Support for Businesses
Please be aware of fraudulent activity and scams. Use trusted websites and emails and think before giving personal details as we have received reports of online fraudulent activity relating to COVID-19 financial support.
We are working with the business community through the current COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they are supported with information, advice and services. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at
employmentandskills@tameside.gov.uk
Applications are now open for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) and Local Restrictions Support Grant (Sector). Full details and access to the online application form are available here
https://www.tameside.gov.uk/coronavirus/businessratesrecovery
Further information on the Local Restrictions Support Grants and the Additional Restrictions Grant for businesses affected by Tier 2 type restrictions; Tier 2 (High); Tier 3 (Very High) and National Lockdown is available here https://www.tameside.gov.uk/businesssupport/granttable
Are you signed up to the LiveWorkInvest mailing list? This is the best way of staying up to date with new information once it becomes available – click on the following link if to sign up:
https://mailchi.mp/tameside/in36zpdp6w
Please click on the link below for the relevant section:
Government Support
The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. Full details of the additional support can be found here:
Covid-19: Support for businesses
The support announced so far includes:
Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub
The
Business Growth Hub is the main source of advice and guidance to businesses in Greater Manchester and they have put together a dedicated COVID-19 response website which has frequently asked questions,
webinars and guides on various topics such as
cash-flow,
legal issues and setting up
remote working.
Tameside Business Resilience Clinic
The Tameside Business Resilience Clinic has now launched with the aim of facilitating free advice and support to Micro and SME businesses across Tameside. The new clinic will operate across a range of platforms to make it easy for businesses to access, using webinars, emails and phone calls by appointment. The support provided includes signposting to existing help from the Business Growth Hub, such as online workshops or webinars; matching relevant professionals like managing directors, human resources specialists and supply managers to local businesses.
To find out more information and to register for support click here:
Tameside Business Resilience Clinic
Redundancy Support
Tameside Council’s
Redundancy Support page has been created to enable individuals and employers to easily access support, training and guidance. If you are an employer who needs to make redundancies or an individual who is at risk or has been made redundant then help and support is available to help you through this challenging time.
Workplace Guidance for Pubs & Bars
From
Friday 23rd October 2020, pubs and bars must close unless they operate as a restaurant, which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
Therefore, your business may only continue to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises if –
- the alcohol is only served for consumption on the premises as part of a ‘table meal’
- the food and drink are ordered by, and served to, a customer who is seated on the premises, and
- you take all reasonable steps to ensure that customer remains seated whilst consuming the food and drink on the premises.
A
“table meal” is:
- A meal that you’d expect to serve as a main midday or main evening meal (or as a main course at either such meal)
- A meal eaten by a person seated at a table, (or at a counter/or other structure functioning as a table where people are seated)
For the avoidance of doubt, alcohol can only be ordered if the customer is ordering or consuming a substantial meal deemed to be a table meal and businesses should exercise judgement in line with the licensing objectives, around what is considered to be reasonable when alcohol is ordered and consumed during the relevant timeframe.
The Authority will expect businesses to ensure that customers do not undermine the purpose of the restrictions.
If your business is not currently registered with Environmental Health to provide food and you want to introduce food preparation and provision, you need to contact Environmental Health to discuss your plans and food safety controls. Points to consider are:
- Allergen management plans must be documented, implemented and all staff trained in how to deal with allergen queries.
Food Safety inspections will take place unannounced and an assessment will be made of hygiene practices, cleanliness, structure and management systems. A food hygiene rating will be issued and displayed on the FSA website. Any queries can be sent to:
publicprotection-es@tameside.gov.uk
Social distancing in the workplace
To help businesses plan how their staff can return to work, eight sets of guidance of social distancing in specific workplaces have been published online. Some businesses will operate across more than one of the settings listed below and will need to think about how the guidance affects them:
Tameside Employment Fund
We will ensure Tameside Employment Fund grants are efficiently paid to make sure businesses which have taken on staff through the scheme are supported.
If you would like more information on how your business can benefit from the Tameside Employment Fund (TEF) and support a young person into employment please click here
TEF Scheme.
Support for self employed and small business owners
Government are extending the
Self-employment Income Support Scheme from 1 November 2020.
Are you self-employed and concerned about how Coronavirus might impact you and your business? Further support is available in Greater Manchester from
Enterprising You which offers free, fully funded, support and advice is available to help during these challenging times, click
Enterprising You to find out more about what is on offer and to register for support.
Coronavirus and food
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging.
Any food handler who is unwell should not be at work. If they have symptoms, they should follow government advice and stay at home.
Although it is very unlikely that coronavirus is transmitted through food, as a matter of good hygiene practice anyone handling food should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This should be done as a matter of routine, before and after handling food, and especially after being in a public place, blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
To find out more about this head over to the government’s webpage providing
guidance for food businesses on coronavirus.
Food delivery and takeaway guidance
We understand that businesses may look to change their operating model and diversify during this time.
This advice is for businesses looking to make provision for the takeaway and delivery of food, where they haven’t done before. It should be used together with the business’ own food policy (Safer Food Better Business, or equivalent) and Public Health England guidance on coronavirus. The Safer Food Better Business pack should be updated/enhanced to reflect the delivery service and how it will be offered safely.
Check out this
food delivery and takeaway guidance for comprehensive advice if your business is looking to switch and offer takeaway food.
Supporting our suppliers
We recognise the key role we have to play in supporting the economy by keeping payments moving through our supply chain. We have written to all our suppliers, offering to work with those that are struggling financially or with capacity to deliver, to provide support and flexibility on payment and contract terms.
So we can support our suppliers, the council has set up the
covidsupplier.relief@tameside.gov.uk email address. We’re asking suppliers seeking assistance in this way to contact the email address and their contract manager if they wish to take advantage of any advanced payments or other support, and can meet the open book and performance criteria needed to allow this.
We are also working with STAR Procurement to streamline the procurement process to ensure that new goods and services can be accessed as soon as practically possible.
Make Mental Health Your Business
During this challenging time ‘Make Mental Health Your Business’ by knowing what support is available for everyone in your business including yourself. The following links give you easy access to a wealth of mental health and wellbeing support:
Tameside & Glossop Mental Health Support including Mental Health Support for Staff –
TGMH Support
Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health and Work During the Coronavirus Outbreak –
MHF Support
Mental Health at Work, Your first stop for better Mental Health at Work –
MH@W Support
The
Working Well Early Help programme offers free personalised support and advice if you have a disability or health condition in Greater Manchester and are off work due to ill health.
Communications shared with businesses
Additional links
Contact