Latest data:
Testing: 1,448,010 people have now been tested for the virus
Positive tests: 201,101 people have tested positive + 6,111 on previous day
Loss of life: 30,076 people have died across all settings 649 more deaths since the previous day’s figures
In Stockport: There are 908 cases of Covid-19, 12 up on previous day
Updates from Government Daily Briefing
Wednesday 6th May
Conducted by Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick
- £3.2bn so far provided to local authorities to support communities who need it most
- Tribute paid to 38 Resilience Forums around the country
- Highlighted the work his department are doing with Mayors
- Boris Johnson to present the national strategy for second phase on Sunday
- The majority of HS2 is progessing
- High Streets starting to receive part of £22bn support package
- Over 100 towns benefitting from the Towns Fund
- £8.6bn grant payments paid out to 700,000 businesses
- Primary care services – GPs, dentists, pharmacies still open
- Regional media asked to pose today’s questions
Communities Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 6 May 2020
The Communities Secretary on the government’s response to COVID-19 and the work being done locally.
HEADLINE NEWS:
BBC – Government to review lockdown with road-map revealed on Sunday
Boris Johnson will review the coronavirus lockdown in England with his cabinet later, after suggesting some rules could be eased from Monday. By law the government must review the restrictions every three weeks, and today marks the latest deadline. The prime minister will address the nation on Sunday to outline plans for the next stage of the lockdown.
BBC – Coronavirus PPE – Gowns ordered from Turkey fail to meet safety standards
Some 400,000 surgical gowns ordered from Turkey do not meet British safety standards, the UK government has said.
Up to half of the personal protective equipment (PPE) order was flown to the UK by the RAF last month, but has not been given to NHS workers and is now stuck in a warehouse.
It is not clear if the government will seek a refund from the suppliers.
The Department of Health said it was working “night and day to source PPE”.
Government Warnings Over Coronavirus Scams – Here’s How to Protect Yourself
As the number of COVID-19 related scams reaches new heights, the government is now including up-to-date statistics and information in the daily Coronavirus briefings at Downing Street. KIS Finance have put together a clear and simple guide on the most common Coronavirus related scams, including how to protect yourself from them and what to do if you have fallen victim.
Amid the fear and confusion of the current Coronavirus pandemic, scammers are out taking full advantage of scared and vulnerable people. Over £800,000 has been lost to Coronavirus scams since February 2020, according to reports made to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. The NCSC has also removed over 2,000 online scams related to COVID-19 in the last month.
Dept for Work & pensions: Biggest number of Universal Credit claims in a single day
Since the pandemic began, around 1.8 million claims have been made to Universal Credit and almost 700,000 advance payments made to people. Five weeks ago today, more than 135,000 people made a claim to Universal Credit in just over 48 hours – more than we usually have a month.
Coronavirus Act 2020: status
A table setting out the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Leaving lockdown together: Why we are better united against coronavirus
Writing in today’s Western Mail, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart set out the importance of moving forward out of lockdown as one United Kingdom
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Deloitte: North West more optimistic about economy than rest of the UK
Overall consumer confidence at the state of the economy in the North West was low though more optimistic than the rest of the UK. The quarterly survey found that spending fell year-on-year across every leisure category with overall leisure spending in the North West decreasing by 10%
Greater Manchester Business Recovery – Building Back Better:
Business Recovery – Building Back Better will be hosted by The Growth Company alongside the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, GMLEP and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority GMCA who will set out the key challenges and opportunities facing Greater Manchester businesses in a post COVID-19 world.
Speaking at the event will be:
- Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Lou Cordwell, Co-Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership
- Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of the Growth Company.
The event takes place on Monday 11 May, 1130 – 1230. You can register for the event here.
Extra training and skills for residents and businesses
Residents and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can now benefit through Greater Manchester’s devolved Adult Education Budget.
Community groups urged to apply for funding
Local councils are encouraging community groups to take advantage of financial support to assist them in their response to Covid-19.
Stockport – is your business open for business?
Is your business in Stockport? Are you ‘open for business’?
