Help us to help you by completing a short survey
UK HEADLINES:
- More than 11 million people – 19.6% of the population – will be living under Tier 3, England’s tightest restriction including Nottinghamshire after a rise in infection rates.
- West Yorkshire will move into Tier 3 measures from Monday
- Infection rates are rising rapidly – an estimated 100,000 people a day testing positive for the virus
- North East of England at critical point in their fight against the virus
- UK’s latest daily figures show 23,065 further positive cases
Channel 4 to repay £1.5m furlough support after robust trading
Channel 4 is to repay the government around £1.5m in furlough payments after finding itself in a “robust financial position ahead of expectations”.
It said it expected to end 2020 with a “significant financial surplus” after what chief executive Alex Mahon called “an incredibly challenging year”.
“We will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.”
Pizza Express cuts 1,300 more jobs amid Covid crisis
Pizza Express have said another 1,300 jobs will be lost across its 370 UK restaurants on top of the loss of 1,100 jobs and 73 restaurant closes already announced during the summer. City centre venues have taken the biggest hit as people move to home-working
Tighter coronavirus restrictions for millions in England
Residents in areas of Yorkshire and the Humber, parts of the West & East Midlands as well as Luton and Oxford City will come under stricter measures from this weekend. Under Tier 2, households will no longer able to mix in any indoor setting. The decision will be reviewed in 14 days
Local COVID alert level: very high (West Yorkshire)
IMF: Government support ‘essential for UK economy’
The UK can afford it, and support is needed to see it through the coronavirus pandemic and the Brexit transition, the IMF said.
Coronavirus infections are climbing rapidly again in the UK and elsewhere.
The IMF said the coronavirus recession is likely to be more severe than it had predicted just a few weeks ago.
It said the second wave of coronavirus, Brexit uncertainty, rising unemployment and stress on firms’ balance sheets would make for a more “muted” recovery than it forecast earlier this month.
Housing Market boom set to continue into 2021
The housing market boom looks set to continue for some months yet as mortgage approvals for home purchases hit their highest level for 13 years. The latest Money & Credit report from the Bank of England shows approvals are now 10 times the level seen during lockdown, and at their highest since September 2007. Approvals for home purchase hit 91,500 in September, prompting optimistic comments from agents and other industry figures.
The quarantine lists have changed
Quarantine restrictions apply to people entering the UK from almost every country as coronavirus rates rise again. From 04:00 GMT on Sunday, people entering the UK from Lithuania or Cyprus will have to quarantine for 14 days. The government is exploring ways to reduce this self-isolation period through testing.
Latest UK data:
Positive tests: 965,340 have tested positive (+ 23,065 new cases)
Loss of life: *45,955 across all settings (+ 280 in last 24 hours)
Hospital admissions: 1,404 new admissions
Cases in Stockport: 1,292 cases 20 Oct to 26 Oct (+380 on previous week)
Cases in Stockport: 440 cases per 100,000 (England area average: 149)
Deaths in Stockport: 380 coronavirus-related registered to 16 October
Total cases in Stockport: 6,845 to 29 October
R rate in England: 1.2–1.4
*Daily reported COVID deaths are measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first laboratory-confirmed positive COVID test
The R number and growth rate in the UK
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK.
Full list of local COVID alert levels by area
The areas in England listed as local COVID alert level high and local COVID alert level very high – updated with new restricted areas
COVID-19: background information
Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features – updated global case numbers.
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Thales installs thermal cameras at 108 Network Rail critical staff locations tomonitor for Covid-19
Stockport based Thales has rolled out the installation of thermal cameras at over 108 critical Network Rail staffing locations across Britain as a safety measure to help protect staff. One of the key signs of COVID-19 is an elevated temperature, so by monitoring the body temperatures of staff to within a specific range on entry to site, the cameras are able to help detect and prevent the potential spread of the virus within Network Rail’s workforce.
Stockport takes a collaborative approach to keeping businesses and residents safe
Organisations across the borough, including Stockport Council, the local police teams and colleagues at Stockport homes, have joined forces to ensure that the people of Stockport are kept up to date with, understand and follow the latest official guidance in a collaborative approach in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Working alongside the NHS and Public Health England, Stockport’s Pandemic Response Team’s work is to protect residents and make sure businesses adhere to safety rules in the fight against coronavirus with an aim to reduce case numbers and ultimately hospital admissions due to coronavirus.
Local COVID alert level: very high
Find out what restrictions are in place if you live in an area where the local COVID alert level is very high
Statement from Stockport Council
“The Government recently announced further financial support measures to help businesses who are legally required to close due to a nationally imposed lockdown, as well as packages of wider financial support measures for other businesses impacted by the pandemic. We will shortly publish full details of which businesses will be eligible to receive a grant together with information about how you can apply once we have received the appropriate confirmation from Government.”
More information on this will be made available as soon as it is possible to do so. This is the latest information available on the Government website:
Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government – the guidance is being revised. Updated guidance for the Local Restrictions Support Grants will be issued within the next week.
