UK STATISTICS
Total UK Cases: 5,722,298 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 24,950 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 5,238, +86 on previous day
New deaths across UK: 14
Total UK deaths: 129,172
England Cases per 100,000: 461.9
R number in UK: 1.2 to 1.4
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 46,589,211 (88.1%)
Total 2nd doses: 37,287,384 (70.5%)
Daily 1st doses: 24,551
Daily 2nd doses: 117,956
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 29,365 to 26 July
Cases in the latest week: 1,502, down 127 on previous week
Total deaths: 731 to July 9th
Cases per 100,000: 512 per 100,000 week ending 22 July
R number in North West: 1.0 – 1.2
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 84% of adults to 25 July
2nd dose: 69%
The R value and growth rate in England
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Global infection trend
UK NEWS UPDATES:
Have we passed the peak and can we relax?
The number of confirmed daily cases has fallen for six days in a row – now standing at 24,950. It’s little over a week since there were warnings we could reach 100,000 or even 200,000 cases a day. And unlike the previous two waves of Covid, it is happening without a national lockdown. Instead, we’re opening up.
More pinged workers eligible for daily tests instead of isolation
The government said 1,200 extra sites would be established, with prisons, waste management and the armed forces among the sectors prioritised. More critical workers will be able to take daily tests rather than isolate when they are identified as a close contact of someone who has Covid.
Why a giant plastic bag shortage is slowing the rollout
Although Covid-19 vaccine production has been ramped up from zero to billions of doses in record time, a shortage of raw materials and equipment has limited the number of doses that can be made.
Insurance threat for pinged holidaymakers
A host of travel insurance policies will not cover cancellation costs if holidaymakers are told to self-isolate owing to a close Covid contact.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
The latest Covid infection rates go green across Greater Manchester as cases fall in EVERY borough
Infection rates had been increasing at alarming rates in recent weeks, but the picture now seems to be taking a more positive turn.
TfGM invites Stockport businesses to access funding to embed sustainable travel behaviours
Businesses in Stockport have until 27th August to apply to an £800,000 Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) fund to support sustainable travel behaviours.
Investor provides £41 million backing for North-west businesses in 2021
Growth capital investor, BGF, has revealed it has so far invested £41 million in North-west businesses during the first six months of 2021. Investment included £20 million of growth capital investment for seven businesses in the region, in addition to £21 million in follow-on funding for its existing portfolio in the region.
EV charging points installed across North-west up over 300% since 2019
The number of charging points for electric vehicles (EV) installed across the North-west has increased by 346% since 2019, according to Stockport-based Electricity North West.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
EY: UK Economy growing at fastest pace in 8 years
Big Four accountancy firm, EY, has upgraded the country’s economic growth prospects, predicting the fastest rate of growth in 80 years as the UK emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. The EY ITEM Club’s Summer Forecast predicts the economy to grow 7.6% this year, the fastest rate of economic growth since 1941, upgrading its forecast by 0.8 percentage points from Spring figures. The UK economy is expected to now return to pre-pandemic level by the end of the year, three years earlier than appeared likely in forecasts made this time last year. Growth of 6.5% is now expected in 2022, an improvement from the 5% growth forecast in April. This will be followed by growth of 2.1% in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you’re employed and cannot work
Guidance for people who are employed and cannot work due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you’re self-employed and getting less work or no work
Guidance for people who are self-employed and getting less work or no work because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
NHS Test and Trace in the workplace
What to do if you or someone you employ is required to self-isolate. This includes being contacted by NHS Test and Trace, self-isolation rules and financial support.
Why remote working increases the risk of cyber attack
A recent survey from the UK and US-based security firm, Tessian, found that 56% of senior IT technicians believe their employees have picked up bad cyber-security habits while working from home. Worryingly, the survey found that many employees agreed with that assessment. Nearly two in five (39%) admitted that their cyber-security practices at home were less thorough than those practised in the office, with half admitting that this is a result of feeling less scrutinised by their IT departments now, than prior to Covid.
Are you re-opening your business, or planning to do so shortly?
If you’re bringing back your employees part time, you can claim furlough flexibly for them under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), part of the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs. You can currently claim for pay periods in July and August. If you submitted a claim for June and need to make a change because you didn’t claim enough, you can also do this until 11??.59pm next???? Wednesday,?? ?28?? ?July. To help you plan ahead for future claim periods, the CJRS calculator is available to help you work out how much you can claim for employees up to the end of September. For the latest information, join HMRC’s live webinar. You can ask questions throughout using the on-screen text box, although we can’t discuss personal circumstances.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme webinar – will look at: who can claim, who you can claim for, how to calculate what you can claim, how to claim, bringing your employees back from furlough – Register here
There are useful handouts for you to download and we’ll also send you a link to a recording after the live webinar. If you’re a small or medium-sized employer with fewer than 250 employees, you may also be eligible for the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme.
