COVID-19 SUPPORT: Daily Update – Tuesday 7 April 2020
Calls for Welsh businesses to create Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The Welsh Minister, Mark Drakeford, is today calling for Welsh businesses to create a Welsh supply of PPE to support NHS staff and social care workers.
New guidance was issued yesterday in the UK in relation to when health and social care staff should use PPE and it is expected that this will increase the demand for PPE.
On Friday the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, Unite and UNISON joined together to call for the UK government to call for a national effort to produce PPE for key workers in need and tackle the shortage.
The Royal Mint has already announced that it is adapting its technology to produce protective visors which it will supply the NHS in Wales as a priority. Merlin Circuit Technology has also begun to manufacture ventilators at its base in North Wales too.
Ken Skates, Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister has welcomed the response from businesses so far and has called for other firms to think of innovative ways to help develop products to help combat the virus.
The Prince’s Trust and Natwest Enterprise Relief Fund
A £5 million fund has been launched to help young entrepreneurs keep their businesses afloat during the current pandemic. The ‘Enterprise Relief Fund’ will offer grants to 18-30 year olds across the UK who are self employed or are running their own business.
The grants can be used to maintain core business operations during the crisis, as well as meet existing financial commitments, such as paying for essential equipment or settling any invoices raised by suppliers.
To be eligible to apply, you must be a business owner aged 18-30, who has set up their business in the last four years and does not have any other source of income during the crisis. If you have set up your business with support from The Prince’s Trust in the last four years, you will still eligible for the fund if you were aged 18-30 at the time you received the support.
As well as the grants, the initiative will also include one-to-one support and guidance to applicants who need it.
In order to register interest for the scheme, please click here.
Please see our daily updated Financial Support Guide for Businesses for futher information- COVID-19 FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES
For more information on any of the points raised, please contact our corporate team.
