retailer the Very Group reported record annual sales today, for the year to July 3, 2021. The group, which was previously Littlewoods, said retail sales were up 24.9% to £1.535.6bn, driving 13% group revenue growth to a record £2.317.1bn. Very customers increased 12.4% to 3.82m, boosting group customers by 7.6% to 4.82 million.
PROPERTY:
More buy-to-let and build-to-rent builds will help developers recover
Savills says an increase in the number of new builds bought for buy to let and other property investment will help developers recover from the demise of the Help To Buy scheme. However, there may be a difficulty with the constriction industry being able to meet demand from investors and others. Emily Williams, associate director of research at the agency, comments: “Despite the upcoming end of Help to Buy, there remains considerable appetite for new homes, and we expect delivery of affordable and private rental stock to expand to fill the gap left by Help to Buy.
TRAVEL:
Shapps: “We’ll open up more next year”
Speaking at the Airport Operations Association’s (AOA) annual conference on Tuesday (19 October), Shapps said the forthcoming review would explore whether the government can steer the country “even further towards restriction-free overseas travel”. “It’s been an incredibly tough and frustrating year for airports but, in fact, 2021 has seen considerable progress,” Shapps told delegates.
“We know Covid is far from over, but recent relaxations of travel restrictions are a clear sign that we are well on the way to recovery. This is a significant step in normalising international travel and giving people the confidence to book trips.”
He said the central authority will continue “to maintain surveillance on our borders” through testing and genomic sequencing so “we can respond rapidly if risks from other countries arise”.
Summary of updates to international travel, October 2021
Changes made to international travel rules during October 2021.
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.
Stockport park unveils tribute to young community hero 
Research finds Covid-19 has not fundamentally changed the UK labour market 
Government sets out ‘Living with COVID’ next steps from 1st April