September 28th – Coronavirus News Updates

HELP US TO HELP YOU SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS

Over the next few weeks we would like to hear from businesses in Stockport on a range of issues around the impact of coronavirus and how we can support you, your team and your business. Please answer this short survey of just four questions to help us get started – click here

Latest UK Data:

Positive tests: 434,969 have tested positive (+ 5,693 new cases)

Loss of life: *41,988 across all settings (+17 in last 24 hours)

Cases in Stockport: 247 cases 18 Sept – 24 Sept (+84 on previous week)

Cases in Stockport: 84 cases per 100,000 (England area average is 27)

Deaths in Stockport: 368 coronavirus-related registered to 11th September

Total cases in Stockport: 2,618 to 27 September (+84 on previous week)

*Daily reported COVID deaths are measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first laboratory-confirmed positive COVID test

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 1.2-1.5 and the growth rate range is +4% to +8% per day as of 25 September 2020.

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.

Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Slides, datasets and transcripts from press conferences at 10 Downing Street in response to coronavirus

UK HEADLINES:

BBC: New enforcement measures and find for breaking self-isolate rules
From today, 28^th September, anyone in England who tests positive for coronavirus is required by law to self-isolate for 10 days. Those who fail to do so could be fined £1,000, rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders. The rule will also apply to people contacted by NHS Test and Trace who are told they must self-isolate for 14 days because a close contact has tested positive. The crackdown comes after research found voluntary compliance was very low – just 18% of those testing positive and 11% of those contacted by Test and Trace went into self-isolation. The government says the system is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, says it isn’t ready for the enormous demands of winter.
New legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today
Government: Legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today, to ensure compliance and reduce spread of COVID-19

NHS COVID-19 app has been downloaded over 10 million times
Over 10 million people in England Wales have downloaded the app, 6 million on the first day. NHS COVID-19 app: emails and SMS messages
The government is texting and emailing people across England to inform them of the new contact tracing app, available to download from the App Store and Google Play.
NHS COVID-19 app: privacy information

70% of PPE to be manufactures in the UK
Almost three quarters of demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be met by UK manufacturers according to a new government supply chain strategy.
The government has today published a new PPE strategy, setting out a data-driven approach aiming to build resilience in the supply chain as COVID-19 infection rates rise. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, 1 per cent of PPE was produced in the UK. Since March, businesses across the country have pivoted to support the production and distribution of PPE.
Huge increase in UK Personal Protective Equipment production
“Robust and resilient supply chains will provide continuous flow to frontline”

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

New restrictions for Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds as coronavirus cases increase
New restrictions brought in for Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds to help curb infection rates as COVID-19 cases continue to rise; it applies to visitors as well as residents.

Greater Manchester: local restrictions
Find out what you can and cannot do if you live, work or travel in the affected areas – added guidance for university students moving to or relocating within an area of local restrictions, updated guidance on going to work and on childcare bubbles. Guidance updated to reflect regulations affecting businesses selling food and drink

Coronavirus: Joint statement from the Leader of Stockport Council and the Director of Public Health in Stockport:
“On Tuesday 22 September the Prime Minister thanked us all for abiding by measurements to save lives by protecting our NHS. He then announced a new set of restrictions to help slow down the spread of Covid-19 as we head into the colder months. Positive cases in Stockport are still rising and are higher than the UK average currently 71.2 per 100,000 Covid-19 cases*. The government has decided that Stockport will now come under the additional restrictions that apply to Greater Manchester.”
Changes include face coverings, working from home, meeting people, businesses selling food or drink. From today, 28 September, a wider range of leisure and entertainment venues will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements and will face fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
“Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the latest information on what you can and can’t do and thank you for your efforts and perseverance.”
*other figures may be quoted elsewhere but this is the latest validated figure for Stockport

Stepping Hill to recruit volunteers for vaccine study
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is among the sites selected to undertake the Novavax study. At Stockport, 500 volunteers are needed. Volunteers who sign up to the registry and live in Stockport, East Cheshire and South East Manchester could potentially take part. It will be carried out in a community setting, in co-operation with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Greater Manchester. Calling on some of the thousands of volunteers who have joined the fight against Covid-19 by signing-up to the NHS Vaccine Registry, the phase three trials are the second to commence in the UK. A total of 10,000 volunteers are needed to take part in the trials which will also be undertaken at a number of NIHR regional sites across the UK, including Lancashire, the Midlands, London, Glasgow and Belfast.

