July 15th – Coronavirus News Updates:

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 – www.skbusinessrecovery.co.uk to support businesses through the phases of recovery.

Latest UK data:

Total tests:                 12,189,587 tests have been taken or mailed out  + 97,403

Positive tests:            291,373 have tested positive + 398 in last 24 hours

Loss of life:                44,830 across all settings + 138

Cases in Stockport: 1,637 positive tests  + 0
Cases per 100,000: 5.8

*new data now shows the results of all testing, Pillar 1 in hospital and Pilar 2 drive through test centres and swab results by post).

Data from the ONS shows that fewer than one in 2,000 now has the virus as the slow decline in case numbers continues. 

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK

The R number and growth rate in the UK
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK. The R number range for the UK is 0.7-0.9 and the growth rate range is -5% to -2% as of 12 July 2020.

UK HEADLINES:  

New VAT rates of 5% effective for hospitality sector
A £4bn cut in VAT has come into force, allowing firms in the food, drink and hospitality sectors to slash prices. Starbucks and McDonald’s are the latest firms to promise reductions after the chancellor ordered a temporary VAT cut from 20% to 5%. The Treasury estimates households could save £160 a year on average, but not all firms will pass on the benefit. Many companies are expected to use the windfall to shore up finances hit by the lockdown, rather than cut prices. The VAT reduction will stay until 12 January next year, Rishi Sunak announced last week. It was part of a package of measures to help firms recover and get consumers spending.

May Report shows R rate at 0.57 and 18-24 year olds more likely to test positive
Imperial’s research shows the rates of infection fell during May, the last month of lockdown, halving every 8 to 9 days. There were on average 13 positive cases for every 10,000 people, with an overall reproduction number of 0.57 – lower than previously reported. These findings show the virus was circulating with relatively low prevalence and was declining in May, ahead of the decision being made to begin to lift lockdown restrictions, and that young adults, aged 18 to 24, were more likely to test positive than other age groups, reinforcing the need for this age group to adhere to social distancing measures to protect vulnerable friends and family

Lenders pass latest milestone in coronavirus funding

Lenders have approved £46.3bn to more than 1.1 million businesses so far through the three major UK government-backed lending schemes, according to new figures. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) have all launched over recent months. The BBLS – aimed at sole traders and micro businesses – has seen £31.7bn provided by lenders, while 54,500 businesses have been backed through CBILS to the tune of £11.9bn.
More than 400 larger companies have received finance via CLBILS, totalling £2.7bn.

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

Letter from Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Stockport Council:
Dear Stockport residents, key workers, community groups and public servants,
On behalf of all Group Leaders and Councillors at Stockport Council, I want to thank you for everything you have done over recent weeks and months in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Whether you displayed a rainbow in your window, checked on a neighbour, volunteered your time, fundraised, donated supplies or worked as a key worker to keep the borough running, it has taken us all to come together to respond to the biggest crisis we have experienced since World War II. 
These past months have truly been unprecedented for us all. The way residents, businesses, community and voluntary groups, and public services have worked together for our borough has been incredible.

I know that lockdown has been difficult too. Many of us have missed the face to face connection with close friends and family. Holidays, weddings, parties and other plans have been put on hold. For some, lockdown has brought financial difficulty or impacted our emotional wellbeing. 
We are also mourning the passing of those we have lost to covid during this time and my thoughts are with all those who have been bereaved during this time. 
Despite, these challenges, the strength and resolve shown by so many Stockport residents in the face of the greatest public health crisis in our lifetimes, has been truly astounding. Everyone has played their part, no matter how big or small.
On behalf of all Group Leaders and Councillors at Stockport Council, I therefore thank you, Stockport, for your courage, your kindness, your hard work, and most of all your unwavering support for one another. 
Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Stockport Council

