UK STATISTICS
Total UK Cases: 7,934,936 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 35,077 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 6,556, 197 fewer than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 33
Total UK deaths: 136,986
England Cases per 100,000: 338
R number in UK: 0.8 to 1.0
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 48,956,859 – 90% of UK aged 16+
Total 2nd doses: 44,992,044 – 82%
Daily 1st doses: 24,123
Daily 2nd doses: 21,532
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 40,525 to 4 October
Cases in the latest week: 1,517, 47 more than previous week
Total deaths: 757 to September 24th
Cases per 100,000: 516 per 100,000 week ending 30 September
R number in North West: 0.8 – 1.0
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 85% of over 16s to 23 September
2nd dose: 80%
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 1.1 and the growth rate range for England is -3% to +1% per day as of 1 October 2021.
There have been more than 7.9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and, as a result, nearly 137,000 people have lost their lives. 90% of people aged 16 and over have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and over 44 million, 82% aged 16 and over have had their second.
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Updated with slides to accompany coronavirus press conferences
UK NEWS UPDATES:
Chancellor confirms £34m AI scholarships fund and £500m jobs package
The Chancellor has announced a £34m AI fund to create 2,000 scholarships for disadvantaged students – as well as a new £500m job support package.
Giving his speech yesterday to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Rishi Sunak said the move, along with an increase in the number of world-leading researchers in the UK under the Turing AI fellowship, would help cement the country’s status as a “scientific superpower”. He also committed more than £500m in fresh funding to help people back into work. “As the latest general-purpose technology, AI has the potential to completely transform whole economies and societies,” Mr Sunak said. “We want the UK to be a scientific superpower but also a high-skilled, high-tech economy. “This new fund will allow more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn new skills and train up for the jobs of tomorrow in the new and exciting industries of the future such as AI.” The funding commits £23m to double the number of available scholarships for AI and Data Science Masters conversion courses for disadvantaged students, creating an additional 2,000 scholarships in England, and £11m to double the number of Turing world-leading researcher fellows in the UK, funding an extra five fellows and their projects.
Read more at Business Live
PM denies UK in crisis over shortages
Boris Johnson has denied the UK is in crisis as labour shortages and supply issues continue to affect the country. The PM said the economy was facing the “stresses and strains that you’d expect from a giant waking up” after Covid. But he insisted it was a “turning point” for the UK to move away from relying on low paid and low skilled workers from abroad. Mr Johnson told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the “world leading” logistics industry would fix the issues. And he reiterated to BBC Breakfast that he believed Christmas would be “considerably better than last year” – although the PM admitted it was “a low base” to improve on.
BBC: 127 fuel drivers apply for UK visa
Only 127 fuel drivers from overseas have applied for temporary visas aimed at tackling shortages, the prime minister has said.
The government is offering immediate visas for 300 foreign tanker drivers to work in the UK from now until the end of March to deliver fuel to forecourts.
Mr Johnson said it was a “fascinating illustration of the problem”, which he added was a “global” issue.
However, he said there was a “particular problem in the UK”.
The government is offering a further 4,700 temporary visas in total for foreign food lorry drivers, which will last from late October to the end of February, in a bid to avoid other supply chain issues. It is not yet known how many people have applied to this scheme.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Planet Mark’s zero carbon battle bus arrives in Stockport
Planet Mark’s ‘carbon battle bus’ has arrived in Stockport ahead of the town’s first Sustainability in Action Summit. The 100% electric bus is touring the UK to spread the net zero message with Stockport being one of over 30 stops in cities and towns as it travels to COP26 in Glasgow. After the Stockport stop, the battle bus is headed to Salford and Burnley before making its way to the North-East.
The bus will be parked outside The Light Cinema in Stockport until after the summit (8.30am-2pm on 6 October 2021), which is Stockport’s first Summit of its kind. Organised by B Corp schoolwear manufacturer One+All in partnership with Marketing Stockport, the Summit involves climate leaders from across the region, including heads of business, Stockport Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Planet Mark.
GM Mayor: Innovation can be catalyst for change in Greater Manchester
An innovation deal will “take levelling up from being a political slogan to the delivery phase” said Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, as he continued to press the case for a £1bn-plus funding deal for the city region. The Labour Mayor is taking the opportunity of Manchester hosting the Conservative Party conference this week to advance his levlling-up ambitions and to rebuild a relationship with Government that was bruised during Covid-19 lockdowns last year. Levelling-up debates have mostly been dominated by either semantics or transport infrastructure. Read more
3000 tech jobs expected to be created across the city-region
Greater Manchester is set to be boosted by 3,000 new tech jobs, the CEO of Manchester City Council has announced. Joanne Roney told an audience at a Conservative Party Conference fringe event that several announcements are expected be made this week revealing the new jobs for the region. It is understood US streaming giant, Roku, is opening a new technical and engineering operation in Manchester. A third of those jobs will also come from PwC, which is opening its national tech hub in its Manchester office at No1 Spinningfields and expects to create 1,000 jobs over the next three years.
New analysis shows benefit of Northern Rail
In Greater Manchester, TfN estimate that moving forward with Northern Powerhouse Rail could deliver a £3.4 billion boost to the city-region economy by 2040 and create up to 100,000 new jobs in the same period. The boost to intercity capacity on the rail network would also alleviate congestion on Greater Manchester’s railways and reduce conflict between freight and passenger services.
Stockport infection rates still among highest overall across Greater Manchester
Overall Stockport remains the borough with the highest infection rate across the conurbation, while Trafford saw the biggest week-on-week rise. However, at the other end of the scale, ten local neighbourhoods have seen infection rates fall as case numbers reduce, in many cases, to single figures. Coronavirus ‘hotspots’ and ‘notspots’ can be revealed via an interactive map charting the number of positive Covid-19 test results in each neighbourhood across the country using government data. It shows the number of infections per local area, broken down into neighbourhoods containing roughly 7,000 people. The number of new cases is then used to calculate the infection rate per 100,000 people.
