Staffordshire to join Stoke-on-Trent in Tier 2: What does this mean for businesses?
October 30, 2020
Staffordshire will move to the High Alert level at 00:01 on Saturday 31 October
From this date, new restrictions will be in place to help curb the spread of infection in the county and prevent further restrictions.
The new restrictions for the High Alert level will mean:
- You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
- You must not meet indoors with people in any other alert level, including those living in a lower alert level
- You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space. When you do so, you must not meet in a group of more than six. The “Rule of Six” includes children of any age
- You can still travel to other areas, but you are advised to limit your trips as much as possible
- You should not visit relatives in care homes unless there are exceptional circumstances
READ MORE HERE
What does this mean for businesses?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire’s district and borough councils will have access to the new ‘Local Restrictions Support Grant’ to support businesses in ‘High’ areas that are not legally forced to close but are severely impacted by the restrictions. Depending on the rateable value of each business, businesses could get grants of up to £2,100 a month. This has only just been announced by the government and more details will be communicated by the councils as soon as possible.
What can businesses use the grants for?
Businesses can choose to spend the grants as they wish. It is expected that many businesses will use the grants to cover high fixed property-related costs.
For any advice or queries around this please contact our business support helpline on 0300 111 8002.
