BUSINESS RECOVERY

Construction

Including building sites, electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities

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Professional, scientific and technical

Including professional, technical, administrative services (mostly office based)

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Wholesale and Retail

Including shops, warehouses, storage, garages, car showrooms

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Transport and Distribution

Including distribution centres

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Hospitality and Leisure

Including restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, accommodation, indoor and outdoor attractions

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COVID-19 Secure guidelines

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Businesses that reopen will be required to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines, which are safety guidelines that set out how each type of physical space can be adapted to operate safely. The guidelines will help keep the risk of infection as low as possible, as well as support people to return to work safely.

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The UK Government has been consulting relevant sectors, industry bodies, local authorities, trade unions, the Health and Safety Executive and Public Health England on their development. The eight guides cover a range of different types of work:

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  • Construction and outdoor work

  • Factories, plants and warehouses

  • Labs and research facilities

  • Offices and contact centres

  • Working in other people’s homes

  • Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery

  • Shops and branches

  • Vehicles

 

To read the guidance, go to www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Government Business Directory

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The UK Government has published a directory of the business organisations and trade associations that are providing coronavirus-related support for specific sectors.

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The directory covers more than 30 different sectors. Many of the organisations listed provide sector-specific guidance and are often happy to respond to non-member queries related to coronavirus.

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Visit the directory at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-support-from-business-representative-organisations-and-trade-associations#small-businesses

Construction

Government Guidance

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Industry Sector Guidance​

Build UK

is a representative organisation for the UK construction industry. They provide advice and information about the support available for construction firms affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Find out more at

https://builduk.org/coronavirus/.

CITB (the Construction Industry Training Board)

industry training board for the construction sector in England, Scotland and Wales. They have announced a package of measures to support construction employers through the coronavirus crisis. Find out more at www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages.

Certass Trade Association

trade association for businesses in the glazing industry across the UK. It represents double glazing and conservatory installers who are certified by Certass Certification Body to install within homes and on commercial sites across the country. Find out more by visiting their COVID-19 page or join their for daily updates and discussions.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB)

represents small and medium-sized construction firms in the UK. Find out more by visiting  their website or email .

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF)

is a trade association for businesses in the building materials’ supply chain across the UK and Ireland. It represents builders, plumbing and heating, timber and roofing merchants, and those who manufacture and supply building materials, home improvement products and renewable energy systems. The BMF has a dedicated COVID-19 page, open to members and non-members. Find out more at https://www.bmf.org.uk/BMF/Information_Centre/COVID-19-bulletins.aspx

 

Professional, scientific and technical

Government Guidance

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Industry Sector Guidance 

Advertising Association (AA)

promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. They are publishing regular updates on coronavirus at https://www.adassoc.org.uk/

Association for Consulting and Engineering (ACE)

trade body for consultants, engineers and infrastructure providers. It champions infrastructure to government and other stakeholders. Find more information on ACE’s coronavirus support.

Confederation of Business Industry (CBI)

speaks on behalf of businesses across every region, sector and size. Visit their coronavirus hub for more information.

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports chartered accountants and students worldwide. Contact ICAEW for more help or information for coronavirus related issues. You can also attend a series of free online webinars about coronavirus support from ICAEW website.

Association of British Insurers (ABI)

represents the UK’s insurance and long-term savings industry. Visit ABI’s coronavirus hub for more information, or contact them.

British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

network of chambers which build connections between businesses and share best practices to help businesses trade. Visit their coronavirus page for more information. You can also attend BCC’s free webinars about coronavirus support.

Enterprise Nation

supports new and growing businesses through a community of advisers and other businesses. Visit their coronavirus support page for more information.You can also attend a series of free webinars through Enterprise Nation’s website.

Management Consultancies Association (MCA)

represents the consulting industry and management consulting firms. Visit their coronavirus page or check their events and courses that may help you through this time.

Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) 

supports the self-employed including freelancers, contractors, consultants and independent professionals with training, information and campaigning. Visit their coronavirus hub for more information.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

accredited professional institution for management based in the United Kingdom. CMI’s coronavirus hub brings together practical advice for managers of both SMEs and large businesses.

Institute of Directors (IOD)

represents business leaders in the UK. Visit their coronavirus hub for more information.

 

Wholesale and Retail

Government Guidance

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The UK Government has set out a timeline for reopening retail in June 2020. Many non-essential shops will be able to reopen from 15 June once they are COVID-19 secure and can show customers will be kept safe. Find out more at www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-timeline-for-retail-to-reopen-in-june.