North West of England: local restrictions
Find out what you can and cannot do if you live, work or travel in areas of the North West of England – added guidance for university students moving to or relocating within an area of local restrictions, updated guidance on going to work and on childcare bubbles. Guidance updated to reflect regulations affecting businesses selling food and drink

Greater Manchester organisations asked to commit to helping young people GREATER Manchester’s Youth Task Force is inviting organisations across the city-region to make commitments to young people who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and really help 11 to 30-year-olds feel positive for their future. To develop the Guarantee, the Youth Task Force, which includes 24 young people in the form of the YAG, will focus on four key themes so organisations making commitments must ensure they are linked to at least one of these. The four key themes – keeping connected, staying well, making effective transitions, and removing economic inequalities – were agreed by young people earlier on this year as part of the consultation stages of this piece of work.

COVID-19 Honours
This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list, postponed from publication in June to honour heroes of the current Covid-19 pandemic, recognises doctors, nurses, fundraisers and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the UK’s coronavirus response. The full list will be published next month.

Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

Stockport Council accepting applications from businesses for Kickstart Jobs Scheme
Earlier this month, further details were announced about the Government’s Kickstart Jobs Scheme. The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create 6-month job placements for 16 to 24 year olds. 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.

Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
Main Grant Scheme:
Applications are now closed; applications received up to the closing date on August 28^th will be considered in the period leading up to the 30^th September. Stockport Council have now administered a total of 5,412 grants bringing the total amount paid to £62,657,500 and bringing the total to 99.9% of those identified as eligible as at 11/09/2020.

Local Authority Discretionary Grant funding scheme
Status of LAD Payments to date:
Applications: 795

Payments: £2,162,500

The total value of funds to be distributed is £3,240,500

These figures represent the net value of awards after accounting for duplicate payments/where a main scheme grant has now been awarded instead.

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

BUSINESS & FINANCE:

Stockport Business Support coronavirus recovery

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

Local Restrictions Support Grant for business closed due to local lockdowns
Grants up to £1,500 are available every 3 weeks for businesses forced to close or who have targeted restrictions. Some smaller businesses will be able to claim £1,000. The payment is based on the rateable value of the premises. A business classed as small with a rateable value less than £51,000, or pays annual rent or mortgage of less than that amount, would receive £1,000. Any business that has a rateable value or mortgage payments more than £51,000 will receive £1,500. Like the other grants, these payments will also be treated as taxable income. However, the scheme is not designed to support businesses that have closed at a national level, such as nightclubs – it’s specifically for businesses affected by local lockdowns or restrictions.

Winter Economy Plan measures to replace furlough support scheme
Additional government support for businesses and employees impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) across the UK. This includes a new Job Support Scheme to protect the jobs of millions of people returning to work, extending the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, extending the VAT cut (from 20% to 5%) for the hospitality and tourism sectors, and help for businesses in repaying government-backed loans.
Job Support Scheme: from 1^st November for 6 months, the government will contribute towards the wages of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to decreased demand. Grants paid monthly. Further eligibility criteria is available on GOV?.UK by searching ‘Job Support Scheme factsheet’.
Extension to the reduced rate of VAT for Hospitality and Tourism: extended the temporary reduced rate of VAT (5%) to tourist attractions and goods and services supplied by the hospitality sector until 31?? March 2021 across the UK.
VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme: If you deferred payments that were due between 20 March and 30 June 2020, you can use the New Payment Scheme to spread these payments over equal instalments up to 31?? March 2022.
New Self-Assessment Self-Serve Time To Pay Scheme: If you deferred paying your July 2020 Payment on Account, you will need to pay the deferred amount, in addition to any balancing payment and first 2020/21 Payment on Account, by 3?1?? ??January 2021. This may be a larger payment than you usually pay in January.
Covid-19 Business Loans: repayment period extended from 6 years to 10 years

Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions
Jobs that qualify for exemptions from self-isolation or passenger locator form requirements – updated exemption for elite sportspersons and added exemptions for National Lottery and advertising productions.

