Business News

Grants are available to help some small businesses not able to access funds under previous coronavirus schemes

Deadline to apply for top-up business grants is 5 June

Businesses eligible for the government�s additional coronavirus small business grants have just over a week left to apply before the deadline on Friday 5 June 2020.

Date Published 28/05/2020

Wetherspoon's social distancing measures for when pubs can reopen

JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it will reopen its pubs, including its three in the Rochdale borough, with social distancing measures when the government gives it the nod.

Date Published 28/05/2020

Greater Manchester businesses donate vital PPE to Rochdale Infirmary and care homes

In the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of face masks have been donated to care homes in Rochdale, Bury and Middleton, whilst staff at Rochdale Infirmary...

Date Published 26/05/2020

Growth Company announces new series of Covid-19 business recovery webinars

The Growth Company is hosting a new series of Business Recovery webinars providing practical advice on navigating the challenges presented by Covid-19.

Date Published 18/05/2020

New virtual workshops aim to help Greater Manchester SMEs strive and thrive

With�the UK now taking its first tentative steps away from lockdown and towards a new kind of normality, SMEs in Greater Manchester looking for a strategy to help them bounce back...

Date Published 18/05/2020

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme opens for applications

The Government�s scheme to support the self-employed is now open for claims.
Self-employed individuals or members of partnerships whose business has been adversely...

Date Published 14/05/2020

Family law firm walk 500 miles to raise awareness of domestic abuse

Staff at Makin Dixon solicitors which has seven�branches in the north of England, including one in Rochdale, have walked a collective 500 miles to raise awareness of domestic...

Date Published 14/05/2020

New guidance launched to help get Brits safely back to work

New �Covid-19�secure� guidelines have been released to help get UK businesses back up and running and workplaces operating as safely as possible.

Date Published 12/05/2020

Furlough scheme extended to October

The coronavirus job retention scheme for furloughed workers has been extended to the end of October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced today (Tuesday 12 May).

Date Published 12/05/2020

Council to start processing top-up business grants

Rochdale Council is now accepting applications for the government�s additional coronavirus small business grants, after lobbying for extra cash to help businesses which were not...

Date Published 12/05/2020

D&W Cars' Stuart Wild raising �1,000 for Springhill Hospice with series of challenges

Rochdale businessman Stuart Wild is taking on a series of challenges to raise �1,000 for Springhill Hospice.

Date Published 10/05/2020

Government gives extra help to small firms which missed out on �10,000 business rates grant

The Business Rates loophole � which meant small businesses in shared office space missed out on a critical �10,000 cash grant � has been plugged with a new �617 million funding...

Date Published 04/05/2020

Greater Manchester Cyber Resilience Centre offers free membership following surge in coronavirus-related online crime

Non-profit organisation the Cyber Resilience Centre for Greater Manchester is offering a three-month membership for local businesses of up to 100 employees to improve their cyber...

Date Published 04/05/2020

New bounce back loans introduced for small businesses

Small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders.

Date Published 30/04/2020

Halfords store in Rochdale re-opens

The Rochdale Halfords store has now re-opened with social distancing measures and new drive-in services to protect customers and colleagues.

Date Published 30/04/2020

Preserving the past, crafting a creative future for the community

The Star Tree Studio CIC, Littleborough, will develop The Gig House to become a purpose-built public studio space that provides fun, accessible art, craft and sensory activities,...

Date Published 30/04/2020

Local businesses are offering free or discounted services for NHS staff, carers and emergency services

From boiler services and wills to car servicing and repairs, local businesses are offering a range of free or discounted services for NHS staff, carers and emergency services...

Date Published 29/04/2020

Vital equipment and tasty treats donated to key workers

Hopwood Hall College, Expert Safety and Mike Goldrick Blinds have all been busy contributing vital goods and treats to key workers.

Date Published 28/04/2020

Serviced office tenants �unfairly excluded� from business rates grant cash

UK small businesses which occupy serviced office space have missed out on �100m worth of relief, which � at �10,000 per business � could have been a lifesaver for many.

Date Published 27/04/2020

Inktech Innovation is producing free hand sanitiser for key workers

A Rochdale-based company which produces printing ink for food packaging is producing free hand sanitiser for key workers.

Date Published 22/04/2020

Top tips for working from home

Working from home might do away with the daily commute but if you�re not prepared the novelty can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Date Published 22/04/2020

Rochdale company donates vital equipment to support care effort

A leading Rochdale manufacturing company has been praised after donating vital protective equipment to support local�health and care workers.

Date Published 21/04/2020

Lancashire Farm Dairies makes big business investment

Rochdale-based yogurt brand, Lancashire Farm Dairies, has announced a one million-pound business investment which will incorporate advanced technology and robotics into its...

Date Published 21/04/2020

HMRC furlough portal for employers now live

The HM Revenue & Customs portal allowing businesses to claim for 80% of furloughed employee�s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions, has gone live...

Date Published 20/04/2020

Greater Manchester businesses urged to urgently access �629m coronavirus grant support funding

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is leading calls for businesses to urgently apply for a share of the �629m coronavirus grant funding available from Local Authorities in the...

Date Published 20/04/2020

Foam firm helps make 25k mattresses for Nightingale hospitals

A local manufacturer is playing a key role in supplying 25,000 mattresses needed for the new NHS Nightingale hospitals being used to treat Covid-19 patients.

Date Published 20/04/2020

Council processes over �30m of coronavirus grants to keep Rochdale businesses afloat

Rochdale Council has processed more than �30m worth of government coronavirus grants to nearly 3,000 businesses as staff pull out all the stops to support businesses and...

Date Published 17/04/2020

More than nine in ten businesses in Greater Manchester affected by coronavirus

More than nine in 10 businesses in Greater Manchester have been affected by the coronavirus crisis, the latest figures reveal.
A total of 93 per cent of businesses in the region...

Date Published 17/04/2020

Chamber launches GM Business Community

Greater Manchester�Chamber�of Commerce is offering all businesses who are not currently�Chamber�members free access to a new initiative launched in response to the coronavirus...

Date Published 17/04/2020

�Laughable� �100 bonus for staff at JD Sports Warehouse

Staff at the JD Sports Distribution Centre at Kingsway have branded a �100 bonus for working during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic �laughable.�

Date Published 15/04/2020

Rochdale scent company AromaPrime helps during Covid-19 pandemic

Rochdale-based scent company AromaPrime is offering significantly�discounted scent products to care homes, which use�nostalgic aromas�to trigger memories amongst dementia

Date Published 15/04/2020

Specsavers staff in Rochdale step up to help isolating customers

With most of the country on lockdown and many glasses, contact lens, and hearing aid wearers unable to leave their homes � staff at Specsavers in�Rochdale�have volunteered to...

Date Published 14/04/2020

Arif Grocers teams up with One Nation to provide essentials for NHS staff

Wholesaler Arif Grocers in Rochdale has been collecting essential items for NHS staff at The Royal Manchester Children�s Hospital over the last week.

Date Published 13/04/2020

Manufacturer flooded with NHS orders in fight against Covid-19

A Rochdale manufacturer which stayed open to supply furniture to the NHS to help them treat coronavirus patients has been flooded with new orders.

Date Published 12/04/2020

Local schools and training providers create visors and donate PPE

Local schools and training providers have been busy creating visors and donating spare PPE equipment for frontline NHS staff.

Date Published 11/04/2020

Zen scoops 5 of 11 categories in Broadband Genie Awards

Rochdale-based�Zen Internet, has been named as the winner of five of eleven categories in the Broadband Genie Awards this week.

Date Published 10/04/2020

�3m funding announced to bolster financial support available to Greater Manchester businesses battling impact of coronavirus

The Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), working with the Growth Company, has announced an initial �3m package of financial support for Greater Manchester...

Date Published 09/04/2020

Rochdale businessman told to pay over �500 to redirect post after following guidelines and closing his companies

A Rochdale businessman who has closed both his businesses in line with the government�s coronavirus guidelines has slammed Royal Mail for withholding his post � and being told he...

Date Published 09/04/2020

Fothergills celebrates 25 years since Rochdale takeover with Parliamentary Review recognition

Fothergill Engineered Fabrics recently celebrated its 25-year takeover anniversary with an award at the highest level, by being�recognised in the recent Parliamentary Review for...