Many businesses have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and are currently unable to trade due to Government restrictions but Stockport is still open for business. Are you still providing legal / financial services? Perhaps you have an online business? Or you have a food store. Are you offering a delivery service? Or perhaps you have a restaurant and are now offering take-aways? 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:
Help us to help you and your business
Totally Stockport and Stockport Council want to understand the challenges facing your organisation once you consider resuming your business so that we can provide the right help, support and advice for our businesses and local economy to recover.
Please complete this short survey (7-8 questions) to help us to understand what help is needed – by taking part you will be supporting us all to rebuild our economy together. Please encourage all of your contacts and networks to take part in the survey so that we can get as much information as possible.
Visit www.bidsurvey.com and help them to help you.
Covid-19 Webinars:
15th May: Stakeholder Mapping in a Covid-19 lockdown More info / book here
26th May: Is more devolution key to recovery? More info / book here
HMRC: Recorded webinars on YouTube
HMRC: JobRetention Scheme – general information
HMRC: JobRetention Scheme – how to make a claim
HMRC: Covid-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
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
These webinars are very popular, so we’ll do our best to answer your questions or signpost you to useful guidance.
If you’ve missed any of our live webinars, you can catch up with our series of recorded webinars on HMRC’s YouTube channel – available at a time to suit you.
We will bring you the most up-to-date information to keep you fully informed of changes as they develop.
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/
AGRICULTURE:
New funding to support dairy farmers through coronavirus
A new fund will enable dairy farmers in England to access up to £10,000 each to help them overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
CONSTRUCTION:
Next 4-6 weeks critical for subcontractors
A survey by construction finance specialist Bibby has revealed that cash reserves in the specialist sector are all but used up. It warns the resumption of major construction projects will pose a significant threat to the financial viability of many of the industry’s subcontractors.
Research by the firm found 22% of SMEs in construction are facing a delay in receiving payment and are running out of working capital. They are also feeling the squeeze from a rise in bad debt with just over a third having to write off an average of £43,000 since the end of January.
This is compared to the national average of just 25% of SMEs writing off £35,000.
Minister urges more sites to restart as 73% of big jobs back
An update from trade body Build UK yesterday revealed the number of operational sites for its contractor members – up from 69% last week. Build UK’s membership includes most of the industry’s biggest names like Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke, Kier, McAlpine, Skanska, Bouygues, Bam, Vinci, Wates, Mace and Morgan Sindall. Over 80% of member’s infrastructure and construction sites are now running with 55% of housing jobs working. The latest numbers came as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick restated the government’s position on construction as one of the sectors leading the economy out of lockdown.
EDUCATION:
Department for Education opens consultation for suppliers of online resources
As part of its response to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Department for Education brought together a list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. We are now reviewing and updating that list. Suppliers are invited to apply on Citizen Space if they would like their resource to be included.
Resources must offer free online content covering at least one of the following areas: English / Maths / Science / PE / Mental wellbeing / Special educational needs and disability (SEND).
For some other subjects, professional bodies will be providing guidance to schools.
Class of 2020 – Education leavers in the current crisis: Kathleen Henehan
The economic fallout from the coronavirus has taken the UK into uncharted territory, with fears that an additional 640,000 18-24-year-olds could find themselves unemployed this year alone. This briefing note focuses specifically on the prospects facing young people leaving full-time education today, highlighting the size and length of employment and pay scarring that they could experience.
The Education Policy Institute recommendations to close gap on attainment
The Education Policy Institute has published a series of policy recommendations for government, designed to prevent a significant widening of the disadvantage gap between poor children and the rest of the pupil population following the pandemic.
Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, EPI research found that disadvantaged children are already on average one and a half years of learning behind other pupils by the time they take their GCSEs.
Ahead of the expected announcement on the reopening schools, the new paper calls on the government to set out a school “Catch Up Plan” to provide targeted pupil support. You can read the paper in full here.
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESS FINANCE:
Set up to help thousands of small business and sole traders such as hairdressers, coffee shops and florists, the initiative allows small businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000. The government will provide lenders with a 100 per cent guarantee and cover the cost of any fees and interest for the borrower for the first 12 months.
On the day of launch, the seven largest lenders – Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS, Santander and Virgin Money – received more than 130,000 applications.