Metro Mayors’ joint plea to government on vital coronavirus testing data
The Government must fulfil its legal requirement to give local authorities detailed information on coronavirus testing to help them avoid lockdowns, such as in Leicester. That was the call from the Liverpool and Greater Manchester Metro Mayors, Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, in a joint online press conference today. The Government changed the law in March to make coronavirus a notifiable disease, which means local authorities can demand information on positive COVID tests to help them pinpoint problems as early as possible and avoid putting areas into lockdown again. Meanwhile Darwen & Blackburn have introduced the mandatory wearing of face coverings ahead of the Governments date of 24^th July. Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire faces a gradual re-imposition of lockdown measures if the spike in infections there is not reduced within two weeks, a senior local official has warned.  Residents have already been told to limit the number of visitors to their homes, bump elbows rather than shake hands and wear face coverings in all confined public spaces, including workplaces, libraries, museums and health centres.  Professor Dominic Harrison, the local director of Public Health, said: “What we are seeing from looking at the postcode data in the last two weeks is a single house being infected and the whole household becoming infected, creating household clusters in part of the town.”  He said the majority of new cases were in the south Asian community and areas with a high number of terraced houses, occupied by four or more people.

Plans step up for Stockport MDC’s St Thomas’s Hospital scheme despite Covid-19
Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s plans to redevelop the former site of St Thomas’s hospital have taken a step further following the Council’s Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13^th July.  Situated within the Royal George Quarter of Town Centre West, the scheme will be led by the MDC and delivered through Viaduct Housing. The ambition is to deliver the vision and values of the MDC and, in partnership with Homes England, will bring forward 67 new affordable homes at Shaw Heath alongside a new 70-bed Intermediate Care facility. The 67 affordable homes are made up of a tenure mix 80% shared ownership and 20% social rent in 54 apartments housed within existing buildings alongside 13 new-build townhouses.

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

Stockport Council – phase 4 for Local Authority Discretionary Grant Scheme
As there continue to be funds available via the LAD scheme, a fourth phase of applications is being offered to businesses that meet the eligibility criteria set out in the guidance. Eligible businesses that meet the criteria for phases one two and three, which missed the application deadline for these phases, can make an application in phase four.  The deadline for submitting applications in phase four of the scheme is midnight on midnight on Friday 07/08/2020.  In phase 4 there is also an opportunity to apply for a fixed grant of £2,000 for registered businesses based in Stockport that meet either of the following criteria:

• home based or self-employed that have not had access to any other financial support linked to Covid-19, that have had a reduction in income due to Covid-19
• fixed property costs below the £250 per month de minimis level set for earlier phases of the discretionary grant scheme and have not had access to any other financial support linked to Covid-19, that have had a reduction in income due to Covid-19.

Further information and support with your application can be accessed by emailing SKLADGRANTS@stockport.gov.uk“
Read the full guidance HERE

Stockport businesses grant funding payments:

Main Grant Scheme:

Stockport Council have now administered a total of 5,264 grants bringing the total amount paid to £60,500,000 and bringing the total now over 96% of those identified as eligible as at 11/03/2020.

If your business qualifies for a grant, please complete the online application form. Total grant allocation is £66.574m. If you have any queries please email business.rates@stockport.gov.uk  

Local Authority Discretionary Grant funding scheme

Applications for phase 4 of the Local Authority Grant fund scheme is now open

Full qualifying criteria can be found on Stockport Council’s website.  Enquiries about the scheme can be emailed to SKLADGRANTS@stockport.gov.uk

Status of Payments to date:

Applications: 500
Payments:     £700,000

Stockport – is your business open for business?

Is your business in Stockport?  Are you ‘open for business’?  Whatever your business, we want to support you. And it’s free!  Follow the link, fill in the form and we will add you to our directory:

COMMUNITY:

Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own
This page explains when to wear a face covering and how to make one.

Face coverings to be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from 24 July
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock spoke about plans to make face coverings mandatory in shops and supermarkets from 24 July 2020.

COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities
Guidance for those managing community centres, village halls and other community facilities on safely re-opening multi-purpose buildings – links added to guidance on rehearsal and training; to guidance on maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace; and to guidance on the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation in England.

CONSTRUCTION:

Galliford Try confident of strong recovery from Covid-19
Galliford Try issued an upbeat trading statement to the City today despite Covid-19 causing operating losses of 5%. The contractor is well capitalised with £195m of cash in the bank following the sale of its housing business.  And Galliford Try’s order book is up 10% at £3.2bn with 81% in the public and regulated sectors.