View HMRC’s recorded webinar about the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme on HMRC’s YouTube channel, for further guidance on the scheme, including who you can claim for, how to claim and what you may be entitled to. You can also find out what other financial support may be available for you and your business as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs, by searching ‘find coronavirus financial support’ on GOV??.UK. HMRC will continue to review our webinars to give the most up-to-date information, and welcome your feedback at the end of the session too.
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 medical and compassionate reasons
Who can apply for an exemption from the requirement to enter managed quarantine on arrival in the UK on medical and compassionate grounds.
CONSTRUCTION:
CLC calls for construction workers to be exempt from ping notifications
On August 16 regulations on self-isolation will be relaxed across the economy when anyone who has been double-jabbed will be able to continue to work if they are notified that they have been a contact of someone that has Covid-19.
But ahead of the change, construction businesses from merchants to manufacturers and consultants to contractors are being severely hampered as staff are having to stay home after being identified as a contact of a Covid-19 case, even if they are fully vaccinated.
EDUCATION:
Daily testing can keep pupils in school, study suggests
Daily rapid testing of school pupils who are close contacts of a Covid case did not lead to more virus spread than sending them home, a study has found.
Around 2% of close contacts with test results turned out to have coronavirus.
The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, did not prove that a policy of rapid testing led to fewer Covid-related absences. But the study authors say that schools that successfully implement daily testing should see fewer absences.
Covid rules in many UK schools will be different for the new school year.
But the policy has created huge disruption to children’s education since September.
Reported coronavirus (COVID-19) notifications by registered early years and childcare settings
This data is published fortnightly. It gives the number of registered early years and childcare providers reporting one or more confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) by week – added data for weeks beginning 28 June and 5 July.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Assessment and procurement of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests
How the government assesses offers of COVID-19 tests from developers for procurement and use in the UK.
MANUFACTURING
Stockport manufacturer phases out plastic packaging
The Arden Group, which has its headquarters in Marple, specialises in die and tooling manufacture for the paper-based packaging and carton industries
PROPERTY:
Government tells agents to exercise covid caution
Agents have been told in new government guidance that the liftings of some Covid restraints in wider society “does not mark the end of the need for caution and restraint.” New guidance issued regarding moving home, issued on the main Gov.UK website, says: “We urge everyone involved in the home buying and selling process to continue to follow good hygiene practices Including regular hand-washing, sanitising, and cleaning. These measures will help prevent the spread of infection. You should consider when it may be appropriate to follow additional advisory social distancing measures.”
Covid strengthens UK holiday accommodation market
The Covid-19 pandemic has had many adverse effects on businesses, but an industry that has benefited immensely from the pandemic is the UK holiday accommodation market. New research from building society, The Cumberland, shows a huge boost to the UK’s staycation market.
What the study shows: New research from The Cumberland reveals 86% of holiday accommodation owners say they have invested in their business during the pandemic. A further 94% of holiday accommodation owners say they have made a long-lasting, positive change. This positive outlook for the UK domestic holiday market comes even though the government has announced plans to relax foreign travel rules. Although it is now easier for Brits to go abroad than it was at the height of the pandemic, the research suggests UK holidaymakers are still cautious with 84% deciding to holiday in the UK this summer.
RETAIL
Why HMV is expanding stores in today’s digital world
There was once a time when HMV could easily rely on sales of CDs, DVDs and vinyl. But with online shopping now dominating, the question remains whether this is enough to keep the retailer afloat. Retail Gazette talks to the entertainment chain to find out the reasons for its recent expansion plans.
Selfridges owners begin formal auction with £4bn price tag
Selfridges’ owner the Weston family has reportedly begun a formal auction of the department store business, with bids expected to start at £4 billion.
TRANSPORT:
Haulier advice site locations
Find sites where HGV and coach drivers can get free COVID-19 tests and check their documents to transport goods to the EU – updated COVID-19 testing hours, and added information and advice operational hours.
TRAVEL:
Ryanair optimistic about “strong recovery” following 196% revenue surge
Budget airline Ryanair has announced it is hopeful for a “strong recovery” following a surge in bookings over recent months. In its trading update for the first quarter of 2021, the firm saw a 196 per cent increase in revenue as well as customer numbers rising from 500,000 to 8.1 million. The firm was hit by the cancellation of Easter flights as well as delays to the lifting of travel restrictions, however it is optimistic about the potential for summer growth.
CORONAVIRUS GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES IN STOCKPORT:
Applications for the Economic Recovery Fund ARG Localities Grant closed 31st May
Discretionary Grants summary:
As at 15/07/2021
- Received: 2,911
- Processed: 2,911 (100%)
- Grants Funding Issued: £10,843,331
Restart Grants summary:
Grant allocation: £14,652,603
Number of businesses eligible: 1,845
Number received a grant: 1,780
Total value of payments made: £12,667,488
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:
Stage four (19th July):
- All legal limits on social contact will be removed
- No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events
- Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen
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