COVID-19 UPDATES, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT LINKS TO HELP BUSINESSES
Updates:
- Check if your business is eligible for a coronavirus grant due to national restrictions (for closed businesses)
- £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs
- Find coronavirus financial support for your business Use this business support finder to see what support is available for you and your business. Available to employers and the self-employed, including sole traders and limited company directors. You may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants, whether your business is open or closed. Start now
- Chancellor extends furlough and loan schemes. The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages – giving businesses and employees across the UK certainty into the New Year, the Chancellor announced today.
- The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is for businesses that are required to close under the imposed coronavirus restrictions that do not qualify for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum.
- If you are unsure about the new requirements on business closure or other restrictions on businesses, Dorset Council regulatory officers can provide further advice – send an email to envhealthteamb@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01305 251010 (for food businesses) or 01305 224702 (any other businesses).
- Loan deadlines extended – Deadlines have been extended to 31 January 2021 for: The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), which provides financial support to larger businesses affected;
- Download the Test and Trace app – https://covid19.nhs.uk/
Key COVID-19 Advice and Updates from Dorset Council
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Resources for your business:
Coronavirus hub – a regularly updated information portal for all government updates, FAQs and other relevant information.
Dorset Chamber of Commerce:
We know there are huge concerns regarding the potential impact of Coronavirus and we’re doing all we can to support the business community through these challenging times.
1:1 support for Dorset businesses and charities during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Immediate and ongoing expert mentor support to navigate your challenges with up to 3 months free of charge (and 90% subsidised thereafter).
Open to all micro, small and medium size businesses on a confidential basis.
RESOURCES:
- You can download and print all these health and safety signs for free and use them as you need. Please link to https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/free-printable-posters-covid-19/ site.
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GOV.UK Guidance COVID-19: support for businesses
The Business Support Helpline number in England FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098. The helpline provides free, impartial business support and signposting services to businesses in England – which currently includes business advice on Covid-19.
These 8 government.uk guides below cover a range of different types of work.
HEALTH SAFETY EXECUTIVE
Downloadable posters for the workplace Public Health England have lots of resources to download including posters for the workplace. You can find posters, social media posts, banners and more using the link below for: -Handwashing and hygiene -Symptoms -Shopping -Travelling to work -At work See all of the resources available on the Public Health England website.
- Latest information and advice about Covid-19 and health and safety
- Latest information about Covid-19 and social distancing, keeping businesses open and in-work activities.
- Latest information about protecting home workers
- A guide for talking with your workers about preventing coronavirus
- A short guide about working safely during the coronavirus outbreak
WORKING IN CONSTRUCTION AND OUTDOOR WORK
- Government information and guidance about working safely in the construction sector and other outdoor work
- BuildUK have compiled a list of useful resources and guidance for the construction sector
WORKING IN FACTORIES,PLANTS AND WAREHOUSES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in factories,plants and warehouses
- British Retail Consortium’s guide to social distancing in warehouses
WORKING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S HOMES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in other people’s homes
LABS AND RESEARCH FACILITIES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in labs and research facilities
OFFICES AND CONTACT CENTRES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in offices and contact centres
RESTAURANTS OFFERING TAKEAWAY OR DELIVERY
- Government information and guidance about working safely in restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
SHOPS AND BRANCHES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in shops and branches
VEHICLES
- Government information and guidance about working safely in vehicles
TEST AND TRACE
NHS Test and Trace service to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy. Anyone with symptoms will be tested and their close contacts will be traced. New guidance means those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus. Test and Trace guidance for workplaces can be found here.
TRAVELLING TO AND FROM WORK
Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators – This guide will help businesses, agencies and others understand how to provide safer workplaces and services for themselves, their workers and passengers across all modes of private and public transport. It outlines measures to assess and address the risks of coronavirus in the transport sector across England. Guidance for passengers on how to travel safely – This guidance provides advice on how passengers should make journeys safely. The advice sets out that if people who cannot work from home and have to travel for work, they should first consider alternatives to public transport. Those driving their own cars have been asked to avoid busy areas. For those who have to use public transport, the guidance recommends:
- Keeping 2 metres apart wherever possible;
- Wearing a face covering if you can;
- Using contactless payment where possible;
- Avoiding rush hour travel where feasible;
- Washing or sanitising your hands as soon as possible before and after travel;
- Following advice from staff and being considerate to others.
All the latest guidance for people using transport or working in the transport sector during the coronavirus outbreak can be found here.