IMPORTANT – The GM LEP and Growth Company are holding a webinar at 4pm today titled “Supporting Businesses Through the COVID-19 Pandemic” including
- Andy Burnham, Mayor of GM
- Lou Cordwell, Co-Chair GM LEP
- Mark Hughes, CEO, Growth Company
This will give businesses a chance to listen and put questions to Greater Manchester Leaders around the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and support on offer to businesses. Offering clarity where there is confusion.
You can sign up here: https://app.livestorm.co/the-growth-company/growth-company-and-gm-local-enterprise-partnership-business-webinar
31st March:
Government’s 5pm media briefing presented by Michael Gove accompanied by Dr Jenny Harries and Professor Stephen Powis.
- More NHS staff returning to the frontline
- Testing capacity must increase – Health Secretary Matt Hancock calls for spare facilities in hospitals to be used for testing
- Orders for ventilators been laced with consortia led by Ford, Airbus, the Formula 1 Racing teams including Mclaren, GKN Aerospace and Rolls Royce and Dysons.
- 1000’s of ventilators to be delivered to NHS next week
- A team led by UCL, working with Mercedes Benz, will produce 10,000 new CPAP devices to support affected patients
- Rapid clinical trials that may be able to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on patients
- Delivering food and prescription drugs to 1.5m of those self-isolating for 3 months
- Measures being taken to support all those in need
- Military – helicopters stationed on standby at bases across the UK
Full transcript
Stephen Powis – helping to reduce the number of deaths and pressure on the NHS is vital. Use of transport has reduced dramatically indicating people are heeding advice and reducing contact. Less contact = less infected cases; report of hospital admissions and mortality rate.
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 31 March 2020
As of latest official figures released, 143,886 (135,000) people have been tested, 25,150 (22,141) tested positive and very sadly a total of 1,789 (1,408) have now passed away.
*previous day’s figures in brackets
The message from Government has not changed but is amplified:
‘Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save lives’.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on business support grant funding
Guidance for local authorities setting out details of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). Version 3 published with updates on State Aid, monitoring and reporting requirements, new annexes on state aid, Spotlight, and post payment checks, clarification of eligibility of charities.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for businesses
The Government has provided clearer guidelines for trades people who are allowed to work in people’s homes as long as they or the people in the house don’t have symptoms of Coronavirus or if there’s anyone in the house who should be self-isolating:
The same document also provides a little clarification for the person with elderly people in their household.
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Secretary of State pays tribute to construction industry
Business Secretary Alok Sharma has written an open letter to UK construction thanking the industry for all its help in the current crisis.
The letter also confirms the Government’s current official policy on keeping construction sites open. The full text of the letter dated March 31
Contactless spending limit increased to £45 across UK
The spending limit for contactless card payments has increased from £30 to £45 across the country following action by the payments industry to increase the contactless limit as part of the financial services industry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-releases/contactless-limit-uk-be-increased-45
Status of Phase 1 clinical trials in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Government has written to all Phase I accredited units conducting early phase clinical trials to seek confirmation that all trials have undergone a risk assessment in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19) and the current government advice.
COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing
Advice and information on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): recreational general aviation
Guidance on recreational general aviation (GA) flying during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to the construction sector
Letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, to the UK’s construction sector.
Extract: To help ensure that it is safe for you to operate in your workplace, the industry has worked to develop Site Operating Procedures (SOP), which were published by the Construction Leadership Council. These align with the latest guidance from Public Health England. As this health guidance updates, the SOP will reflect any changes.
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MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Government producing guidance for industry covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Change made: added a link to Exceptional GMP flexibilities for medicines imported from third countries during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to the Medicines Regulation section.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
Guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) for health professionals and other organisations. Change made: Added guidance for care of the deceased.
Governments plan delays on import tax collection
https://www.export.org.uk/news/498375/Governments-plan-delays-on-import-tax-collection.htm
Big names of UK engineering in push to make 30,000 ventilators
https://www.ft.com/content/1125e39e-8a76-4769-b6ca-f482efca5bf5
MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Government guidance for industry covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Added link to news story on approval of new life-saving breathing aid to help keep coronavirus (COVID-19) patients out of intensive care.
Closure of educational settings: information for parents and carers
Information for parents and carers about the closure of schools and other educational settings following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Added section on parental support for keeping children safe online.
Supporting disabled people through the coronavirus outbreak
A joint statement from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, the Minister for Care, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families.
MHRA approves new life-saving breathing aid to help keep coronavirus (COVID-19) patients out of intensive care
Adapted breathing aid developed by UCL, UCLH and Mercedes Formula One provides vital technology to NHS.
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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
New Updates and Guidance – Business Support FAQs
Frequently asked questions for businesses and employers, on business closures and stay at home, and on the self-employment income support scheme, are available on the business support website.
Destroying spoilt beer during coronavirus (COVID-19)
HMRC has introduced a temporary measure to help brewers and publicans in the destruction of spoilt beer during the coronavirus outbreak.
MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance has been produced for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including information on:
- Supporting and authorising the development of vaccines
- Clinical trials of new medicines
- Managing the supply of medicines and healthcare products
- British Pharmacopoeia products and services during the COVID-19 outbreak,
- new guidance on medical devices clinical investigations, and
- new guidance for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) facilities.
MHRA also provide information to patients, manufacturers and healthcare professionals through their established information channels and alert systems.
Stockport Jobs Match
As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, some sectors have seen a huge surge in demand for their goods and services leaving them with an immediate shortage of staff.
Stockport Council has launched a FREE job matching website to help 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.
There is also a call for temporary staff to cover priority functions due to sickness.
The Stockport Jobs Match service is a free to use resource for both individuals and businesses. The website will also help signpost individuals to available support services and information.
How are you doing?
If you are a business owner in Stockport, Totally Stockport and Stockport Council are also keen to find out what your needs are at this difficult time so they can provide the most appropriate advice and support.
To help them understand more, visit www.bidsurvey.com and help them to help you.
Useful links:
Government – Business Support:
Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support:
Government – Business Support:
Bank of England – Financial Support:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility
Stockport Council Grant scheme:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/business-rates-support-measures
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision:
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions:
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable
Travel:
https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
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
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/#vid
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