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Coronavirus - support for businesses

COVID-19 - Business support grant funding
The government recently announced new support grants for accommodation, hospitality and leisure businesses for cities that were in HIGH (Tier 2) and VERY HIGH (Tier 3).
There are also grants available for businesses that legally have to close under the new National and Local Restrictions from Thursday, 5 November whilst restrictions remain in place.
If you are a business which is still required to close under Tier 3 restrictions and have been paid a grant for the period 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020, we will automatically make a further payment for the period 2 December 2020 to 16 December 2020.
The council is administering these grants on behalf of the government.
Read more about eligibility criteria and when you can apply.

COVID-19 Service Information

Food businesses and pubs 

Pubs, cafés and restaurants have been told to close their premises due to recent Government guidance, however, some are allowed to sell takeaway food and drink if they have the correct licence, for the time being. 

If you have information about a pub, café or restaurant that is opening to allow food and drink to be consumed within the premises, then please report these to the council by emailing: public.protection@eastriding.gov.uk. 

When ordering takeaway food, we would advise residents to order food by telephone or online for delivery or collection at a specific time, and not to congregate at the premises. 

Do I still need to pay my business rates?

We expect that those businesses that can afford to pay maintain their direct debits or payment plans and keep up with their payment plan that is on the bill.

We would urge all businesses to keep in touch with us, ensure that they are getting all the reliefs and support that they are entitled to, and to let us know how we can support them during this challenging period. 

Given the demands on our contact centre, we would request that all contact is via email on the following email address and we will respond as quickly as possible:

Email: business.rates@eastriding.gov.uk 

Which businesses need to close?

To help reduce the spread of coronavirus and reduce pressure on the National Health Service, certain businesses need to close and are not to open for trade.

Find out about businesses that are no longer able to open on the GOV.UK website

Can I extend my business opening hours on the run up to Christmas?

Retailers and businesses in the East Riding can extend their daily opening hours to take advantage of new permissions in the Government’s local tiered restrictions for COVID-19 from Monday to Saturday during December 2020 and January 2021.

Previously, if a retailer wanted to change or extend opening hours, these were subject to conditions under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which could take time to be agreed.

However, under the local tiered system, East Riding of Yorkshire Council is supporting extended opening hours and easing these planning rules to give a much-needed boost to the high street.

Temporary event notices

Retailers can contact the council for advice and support if unsure about how to go about extending opening hours. For example, shops which sell alcohol will need to adhere to licensable hours, however, they could remain open outside of these hours and not sell alcohol outside of licensable hours or they could apply for a temporary event notice for the extended opening times.

Please note: a temporary event notice remains subject to application timescales, therefore, to avoid disappointment we advise retailers to contact the licensing team as soon as possible. 

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

What support is available for my business?

Businesses across the East Riding looking for advice and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, or for any other general business support enquiries can contact the council's business support team. 

From start-ups to established companies, the team offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help your business thrive and grow. The team can also help you in identifying appropriate support initiatives and can signpost you to available help where it is applicable. 

Find out more on the Invest East Riding website

Or email us at business.support@eastriding.gov.uk 

Useful websites

To keep up-to-date with the latest developments, visit the following websites:

Humber Growth Hub website - COVID-19

Humber LEP website - COVID-19 Support for Businesses 

GOV.UK website - Guidance to Employers and Businesses about COVID-19 

HM Government Business Support website

What can my business do to support the community response to coronavirus?

A new website designed to co-ordinate Humber businesses’ contributions to the region’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.

The ‘Coronavirus Community Support’ hub has been created by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to help match the growing number of requests being made for businesses to help, and the offers of support coming in from the region’s businesses.

The website lists details of the support being requested by public sector and community organisations involved in the coronavirus response. Requests include a call for businesses prepared to donate surplus stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) or hand sanitizer, as many have done already, and an invitation for those interested in converting existing production lines to manufacture the products to get in touch.

