THE planned Selby District Business Week Conference has been postponed in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Selby District Council has received a number of cancellations over recent days, so has decided to postpone the event, which was due to be held on Thursday, until later in the year to ensure it can be a success.

The council’s director of place, Dave Caulfield, explained: “The Business Week Conference was designed to support small and medium-sized businesses in our area. Understandably, however, many small business owners are now facing the prospect of dealing with the impact of coronavirus as their top priority – so we’ve decided to postpone the event until later in the year.

“We’ll be contacting all those involved directly, and will continue with our plans to give out the awards for the best businesses in our district, albeit on an individual basis rather than as part of the business conference.

“We’re also now putting in place the changes to business rates announced by the government in the recent budget designed to help businesses through this tough period. We’re contacting all those businesses affected by this change.”