COVID-19 – Resources for Businesses

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a rapidly changing situation with information changing on a daily basis.

In an effort to signpost information for our members and other businesses working in the tourism and hospitality industry, on this page you'll find helpful links to the most up to date information from the UK Government and key partners.

We anticipate that this information will be updated frequently so please check back regularly.

Last updated: 08:51, 23 October 2020

Jump to:

Support and advice from VisitBritain | Government support for Businesses | Bristol City Council | Local Information for Businesses | Public Health Information | Get in touch 

Support and advice from VisitBritain / VisitEngland

Find specific information for tourism, hospitality and event businesses through VisitBritain and VisitEngland.

• Business advice hub - helping your tourism business to grow, with practical tips, legal obligations and local support
• Latest information on COVID-19 - latest tourism-related news and information for UK tourism businesses on the outbreak of COVID-19
• Business recovery webinars - the second series of business recovery webinars to help you get back on track following the coronavirus pandemic

We're Good To Go

“We’re Good To Go” is the official UK mark from VisitBritain to signal that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

• For more information and to apply, click here

Government Latest Updates

Update: Job Support Scheme (JSS), 23 October 2020

The employer contribution to employees’ wages for hours not worked is being reduced from a third to 5%, and the minimum hours required for employees to be working from 33% to 20%, so that those working one day a week will be eligible.

Full details can be found here.

Update: Prime Minister announces new local Covid Alert Levels, 12 October 2020

The Prime Minister has set out how the government will further simplify and standardise local rules by introducing a three tiered system of local COVID Alert Levels in England. The levels will be set at medium, high, and very high. 

Bristol's COVID Alert Level is MEDIUM

• All businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs
• Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am
• Schools, universities and places of worship remain open
• Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the Rule of Six is followed
• People must not meet in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors

Full details on what the COVID Alert Levels contain can be found here.

Update: Winter Economy Plan, 24 September 2020

On 24 September 2020 the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced new measures in his Winter Economy plan, the next phase in the Government’s support for businesses and the economy. This included help for the hospitality and tourism sectors, which he described as “two of our most affected sectors”.

Key announcements include:

• A new Jobs Support Scheme
• Extending the Self Employment Income Support Scheme
• 15% VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors until March 2021
• Help for businesses in repaying government-backed loans

For more detail on examples of how the above will work and who is eligible please read our Winter Economy Plan Summary blog.

To read the announcement in full click here.

Update: Test & Trace, 24 September 2020

The new NHS COVID-19 app is now available to download for free in England and Wales and is the fastest way to see if you or your business are at risk from coronavirus.

• Hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses are required to request contact details from staff, customers and visitors, and display the official NHS QR code poster.
• You should have NHS QR code posters visible on entry so customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in.

Other Government Updates

• Job Support Scheme (JSS) - will be expanded to support businesses who are legally required to close their premises due to local or national coronavirus restrictions
• New restrictions in England - from Thursday 24 September new restrictions in England will be implemented and enforced
• Self-Isolation regulations - People across England are required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• Rule of Six - we've rounded up the latest government guidance as of 10 September 2020, including 'Rule of Six' clarifications
• Increased Fines - for holding or attending illegal gatherings as the government attempts to dissuade people from breaking social distancing rules
• Guidance on holidays in areas with local coronavirus restrictions - what you should do if you're on holiday in an area with local coronavirus restrictions
• Coronavirus Travel Corridors - list of countries where you can travel to from England

Government Advice on Working Safely

• Government Guidance - guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during and after reopening
• Business Risk Assessment - this tool is to help business operators develop a risk assessment tailored to the specific circumstances of their business
• Employee Risk Assessment - this tool is to help employees determine whether they should be going back to work or whether they should continue to work from home
• Coronavirus outbreak FAQs - frequently asked questions on what you can and can't do during this outbreak managing risks and risk assessment at work

Government Advice on Reporting Outbreaks

COVID-19 early outbreak management information has been created to make sure that people who run businesses or organisations:

• Know how to recognise and report an incident of COVID-19; and 
• Are aware of measures local health protection teams may advise in order to contain it.
• Full details can be found here

Government Business Support

Find out more about the full range of business support measures available to UK businesses and employees.

• Job retention bonus - the new guidance sets out the information employers who have furloughed employees need to know in order to claim the bonus
• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - the last day businesses can submit claims for periods ending on or before 30 October 2020 is 30 November 2020
• Two new leadership programmes to help small business leaders grow their companies have been launched.
• Business Support Finder - this tool allows employers and the self employed to determine their eligibility for loans, tax relief and cash grants.
• Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme - the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will repay employers the Statutory Sick Pay paid to current or former employees

Bristol City Council

Find out information from local government, including grants and funds, volunteer opportunities and FAQs.

• Information for businesses - details of the package of measures announced by government to support businesses through this period of disruption
• Sign up to receive the council’s regular email - Bristol City Council has launched a regular email for businesses to help them through this uncertain time and beyond
• Business rate discount - from April 2020 to March 2021, for one year only there is a full discount which has been widened to include retail, hospitality and leisure venues

Local Information for Businesses

More local information for businesses including business information and advice, travel information and news.

• Bristol City Centre BID - COVID-19 information and news page for Bristol BID levy payers and stakeholders
• 24 Hour Bristol - The 24 Hour Bristol Commission is the voice of Bristol’s 24 hour economy and represents the night-time, high street and leisure industries
• West of England Growth Hub - hub to support small and medium-sized enterprises access Government support, as well as providing other help and guidance
• Business West - trading through coronavirus hub page
• Travelwest - latest information and advice on travel around Bristol
• Business in the Community - has launched the National Business Response Network to identify needs across the UK and match them to the right business support
• West of England Combined Authority (WECA) - extra support for workers affected by coronavirus emergency through its career coaching and support service

Links to other local authority information:

• South Gloucestershire Council
• North Somerset Council
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• Somerset County Council

Public Health Information

• NHS advice - find out how to protect yourself from the virus on the NHS website.
• Public Health England - coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

Get in touch

Our team are currently still working from home, but we're still here to support you in any way we can. Please continue to get in touch via email or social media - we'd love to hear from you. If you have any specific questions about your membership or have any other business concerns, please get in touch with Faye Batchelor on faye.batchelor@visitbristol.co.uk.

Please follow us on LinkedIn, where we will be sharing regular updates.