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Sector specific support for North Somerset business

Working Safely During Coronavirus

The government has produced 14 guides covering a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of the guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe. Priority actions are outlined at the top of each guide.  The guides cover:

  • Close contact services
  • Construction and other outdoor work
  • Factories, plants and warehouses
  • Heritage locations
  • Hotels and other guest accommodation
  • Labs and research facilities
  • Offices and contact centres
  • Other people’s homes
  • Performing arts
  • Providers of grassroots sports and gym/leisure facilities
  • Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
  • Shops and branches
  • Vehicles
  • The visitor economy

The guides can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Food and Drink businesses

The Food Works team  are available to support your businesses during this time and can answer any business and technical support queries remotely. If you are starting a business, diversifying or need extra space to cope with demand during this period then please also do enquire about business units, development kitchens & storage, Tel: 01934 411272 or Email: enquiries@foodworks-sw.co.uk 

In light of the current phase of response to the Covid-19 outbreak the Environmental Health and Economy teams have received many enquiries from businesses and individuals wishing to support their local communities through offers of food collection and delivery through to food meal production, distribution and delivery. We have pulled these queries together as a set of Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) to help keep you and your customers safe.

Food and Drink businesses advice

Business Companion who provide free and impartial legal guidance for businesses have created dedicated guidance for food industry businesses during the pandemic.

North Somerset Council trading standards have written two essential FAQ’s relating to food and safety and licensing to support effective decision making in the hospitality and leisure sector. They can be found here: Getting back to business and working safely during (COVID-19)

Exporting businesses

For guidance on what DIT is doing to support businesses impacted by Coronavirus, including supply chain disruption support and UKEF support available for businesses who export to China, please go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-uk-businesses 

Department of International trade have established three schemes to help exporters:  

Export Working Capital Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-working-capital-scheme-overview-and-how-to-apply?utm-source=twitter&utm-medium=organicsocial&utm-content=e92643fa-4cb1-4460-8ee2-a9d9fdd43b88 

Export Insurance Policy: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-insurance-policy?utm-source=twitter&utm-medium=organicsocial&utm-content=e92643fa-4cb1-4460-8ee2-a9d9fdd43b88 

Direct Lending Facility: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/direct-lending-scheme?utm-source=twitter&utm-medium=organicsocial&utm-content=e92643fa-4cb1-4460-8ee2-a9d9fdd43b88 

Questions from UK businesses about the impact Coronavirus may have on their business and requests for DIT support should be emailed to COVID19@trade.gov.uk

Construction businesses

The industry’s leading trade and representative bodies are collaborating to keep the sector informed across a range of issues including: funding and grants, health and safety, insurance, CSCS and employment rights.  Regular joint briefings are being published to inform all aspects of the sector through online publications including: https://www.building.co.uk/news/trending/coronavirus and https://www.constructionenquirer.com/category/news/

Education and training providers

We understand uncertainty educational settings are facing at the moment and concerns around potential financial implications for many institutions.

The current guidance for education providers can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

The latest advice from the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills is for colleges in significant financial difficulties to contact their ESFA territorial team regarding the existing support arrangements including emergency funding.

Recent updates from ESFA are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-25-march-2020

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