Stay up to date with the latest information & announcements
which may affect your business.
The coronavirus pandemic is firstly a health emergency, but secondly an economic emergency. This page aims to keep businesses up to date with the latest advice and information available from the local councils and the Government.

Announcements
Last Updated 4th July
For Business
Restart-Rebuild-Renew – How Cumbria Business Growth Hub can help you move forward: Read more here
Please find today’s key government updates below:
- Hospitality, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés;
- Tourism and leisure, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks;
- Close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors;
- Facilities provided by local authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres; and
- Places of worship, including use for events and other community activities.
Please also consider sharing this tweet: https://twitter.com/HMGNorth/status/1279022281747042305
The webpage is now live, and companies from across the North feature – https://bit.ly/
In this link https://we.tl/t-
- 1 x 20 seconds – montage animation profiling a selection of the businesses to give a flavour and introduce the campaign
- 1 X social media assets to be used on twitter and Instagram for each company
Financial help for the self-employed
HMRC help line for the self employed and businesses 0300 456 3565
HMRC number (0800 0159 559) for anyone with any tax worries
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-more-time-to-file-your-companys-accounts
Schools
Home Office Guidance on Key Workers re. Schools
Companies House: Companies can apply for an extension if they are unable to file their accounts on time due to coronavirus. Extensions are generally given for up to 30 days.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-more-time-to-file-your-companys-accounts
NHS
NHS advice for the general public
Government Assistance
Main Government coronavirus page
For Employees
Cabinet Office Latest Feedback: Update to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance
Check if-you could be covered by the coronavirus-job retention scheme
Claim for wage costs through the coronavirus job retention scheme
Allerdale Borough Council Frequently asked COVID 19 Questions
Q&A document here
You can contact the Allerdale Health Office directly with specific questions pam.shepherd@allerdale.gov.uk
Fire Safety Leaflet
Cumbria County Council have put together a Fire Safety Leaflet for businesses here
Allerdale Borough Council Reopening Businesses Guidance
As the government begins to ease the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19, there are steps every organisation can do to ensure they reopen safely. Read more here
Government Announcement 25th May - Reopening
Andrew Marshall Covid 19 Business Support
Andrew Marshall, Chair of Cockermouth Chamber of Trade and business owner, is encouraging all Allerdale businesses to check if they are eligible to access the financial support being offered by the U.K. Government in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Further information here.
Business Interruption Insurance
Mark Aspin, Director & Head of Dispute Resolution at Cartmell Shepherd, provides useful information on business interruption insurance here.
Business Interruption Insurance
Mark Aspin, Director & Head of Dispute Resolution at Cartmell Shepherd, provides useful information on business interruption insurance here.
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Full details are available here
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
This guidance applies in England – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK.
Working Safely
Guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic here
Social distancing guidance for shops
Social distancing guidance for shops offering a delivery or pick-up system here
Launch of the Furlough Scheme Podcast
Joanne Stronach, Director and Head of Employment & HR at Cartmell Shepherd did a Q&A on the radio this lunchtime following the launch of the furlough scheme.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce Covid-19 Toolkit
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has produced a toolkit to help businesses mitigate the impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Resources
We have started to pull together a resource toolkit to be used by businesses in town. The aim here is to share good practice and to save time and effort across our businesses.
Please feel free to download these documents and posters to use and adapt.
All Businesses
Food and Drink Businesses
COVID-19 support for restaurants and takeaways
EMPLOYEE BRIEFING – 19-3-2020
acas has useful advice for employers: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
General Advice for food service outlets
Support for restaurants and takeaways
If you have resources which you think may be useful to other businesses in town, please email them to The Cockermouth Chamber of Trade here and we will upload them to this page.
Let’s share good practice and help each other as much as possible.
Recommended Tech and Tools
Messaging: Chat software like Slack and Microsoft Teams allow seamless communication between individual team members, departments and the entire company.
Video Conferencing: Google Hangouts and Zoom offer video calls and conferencing.
Project Management: Trello is a great way to manage a project or workflow remotely.