Coronavirus
(COVID-19)

PPE SUPPORT

Suppliers of PPE

Euro Quality Coatings: SteveRosher@eqcltd.co.uk / 029 20362999 / 07860 534671

• R122 Face Visors

Manufacture and distribution of PPE

Welsh Government have appointed Life Sciences Hub Wales (LSH) as the primary contact for any organisation that feel they are able to supply, manufacture and/or distribute products or collaborate with others to develop products or solutions in areas which include Medical Devices, Infection Control and Digital Solutions.  If you are an existing supplier of PPE or critical equipment or are able to provide any additional support on either manufacturing, repurposing products or innovation, please contact the Life Science Hub through their innovation portal at:  https://lshubwales.com/call-industry-collaboration-fight-coronavirus. 

Offer of support will need to be submitted with essential information including evidence of certification and product standards.

Supporting additional construction and temporary accommodation for the NHS

Any suppliers specifically able to offer support for Planning, Construction and Implementation of additional/temporary accommodation for the NHS please register interest at HSS.COVID-19.PlanningCell@gov.wales

Any other offers of support

Offers of support not directly related to Medical Equipment or PPE, are being captured at a regional and local level.  Offers of this kind will be captured via a link to an online form which identifies offers by post code area.  This intelligence is being captured on a regional level not to meet existing demand but to be called upon in future if a need is identified. To register offers of this kind please complete the online form here.

Visor Protection Guide

This document is intended as a guide only to potential manufacturers of face visors in the current Covid 19 crisis.  You should ensure that your product complies with all necessary regulations.  

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Best Practice for Operational Start-Up

Follow the link to access a best practice summary for companies in relation to safe operational start-up following closure due to COVID-19

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INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

Below is information and guidance together with a package of measures put in place by UK Government, BEIS and Welsh Government to provide support for individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. 

Please keep an eye on each of these links for regular updates and also note the information regards the 2 metre social distancing legislation.

Economic Resilience Fund: Phase 3  (open for applications w/c 26th October)

Further to the recent announcement regards the impending firebreak (18.00 on 23rd Octoberto 9th November) , Welsh Government are to double the support provided via Phase 3 of the Economic Resilience Fund, which now sits at almost £300m.

This includes an extra £150m to support to businesses affected by the firebreak and also an additional £20m to the £80m fund already announced to help businesses develop in the longer term (£20m to be allocated to tourism and hospitality).  The eligibility checker for the Business Development Grant can be found here.

In addition, as part of this third phase, eligible businesses can apply for support via the Lockdown Business Fund.  This funding is to be delivered by local authorities:

• Payments of £1,000 for businesses that are eligible for Small Business Rates relief and occupy a property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less.

• Payments of up to £5,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that are required to close and which occupy a property with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £50,000.
• A discretionary £2,000 top-up grant for businesses closed or materially affected by the firebreak lockdown.
• A further discretionary £1,000 grant for businesses that were materially affected by local lockdown measures for 21 days or more prior to the start of the firebreak lockdown period.

Full details of the fund announcement can be found by following the link.

Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan

The  Bounce Back Loans scheme is now open for applications. The scheme allows small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days.

• The government guarantees 100% of the loan.
• No fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. Loan terms will be up to 6 years.
• No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.
• The government has also agreed with lenders that an affordable flat rate of 2.5% interest will be charged on these loans. Businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.
• You can find further information about the scheme, including eligibility, here.

 Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS):

• All viable small businesses affected by COVID-19, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during this difficult time.
• The government is also stopping lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000.
• Making operational changes to speed up lending approvals.
• The government will continue to cover the first twelve months of interest and fees.

https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme

UK Government Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS):

The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will ensure that more firms are able to benefit from government-backed support providing:

• A government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45 million and £500 million.
• This will give banks the confidence to lend to more businesses which are impacted by coronavirus but which they would not lend to without CLBILS.
• Loans backed by a guarantee under CLBILS will be offered at commercial rates of interest.

UK Government £1.25 billion support for innovative firms:

• £500 million investment fund for high-growth companies impacted by the crisis, made up of funding from government and the private sector.
• £750 million of grants and loans for SMEs focusing on research and development.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-support-package-for-innovative-firms-hit-by-coronavirus?utm_source=ffc40ed9-89b2-4764-a93e-a02315d7e575&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate.

Guidance to employers and business covering issues such as keeping businesses open, adherence to public health guidelines and how to handle a COVID-19 case on site: