The AWRC Wellbeing Accelerator from Sheffield Hallam University is providing funding and support for businesses and startups working in the wellbeing sector to help them accelerate product development. Up to £20,000 is available to support R&D, and up to £1,000 to support travel and accommodation to partake in the scheme.

The SME Equipment Access Scheme from the Henry Royce Institute is providing funding for UK SMEs to help them access state-of-the-art materials science and engineering equipment which will enable them to undertake R&D projects. The scheme will cover project costs up to a maximum of £10,000.

The IMAGINE IF accelerator scheme from Innovation Forum is providing funding for early-stage science startups to help them develop innovations that will transform the healthcare and environment industries. The deadline has recently been extended until 15 December 2020.

The latest round of the Research Patient Benefit from the National Institute for Health Research has opened for applications for businesses and academics to support research that benefit the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS and social care services. Up to £350,000 is available for each project, and applications close on 10 March 2021.

The Aberdeenshire Training Allowance is providing grants of £4,000 for SMEs to help them provide training for people who need additional support to participate in the labour market. This includes young people out of education or employment, disabled people, asylum seekers, carers, and those from deprived areas among other people.

The UK Government is set to reintroduce a tiered system of restrictions across England once the lockdown ends on 2 December 2020. The system is likely to be stricter than it was before the lockdown in order to keep COVID cases down and decrease the possibility of a third lockdown in the spring of 2021.

Gyms and non-essential shops in all areas are expected to be allowed to reopen in England when the latest lockdown ends on 2 December 2020. Pubs in Tier 3 areas after the lockdown will likely stay shut except for takeaway, and only those serving meals will be able to reopen in Tier 2 areas.

The Treasury has confirmed that it will be the responsibility of lenders, and not the Government, to recover debts under the COVID loan schemes. Over £65 billion have been lent to businesses under the four loan schemes, but there are growing concerns that many of these loans will not be paid back.

The Welsh Health Minister has announced that tighter COVID restrictions could be implemented in Wales in the run-up to Christmas to bring the country more in line with other parts of the UK. England is set to reintroduce a tiered approach to COVID restrictions from 2 December 2020, while Wales came out of its own lockdown on 9 November 2020.

The Chancellor is facing increased calls from lobbyists and trade associations to introduce a scheme to help self-employed company directors that have been frozen out of Government COVID-19 support. A "Directors Income Support Scheme" would mirror the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which company directors who pay themselves in dividends cannot apply for.