Marketing Stockport and One+All partner to host Planet Mark’s Zero Carbon Tour Join the region’s business leaders to tackle the climate crisis at Stockport’s first Sustainability In Action Summit. One+All, a Certified B Corporation and a leading supplier of schoolwear, has teamed up with Marketing Stockport to summit, part of the Planet Mark’s Zero Carbon Tour, spreading the word about environmental strategies adopted by local businesses, and the net zero carbon message. The summit is free to attend and runs from 8.30am until 1.30pm on 6 October 2021, including lunch and refreshments. Places are limited and can be reserved through Eventbrite
Virtual careers week explains post-16 options for Stockport’s young people
Young people in Stockport will have the opportunity to learn about post-16 further education, training and career opportunities with the region’s top employers during a week of careers events. Stockport Jobs Match’s Post-16 Careers Week is a virtual exhibition taking place from 11th to 15th October for young people aged 14-19+ in the borough. www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out what equipment, services or supplies are taxable if your employees are working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19) – removed section called ‘Who is not affected’. Employees can no longer be furloughed using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The scheme ended on 30 September 2021.
CARE SERVICES:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services
Advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) for local authorities and their partners to help support and protect vulnerable children – updated ‘COVID-19: guidance for children’s social care services’ to reflect that from 1 October, the flexibilities in the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus)(Amendment) Regulations 2020 will no longer be available. Removed ‘Amendments from 31 March 2021 to existing regulations.
COMMUNITY:
Private providers of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing
Lists of and information about private providers who have self-declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer.
EDUCATION:
Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Guidance for schools and local authorities on school meals arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – updated ‘Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ to provide information on the Household Support Fund.
Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: 23 March 2020 to 30 September 2021
A summary of attendance in education settings up to 30 September 2021.
Guidance for schools: coronavirus (COVID-19)
What school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – added ‘Awarding qualifications in summer 2022’.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Mental health: a decade of change in just 2 years
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid spoke at the Global Mental Health Summit 2021.
COVID-19: vaccinator training recommendations
Guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination training to support healthcare workers involved in delivering the programme – training recommendations updated and a new section on remaining up to date added.
HOSPITALITY:
Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace.
Hotels and guest accommodation – Section on managing guests who are quarantining updated to reflect changes to the rules on international travel. Some people will still need to quarantine after international travel, but this will depend on their vaccination status
PROPERTY:
Rentals begin to rise as workers return to the office
A lettings agency’s research has revealed that rental demand has continued to climb across most major UK cities during the third quarter of 2021, as a slow return to the workplace spurs improved demand. The Barrows and Forrester Rental Demand Index monitors listings in cities; it takes an average demand score for each major city based on where has the highest number of properties that are already let, as a percentage of all rental listings. The analysis of 23 cities found demand averaged 42.9 per cent during the third quarter, a 9.9 per cent increase on the previous quarter and 6.8 per cent higher than this time last year.
RETAIL:
The High Street baker also said the price of ingredients and supplies was rising.
But Greggs said it was confident about future trading.
It said it would accelerate its store openings to 150 a year as part of an “ambitious” target to double turnover over next five years to about £2.4bn.
TRANSPORT:
DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Find out the date of applications we are processing and how to access our online services – update to processing dates.
TRAVEL:
Attitudes towards COVID-19 among passengers travelling into and out of the UK: March 2021 to August 2021
Results from coronavirus (COVID-19) related questions that are asked of International Arrivals as part of the International Passenger Survey and Airport Departures as part of the Civil Aviation Authority Departing Passneger Survey. The questions ask respondents about their attitudes and experiences toward coronavirus and their experience of restriction during their travels.
NHS COVID Pass
How to get the NHS COVID Pass and demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at events and venues in England – updated content to reflect changes to international travel rules on 4 October 2021 (the red, amber, green traffic light system was replaced by a single red list of countries and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world).
Red list of countries and territories
Check the COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for countries and territories on the red list for international travel to England.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing before you travel to England
Check if you need proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to England from abroad – people who qualify as fully vaccinated under travel to England rules no longer need to take a COVID-19 test before travel to England.Day 2 and day 8 testing for international arrivals: minimum standards for providers
Sets out the minimum standards that private sector providers must meet for the COVID-19 tests for people arriving in England – updated content to reflect changes to international travel rules on 4 October 2021.
Covid-19 Webinars:
Remote education webinars
How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice – new dates for webinars for teachers added.
Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
Watch videos and register for the free webinars to learn more about the?support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of?coronavirus. The YouTube video for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Universal Credit and Child Benefit has been updated.
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.
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:
Repayment period for Bounce Back Loans extended to ten years
Businesses that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time to repay. Companies will be contacted with options to extend the length of the loan from six to 10 years as part of a new ‘pay-as-you-grow’ initiative. The new proposals give businesses three new options:
1. Extending the length of the loan from six years to 10;
2. Making interest-only payments for six months, then repaying the principal on a phased basis with other interest-only periods;
3. Delaying repayments entirely for up to six months.
Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020.
Report an outbreak of Coronavirus in Stockport:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
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.
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions for employers and gateways receiving the Kickstart Scheme grant from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Kickstart Scheme employer resources
If you’ve been offered Kickstart Scheme funding, you can use these resources to show your support for the scheme.
Kickstart Scheme employer contacts
List of regional contacts for employers applying for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 30 or more job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 30 or more jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 29 or less job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 29 or less jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
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.