New analysis published this week by the government shows lateral flow tests (LFD) to have a specificity of at least 99.9 per cent when used to test in the community and could be as high as 99.97 per cent.
Around one in three people who are infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms, so could be spreading the virus without knowing it. Asymptomatic testing is open to everyone and taking up the offer of free twice-weekly asymptomatic testing will help protect people most at risk by helping to drive down transmission rates.
Testing is particularly important if you're unable to work from home, for example if you work in manufacturing, hospitality or retail. Tests are free, fast and easy to use. Many local pharmacies now offer appointments for supervised tests, drop-in services for collecting home test kits or both. The council's test site at Somerstown Central also offers appointments by booking online and a drop-in service for home test kit collection.
 Non-essential retail in Portsmouth was among the busiest in the South East of England after non-essential retail reopened on April 12th, with data from Huq Industries’ Community Vision product revealing the cities that bounced back fastest in the first full week.
Community Vision, Huq’s high-street measurement tool for local councils, measures footfall, catchments and other essential KPIs in order that towns and cities can follow and optimise the recovery from Covid-19 on a near-realtime basis.
Based on the in-store visits measure, which is the most direct reflection of trade, Portsmouth experienced an impressive 102 per cent surge over the week of April 12, with the south east average at 60.3 per cent.
 This week Travelodge opened its Travelodge Plus hotel, part of its premium budget hotel format, in Stanhope Road, near Portsmouth and Southsea Station.
The venue is the third Travelodge hotel in Portsmouth, as it has others in Hilsea and North End, and it is the brand’s 20th hotel in the county.
The opening, which had been set back by lockdowns and the coronavirus pandemic, represents a multimillion investment for third party investors and has created 35 new jobs.
The new venue has 152 bedrooms and a restaurant called the Bar Café.
 A great article in the News recently focused on several small businesses in Albert Road, and how "the vibrancy of the street with its array of unique independents and trendy culture has long been a pull factor to the area".
The article talks about traders old and new, including Tweedy Clothing, Pigeon Books, Tango Tea and Head Case.
 We want you to join the Horatia and Leamington Houses Community Panel to help us plan the deconstruction of the towers and the redevelopment of the area.
The community panel is a group of local residents, businesses, schools, resident associations, charities, organisations representing vulnerable people and other interested Portsmouth people who have been meeting monthly, with the design team, since March, to help us to plan for the future of the area.
The panel will continue to be the first port of call for the people putting the redevelopment plans together all the way through to the completion of the development and beyond.
The next meeting time slot options are:
Tuesday 25 May, 7pm to 8.30pm
Wednesday 26 May, 11am to 12.30pm
You only need to attend one of the time slot options.
How can you join the panel?
Call 023 9284 1791
Email mary.devaney@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
KKR Small Business Builders provides grants to entrepreneurs and small businesses across a number of countries, including England, to help them respond and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants of $10,000 (approximately £7,200) will be offered to help businesses maintain or create jobs and boost economic opportunity as they respond to the ongoing crisis and recover from its resultant economic dislocation.
To be eligible for the grant, businesses must operate in England. They should have 5-50 employees, demonstrate a need for support and have a strong plan for moving forward beyond the pandemic.
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 2 June 2021.
 Apprenticeship Clearing is a partnership between the Solent MEZ and the Apprenticeship Hub. Born out of the Solent MEZ Skills, Careers & Apprenticeships working group, where the problem was first identified, along with potential approaches to solving it.
Large employers across the region can experience 10-15 applicants per available apprenticeship position annually. With this high number of applicants to positions, inevitably highly talented applicants are unsuccessful in securing a place by the smallest of margins. Across the region, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME), in many cases integral to the supply chain of the larger organisations, can struggle to access this talent pool.
In a webinar on May 21 at 10am the organisations will give details of how they intend to address this challenge through a collaborative Enterprise approach, establishing a process to capture applicants that miss securing an apprenticeship, and retain great talent within the Solent region and Maritime sector.
More information, and contact details, can be found on the Apprenticeship Hub website.
 Scaleup Week: The Business Plan is a week-long series of free virtual debates about the crucial issues and opportunities facing growing businesses as they navigate towards a sustainable, diverse and prosperous future.
These nationwide conversations include speakers from across the UK from a variety of backgrounds including politics, business and academia, as well as a live audience Q&A.
Scaleup Week starts on 18 May and is led by BGF with the ScaleUp Institute and active engagement from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy and the Prime Minister’s Build Back Better Council.
 The fastest growing innovation programme in the South is back with its next big annual showcase. Venturefest will be held on October 21 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The region's innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and businesses are invited to come together in one place on one day to celebrate our incredible innovation ecosystem, showcase the latest technology, share thinking and explore new ideas. This interactive, one-day conference features great speakers, seminars, workshops, and demonstrations of the latest technology and innovations.
There's still time to sign up for an exhibitor stand and apply to speak. Just email engage@venturefestsouth.co.uk
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