By working in collaboration, Stockport can become united and encouraged to build a better future for everyone by supporting the local economy, connecting communities and promoting health & wellbeing. Find out more at www.onestockport.co.uk
BUSINESS & FINANCE:
Which sectors are hiring at the moment
In the week to 23 October, the volume of online job adverts posted was at 70% of the 2019 average, the highest since the end of March.
Some sectors have recovered more strongly than others. Health and social care vacancies are now above 2019 levels, data suggests, while funding has begun for hundreds of nurse apprenticeships in England. By contrast, the rate of catering and hospitality vacancies is down two-thirds on last year’s average. Tech recruiter Amy suggests applying to companies which are fully digital, regardless of the role you want, as the pandemic has accelerated the shift to online working.
These could be online retail companies like Amazon, which is recruiting for 7,000 UK jobs by the end of 2020 – or tech companies working in education or healthcare.
Furlough is ending, what happens now?
UK firms can get extra support if they have to close as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions. For example, in England some businesses in tier three “very high risk areas” have to close – including pubs and bars that don’t serve substantial meals, and betting shops. In Scotland, cinemas and other entertainment venues must close in level three areas such as Glasgow and Edinburgh from 2 November.
Workers will be paid 67% of their wages – up to a maximum of £2,083.33 a month – through the JSS.
As Stockport’s business community prepares for recovery post-coronavirus, a group of business leaders from the town have collaborated with Stockport Council to launch a new website – skbusinessrecovery.co.uk to support businesses through the phases of recovery.
COMMUNITY:
Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain: 30 October 2020
Indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey covering the period 21 to 25 October 2020 to understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain.
CONSTRUCTION:
Cabinet Office turns screw on late paying contractors
The Cabinet Office is ratcheting up prompt payment requirements on main contractors when bidding for public work. A year ago rules were introduced in bid documents requiring all public clients to vet main contractors’ payment records to suppliers for projects worth over £5m. Under the procurement rules, main contractors pass scrutiny if they can demonstrate 75% or more of invoices are paid within 60 days in at least one of the two previous six month reporting periods. Those that fail the payment test are barred from bidding contracts. Originally, the Government aimed to lock-out any contractor failing to pay 95% of invoices within 60 days.
EDUCATION:
PE and sport premium for primary schools
How much PE and sport premium funding schools receive and advice on how it should be spent.
Reported coronavirus (COVID-19) cases 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.
HEALTH, CARE & WELLBEING:
Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
Guidance for contacts of a person with a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19) who do not live with that person.
JUDICIARY:
Courts backlog ‘tipping point’ for justice system
The number of criminal cases waiting to be dealt with by Crown Courts threatens to overwhelm the justice system in England and Wales, a study suggests.
A backlog in the courts hearing the most serious cases could be 195,000 by 2024 without action, says crime and justice consultancy Crest Advisory.
It says longer sittings and new courts are needed to tackle the problem, which has worsened during the Covid pandemic.
The Ministry of Justice said the study was based on “extreme assumptions”.
PROPERTY:
Covid-19 redraws the landscape for retirement living
The retirement living sector was going from strength to strength as an asset class in the early months of 2020, and was being touted as the next student accommodation. Then, Covid-19 struck, and the priority became to ensure that accommodation was secure and its residents were safe. With attention slowly turning back towards the medium and long-term future, Property Week and Dentons assembled a panel of leading figures from all sides of the sector earlier this month to debate how the crisis has affected the development of retirement living in the UK, and its prospects for post-pandemic growth. The roundtable panel discussed topics including:
- The impact of Covid-19 on retirement living
- How the pandemic will affect future design
- Rental vs home ownership business models
- What customers want from developments
- How the government could help the sector
- The lessons to be learned from overseas
RETAIL:
Retail to residential – will the high street need to change forever?
“Having spent years fighting each other to create bigger, flashier and more costly retail cathedrals and create the ultimate shopping experience, retail giants such as Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and more recently the high street’s staple big guys like M&S, John Lewis and Debenhams realise that, with the exponential explosion of convenient and Covid-19-compliant internet shopping, these huge retail spaces are dinosaurs that will (as in Debenhams’ case) cause their destruction.”
TRAVEL:
Which countries can I still go on holiday to?
Many countries – including the UK – have seen their coronavirus rates rise again, meaning options for restriction-free travel are limited. Places people from Engand can visit without restricted access include Canary Islands, Cuba, Gibraltar, Sweden and Greece. Holidaymakers can also travel to Madeira & the Azores and the Maldives with proof of a negative test). Travellers from the common travel area (CTA) – the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man – are exempt from UK quarantine. However, some parts of the CTA, including Ireland and the Isle of Man, impose restrictions on travellers entering from England. From Sunday, Lithuania and Cyprus will become the latest countries to lose their ”travel corridor,” meaning arrivals will have to quarantine.
