May 5 coronavirus update for businesses

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Council offers relief to market traders

Preston City Council is giving a three month rent relief to the traders at Preston Markets.

Fresh produce traders will be able to continue to provide the essential service to the people of Preston from the Market Hall or through their home delivery service. The traders who are currently closed due to government recommendations will stay safe and return to Preston Markets in the near future to continue to operate their businesses.

Other businesses occupying Preston City Council premises on short term agreements in the city centre will also benefit from the three month rent free period. The Council will also consider providing assistance to those businesses occupying Council premises outside the City Centre which have been severely affected by Covid-19.

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council said: "I would encourage everyone in Preston to continue to shop local and support our independent businesses who are anchored in our community during this unparalleled time.”

BID helps Blackpool care home efforts

Blackpool’s Business Improvement District (BID) has teamed up with Blackpool Transport to provide a coordinated drop off and distribution to care homes across the town. Burtons Biscuits kindly donated tins of biscuits following the recent BID appeal, and with the assistance of Blackpool Transport (BTS), has begun to distribute them.

Mike Simmons for Blackpool BID said: "Care workers are doing an amazing job during these challenging times and we wanted to acknowledge this with a gift for them and also the residents of the care homes.

"Distribution to the recipients was always going to a be a challenge so I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jane Cole and the team of Blackpool Transport for kindly offering to help distribute the biscuits on our behalf. We have already been delivering thousands of items to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and other front line workers with our volunteer drivers but the logistics for deliveries to care homes needed more co-ordination."

Jane Cole added: "We are delighted to be able to assist Blackpool BID and Burtons Biscuits in distributing the gifts. Some of our employees have volunteered to help and it is another example of local businesses working together to help the community in these challenging times."

The project is still seeking donations of hot/cold drinks, food parcels, snacks, laundry powders, fruit, gifts, PPE, scents, hand creams and hand wash. Mike added: “If your business is closed or you have short dated stock, or even if you’re still trading and want to contribute then please contact us to support essential workers” Please email mike.simmons@blackpoolbid.org or call 07565 236810.

IPSE welcomes support for self-employed

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has welcomed news that self-employed people are being told early if they are eligible for government support. It has urged the government to get payments to them too.

Andy Chamberlain, director of policy, said: “It is excellent news that the government will tell people early if they are eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This is unexpected and welcome given just how complex it is to implement a new initiative on this scale. We hope the government will also bring forward the payment date, to get money into these struggling self-employed businesses as soon as possible.

"While many self-employed people will get a wave of relief from receiving these early notifications, it is vital we do not lose sight of the many others who are not getting the support they need. Limited company contractors, the newly self-employed and those who have earned just over £50,000 p/a have been left out in the cold and urgently need more financial support."