National COVID-19 surveillance reports
National COVID-19 surveillance reports, including weekly summary of findings monitored through various COVID-19 surveillance systems – added week 39 report, infographic, slide sets and data tables.

COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes
Guidance for those working in care homes providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19.

COMMUNITY:

Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
Guidance for contacts of a person with a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19) who do not live with that person – updated to include new legal requirements for self-isolation.

COVID-19: Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships
Guidance for people planning to get married or form a civil partnership in England – updated guidance on number of guests allowed, legal requirements for businesses to be closed between 10pm and 5am and supporting staff to self-isolate, mandatory face coverings for staff, mandatory table service at licenced venues, new NHS Test and Trace QR code and guests prohibited from joining in with performances.

Coronavirus: How to help safely
Across the UK people are playing their part and providing essential support to their friends and family who are in isolation.

Guidance to parents and guardians: when you should book a coronavirus test for your child
Letter from the Chief Nurse and Interim Chief Medical Officer of NHS Test and Trace on when parents and guardians should book a coronavirus (COVID-19) test for their child.

CREATIVE & MEDIA:

Film and TV production kickstart scheme – GAD case study
GAD’s actuarial and modelling experts were part of a multi-disciplinary team which helped set up the government’s £500m film and TV production kickstart scheme.

EDUCATION:

Early years healthy development review: call for evidence
Share your evidence to help inform a new review into improving health and development outcomes of babies and young children in England. The Government would also like to hear from health service professionals, charities, volunteer groups and academics.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): school and college performance measures
Government’s approach to school and college accountability, performance tables and data during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – added link to how the Regional Schools Commissioners will make decisions without summer 2020 data.

Remote education webinars
How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice.

Teaching during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information, guidance and support for teachers and leaders on educating children during the coronavirus outbreak – updated with information on remote education expectations and remote education webinars.

HEALTH CARE & WELLBEING:

Coronavirus antibody home test kit: taking a blood sample
Guidance and video to help you do your antibody test correctly, post your sample and get your results – updated ‘call centre’ section: damaged or incomplete kits should be reported to the call centre. Check your order confirmation for the call centre contact details.

Protecting high risk individuals as an approach to controlling COVID-19 outbreaks, 4 August 2020
Paper prepared by Mark Woolhouse, Bram van Bunnik and Aziz Sheikh.

SAGE 48 minutes: Coronavirus (COVID-19) response, 23 July 2020
Record of the discussion that took place at SAGE’s forty-eighth meeting.

SAGE meetings, August 2020
Minutes and papers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) meetings held in August 2020.

NHS Test and Trace (England) and coronavirus testing (UK) statistics: 10 September to 16 September 2020
Experimental statistics for weeks 1 to 16 of NHS Test and Trace contact tracing in England and coronavirus testing (UK) – added new version of Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing statistics (UK); data tables – due to date correction.

COVID-19: background information
Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features – updated global case numbers.

PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19: technical summary
A summary of the PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19, outlining what the changes mean and how the data compare to other COVID-19 death data series.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey: characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 in England, September 2020
Data about the characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford, the University of Manchester and Public Health England.

Landmark strategy launched to cement UK’s position as global leader in genomics
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has today heralded the launch of a landmark new strategy that will secure the UK’s future position as a global leader in genomics.

Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: advice from the JCVI, 25 September 2020
Interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the groups that should be prioritised for vaccination, if and when a vaccine is available.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey pilot: England and Wales, 25 September 2020
Results include estimates for England and for Wales. This survey is carried out in partnership with IQVIA, Oxford University and UK Biocentre.

HOSPITALITY, SPORT & LEISURE:

Fall out of Covid-19 as Revolution Bars looking at survival
Revolution Bars Group has confirmed it is looking at various strategic options, including the possibility of reducing the size of its estate through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), as it responds to a challenging trading environment which the business said has been exacerbated by the further Covid-19-related restrictions introduced by the government. The listed leisure giant, which trades under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, said its board has been working with advisers to evaluate the potential impact on its business model of the restrictions introduced for hospitality firms before “deciding what the next steps should be”.

JUDICIARY:

HMCTS weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This page provides a weekly summary of the HM Courts and Tribunals Service operational position during the coronavirus pandemic.

Courts and tribunals additional capacity during coronavirus outbreak: Nightingale courts
This page holds a list of additional facilities opening to support the courts and tribunals estate during the coronavirus outbreak. New venues added: Salford Lowry

PROPERTY:

Is the Build to Rent sector ready for the end of furlough?
There has been a dramatic increase in the supply of rental housing stock due to the implosion of the short-let market. Thousands of Airbnb properties were brought back onto the long-let market netting a 40% increase in available stock against the same period last year. Renters not only have more choice than before lockdown, but many of these properties are owned by private landlords who are often able to be much more reactive on achieved rents to secure the let. Where BTR operators have been unable to adjust their pricing strategy so drastically, the gap between the BTR premium and market rents has widened – inevitably impacting occupancy rates and ERV’s.

Lettings Agency warns of dip in rents next year
Hamptons International has given a rental market forecast for 2021 saying the rental sector is recovering more slowly from lockdown than the sales market. Current tenant numbers are down on last year in eight of the nine English regions, with few signs of any pick-up. And it adds that low income workers, particularly renters, are more likely to have lost their job or had a reduction in their income than homeowners. “We expect rents in Great Britain to fall by 1.0 per cent this year, with a similar decline of 1.0 per cent in 2021 due to a rise in the number of job losses which will constrain affordability” according to the forecast.

RETAIL:

Sky: Decline in footfall across UK’s high streets

Last week (20 to 26 September), footfall across all retail destinations throughout the UK fell by 3% from the week before. Data from Springboard also shows:

Footfall fell by 6.8% in high streets while footfall rose by 1.1% in retail parks and 0.9% in shopping centres
In high streets, on Wednesday footfall fell by 10.5% between 10pm and 12am, on Friday the decline over the same two hours averaged 36.4%, with a drop of 55.4% post 11pm. This followed the government’s imposition of a 10pm curfew for bars, pubs and restaurants from Thursday
Footfall across all retail destinations last week remained 28% lower than 2019.

TRAVEL:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel corridors
List of countries, territories and regions from where you can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate. Curaçao, Denmark, Iceland and Slovakia removed from the travel corridors list at 4am, Saturday 26 September 2020.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK
When you arrive in the UK, you must travel directly to the place you are staying and not leave until 14 days have passed since you were last in a non-exempt country or territory – updated to reflect the self-isolation requirements for international travellers arriving into the UK. The changes exempt travellers arriving from countries on the travel corridors list. The updates also clarify how many days travellers should self-isolate for and from which day the self-isolation period starts (that is, the day after they leave the non-exempt country).

Covid-19 Webinars:

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

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/

ACAS

A series of courses to help businesses with transition from lockdown

Useful information and links:

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension
The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can get.

Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.
Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and required to display official NHS QR code posters under law

NHS Test and Trace service in the workplace
Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers updated to reflect the new legal requirements for designated venues to collect contact details and display official NHS QR code posters from 24^th September

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

The SMBC website and produce a form for completion online if anyone wants to report an outbreak. The links are now live and are below:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/guidance-for-employees-employers-and-businesses

Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.

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.

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.

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.