Month: March 2020

Offer for businesses impacted by Covid-19

by

OFFER TO BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
BUSINESS SUPPORT AND COVID-19 ADVICE
Offering FREE one to one support services for businesses, in partnership with Herefordshire Council the Marches Growth Hub – Herefordshire is a place where businesses can find out more about funding and finance and wider business support available to local Herefordshire businesses, regardless of size or sector, from pre-start to established businesses.
The Marches Growth Hub would like to share the following information with businesses who are concerned about the impact that COVID-19 will have on our business community.
https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/advice-and-support/coronavirus-information-for-businesses/
GOVERNMENT AND COUNCIL SUPPORT – updated 26th March 2020
A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
This page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
• Coronavirus (Covid-19) : UK government response
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

• Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme – https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/supporting-business-loans-enterprise-finance-guarantee/

• Businesses will be able to access government support from today (Monday 23 March) to keep operating in the face of the global economic emergency brought on by coronavirus. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-business-support-to-launch-from-today

• For individual businesses, the first port of call for advice and support is gov.uk. However, government is also scaling up its Business Support Helpline so businesses in England, of all sizes, can pick up the phone and speak directly to an advisor. The number to call is: 0300 456 3565

• NEW: Cultural Sector Emergency Funding Package announced by the Arts Council – offers individuals and organisation working in the cultural sector new financial support during this crisis- totalling £160m – click link to find out more: live on our website,

• NEW: Companies House -Filing of accounts businesses will be able to apply for a 3-month extension for filing their accounts. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-more-time-to-file-your-companys-accounts

• NEW: Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19 will be protected from eviction. Further details are now available

• NEW: Department for International Trade (DIT) support for UK businesses trading internationally. Please click on link to find latest advice for UK businesses that export or deliver goods and services abroad and have been impacted by the spread of COVID-19 has been updated.

• NEW: Employers do not have to report gender pay gaps Enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting deadlines are suspended for this reporting year (2019/20) due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

• NEW: How to place a Coronavirus (COVID-19) test kit on the market Forms and guidance on what manufacturers need to do to place test kits on the market.
• HMRC have launched a tax helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Find all the information here. The number is 0800 0159 559.

• Companies House has produced guidance if coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected your company and you need more time to file your accounts. Find all the information here.

• Business rate relief – The Government has announced that it is temporarily increasing the business rates relief discount in England to 100% for 2020-2021 for properties below £51,000 rateable value. As soon as the details have been passed through parliament any changes will be applied and you will be notified accordingly. https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200145/business/358/how_your_business_rates_bill_is_calculated

• Business Grants – there are still Business Grants available and we have listed some of those grants below but there are other funded schemes and programmes available – just ask your local Growth Hub.
o Business Growth Programme – https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/directory/v/-318
o Marches Building Investment Grant – https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/directory/v/-207
o BEEP – https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/directory/v/-183

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ADVICE
Every Mind Matters – https://www.wisherefordshire.org/mentalhealth

BUSINESS RESILIENCE
Emergency Planning Team Herefordshire Council (Business Continuity)
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200139/community/346/emergency_planning_in_herefordshire/5

Latest Updates from Herefordshire Council

by

Latest Updates

Friday 20 March
Latest advice from the Government
  • Supplementary info for parents and carers

Information for parents and carers about the closure of schools and other educational settings following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

  • Key workers

Schools are being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children – children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Latest updates from Herefordshire Council

by

Latest Updates

Thursday 19 March
09.20
Support for Businesses

A number of shops, pubs, theatres, music venues, restaurants – and other business in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector – will pay no business rates for 12 months.  In addition businesses in receipt of Small business Rates Relief and hospitality businesses will receive a grant from Government, which will be administrated by Herefordshire Council.  We are currently waiting for further information and advice from central government regarding this additional support for Businesses.

We are ready to operate this scheme as soon as it has received the details from Government. Government has indicated that this will be released by the end of the week. We will publish the details on our website as soon as we receive them.

All reliefs announced due to coronavirus (COVID-19), will be automatically applied to the businesses that we believe meet qualifying criteria. Our aim is to do this within the next few weeks.

08:00
Wye Valley Trust

Please see the information from Wye Valley Trust on visitor restrictions on their website

Herefordshire Council, PHE and the NHS are well prepared to deal with coronavirus

by

Sue Ibbotson, Centre Director, Public Health England West Midlands, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with one of the latest confirmed cases of COVID-19 who is a resident of Herefordshire.

“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case. This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”

Karen Wright, Director of Public Health for Herefordshire Council, said: “I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and the local authority is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Herefordshire are protected.

“Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.

“If you have recently been to one of the affected areas and are feeling unwell, you should use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111 for further advice straight away – please don’t go to your doctor or a hospital. There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.”

Residents urged to return unwanted medical equipment for reuse

by

Do you or someone you know have unwanted medical equipment that can now be returned?

Herefordshire Council and Wye Valley NHS Trust are urging residents to check their own homes and their family member’s homes for medical equipment that is no longer needed as part of Herefordshire’s ‘Hand It Back’ campaign.

Millions of pounds worth of equipment is currently on loan in the community.  This includes walking frames, wheelchairs, crutches, beds, chairs and other equipment issued by the NHS or the council.

Many unwanted items sit in corners of a room, in cupboards or in the back of garden sheds and outbuildings or they are sold in charity shops and at car boots sales, when they could easily be recycled for another resident to use, where it’s safe to do so.

Many items are often only used once and then thrown away with the household refuse or taken to the Household Recycling Centre (HRC).  Returning equipment means that thousands of items will be found new homes instead of ending up in landfill, which is good news for the environment.

Returning unwanted equipment is really easy.  If you, or a relative or friend, has equipment supplied by Herefordshire Council or the NHS (via NRS Healthcare) that they no longer need, simply choose one of the following options to arrange a free collection:

The free collection service does not apply to walking aids. These items can be returned to any NHS physiotherapy department within the county or taken to NRS Healthcare at Rotherwas.  Other items including wheelchairs, beds, and chairs should only be returned to NRS.

Please ensure items are in a clean condition before returning.