Coronavirus sector support information and advice is available here for a range of organisation types. If your area is not covered or you need additional support, just get in touch.
This page was last updated in May 2023. Please check the latest national guidance.
Sectors
Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Further Coronavirus sector support can be found at the following places:
Make UK
MakeUK offer a range of resources, template letters and toolkits for manufacturing businesses, as well as set of Coronavirus-related FAQs.
Manufacturing Growth Programme
The Manufacturing Growth Fund developed a range of resources and guidance for SME manufacturers.
Apprentices
The Department for Education’s guidance for schools and educational settings offered helpful advice.
Digital & Creative
Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Your business may operate more than one type of workplace, therefore it is important that you refer to all of the relevant publications.
Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support
Arts Council England launched a new fund for organisations at imminent risk of failure, particular those who had not yet received grants from the Culture Recovery Fund, to provide Coronavirus sector support until the end of the 2020.
Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Specific Coronavirus sector support for the retail and hospitality industry included:
VAT reduction for hospitality, accommodation and attractions
Some businesses were eligible for a 5% reduced rate of VAT until 30 September 2021 if their business is in the hospitality, hotel or holiday accommodation sector. From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, the reduced rate of 12.5% will apply. Find out if your business was eligible for VAT reduction.
Additional Restrictions Grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant grant was offered to business who were negatively affected by coronavirus. Examples of what made a business eligible were:
- you do not pay business rates and your business was closed by law;
- you supply an industry that had to close because of coronavirus, for example the retail, hospitality or leisure sector;
- your business is in the events sector.
The Additional Restrictions Grant ended on 31 March 2022.
Find out more about the coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant.
Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure
If you were eligible, you:
- may not have needed to pay any business rate for the 2020 to 2021 tax year (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021);
- may not have needed to pay any business rate for the first 3 months of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021);
- may have received 66% off your business rates bills for the rest of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022) – up to a total value of £2 million.
You would receive:
- up to £2m if your business was required to close on 5 January 2021;
- up to £105,000 if your business was permitted to open on 5 January 2021.
You were eligible if your property was a:
- shop;
- restaurant, café, bar or pub;
- cinema or live music venue;
- leisure or assembly property – for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa;
- hospitality property – for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation.
ADHB
The ADHB offered a dedicated Coronavirus hub that included FAQs, articles and sector specific advice.
Build UK
Build UK produced a directory containing sector-specific advice and information.
The government pledged £750 million to ensure VCSE can continue their vital work supporting the country during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including £200 million for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, along with an additional £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts.
Articles
York and North Yorkshire Businesses Take First Steps in AI
Business leaders gathered in York last week for a sold-out event to take their first steps in AI. Edemystified the fast-moving world of AI and machine learning, while inspiring local entrepreneurs to make their businesses more efficient and competitive with these technologies.
Work with the Growth Hub: Help us shape the next year of support programmes
We are now planning our business support programmes for the next year, and we are looking to consult the local community of providers to work with the Growth Hub and support businesses.
York Chocolatier’s Secret Ingredient Leads to Sweet Success
Choc Affair Ltd., a beloved York-based chocolate manufacturer known for its ethical and award-winning creations, has achieved a significant in capacity to produce their handmade delights.
Events
20th March 20241:00 pm - 2:30 pmFREE
20 March - AI in Action: Real-world Business Applications
Join us at Data Stream UK's upcoming AI in Action event at C4DI Northallerton, where we will dive deep into the world of AI and data science use cases.
20th March 202412:00 pm - 2:00 pmFREE
20 March - Innovate to Grow - Radisson York
Join us at Innovate to Grow - Radisson York for the third in a series of events designed to bring together businesses & share ideas for innovation, held across 3 leading venues around North Yorkshire.
21st March 20249:30 am - 11:00 amFREE
21 Mar - North Yorkshire Council: Connect Over A Cuppa
This free session for North Yorkshire SMEs will provide you with a space to share new ideas, solve problems, and connect with like-minded businesses. You will also get the chance to speak with specialists about support for your business.
Resources
Webinar Recording : How to pitch your product to a Retail Buyer
How do you know which retailers to approach? How do you approach the Buyers (the ones with the spending power)? And once you’ve found the right retailer and the Buyer, how do you convince them to sell your product? In this 1 hour session we will take you through the best way to find, approach and pitch to a retail buyer. We will prepare you with an overview of the Buying cycle, review the considerations that you will need to be aware of, share questions a Buyer might ask and provide a clear outline for the perfect pitch.
Webinar Recording : Creating Videos for Your Business
Daniel Pingstone of Fly Flow Media recently delivered two webinars in partnership, looking at how to create videos for both products and service based businesses. In this condensed recording, Dan covers the content shared in each of those sessions.
Fire up your Food and Drink business with Make it! toolkits
A free video toolkit to help growing food and drink businesses in York and North Yorkshire. Essential ingredients for food and drink business success.