FCDO privacy notice: coronavirus (COVID-19) repatriation support
How the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office processes personal data when we are supporting British people travelling to return to the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for British people who are currently travelling abroad and are unable to return home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – updated with new ‘financial assistance abroad’ link
Covid-19 Webinars:
November 4th:
How creative & digital businesses grow through post-Covid uncertainty
Growth Hub & Business Desk host The Covid-19 crisis has put huge pressure on businesses in all sectors, but the disruption has also accelerated change and created opportunities. Even those that have grown, have often done so reactively.
This webinar on November 4th at 9.30am by TheBusinessDesk.com and GC Business Growth Hub will look at how digital, creative and tech businesses can start to take control of growth proactively again, even during ongoing uncertainty in the post-Covid economy.
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.
Make your workplace COVID-secure:
You can find recordings of webinars covering other types of workplace here
HMRC:
Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme:
Providing an overview of the scheme, this webinar looks at who can claim, when to start paying SSP, employees you can claim for, making a claim, keeping records, and more. Choose a date and time to view webinar
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.
Twice weekly: EnterprisingYou
Finance support for the self-employed webinars For info about latest webinar date announcements please visit the website https://enterprising-you.co.uk/latest-news/
ACAS
A series of courses to help businesses with transition from lockdown
Useful information and links:
Job Support Scheme to open on November 1st
The Job Support Scheme (JSS) will open on 1 November and run for six months, until 30 April 2021. The government has said it will review the terms of the scheme in January 2021. There are two variations to JSS – JSS Open and JSS Closed.
Job Retention Bonus (JRB)
Employers are able to claim a one-off payment of £1,000 for every eligible employee furloughed and claimed for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), kept continuously employed until at least 31??? ?January 2021 and who meets the other eligibility criteria. Claims can be made between 15??? ?February and 31??? ?March.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – closes on 31??? ?October
Please note that this scheme closes on 31??? ?October and employers will need to make any final claims on or before 30??? ?November. You will not be able to submit or add to any claims after 30??? ?November.
Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.
Job Support Scheme expanded to help businesses forced to close
The Government’s Job Support Scheme (JSS) has been expanded to support businesses across the UK required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictions.
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.
Full list of local COVID alert levels by area
The areas in England listed as local COVID alert level high and local COVID alert level very high.
Local COVID Alert level: Very High (Liverpool City Region)
Guidance on additional restrictions for Liverpool City Region.
Local COVID Alert Level Posters
A series of graphical posters displaying information about the Local COVID Alert Level.
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.
Find someone to apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant on your behalf
Find a Kickstart gateway in England, Scotland or Wales who have expressed interest in helping employers get a Kickstart Scheme grant.
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
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.
Coronavirus Act report: September 2020
The third two-monthly report on which powers in the Coronavirus Act 2020 are currently active.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension
The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can get.
Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.
Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and required to display official NHS QR code posters under law
NHS Test and Trace service in the workplace
Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers updated to reflect the new legal requirements for designated venues to collect contact details and display official NHS QR code posters from 24th September
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.
Visit the Stockport Council website to report details of any outbreaks online. https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
The SMBC website and produce a form for completion online if anyone wants to report an outbreak. The links are now live and are below:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/guidance-for-employees-employers-and-businesses
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
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.
New 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.
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak – guidance updated in line with new regulations coming into force on 4 July
Business Survey:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-coronavirus-impact-business-survey/dcms-business-survey-headline-measures
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.
Applications Now Open for the Local Authority Discretion Fund. Businesses that had been eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support are also now eligible for the LA Discretionary Business Grant.
Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund
The Future Fund will provide UK Government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch
Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.
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
Government – Setting out of Road Map to recovery – 11th May 2020
Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s 60 page COVID-19 recovery strategy
The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread.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. The website also helps signpost individuals to available support services and information.
www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk
Coronavirus Act 2020: status
A table setting out the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Government – Financial Support
New 100% government backed loan scheme for small business
Stockport Council – Health & Mental Well-being https://www.stockport.gov.uk/showcase/coronavirus
Government – Financial Support
CBILS – A guide to whether it may be the best options for a business
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.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
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
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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874732/230320_-_Revised_guidance_note_-_finalVF
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus/resources/2020/03/coronavirus-business-support-webinar-series
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/food-delivery-and-takeaway-guidance-for-food-businesses-looking-to-diversify/
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health– Shielding the most vulnerable
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
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.
Health – the big white wall
The Big White Wall offers 24/7 anonymous support via a digital emotional wellbeing and mental health service, offering peer support for anyone over the age of 16, support from trained clinicians alongside a range of helpful tools and resources.
Media and Marketing:
Prolific North are publishing daily updates on their blog as to how Covid-19 is impacting on the marketing, media and technology industries
Travel:
https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit http://news.dwp.gov.uk/dwplz/lz.aspx?p1=MQsDU1NjQ5MlM2OTA0OjNCNDJBOEZCRTJDOUJEOTc1ODQ0RTRCRDNDNzk4QUNF-&CC=&p=0
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
Employment: – Stockport Jobs Match
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.
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.