Date Published 04/04/2020

Millions processed in coronavirus fight as council works round the clock to keep businesses afloat

The council has processed over �10m of government grants in a matter of days, to help local businesses stay afloat during the current coronavirus crisis.

Date Published 03/04/2020

NHS staff and key workers offered 50% car hire discount

A Rochdale vehicle hire company is offering a 50 per cent discount to NHS staff and key workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Date Published 02/04/2020

BrightHouse collapses into administration

The UK�s largest rent-to-own operator BrightHouse entered administration earlier this week (Monday 30 March).
BrightHouse, which had stores in Rochdale and Middleton, shut its...

Date Published 01/04/2020

PDS donated 200 bottles of hand sanitiser to frontline workers

Local business Performance Doorset Solutions (PDS) has donated over 200 bottles of hand sanitiser to key frontline workers.

Date Published 01/04/2020

Rochdale BID continues to support local businesses

The Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID) has stressed that it is committed to keeping town centre businesses informed on all aspects of coronavirus and its impact.

Date Published 01/04/2020

Rules on carrying over annual leave to be relaxed

Workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to coronavirus will now be able to carry it over into the next two leave years, under measures...

Date Published 01/04/2020

Support for businesses during coronavirus outbreak

Rochdale Borough Council has now written to over 4,000 businesses to let them know about government grant funding available. Letters should arrive by Friday 3�April�and payments...

Date Published 31/03/2020

Rochdale manufacturer steps in to meet NHS order

A Rochdale manufacturer has stepped in to supply 4,500 pieces of furniture to support the NHS treat coronavirus patients.

Date Published 30/03/2020

Local hairdressing academy wins prestigious award

A Rochdale hairdressing academy has won the Training Academy of the Year Award at the recent English Hair and Beauty Awards.
Over 600 businesses from across the UK attended the...

Date Published 29/03/2020

Specsavers to stay open for essential care

The Rochdale town centre Specsavers store has suspended all routine sight testing for the foreseeable future to focus on essential and urgent care only.

Date Published 28/03/2020

JD Sports 'putting thousands at risk' by remaining open amid coronavirus pandemic

Fashion retailer JD Sports has come under fire from its warehouse employees � as it remains open despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Date Published 26/03/2020

Support package announced for self-employed

Support has been pledged for the self-employed who can no longer work due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Date Published 26/03/2020

Advice for businesses and the self-employed affected by coronavirus

Additional measures have been announced to support businesses and the self-employed affected by coronavirus, including a new HMRC helpline�and online support from The Growth...

Date Published 26/03/2020

Companies to receive three-month extension period to file accounts during COVID-19

Businesses will be able to apply for a three-month extension for filing their accounts,�from today (25 March 2020).

Date Published 25/03/2020

Independent opticians hand delivering glasses to those in self isolation

An independent opticians in Rochdale is extending its services to support vulnerable people in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date Published 25/03/2020

Rochdale firm involved in ventilator drive to beat coronavirus

A Rochdale manufacturer has found itself involved in the UK-wide drive to produce 30,000 emergency ventilators to help the NHS deal with�coronavirus.
The equipment is critical in...

Date Published 25/03/2020

Extra protection for businesses with ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent payments

Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of coronavirus will be protected from eviction, the government has announced.

Date Published 24/03/2020

Chorlton Express Transport and Archbold Logistics join 700 UK logistics businesses to offer emergency delivery service

Heywood-based businesses Chorlton Express Transport and Archbold Logistics have joined over 700 logistics businesses, all members of the UK�s eight major distribution networks, to...

Date Published 23/03/2020

Costa, Subway and McDonalds announce UK-wide closures

All UK branches of Costa Coffee, Subway and McDonalds will be closed by the end of Monday to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Date Published 23/03/2020

Businesses which do not follow new enforced restrictions to be served prohibition notices

Prohibition notices will be served by Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers to businesses which have not been following new enforced restrictions to prevent the...

Date Published 23/03/2020

Coronavirus: Business support launched

Businesses will be able to start to access government support from today (Monday 23 March) to keep operating in the face of the global economic emergency brought on by

Date Published 23/03/2020

Acas publishes new guidance on Home Working

Independent public body Acas has published new guidance on working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Date Published 22/03/2020

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