Additional Restrictions Grant Discretionary grant scheme – Applications are now closed: Funds for the Additional Restrictions Grant Discretionary grant scheme have been allocated and applications for the scheme are now closed
UK NEWS UPDATES:
NHS calls for free Covid testing to continue
The government has spent billions of pounds on testing for coronavirus during the pandemic. But with the prime minister expected to announce fresh relaxations to England’s Covid rules on Monday, there’s speculation he will scrap PCR test centres and end the free distribution of lateral flow tests. It’s prompted the NHS to call for free resting to continue. The organisation, representing NHS managers, says 75% of senior staff in England do not want self-isolation rules to end. “The government cannot wave a magic wand and pretend the threat has disappeared,” says chief executive Matthew Taylor. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says he will review “the protections we’ve enjoyed over the last few months” in examining how to learn to live with Covid.
Retail sales rose in January by 11.6% year-on-year as shoppers returned to town centres and high streets following the end of work-from-home and face covering guidance, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has reported. Non-food sales volumes rose 3.4% in January 2022, with strong growth in household goods, furniture and electricals, and in department store sales, both up by more than 7%. Only food stores saw a decline in sales volume, possibly indicative of consumers returning to restaurants: non-food sales were 1.1% below pre-pandemic levels of February 2020 when Covid-19 guidance restricted the trading of cafés and restaurants. Online sales also saw a decline in January to the lowest proportion of since March 2020 as customers returned to shopping in physical stores. Despite this downward trend since peaking at over a third of sales in February 2021, online shopping remains above pre-pandemic levels and represented just over a quarter (25.3%) of sales in January 2022.
New research reinforces the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines
Latest findings from the SIREN study reveal more information about the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing infection, even in people who have already had coronavirus (COVID-19).
Managers: Hybrid working is here to stay
Is working from home for part of the week becoming the norm for many employees? A Chartered Management Institute survey suggests that’s the case, with 84% of more than 1,200 firms saying they have adopted hybrid working. Many companies are gradually coaxing employees back to the office, following the relaxation of work-from-home guidance in England and Scotland. But the institute’s chief executive Ann Francke says businesses should embrace hybrid work as “best practice”, as many are “experiencing an uptick in productivity” thanks to the new ways of working. Employees in Wales and Northern Ireland are currently still advised to work from home where possible.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Stockport bucks trend as number of pubs and bars falls to eight-year low
While the number of operating pubs and bars across Greater Manchester has had the sharpest drop in eight years, Stockport has bucked the trend as new bars have opened in the town centre. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics demonstrates how badly the region as a whole has been hit by the pandemic. In March 2021 there were 30 fewer venues open in Greater Manchester than there had been in March 2020, the sharpest fall since 2014. Bolton and Salford also saw an increase of around five venues each. Across the UK, over 1,000 pubs and bars closed between March 2020 – March 2021.
North-West estate agency to move from High Street to ‘digital first’ operation
An agency which in 2020 moved from traditional branches to a hub-based business model, says it’s to become a ‘digital first’ operation. Farrell Heyworth, which covers much of the north-west of England, had 18 branches before the pandemic but in 2020 turned its operation into a seven-hub model.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
COMMUNITY:
EDUCATION:
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 – updated summary table in ‘National technical validation process for manufacturers of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) tests’.
COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers
Genomically confirmed case numbers for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation – added data up to 16 February 2022.
National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published
Weekly national influenza and coronavirus (COVID-19) report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England)
Experimental statistics from the NHS Test and Trace service and related documents.
COVID-19 test validation approved products
Find out which COVID-19 test products have been approved – updated CTDA register with new spreadsheet, removed 6 products and amended one product in the protocol list.
RETAIL:
January retail sales bounce back following Omicron disruption
Retail sales rebounded strongly in January after the Omicron variant hit the UK, with shoppers shrugging off surging inflation and returning to high streets, new figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales rose by 1.9% in January, meaning they were 3.6% above pre-pandemic levels – the biggest monthly increase since the lockdown was lifted last spring. That recovers about half of the 4.0% drop in December when the surge in Covid-19 cases and pandemic restrictions hit spending, and lifts retail spending to 3.6% above its pre-pandemic levels.
TRAVEL:
Using your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad and at venues and settings in England
How to use the NHS COVID Pass to demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at venues and settings in England. From 18 February, residents in England who have received one or more of the following vaccines can have them added to their NHS Record to generate an NHS COVID Pass: Sinopharm Beijing/BIBP, SinoVac-CoronaVac, Covishield (Institute of India) or Covaxin (Bharat Biotech).
GOV & BBC UK daily coronavirus data:
There have been 18.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and 160,000 people have died, government figures show. Over 52.5 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, 91% of people in the UK aged 12 and over. More than 48 million, 85% have had their second and more than 37 million, 66% have had a booster.
*Government case figures now include people in England and Northern Ireland who have tested positive for a second time – after at least a 90-day gap – rather than just first infections.
Total UK Cases: 18,499,058 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 51,899 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 11,721 (366 less than on previous day)
New deaths across UK: 183
Total UK deaths: 160,221
England Cases per 100,000: 538
R number in UK: 0.8-1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 52,542,206 – 91% of UK aged 12+
Total 2nd doses: 85%
Daily 1st doses: 10,914
Daily 2nd doses: 21,914
Daily Booster doses: 34,980
The R value and growth rate
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The R range for England is 0.8 to 1.0; the growth rate for England is -3% to +0% per day as of 11 February
Latest Stockport coronavirus data:
Total Stockport cases: 89,968 to 17 February
Cases in the latest week: 1,097 (700 less compared with previous week)
Total deaths: 848 to February 4th
Cases per 100,000: 373 per 100,000 (7 to 13 Feb)
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 86% of over 12s to 16 February
2nd dose: 82%
3rd / booster dose: 65%
Covid-19 Webinars:
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:
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.
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