Financial support for businesses:

The UK Government has announced a number of financial support packages to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

• VAT and Income Tax payments will be automatically deferred and no application is required. VAT will be deferred for 3 months and self-employed income tax will be deferred until January 2021.
• British Business Bank - The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, worth up to £5 million and interest free for 6 months, has been launched.
• Claim for wage costs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This support package will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wages, up to £2,500 per month.

Government funding via local authorities:

• The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme: A £25,000 grant to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000.
• Small Business Grant Scheme: A £10,000 grant for occupied business premises in receipt of small business rates relief and rural relief. 

For more information or for access to the online form, visit the Bury Council - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - support for businesses.

Business rate discount:

• Nurseries will not have to pay business rates in 2020/21. To qualify for this relief your business will be:
  • An Ofsted's Early Years Register
  • Wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage            - 
• Expanded retail, hospitality and leisure discount: If you received a retail discount in 2019/20, you will not have to pay business rates in 2020/21. The discount has been expanded to include both businesses:
  • In the hospitality and leisure sectors.
  • In the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value over £51,000.

Note: You do not need to apply for the business rate discount. For more information, visit the Bury Council - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - support for businesses

We're waiting further information about the following support:

• SME businesses will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for sickness absences linked to COVID-19. A rebate scheme will be developed when this legislation has passed. More information will follow. Note: Employees, with the COVID-19 illness, will be able to claim Gov.uk - SSP (Statutory sick pay) from day 1 of their sickness.  

Advice for businesses

The GC Business Growth Hub have provided access to a number of free seminars, helping businesses to prepare for the potential economic impact of COVID-19.

The workshops, which are accessible via the Business Growth Hub - Business support webinars, include:

• Duty of Care to employees
• Cash flow and supply chain challenges
• How to work and operate virtually
• Legal and insurance implication
• Tourism and hospitality sector

The GC Business Growth Hub have also published a useful Business Growth Hub - '10 steps to take now', helping businesses to prepare and act quickly as the situation unfolds.

Symptoms of the coronavirus

The symptoms are a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath. However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness as the symptoms are similar to the common cold and flu.

Check if you need medical help

For the latest information and advice about self-isolation, treatment and when to contact NHS 111, access the NHS general health advice.

What you need to know

It is import to follow good hygiene practices, washing your hands with soap and water often and using hand sanitiser when soap and water is unavailable. Further simple steps, to minimise the risk and prevent the virus spreading, include:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often - do this for at least 20 seconds.
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.