Latest data:
Testing: 482,063 people have now been tested for the virus
UK Cases: 120,067 have tested positive
Loss of life: Sadly, of those in hospital, 16,060 people have died
In Stockport: there are 619 cases of Covid-19
Government Daily Briefings
Friday 17th April
Delivered by Business Secretary Alok Sharma:
- Government extends furlough scheme to end of June
- 108,692 people tested positive + 5,599 on previous day
- 18,978 people currently in hospital
- 14,576 have now died + 847 on previous day
- currently social distancing remains in place for at least three weeks
- 5 tests must be satisfied before safe to lift any current restrictions
- set up of a Vaccines Taskforce
- a further 21 research projects set up to fight the coronavirus
- UK’s first Vaccines Manufacturing Centre
Business Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 17 April 2020
Business Secretary Alok Sharma gave the 17 April 2020 daily press briefing on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 17 April 2020
Saturday 18th April
Delivered by Robert Jenrick, Communities Secretary focused on support for local councils:
– an additional £1.6 billion of new funding to support local councils
– deferring £2.6 billion in business rates payments from local administration to central government
– payment up-front of £850 million in social care grants
– delivery of essential supply boxes to those at highest risk and vulnerable people
– Captain Tom raises £25 million for the NHS and rising
– parks must remain open
– funerals can be attended by close family members
Full transcript available HERE
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 18 April 2020
Sunday 19th April
Delivered by Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson
– No date for schools to re-open yet
– Oak National Online academy launches on Monday 20th
– Providing laptops to support home learning and providing routers for those from poorer homes
– Working to provide a vaccine
– General trend for cases to be plateauing
– we should be wary of comparing UK with other countries
– reassurance sought for PPE availability
Full transcript of Gavin Williamson’s briefing
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press briefing 19 April
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
GM Mayor Andy Burnham joins DevoConnect’s Covid-19 Response, Impact & Recovery webinar
DevoConnect!, who represent nine major city regions across England with elected Metro Mayors are hosting a webinar with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds Council, for a debate, ‘COVID-19: Response, Impact and Recovery’ on Thursday 23rd April at 14:30 to find out how our cities and regions are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic?
Andy and Judith will look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through a devolved lens and give us their assessment on how local government and Metro Mayors are responding to the enormous pressures on local and regional economies. We will talk about the political and societal impact of COVID-19 and how we adjust to “recovery mode”. Book here
Have attitudes towards physical activity changed as a result of Covid-19?
Across Greater Manchester we are looking to understand more about how attitudes and behaviours towards physical activity have changed as a result of Covid-19.
We would be grateful if you could complete and circulate this survey across your networks as appropriate.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NJ22WKB
This will add further understanding to recent Sport England research findings that indicate that 63% of adults in England say it is more important to be active now, when compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. Walking is proving to be the most popular activity.
Growth Company Webinars – “Covid-19 Financial Support for the Self-Employed”
Below are some links to webinars being held by the Growth Company to support self-employed with finances. These are being delivered by financial specialists at 2pm today, Monday 20th and at 10am and 2pm tomorrow, 21st.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6656882044720771072
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.
Dedicated health & wellbeing services:
24/7 mental health helpline and (currently virtual) safe haven for anyone over the age of 18 in Stockport (0800 138 7276),
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.
www.bigwhitewall.com
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.
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESSES / FINANCE
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – online claims portal open
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is live from today, Monday 20?? April.
There’s now updated guidance on how to calculate your claim and a simple step-by-step guide.
There is also an online calculator for you to check your calculations online before you make your claim.
Please have all your information and calculations ready before you begin your application. If you have a payroll provider, they will be able to help you with this. You should retain all records and calculations in case HMRC need to contact you about them.
Please only call HMRC if you can’t find what you need on GOV?.UK – this will leave lines open for those who need help most.
Employers can claim for employees who were employed and on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means that the employee must have been notified to HMRC through an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020.
Employers should receive the money within six working days.
The Treasury has announced that the coronavirus job retention scheme will be extended by one month to reflect the social distancing measures.
Further guidance is available here.
Billion pound support package for innovative firms hit by coronavirus
UK businesses driving innovation and development will be helped through the coronavirus outbreak with a £1.25 billion government support package, the Chancellor announced today. The comprehensive package includes a new £500 million loan scheme for high-growth firms, called the Future Fund, and £750 million fund of targeted support for small and medium sized businesses focusing on research and development.