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Industry Sector Guidance

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) 

is the voice of local shops. Visit the ACS coronavirus hub for more information on compensatory measures for business, advice on home deliveries, social distancing measures and resources for retailers to use in their stores. Read the guidance at www.acs.org.uk/news/acs-launches-new-guidance-retailers-home-delivery. For other enquires please email .

British Allied Trades Federation (BATF)

represents retailers; metal finishers, jewellers; goldsmiths; leathergoods; travelling and fashion accessories; giftware and tabletop. Find out more by visiting their website 

http://www.batf.uk.com/en/hidden-pages/covid19.cfm

The Giftware Association (GA)

UK trade association serving the gift and home industry with members ranging from retailers to suppliers, high street brands names to individual craftspeople and many others. For more coronavirus related information visit their website https://www.ga-uk.org/

Bira (British Independent Retailers Association) 

membership association dedicated to retail businesses. BIRA has members in all sectors of retail, from small hardware shops to independent department stores. Bira has launched a Coronavirus Hub to support the independent retail sector. Visit the Hub at https://bira.co.uk/coronavirus/.

Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association

represents all types of companies involved in making, supplying and selling cosmetic and personal care products. For coronavirus related information visit their website https://www.ctpa.org.uk/covid19information

IMRG - The UK’s Online Retail Association

UK association for online retail helping members understand and improve their online retail performance. During the COVID-19, IMRG are opening their weekly sales performance and insight updates for all retailers at no cost. For more information visit their website https://www.imrg.org/imrg-events/

The British Retail Consortium 

has a dedicated page on its website to support the retail sector to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Find out more at https://brc.org.uk/priorityhub/. BRC’s purpose is to make a positive difference to the retail industry. For further information email their Director of Business and Regulations, Tom Ironside .

Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN)

provides advice, support and advocacy for independent retailers in the news and convenience sectors. Details of services such as its legal, HR and business support and its coronavirus information hub can be found on their website https://nfrnonline.com/

National Market Traders Federation (NMTF)

national trade association representing market and street traders, events retailers and mobile caterers. For more information on coronavirus guidance for market traders visit https://www.nmtf.co.uk/coronavirus/

 

Transport and Distribution

Government Guidance

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The Government has announced a temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules in England in order to ensure that vital supplies of food and medicine can continue to be delivered. The relaxation applies to drivers of vehicles involved in the delivery of food and other essential items. The relaxation will apply until 16th April 2020 and does not include drivers undertaking deliveries directly to consumers. Read more at www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-eu-drivers-hours-rules.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance about arrangements for driver access to welfare facilities and hours of work. Read the guidance at www.hse.gov.uk/news/drivers-transport-delivery-coronavirus.htm.

The Department for Transport has published guidance for the freight transport industry on international travel. Read the guidance at www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-freight-transport.

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The UK Government has published guidance on COVID-19 for shipping and sea ports. Find out more at www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-shipping-and-sea-ports-guidance.

 

 

Industry Sector Guidance

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) 

has announced that all MOT testing of lorries and trailers will be suspended for three months from 21 March 2020. Find out more at www.rha.uk.net/news/press-releases/2020-03-march/lorries-exempted-from-mot-testing-for-3-months.

Gardenex

trade association that helps British manufacturers to export, and international trade buyers to find British garden products. For more coronavirus related information visit their website 

https://www.gardenex.com/news/

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) 

has produced a new document, endorsed by Public Health England, to keep drivers safe. Read the document at www.rha.uk.net/getmedia/88b345e4-cd73-4437-88a9-0b84dd944272/Keeping-Drivers-Safe-Endorsed-by-Public-Health-England.pdf.aspx.

British Home Enhancement Trade Association

trade association for manufacturers, suppliers and distributors involved in DIY home improvement, garden, housewares. Find out more coronavirus related information by visiting their website https://www.bheta.co.uk/category/news/covid19-news/

 

Hospitality and Leisure

The Food Standards Agency

has published guidance on hygiene and food safety requirements for food businesses to reopen and operate safely during COVID-19. 

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/reopening-and-adapting-your-food-business-during-covid-19

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UK Hospitality

has created a page specifically about coronavirus, which provides advice, information, daily updates and a weekly newsletter. Visit the page at

www.ukhospitality.org.uk/page/coronavirus.

PPL PRS Ltd

​​has announced that many hospitality businesses will not have to pay music licensing fees while they are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. It has also made its payment policies more flexible and suspended late payment surcharges. Find out more at 

https://pplprs.co.uk/business-update/

Safer Sounds

has produced a checklist to support hospitality businesses to operate safely during Covid-19

 

Click here

Government Guidance

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Industry Sector Guidance