Guidance

Coronavirus – guidance for the Sellafield Ltd Supply Chain

Guidance for Sellafield Ltd's supply chain during Covid-19.

Sellafield Ltd values the capabilities within its broad supply chain and we are keen to ensure that we continue to have a healthy and resilient supply chain ready to re-mobilise and help us to deliver our mission when the time is right.

This guidance document has been created to provide our supply chain partners with information on our response to Covid-19 and the support available to them from Sellafield Ltd and from external agencies.

If you wish to subscribe for updates from the Sellafield Ltd website you will receive an email whenever we add new information to this guide.

Supporting our supply chain

Our Procurement Notice sets out some of the ways that we are able to support our supply chain, and we will continue to review this to ensure it is fit for purpose. As outlined in the Procurement Notice, we have been making an initial assessment of suppliers that are deemed central to the delivery of our mission.

Direct suppliers to Sellafield Ltd should contact their category managers to seek further clarification where required. Indirect suppliers should contact their contracting organisation in the first instance.

There is a wealth of support available to companies who are experiencing difficulties and these should be explored and accessed. The information and links below should help you to navigate government support available - as well as guidance from other sources.

Business Support Finder Tool

This tool helps businesses and self-employed people across the UK to quickly and easily determine what financial support is available to them during the coronavirus pandemic.

Support available from HM Government

For the latest information during Covid-19 please refer to the websites below:

The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by Covid-19.

This includes a package of measures to support businesses including:

  • Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
  • Bounce Back Loans Scheme, which will allow businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000
  • Deferring VAT and Self-Assessment payments
  • Self-employment Income Support Scheme
  • Statutory Sick Pay relief package for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
  • 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England
  • Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief * Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
  • Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
  • New lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
  • HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

See your local authority for information on how to access small business/rural rate relief grant.

Business support

England

Businesses of all sizes can contact the government’s business support helpline for free advice. In England the number to call is 0800 998 1098.

  • The government has also launched a Coronavirus information service on WhatsApp. To use the free service, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.

  • Sign up for government email alerts on Coronavirus here and the Department for Business, Environment and Industrial Strategy daily Coronavirus business and employers bulletin.

For further information please visit Business support.

Scotland

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main economic development agency. Business development and advice, developing products and services, funding and grants. Additional useful resources are also to be found here for all UK based businesses.

For further information please visit Scottish Enterprise.

Wales

Business support for Wales and This is Wales Trade and Investment.

Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland

Support for self-employed suppliers

Claim a grant through the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

Access to finance

British Business Bank

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

Enterprise Answers – Cumbria, North Lancashire and Yorkshire Dales only.

Local Growth Hubs

The network of 38 Growth Hubs are local public/private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnerships across England.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Each region in England will have its own LEP website with information on their response to Covid -19.

The Cumbria LEP has a range of useful links and guidance for businesses who are based in the county. As does the Cheshire and Warrington LEP.

Local Authorities are administering grant schemes on behalf of the government. These are essentially grants for businesses who are eligible for small business or rural business rate relief. You should see your local authority website for more information.

Other business support organisations

Some of the organisations listed below operate on a membership basis but during these times are making resources available to non-members too. These include toolkits, webinars, latest information and specialist advice.

British Chambers of Commerce

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce

Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster

FSB

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Build UK

CITB

Confederation of British Industry

Institute of Directors

Nuclear Industry Association

Be The Business

Mental health and wellbeing

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic we are all working and living differently. This can have an impact on our mental health. Here are some helpful links for further information, guidance and support.

Mental Health UK

NHS Every Mind Matters

Can you help?

The government is looking for support from businesses who can help respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Please see here for current list of needs and how you can become involved.

Contact details for further information

Business Open Sessions

We are keen to ensure that the supply chain have access to regular, open and honest conversations with Sellafield Ltd.

The Supply Chain Development team hold frequent, informal sessions where we can explain how to do business with us, answer questions and listen to feedback.

It’s only by listening that we can help address challenges and implement changes.

If you want to attend any of the dates below, please send an email along with idea of the sort of thing you would like to discuss so we can make sure we have the information you need to hand.

These sessions are open to all businesses regardless of size, location or business sector.

These sessions will be delivered as video or voice calls. Once you have emailed us with your preferred date, we will provide details of how to access along with the time of your allocated 20 minute slot.

Please email: supply.chain.enquiries@sellafieldsites.com

Day Time
01 July 13:00pm to 16:00pm
08 Sept 09:00am to 12:30pm
11 Nov 13:00pm to 16:00pm
08 Dec 11:00am to 14:30pm
03 Feb 09:00am to 12:30pm

If you have any questions regarding any of the above or are still concerned about the health of your business please email supply.chain.enquiries@sellafieldsites.com and a member of the team will get back you individually.

Published 17 April 2020
Last updated 8 June 2020 + show all updates
  1. Business open sessions with Sellafield Ltd

  2. Business support helpline number changed to freephone 0800 998 1098.

  3. New information about the Bounce Back Loans Scheme.

  4. Business support tool added.

  5. First published.