The Future Fund will issue convertible loans to innovative companies which are facing financing difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Future Fund will provide government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.
These convertible loans may be a suitable option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The scheme will be delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank and will launch in May 2020. Find out more about the scheme here.
Details of the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) have been revealed.
Brought forward by lenders accredited by the British Business Bank, the initiative will help provide facilities of up to £25m for those with turnover of between £45m and £250m, and facilities of up to £50m for those with revenue of more than £250m, which are suffering disruption to their cashflow.
CLBILS will support term loans, revolving credit facilities, invoice finance and asset finance facilities. It is designed to give lenders “greater confidence to provide funding” by providing a partial guarantee of 80 per cent of the outstanding facility balance.
CBILS – A guide to whether it may be the best options for a business
Figures released by the banking lobby group, UK Finance, showed that only one in five UK businesses who have formally applied for government-backed loans have been granted emergency funding during the COVID-19 lockdown. But is taking out a loan under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme the best option?
Councils awarded an additional £1.6 billion of new funding to support councils with the pressures they face as they respond to COVID-19.
This funding takes the total amount given to councils to help them through the pandemic to over £3.2 billion.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter from the Secretary of State to the local government workforce
The letter thanks the local government workforce for their help during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prince’s Trust and NatWestwho have launched a £5m fund to help young entrepreneurs across the UK to keep their businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis.
Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
UPDATE!
Stockport Council have administered a total of nearly £38.5 million across 3,373 qualifying businesses and nearly 62% of those identified as eligible as at 11/03/2020.
Businesses that are the main rate payer of business rates can be eligible for grant support of between £10,000 and £25,000 and may miss out on vital financial support if they do not apply by the end of April.
It is vital that eligible businesses who haven’t already done so should contact Stockport Council to apply for a grant.
If your business qualifies for a grant, please complete the application form here: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/support-for-businesses-and-employers
There is also additional guidance for people who don’t know their Business rates account number at https://www.stockport.gov.uk/support-for-businesses-and-employers/small-business-grant-funding-coronavirus If you have any queries please email business.rates@stockport.gov.uk
Webinars and videos from HMRC are now available, advising businesses on how to deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus, and how to access support.
ACAS runs a series of webinars on employment law and employment relations
Covid-19 Business Grant Funding Documentation
HEALTH:
Testing capacity increases as second Lighthouse Lab becomes fully operational
The second mega-lab at Alderley Park in Cheshire has begun to test thousands of patient samples a day for coronavirus.
Government to extend testing for coronavirus to more frontline workers
Access to testing for those with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) will be extended across England to include additional frontline workers and symptomatic members of their household.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing: privacy information
Privacy notice on COVID-19 virus testing for critical workers and their household members who are self-isolating because they’re showing symptoms.
The UK is to begin trialling the use of blood donated by coronavirus survivors to treat people currently suffering from the disease. The hope is that the antibodies they have built up will help others. Meanwhile, doctors are warning people not to mix up the symptoms of coronavirus with hay fever. BBC health correspondent explains how to tell the difference.
Olympics chief brought in to boost PPE production
Lord Deighton will lead the national effort to produce essential personal protective equipment for frontline health and social care staff.
COVID-19: guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions within hospitals and discharging COVID-19 patients from hospital to home settings
Advice on appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions for stepdown in hospital or discharge to home or residential settings.
COVID-19: guidance for health professionals
‘How to work safely in care homes’ added to information on COVID-19, including guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) hub
‘How to work safely in care homes’ added to guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) personal protective equipment (PPE).
Guidance updated to support the safe management of funerals
Further guidance for those managing or organising funerals during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
National testing coordinator warns against unapproved antibody tests
Statement from Professor John Newton, national coordinator of the UK coronavirus (COVID-19) testing programme, warning against the purchase of unapproved antibody testing kits.
Public Health England has launched the Every Mind Matters platform that looks to support people’s mental health through the coronavirus pandemic.
COMMUNITY:
Government sets out plans to ensure bereaved families can attend funerals during pandemic
Local Government Minister has written to all councils in England to ensure that family members can attend the funerals of their loved ones and that the wishes of the deceased are respected during this pandemic.
EXPORT:
UK Export Finance has published guidance on the temporary suspension of debt service repayments.
CHARITIES:![]()
The Charity Commission has provided information on coronavirus related fraud and cybercrime that could target charities.
