Tuesday 7th April
Latest data:
Testing: 208,837 people have now been tested for the virus
New UK Cases: 51,608 positive + 3,802 on previous day
Admissions to hospital: 17,911
Sadly 5,373 people have died, an increase of 439 on the previous day’s figures
In Stockport, there are 225 confirmed cases
There has been a slight reduction in the number of daily deaths over the past 3 days but experts are warning against how these figures are interpreted.
Government media call – daily briefing at 5pm on Monday 6th April:
Hosted by Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab:
- Action plan aimed at slowing the spread of the virus and therefore protecting the NHS
- Increasing the number of NHS beds, key staff and frontline equipment
- Prime Minister admitted to hospital
- Michael Gove: Boosting manufacturing at home to bolster PPE and ventilator capacity
- Alok Sharma: setting out support for small businesses
- Allocated £75m and working with 14 airlines to repatriate UK citizens
- Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives
Read the Government’s travel advice
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 6 April 2020
used by Professor Angela McLean, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser.
Dominic Raab set to lead country through peak of Covid-19 outbreak
Following the news that the Prime Minister has been moved into intensive care, ITU, Dominic Raab will be temporarily leading the country through what is expected to be the peak of the conoravirus outbreak in the UK. Mr Raab was designated by Mr Johnson as his deputy last Summer, after the leadership contest and said that he would deputise for the PM “where necessary”.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): apprenticeship programme response
This document has been updated with new information on continuing training and end point assessment for furloughed apprentices, and pausing new funding audits. It sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Covid-19 – Royal Mail changes to services
Absence rates are affecting the availability of normal services and it has been necessary to make some changes including to:
- Opening hours at customer service points
- Longer retention periods at customer service points
- Changes to Special Delivery Guaranteed
- Business redirection
- Signing for received items
- Deliveries to care homes
Door to door mailings
£20 million for ambitious technologies to build UK resilience following coronavirus outbreak
Updated link to the Innovation Funding Service – businesses to help boost the UK’s resilience to the long-term impact of coronavirus and similar future situations as a result of £20 million government funding.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for schools
Guidance on funding available to schools to support them with costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): free school meals guidance
Added guidance about free school meal support over the Easter holidays for schools and local authorities and guidance on free school meals arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Extra support for schools and parents to help cope with coronavirus
The Government has announced a package of support, including additional funding and high-quality resources, to help schools deal with the challenges posed by coronavirus.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for schools’ and ‘Coronavirus (COVID 19): online education resources’.
GM Business Community:
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is offering all businesses who aren’t currently members free access to the GM Business Community to give them access to our network and support from the largest Chamber in the UK.
GM Business Monitor:
The second GM Business Monitor, a weekly report which captures the impact of Covid-19 on GM employers: second week’s BM survey results. The results are similar to last week’s and indicate a sudden and sharp fall in demand.
This picture is confirmed in the British Chamber of Commerce’s weekly tracker; the issue across all sectors and regions is the same and the key ask is for Government support to be easier to access. Post-Easter we will be launching a sectoral and sub-regional split of the results.
Future updates can be found here:
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Claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Whilst all the guidance has been refreshed, the main areas are:
the more detailed information on scheme eligibility, further information on how to calculate a claim and clarification of what constitutes wages.
Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave (‘furlough’) due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The rules for furloughed staff
On the furlough question, employees can undertake other employment while being placed on furlough and which does not affect the grant if the individuals contract allows them to. They would have to be able to return to work for the employer that placed them on furlough if they decided to stop furloughing them and they must be able to undertake any training they require while on furlough.
If someone takes on new employment, there is a starter checklist form for the new employer and statement C should be completed
Procurement Policy Note 03/20: Use of procurement cards – coronavirus
This Procurement Policy Note sets out guidance on the use of procurement cards to support cash flow for suppliers.
The Bank of England has announced that the TFSME that complements other schemes announced by the Bank and HM Treasury that are designed to support households and businesses during the period of economic disruption, will open for drawings on 15 April 2020, sooner than previously anticipated. The TFSME allows eligible banks and building societies to access four-year funding at rates very close to Bank Rate. The scheme is designed to incentivise eligible participants to provide credit to businesses and households to bridge through the current period of economic disruption caused by the outbreak of Covid-19. The scheme includes additional incentives to provide credit to SMEs.
COVID-19: guidance for residential care, supported living and home care
Residential care, supported living and home care in the event of a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – added link to guidance on admission and care of people in care homes. Marked guidance on residential care provision as above has replaced it
Coronavirus (COVID-19): scaling up testing programmes
How the government intends to scale up testing programmes to provide a test to anyone who needs one – added web version (HTML) of the ‘Scaling up our testing programmes’ document.
Advice on how agency workers relate to the furlough scheme
Can agency workers access the Job Retention Scheme?
The key point to note is that it is linked to PAYE. So if an individual is linked to PAYE on or before 28th February then they are eligible to access this support scheme.
Are agency workers likely to be registered on PAYE?
Agencies that only employ/ broker jobs for people on low incomes may choose not to use PAYE.
Procurement Policy Note 02/20: Supplier relief due to COVID-19
Addition of further guidance, FAQs and model terms for construction to Procurement Policy Note (PPN) that sets out information and guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the current COVID-19, outbreak.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to councils about local authority meetings and postponement of elections
Letter from MHCLG to local authority chief executives on emergency legislation to support local authorities. The first set of regulations enables all local authority meetings before 7 May 2021 to be held remotely and removes the requirement for the annual meeting this year. The second set postpones until 6 May 2021 local by-elections and other polls, either scheduled or which would otherwise arise before that date.
MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Added link to Guidance for manufacturers and Good Practice (GxP) laboratories on exceptional flexibilities for maintenance and calibration during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the Inspections and Good Practice section
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice to local authorities on prioritising waste collections
A guide to help local authorities and other waste collectors prioritise their waste collection services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
The grant funds, designed to assist qualifying Stockport businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, will be available for businesses to access as soon as the monies have cleared their bank accounts which may vary according to the bank provider.
The Government have also released a set of frequently asked questions to support businesses to understand the grant schemes and these can be found https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/covid-19-grant-funding-schemes-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
The system generates a form and sends it out to businesses if their information is incomplete or incorrect – it is important that businesses respond to these forms quickly to avoid delay in any payments they may be eligible for.
Government Guide to accessing grant funding
Access an easy to follow guide on who is eligible for grant funding and how to access funding grant
The Government has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions and corresponding answers around Grant Funding – https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/covid-19-grant-funding-schemes-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/
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.
If you have any enquiries, please email: business.rates@stockport.gov.uk
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Other media / news headlines:
UKEF expands protection against non-payment for UK exporters
UK Ministers eye up support package for start-ups
Proposals to develop more comprehensive and inclusive support for the self-employed
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:
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
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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