EDUCATION:

Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Guidance for schools and local authorities on free school meals arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – updated guidance and application form for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups. This includes the increase in the income threshold from £16,190 per annum to £31,500 per annum for London and £28,200 for areas outside of London.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): initial teacher training (ITT)
Information for providers about managing initial teacher training courses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) – updated the guidance to include information on compliance with the ITT criteria (2020 to 2021), ITT trainee consumer protection advice, 120 days in schools, support for ITT 2020 and critical workers.

EMPLOYERS / BUSINESS / FINANCE:

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: July 2020
This statistical release provides estimates of the number and value of claims made to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to HMRC by 30 June 2020.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme statistics: July 2020
The number of individuals claiming the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant up to 30 June 2020 by age, gender, industry sector and geography.

HMRC coronavirus (COVID-19) statistics
HMRC data about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and the VAT payments deferral scheme – added links to the monthly Official Statistics publications ‘Self-Employment Income Support Scheme statistics: July 2020’ and ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: July 2020’ to the page

Coronavirus guidance for Companies House customers, employees and suppliers
Companies House has robust plans in place to maintain services for our customers and protect the welfare of our employees during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Users can request to have the authentication code sent to a home address instead of the company’s registered office. This is a temporary service in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Coronavirus: restarting driver and rider training and tests
Guidance for driving instructors and motorcycle trainers about the restart of driver and rider training and tests, including working safely and timescales – added information about car driving test candidates being emailed to choose a new test date.

Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) – updated to confirm that from 13 July providers can welcome back 19+ apprentices into educational settings, that the flexibility to suspend level 2 functional skills for level 2 apprentices has been extended, and more information on support for redundant apprentices.

Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: 23 March to 9 July 2020
A summary of attendance in education settings since Monday 23 March and early years settings since Thursday 16 April.

Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Attendance in education settings since Monday 23 March and early years settings since Thursday 16 April – added ‘Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: 23 March to 9 July 2020’.

COVID-19: Home Office extraordinary funding for domestic abuse support services
Guidance for the £2 million Home Office fund for domestic abuse charities affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – added bidder clarifications.

HEALTH, HEALTHCARE & WELLBEING:

COVID-19: PHE laboratory assessments of molecular tests
PHE has undertaken rapid assessments of commercially provided diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection with further evaluations ongoing – added rapid assessment: careGENE N-CoV RT-PCR Kit.

REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: May 2020 results
Results of real-time assessment of community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) during May 2020.

Largest testing programme for coronavirus publishes its initial findings
Over 120,000 volunteers tested across England between 1 May and 1 June as part of the country’s largest study into coronavirus.

Types and uses of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests
Guidance on the different types of coronavirus test available.

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE): Coronavirus (COVID-19) response – publication scheme
This publication scheme sets out the information that SAGE publishes and explains how the evidence should be viewed.

COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol
COVID-19 guidance for commissioners and service providers for those dependent on drugs or alcohol – guidance updated relating to PPE supply, NHS test and trace, accessing treatment and meeting of groups inside and outside.

GAD helps with modelling and analysis in ‘test and trace’
Experts from GAD have been using their analytical skills to support the NHS’s ‘test and trace’ programme.

MHRA regulatory flexibilities resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for industry on flexible approaches to regulation we are taking during the COVID-19 outbreak – added information on audits of Notified Bodies and manufacturers in the ‘Medical Devices’ section.

COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings outside the home
This guidance covers the cleaning of environments outside the home.
Guidance updated with advice on cleaning and waste management that does not relate to a suspected or confirmed case, taking into account current levels of community transmission.

JUDICIARY:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and prisons
This page provides guidance for families and friends of those in prison in England and Wales during the coronavirus pandemic – additional information regarding prison visits.

Visit someone in prison during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Prisons in England and Wales will now be opening when they decide it is safe for visitors.