MANUFACTURING:
A survey of small independent breweries in the UK by SIBA – the Society of Independent Brewers has found that beer sales are down 82%, while 8 in 10 brewers think the Government isn’t doing enough to help them. 65% of breweries have stopped production, while 54% are unable to access Government support.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has announced that it is leading the planning process for restarting the sector after coronavirus, saying that pubs will need three to four weeks’ notice to allow them to reopen, while brewers will need this time to scale-up production. The BBPA says that the Government will need to work with the sector and provide support to ensure that pubs can survive.
PROPERTY:
“We appreciate that for many customers this will only be the start of a very challenging time, and it is right that we share that burden with customers.”
UK Property market is ‘paralysed’ by lockdown – analysis
The lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has frozen the housing market, according to Home.co.uk’s Asking Price Index for April.
With estate agent offices closed until further notice, new listings have, essentially, fallen off a cliff. Meanwhile, price movements during this period are ‘meaningless’ and predictions of falling prices are ‘premature’.
EDUCATION:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
Funding and financial support available for education, childcare and children’s social care organisations.
Financial charity Young Money and the Building Societies Association have launched a set of financial education materials to be used by children, parents and carers while schools are closed. The materials so far available include exercises for both primary and secondary school pupils.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Reorganised information by category: Guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.
The Association of Colleges Sport (AOC Sport) has launched ‘The FIFA 2020 College Lockdown Championships’, a tournament which will give students from member colleges the opportunity to play against English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) national team footballers and compete in a showcase final on Wednesday 1 July 2020.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Updated guidance aims to answer common questions in relation to the cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020:
cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020’ including details of Ofqual’s consultation on exceptional arrangements for exam grading and assessment.
TRANSPORT / TRAVEL:
Attestation forms for travel to and within France
Information for UK nationals about which attestation form to use when travelling to and within France during the coronavirus (COVID-19) decree.
Bangladesh charter flights to return stranded Brits
UK announces four charter flights from Bangladesh to take home British travellers.
17 more charter flights from India to return thousands of stranded Brits
Seventeen more charter flights from India, with a total capacity of around 4000 passengers, will bring back more people in India who have been waiting for flights
Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules: all sectors carriage of goods by road
Extension of the current relaxations of the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying goods by road apart for break derogation in EU rules, until 31 May 2020.
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps has announced measures to make it easier for bus and lorry drivers to renew their expiring driving licences.
Government takes further action to support bus and lorry drivers who are keeping the country moving
Temporary change applies to drivers whose licences are due to expire or have expired since 1 January 2020. Find out more here.
LEISURE:
The aim of the fund, which will be up to £2m, is to extend the safety net as far as possible for the sector by helping small heritage organisations both to survive the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic, and to prepare for recovery.
CONSTRUCTION:
The firm said it would start a phased opening and would operate at reduced capacity over the coming weeks to ensure its workforce adhered to the recommended site operating procedures enforcing social distancing.
Industry leaders have called on the government to label construction staff as essential workers.
Build UK members led by Mace CEO Mark Reynolds made the plea in a call with Minister for Business and Industry Nadhim Zahawi. During the call they urged the government to “designate construction workers as‘essential workers’ in order to reassure everyone that they had ‘permission’ to leave their homes to go to work.”
EMPLOYMENT:
Stockport Jobs Match
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
RETAIL:
Cities with high leisure exposure will be worst hit by lockdown
Cities and towns poised to weather the virus best are ones with a higher proportion of essential retailers that haven’t been closed under government orders, Nyakairu says.
Mercarto launch Mercarto Fresh
Mercarto have this week launched Mercarto Fresh – an ecommerce platform to get independent food outlets, farm shops etc, local food stores etc online. They have partnered with Street Cars who are managing the delivery. There is no cost to the businesses for getting their products online so this is a non-profit activity, the only cost to the consumer is if they choose to use the delivery service delivered by Street Cars. The alternative is a click and collect service, where local businesses can arrange drop off points.
Businesses can sign up here https://www.mercartofresh.co.uk/
Lidl on search for new retail sites As one of the UK’s fastest growing supermarkets, Lidl need new retail sites across the country. Flexible when it comes to type of tenure, the retailer offer a competitive fee structure too.
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:
Stockport Council – Health & Mental Well-being: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/showcase/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:
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
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable
Media and Marketing:
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
Stockport park unveils tribute to young community hero 
Last chance to get the winter Covid-19 booster 
Stockport hosts further pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics ahead of Christmas