Trading Standards business news

Devon County Council sent this bulletin at 15-05-2020 12:08 PM BST

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Free tailored trading standards advice

To help businesses operate and diversify during lockdown, we're waiving fees for bespoke regulatory advice for all our Devon/Somerset business customers until the end of July.

If you would like advice for your business please contact us.

Close up of chef's hands preparing sushi

Free online COVID-19 guides

We have published a range of online guides to help businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our guides cover:

General advice.

Supplying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Supplying hand sanitisers.

Food business frequently asked questions.

Checklist for businesses.

Contracts cancelled due to coronavirus – general advice.

Accommodation holidays cancelled due to coronavirus – guide for businesses.

Further COVID-19 resources

You can find more information and guidance to help your business during the COVID-19 outbreak in these guides:

GOV.UK - Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health and Safety Executive: Working safely during the coronavirus outbreak.

Business Companion: Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates.

Business Companion: advice for holiday companies.

Food Standards Agency: Reopening and adapting your food business during COVID-19.

Look after your mental wellbeing

This is a stressful time for many, so looking after your physical and mental health is important. Here are some resources and organisations that can help:

NHS guide to mental wellbeing while staying at home.

Devon Mind.

Mind in Somerset.

People in the farming community can access help and support through FarmWell.

Cyber security

We have seen an increase in the number of scams affecting businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak. If you need advice and information on staying safe online as an individual or if you're working from home for business, see these guides:

National Cyber Security Centre including its Small Business Guide: Cyber Security.

GOV.UK - Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice on how to protect yourself and your business from fraud and cyber crime.

Protect your business against scams

Find out about coronavirus-related business scams and how you can prevent your business falling victim to them in the new online training tool Businesses Against Scams from National Trading Standards.

May 2020

Business support

For business resilience support and guidance about coronavirus, visit Heart of the South West Growth Hub COVID-19 support for business.

COVID-19 closure of businesses

There has been an update to business closure regulations - see the Government guide at GOV.UK - Closing certain businesses and venues in England.

You can read the legislation here: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

Employee support

GOV.UK - Guidance and support for employees during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Non-compliant businesses

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating reports of businesses failing to respect cancellation rights during COVID-19.

Are you concerned how a business is operating during the pandemic? Read how the CMA is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and use their reporting form.

Support for dairy farmers

GOV.UK - New funding to support dairy farmers through coronavirus.

Scam alert

If you are looking for help to access grants for your business, there is no need to pay for this support so beware of any services asking for a fee for this.

If you need help and advice around grants and other support available for your business, always go to the Growth Hub who can help with all the support you may need.

Free skills courses

The Skills Toolkit is an online learning platform from the Department for Education, giving people access to free digital and numeracy courses to build their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.

Commissioned by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Councils

Office Hours

9.00am - 5.00pm (Monday to Thursday)
9.00am - 4:30pm (Friday)

We welcome calls through Typetalk

For clear practical consumer advice, call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133

If you are a business and would like advice, call:

From Devon: 01392 381381 From Somerset: 0300 123 2224 From Torbay: 01803 208025

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