British business bank announces nine new lenders under the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme
New lenders Assetz Capital, Atom bank, Ebury, Fleximize, Investec, Social Investment Business, Tower Leasing, Ultimate Finance and White Oak UK, will be able to provide financial support to smaller businesses across the UK that are losing revenue and seeing their cashflow disrupted, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. The addition of these alternative finance lenders brings the total number of CBILS lenders to over 60, increasing the diversity of providers available to smaller businesses across the UK. Since the CBILS launch, the Bank has announced 22 new delivery partners to join the original 41 lenders, an increase of 54%.
Business rates revaluation postponed
A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus.
The Government is continuing work on the fundamental review of business rates, with the key aims of reducing the overall burden on businesses, improving the current business rates system, and considering more fundamental changes in the medium-to-long term. The call for evidence for the review will be published in the coming months.
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 businesses grant funding payments:
Stockport Council have administered a further 50 grants in the past 24 hours bringing the total amount paid to £52,200,000 across 4,515 qualifying businesses and 82.5% of those identified as eligible as at 11/03/2020. If your business qualifies for a grant, please complete the online application form.
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
The HMRC Job Retention Scheme – Tuesday 12th May Book here
The HMRC Job Retention Scheme – Thursday 14th May Book here
Covid-19 Business Grant Funding Documentation
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Committee for Climate Change sets out six key principles for a resilient recovery
In letters to the Prime Minister and First Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Committee on Climate Change sets out six key principles to rebuild the nation following the COVID-19 pandemic whilst delivering a stronger, cleaner and more resilient economy. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are integral to the UK’s recovery package, the Committee says.
Immediate steps are needed to support reskilling, retraining and research; to build a climate-resilient economy; to scale up housing retrofits and build new homes that are fit for the future; to invest in low-carbon, resilient infrastructure such as improved broadband instead of new roads; to make it easy for people to work remotely, walk and cycle and to expand tree planting, peatland restoration, green spaces and green infrastructure.
Ministers urge councils to plan for safe re-opening of recycling centres
The Government has published new guidance on how recycling centres can be safely re-opened during the coronavirus outbreak.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Added link to press release on ‘Senior Enforcement Advisor at UK Medicines Regulator warns against purchasing fake or unlicensed coronavirus (COVID-19) medicines’ to guidance and information for industry, healthcare professionals and patients covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Over 1 million food boxes delivered to those most at risk from coronavirus
Over 1 million boxes of essential food have now been delivered to those at highest risk across England.
Hearing Aid Batteries available at Stockport Libraries
Stockport Libraries are continuing to provide hearing aid batteries type P13 and P675 to residents in Stockport. If you know someone who requires hearing aid batteries please telephone the Libraries line on 0161 474 6009 or email libraries@stockport.gov.uk and provide name, address and which type of batteries are required.
If you know someone who requires “312” hearing aid batteries please contact Audiology direct by emailingAudiology@stockport.nhs.uk
Or alternatively ring them on 0161-419-4183.
Please provide name and date of birth of resident who requires the batteries, and Audiology will post the batteries to them.
IT:
Dedicated app for social care workers launched
A new dedicated app for the adult social care workforce in England has been launched to support staff through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
PROPERTY:
Third of estate agents say some staff will permanently work from home
A survey by The Guild of Property Professionals reveals that while over 80 per cent of agencies believe a traditional bricks and mortar office will remain important – and that this would continue to form the basis of their business model – there are different views as to what form this would take.
When asked if they would consider a hub style agency in the future with agents working remotely, half said yes while the other 50 per cent said they were happy with their current model and wouldn’t want to change.
Two-thirds of real estate professionals expect property footprint to shrink
CoreNet Global have revealed the results of a survey of corporate real estate professionals showing a belief that remote working and virtual meetings will last far beyond the coronavirus crisis and the overall corporate footprint will shrink as a result.
RETAIL:
Superdry: 75% of stores to be reopened by end of May
Fashion brand Superdry has announced it expects 75 per cent of its stores to be operational by the end of May.
In a trading statement from the company this morning, the group outlined plans to reopen its franchise outlets following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent business disruption.
The business has confirmed that wholesale shipping has been resumed, and 22 per cent of its store network is currently operational, with the expectation that 75 per cent of its stores will be open by the end of this month.
Useful links:
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
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
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 – 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
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health– Shielding the most vulnerable
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:
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/
Employment: – Stockport Jobs Match
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