Preventing and controlling outbreaks of COVID-19 in prisons and places of detention
Information for prisons and other prescribed places of detention on coronavirus (COVID-19) – added information relating to controlling outbreaks of COVID-19, transition of prisoners or detainees into the community and court appearances during outbreaks. Added separate PPE table.

LEGAL:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Office of the Public Guardian response
This page provides guidance on how OPG is responding to the coronavirus outbreak. It will be updated when new information is available.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Office of the Public Guardian response
This page provides guidance on how OPG is responding to the coronavirus outbreak. It will be updated when new information is available.

LOCAL AUTHORITY:

Coronavirus grant funding: local authority payments to small and medium businesses
Local authorities have received and distributed funding to support small and medium businesses in England during coronavirus.

MANUFACTURING:

Destroying spoilt beer, cider, wine or made-wine during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out about temporary changes to the destruction of spoilt beer, cider, wine or made-wine if you’re a brewer, cider producer, wine maker or publican – information about how spoilt beer can be re-purposed has been updated.

PROPERTY:

Expert opinion: why and where to invest overseas post-Covid-19?
In a recent Zoom webinar, titled ‘Why and where to invest in residential real estate post-Covid-19’, representatives from three different luxury overseas resorts discussed the future for virtual viewings, whether investors are now reassessing their priorities and the importance of brand longevity.

RETAIL:

Ocado reports 27% growth thanks to accelerated digital capabilities
Online grocery retailer Ocado has met the challenges of the pandemic with revenue growth of over a quarter.  In interim results published today, the group has reported a retail growth of 27.2 per cent for the 26 weeks ended 31 May 2020.  In addition, Ocado created 300 jobs during the period in its technology division to boost the acceleration of its online platform transformation, meeting the growing demand for online shopping.

TRAVEL & TOURISM:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): planning update on cultural venues and holiday parks
Questions and answers on the 14 July 2020 announcement on preventing loss of cultural venues and planning conditions for holiday parks.

TUI Chief calls for furlough scheme extension for airlines
The furlough scheme is due to end on 31 October 2020 and while Dawn Wilson says the scheme has been “a really helpful thing from the chancellor”, she wants to see it extended.  Tui Airways furloughed “as many people as we could” when the scheme was announced, as it “materially grounded the airline”.  At one point, about 85% of the airline was furloughed. Engineers were kept on to maintain the aircraft, which were in active storage.  Since then it has been reviewing numbers “month by month”, signing off a handful of furlough returners at a time.

Covid-19 Webinars:

Wednesday 15^th July: FSB: Want to become a lean, green business machine?
This session will explore the full range of options open to you to help you and your business ‘go green’ and slash not just your carbon footprint, but your energy bills as well. As the UK economy embarks on its long haul journey to repair the damage caused by Covid-19, savvy businesses will be looking at how and where they can make savings to invest in their future as part of the build back better, build back greener ethos!  

Wednesday 15th July: Northern Powerhouse Education, Employment and Skills Summit (NPEESS2020)
The summit will provide an early opportunity to kick start the debate on what the North needs to do to reboot, rebuild, recover and rebalance
NPEESS2020 brings together policy makers and influencers to look at the impact on education, employment and skills and discuss what the North needs to do to unlock opportunities, deliver growth, boost prosperity and rebalance the economy.

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

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/

Join an HR virtual community HRD: A Virtual Experience.

Join 2,500+ senior HR Leaders from across the globe including The Clorox Company, Diageo, DHL, Siemens, Nestle, Vodafone, Tiffany & Co, ING and more.

Date and time: Thursday June 18th from 10am CET/9am BST

Summit theme: The Resilient Organisation

Sign up here – it’s completely free!

ACAS – run a series of courses to help businesses with transition from lockdown

Useful information and links:

Stockport nominated in the Smart City category in the Digital Leaders awards.
Vote for Stockport HERE. Voting closes at 12 noon on Friday 28th August, with the winners announced on the 15th of October.

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. 

Stockport Council publishes details for Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Stockport Council has confirmed its criteria in consideration of awarding the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund, announced as the grants Top-up fund by the Government on 1^st 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 – 11^th 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.