Current requests include: 

  • PPE
  • hand sanitiser
  • bottles for hand sanitiser
  • storage and logistics
  • surplus food and groceries.

Meanwhile, with most traditional networking opportunities closed off, the LEP is working with business membership and support organisations across the Humber to build up a database of business volunteers who are willing to help local firms.

Business leaders who think they may be able to help by offering a little bit of their time for an informal conversation with another business are asked to register their interest on the website:

Humber LEP coronavirus community support

What help is available for people who are self-employed? 

Find out where to get help if you can't pay your mortgage, rent or council tax, or you have no money for food or bills as your finances have been impacted by coronavirus on our financial support for households page.

You can find an up-to-date summary of both national and local programmes of support for which you may be eligible on:

Humber Business Growth Hub website

The East Riding Business Support Team is available to help you in identifying appropriate support initiatives and signpost you to available help.

Please email startup.business@eastriding.gov.uk and we will respond as quickly as possible. 

What help is available for employees?

Find out where to get help if you can't pay your mortgage, rent or council tax, or you have no money for food or bills as your finances have been impacted by coronavirus on our financial support for households webpage.

You can find an up-to-date summary of both national and local programmes of support for which you may be eligible on the Humber Business Growth Hub website:

Humber Business Growth Hub website 

Is there help for people who are out of work, or employers looking to take on staff?

Humber Jobs Fuse is a new service helping people in the Humber region who have been made jobless as a result of the coronavirus outbreak get back into employment, while supporting key regional employers with gaps in their staffing due to the pandemic.

It will connect employers who have urgent vacancies with individuals across Humber who are available to start work – while also listening to employers who have to make redundancies to see if there are opportunities for their staff arising in the region.

Humber Jobs Fuse will promote opportunities as new and replacement needs arise as result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It is a joint service created by: 

  • Humber LEP
  • Education Development Trust (a prime contractor for the National Careers Service in Yorkshire and the Humber) 
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • the four Humber Local Authorities, and 
  • Skills Support for the Workforce

Humber Jobs Fuse will also support those whose jobs have been affected during the crisis through its dedicated telephone enquiry service – which offers free, impartial and professional advice to job seekers – including aspects such as CV writing and access to training.

Humber Jobs Fuse website

I live in private sector housing, what do I need to know?

Unsafe housing conditions

The Private Sector Housing team remain open to respond to complaints from tenants of serious hazards such as dangerous electrics, defective fire doors and alarms, broken down heating within rental properties. Please ensure you have made every effort to contact your landlord or managing agent to resolve issues and be able to demonstrate their refusal to rectify matters prior to contacting this department.

Illegal evictions

Further to the government's announcement that evictions are temporarily banned due to COVID-19.

Read more on GOV.Uk about protection for renters.

Has anything changed for taxis and private hire vehicles?

News updates of changes within the taxi/private hire trade due to COVID-19.

What is the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a temporary scheme open to all UK employers for at least three months starting from 1 March 2020. We expect the scheme to be up and running by the end of April. It is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Employers can use a portal to claim for 80% of furloughed employees’ (employees on a leave of absence) usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Employers can use this scheme anytime during this period.

Find out more about the job retention scheme on the GOV.UK website

What is the Bounce Back Loan scheme and how can I apply?


The Bounce Back Loan scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 from the government.

You can apply for a loan if your business:
  • is based in the UK
  • has been negatively affected by the coronavirus
  • was not an 'undertaking in difficulty' on 31 December 2019.

GOV.UK website - Apply for a coronavirus bounce-back loan

Are council-run markets still open?

Find up-to-date information about council-run market closures.

What has changed for food businesses, pubs, cafés and restaurants?

Pubs, cafés and restaurants have been told to close their premises due to recent Government guidance, however, some are allowed to sell takeaway food and drink if they have the correct licence, for the time being.

If anyone has information about a pub, café or restaurant that is opening to allow food and drink to be consumed within the premises, then please report these to the council.

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Find out about changing food businesses to offer takeaway and deliveries and guidance on hygiene

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