Coronavirus: Portsmouth to set up 'skills bank' for people who lose their job during Covid-19 crisis

The initiative comes as the health crisis deepened further today, with the death toll nationally hitting 55.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has already announced sweeping measures to tackle the spread of the disease, which included urging people to avoid pubs, restaurants and large gathering.

It’s been claimed that one million people, working across the leisure and service sectors, now face losing their jobs as a result, with pub bosses warning of a mounting ‘catastrophe’ within the industry.

Now, Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt is calling on city businesses to rally round and support those who may fall victim to the coronavirus job losses.

In a new measure, she is helping to set up a skills bank where businesses, not affected by the disease, can provide work for those who have lost their jobs.

Speaking to The News, the former Tory defence secretary said: ‘More support is clearly needed. I am expecting the chancellor to make further announcements today, especially to help the hospitality sector and airlines.

‘Locally, I think we need to help maximise the options individuals and businesses have to generate revenue and help our community respond to the virus.

‘I am asking partners to scope out a skills bank where businesses and people could register skills or redundant labour they have which could be redeployed to help the response.

‘For example chefs could cover care home sicknesses. We need to be creative to enable business to keep its head above water.’

The news comes as Britain faces a fresh employment crisis.

Carphone Warehouse today announced it was closing all of its 531 stores nationwide, making 2,900 redundant.

The firm claimed the move was not related to the Covid-19 pandemic but was because of the changing mobile market.

Almost 40 per cent of staff – 1,800 – affected by the closures are expected to take new roles in the business, the firm said.

Meanwhile, bosses at airline giant Virgin Atlantic this week asked staff to take eight weeks unpaid leave in a desperate bid to save cash during the health crisis.

Billionaire tycoon Richard Branson has appealed to the government for a huge bailout to help save the company.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is today expected to announce sweeping new funding measures to help rescue businesses struggling to cope during the coronavirus pandemic.