The UK Government’s Covid-19 Winter Plan
On Monday, the Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s Covid-19 Winter Plan. The statement confirmed that the national restrictions in England will end next Wednesday on 2 December and that the country will move back into a regional tiered approach, although the tiers will be tougher than previously.
Tomorrow the government will announce which areas fall into which tier and it is largely anticipated that Greater Manchester will return to one of the stricter tiers – tier two “high alert” or tier three “very high alert”. The announcement is expected to made at around 3pm.
Tier three “very high alert” restrictions would have a severe impact on Greater Manchester’s tourism, hospitality and leisure sector, and we would encourage all partners and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the official government guidance on the restrictions prior to the announcement of which tier Greater Manchester will fall into.
We would also like to remind you that the Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub remains available to ensure that tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses have access to the most up to date information including reopening standards and guidance, as well as support services and practical advice.
Watch: NatWest North of England Tourism Business Barometer Roundtable
Over the last sixteen weeks the NatWest North of England Tourism Business Barometer has taken the temperature of the North’s tourism business environment including changes in employment, trends in revenue and overall business confidence.
The study commenced in mid-July when the UK was emerging out of lockdown and covered a period up to and including the introduction of the government’s three tier alert level in late October.
Led by Marketing Manchester, nine tourism boards – otherwise known as Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), including Cumbria Tourism, Marketing Cheshire, Marketing Lancashire and Marketing Liverpool from the North West – were involved and recruited businesses from within their tourism economies that consistently participated in a regular survey.
At a virtual roundtable event held on Friday 20 November, leaders from across the north came together with businesses that participated in the survey and senior economists from NatWest. Together they analysed the journey that the north of England’s tourism, hospitality and leisure sector undertook throughout the study period, how it can learn from the study, and move forward through the challenging winter and into recovery next year.
To read the full story, please click here.
To watch the roundtable, please click here.
Marketing Manchester and Manchester Central partner for Conference News Government Edition
With Greater Manchester’s business tourism sector worth £826 million to our local economy each year, the sector has been decimated by Covid-19 but has the power to lead the region’s economic recovery.
The latest edition of Conference News, the UK’s leading magazine for the business events sector, has been written specifically with MPs in Westminster and the devolved administrations in mind, firmly setting out a case to help them understand and appreciate the value of the sector as we build back post-Covid. The edition has been posted to 950 politicians in the UK along with its usual database of readers and subscribers across the sector.
The edition features a two-page spread on Greater Manchester’s approach to recovery, with input from Marketing Manchester and Manchester Central.
To read the edition, please click here.
Register: Acas and Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter webinar, Thursday 3 December
For employers in the hospitality sector, it is an incredibly challenging time on many fronts. While furlough may seem on the surface to be a simple fix, Acas and the GM Good Employment Charter recognise that furlough is not free for employers – and for those making these tough decisions, it may be difficult to find the balance between seeking immediate solutions and considering the potential long-term impact.
Furlough may be the right move for your business, but if it’s not, what are the other options available and what risks do they carry?
In this webinar session, Acas Senior Advisor and Trainer Helen Robinson, along with Adam Haines, Employment Law Partner at Aaron and Partners Solicitors, will support employers through this decision-making process by providing information, advice, and answering any questions you may have.
To register, please click here
One week to go to have your say on two major public consultations
In October Greater Manchester launched two major public consultations to get a wide range of views on the city-region’s plans to reduce harmful air pollution on local roads and to introduce minimum standards for all taxis and private hire services licensed in the region.
People and businesses across the region and beyond have been invited to help shape the final plans by taking part in the consultations and there is now just over a week left to have your say before they close at 23:59 on Thursday 3 December 2020.
You can find out more and give your views at cleanairgm.com and gmtaxistandards.com
In case you missed it: Tourism and hospitality leaders launch Covid-19 support and recovery plan
Our tourism, hospitality and leisure support and recovery plan has been launched to help Greater Manchester’s sector navigate through lockdown before rebuilding following the severe impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The plan, which was led by Marketing Manchester and shaped and approved in partnership with the Tourism Industry Economic Recovery (TIER) group, has eight areas of focus.
It outlines three areas that Marketing Manchester and its partners have been, and will continue to deliver: providing a regular programme of business advice and information to support businesses across GM; lobbying for continued Government support; and raising the profile of Greater Manchester’s tourism, hospitality and leisure sector at a national level to make sure its voice is heard.
When the time is right to move towards recovery, the plan prioritises an additional five areas of focus: rebuilding consumer confidence in, and the profile of, Greater Manchester; rebuilding the region’s international profile and connectivity; building back the business visits and events (conferencing) sector; better demonstrating how the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector can support Greater Manchester’s wider strategic objectives; and seeking consensus for a more sustainable structure for DMOs like Marketing Manchester, to ensure businesses continue to benefit from their support and activity.
The plan was launched at a special webinar on Thursday 12 November for Marketing Manchester partners and featured guest speakers including Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA’s) Economy portfolio lead, Hilary Centeleghe, Growth and Startup Lead at Business Growth Hub, and David Martin, Head of Tourism Sponsorship and Strategy at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
To watch the launch, please click here
To read the summary press release, please click here.
To access the full plan, please click here.
Partner and industry news
- Stars support RNCM’s appeal to keep music playing
- Mayors and Irish ministers renew commitment to boost links between Ireland and North West
- RHS receives record £1.8m donation to RHS Garden Bridgewater
- Stoller Hall is open for recordings, rehearsals, filming and broadcasts during lockdown
- Ambassador Theatre Group announce socially distanced pantomime, Sleeping Beauty
- Lancashire Cricket set to strengthen its strategic alliance with India following the announcement of 2021 Test Match at Emirates Old Trafford
- Last week’s Industry Update
Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub
Throughout the Covid-19 crisis the Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub has been available to ensure that tourism and hospitality businesses are given the most up to date information including reopening standards and guidance.
In addition, our colleagues in the Business Growth Hub have launched a new suite of support services specifically aimed at tourism and hospitality businesses who need practical advice at this current time. Anyone who needs specific and detailed support should contact: supporthub@marketingmanchester.com
If you apply for a Local Restriction Support Grant and are in the Tourism, Hospitality or Leisure sector, you may be eligible for an additional grant for the period when Manchester was under extra restrictions. You can find out more on the Manchester City Council website, or from your own local authority