Coronavirus Support and Advice

Last updated: 23rd September 2020

New guidelines come into force in England on Thursday 24th September to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and avoid a 'second spike'.

Pubs, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues must now close at 10pm, and can only serve customers at their tables. All customers must have left the premises by 10pm. Venues that offer takeaways will only be able to offer deliveries after that time.

They must also display the Test & Trace QR code poster, and are legally required to collect all customer data, to assist with the track and trace system.

Visitors will be asked to scan the QR code when they arrive, using the NHS COVID-19 app, which is available from September 24th.

To create and download your unique QR code poster, visit https://www.gov.uk/create-coronavirus-qr-poster

Customers in these venues will now have to wear a face covering, unless they are sitting at their table, eating or drinking.  Hospitality staff, retail staff, and taxi drivers must also wear face masks.

Fines of up to £10,000 are now legally enforceable on venues if reservations are taken for more than six people, social distancing is not enforced or customer contact details are not taken. Businesses can be closed down for failing to adhere.

The planned return of spectators to sports venues will now not go ahead on 1^st October.

Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, and some other venues must remain closed until further notice.

Current Guidelines

The current public health and government guidelines, designed to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, include:

• Face coverings are required in enclosed spaces, such as visitor attractions, shops, hospitality venues and public transport. 
• You should stay at least 1m away from people who do not live in your household.
• Socialising indoors is permitted in groups of no more than six, including in pubs and restaurants. This rule also applies to outdoor meetings. 
• Staying overnight away from home is also permitted, as long as your group is no more than six.
• Gatherings of more than 15 people for weddings are against the law.

These new measures, which come into force on in England on Thursday 24th September, could be in place for up to six months.

Financial Support for Your Business

There are a number of Government schemes offering financial support for your business if you need it.

These include:

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) – closes 31^st October
• Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
• Deferring self-assessment payments
• Business Rates Relief
• Business support grant funds
• Business Interruption Loans
• Bounce Back Loans

These schemes have now closed:

• Eat Out To Help Out
• Deferring VAT payments
• Discretionary grant scheme (Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund)
• Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Further information on the support available can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

New Grants for Staffordshire Tourism Businesses

THIS SCHEME IS CURRENTLY PAUSED

Grants of up to £3,000 are now available for tourism and hospitality businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

From Thursday 3^rd September, small and medium-sized businesses located in a tourist area and dependent on visitors can apply to the Kickstarting Tourism Programme.

Funding can be used to purchase equipment or technology, or seek professional advice, to assist with their economic recovery after the Coronavirus lockdown.

For further information, visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/smeandtourismrestartgrants

The programme is operated by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub.

THE SCHEME IS CURRENTLY PAUSED WHILE THE GROWTH HUB WORKS THROUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST.

We’re Good To Go

VisitEngland has developed a new industry standard for businesses which have implemented new measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Called We’re Good To Go, it recognises the businesses which have adapted to adhere to Government and public health guidance, for example through enhanced hygiene and new social distancing measures.

It has been developed in partnership with Destination Management Organisations like Destination Staffordshire, trade bodies like UK Hospitality, and major UK tourism and hospitality businesses.

Available for free, it involves an online risk assessment to show how businesses have adapted to reopen safely.

To find out more and apply for We’re Good To Go, visit https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/were-good-go-industry-standard

How VisitBritain/VisitEngland can help

VisitEngland’s Business Advice Hub features a dedicated section containing the support available to tourism businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, from funding to guidance on mental health.

Information signposted to includes:

• Government support finder tool
• Skills Toolkit
• Tips on securing finance
• Decontamination advice for hotel rooms
• Support webinars

The page is reviewed and updated regularly: https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/advice-tourism-and-event-businesses-affected-covid-19

Promoting Staffordshire through the crisis

Throughout the crisis we have been working hard with partners including DCMS, VisitBritain/VisitEngland, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and the Stoke & Staffs LEP Growth Hub to inform and help our tourism businesses to respond, recover and hopefully renew.  

We have continued to promote our county and its tourism businesses, via the Enjoy Staffordshire website, social media channels and our consumer database.

If you don’t already, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and please send us any information you would like us to share on your behalf.

Why not join our Staffordshire Tourism Industry Facebook Group?

And sign-up to receive trade e-newsletters and updates

You can reach us at info@enjoystaffordshire.com.

We must work together to ensure Staffordshire is in people’s minds when they look for places to visit after the travel and other restrictions are lifted.