Visit

Visit Reading Summer 2020

Welcome back to Reading town centre

Visit Reading videos

Staycation Reading

Where to Stay

Map

The Roseate Hotel on the Great West Way

Green Reading

Explore Reading

Eating and Drinking

Food and drink reopening 4 July

Food & Drink in Reading map

Nightlife

Café culture

New places to eat and drink

Street food in Reading

What to Do

Reading virtual visit

Business Visitors

Visit the Great West Way

Reading in a nutshell

Reading in 2 days

Reading a base for exploring the Great West Way

Shopping

Shops re-opening

Shopping overview

Reading's Independents

Get your business listed here

Arts and Culture

Whats On? 2020

Film: Reading's vibrant cultural scene

Heritage and History

Reading Abbey

Reading Prison

Reading churches

Architecture in Reading

Heritage Open Days 2019

Top 10 facts about Reading

Sport and Leisure

On The River

Travel Trade

Introduction to Reading for the travel trade

Contact us Travel trade

Walking Tours of Reading

What's New

Reading - in Deutsch

Mein Besuch in Reading

Die 10 wichtigsten Fakten über Reading

Sehenswuerdigkeiten

Move

Business

Re-opening the town centre ... safely

Tips for Reading retailers on re-opening

COVID resources

Business Support

Business Space

Town centre office space

Business Parks

Serviced offices

Business Improvement District

Economic Development Strategy

The Reading Offices Map

Business networking

Skills

Why Learn In Reading

University of Reading

Reading College

Language Schools

Apprenticeships

Skills Challenge

Building Better Opportunities

Forbury Place

Invest

Why Reading? case studies

BMI Group Launches Technology Hub in Reading

The case for Reading

Business sectors

University of Reading

Living in Reading

Major businesses and employers in the Reading economic area

How we can help

Investment profile

Residential investment

Reading; beautifully connected

Office investment

Key property contacts in Reading

Research on Reading

Growing your business

Key facts

A global investment opportunity

Reading 2050

Reading 2050 Vision

Our journey

Partners

Publications & events

News

Reading UK

Investment

Visitor

Business

Transport

Sign-up

Reading Abbey conservation funding

Reading UK

About us

GDPR policies

Priorities for Reading UK: COVID-19

Planning for a different tourism post COVID19

Our Team

Town Centre Promotional Hire and Events

Contact Us

Reading City Vision News

Travel

Travel

By Car

International Travel

By Public Transport

By Bicycle

FAQs

Maps and finding your way around

BID

Reading Central BID 2019-24

Abbey Quarter Business Improvement District 2019-24

Supporting Reading businesses: COVID-19

Coronavirus update (15 July 2020)

While the approach to the Covid-19 health crisis is changing on a daily basis we think it is important to keep everyone informed of the latest advice and what resources are available for businesses and employees affected by the emergency.

Latest advice / announcements

15 Jul

Face masks mandatory in shops from 24 July>>>

14 July

Restaurants register for Eat Out to Help Out

8 July

Government plan for jobs>>>

Eat Out to Help Out scheme, VAT reduction on hospitality, furlough scheme updates...

24 Jun

Guidance for hotel, restaurant, bar and attractions re-opening 4 July>>>

10 Jun

Shops to reopen in Reading town centre>>>

5 Jun

Face masks compulsory on public transport from 15 June>>>

1 Jun

Small Businesses Urged to Apply for New Discretionary Grant Fund Scheme>>>

Businesses have until 14 June to apply for the Council-administered scheme

1 June

Changes to furlough scheme>>>

The government will pay 80% of wages in August, 70% September, 60% October.

1 June

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended>>>

Those eligible under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)will be able to claim a second and final grant in August worth up to 70% of their average monthly trading profits.

Financial support for business

Reading Borough Council

Business rates relief mechanism, business grants administration and links to other advice and guidance

Bounce back loans for small business

3 month extension to file company accounts

Deferral of VAT payments

Commercial tenants rent payment protecxtion

Job retention scheme

Business interruption loan scheme

Business advice and helplines

Hospitality and attractions re-opening guidance

Government; support for business advice and guidance

Job retention scheme, support for self-employed, business rates relief, grants and much more...

Government Business Q&A

Thames Valley Berkshire LEP Growth Hub coronavirus business advice (business loans advice and higher level business support)

Government business helpline - 0300 456 3565

Social distancing in the workplace guidelines>>>

Sector specific advice and guidance announcements

Hospitality and attractions re-opening guidance

Garden Centres to reopen

Adapting and re-opening food business - Food Standards Agency

Estate agents - restarting the housing market

Sport and leisure - re-opening outdoor facilities

Construction: new Site Operating Procedures>>>

Tech sector: Tech Nation tech business support hub>>>

Arts Council COVID advice / emergency funding>>>

Retail, hospitality and leisure

Childcare providers (Business rates holiday)

Cultural sector - Funding for Online Culture Projects

Reading Place of Culture programme funding for Reading Culture Live digital platform>>>

Food - Guidance for food businesses>>>

Cultural sector >>>

Reading UK's dedicated web page for Reading cultural sector with info on applying for ACE grants

Charities>>>

List of businesses required to close>>>

Health - NHS

Face masks compulsory on public transport from 15 June

Test and trace service launched>>>

Who can get tested and how?

Latest NHS advice

Public advised to cover faces in enclosed spaces (11 May) >>>

Employment

Government advice to employees

Support for self employed

Understanding Universal Credit page below is being updated regularly with information>>>

A range of extra support and measures will be in place to help workers, benefit claimants and businesses affected by coronavirus>>>

'Universal Credit guide finder' which provides links to all the current guidance available

Find it on the first page of the Helping someone claim section on the Understanding Universal Credit website.

Well-being: Tips for working from home (Hays Recruitment)>>>

Buildings and insurance policy

Government statement re commercial insurance

Crime and safety

Thames Valley Police latest advice on staying home>>>

Non-emergency Police online crime reporting form (to help Police manage their resources best)

National Business Crime Centre advice during COVID-19

Communications and customer relations in a difficult time

Ideabook on brand resilience and recovery planning (BH&P)

Reading UK has teamed up with local creative marketing agency BH&P to create a marketing ideabook, aimed at supporting our local businesses with brand resilience and recovery planning during these challenging times.

Travel

New guidance to ensure transport network is safe for those who need to use it (12 May)

New reduced GWR timetable announced (effective from 30 March)

Reading Buses new timetable (from 30 March onwards)

Volunteering

One Reading Hub

Helpline for anyone who will be connected with volunteers, organisations and services who can support then during the COVID-19 outbreak. Tel: 0808 1894325 (9am-5pm /5 days a week).

Volunteer at the Royal Berkshire Hospital

A whole range of roles are available from porters to senior managers

While we recognise we’re only at the start of what will be a difficult journey we want to reassure you that Reading UK and its partners will be working together to formulate plans for economic recovery as soon as the timing is right.