COVID-19 Hub

In the next major push for the Government’s workplace testing programme, all employers will now be able to offer their employees free, rapid and regular testing that can be taken at home

As expected much of Rishi Sunak’s Spring Budget was focused on continuing support for businesses as we move towards the easing of the Covid lockdown measures. It was welcome news that help will continue beyond the dates currently set for business to re-open, with the furlough scheme, business rates holiday, reduced SDLT rate and VAT reductions all due to continue. House builders in particular will benefit from the introduction of the mortgage guarantee scheme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55661702

Rishi Sunak announces £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs

Rishi Sunak has extended the Self Employment Income grant scheme

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus to the House of Commons.

New local Covid Alert levels

Rishi Sunak has announced a Pay As You Grow’ loan payback scheme to provide flexibility for businesses who took out loans amid the coronavirus crisis.

Measures include extending the repayment of the bounce back loans from six to 10 years, nearly halving the average monthly repayment, and allowing struggling businesses to make interest-only payments or suspend payments entirely for up to six months

Full details

Full Statement

"We will ensure that businesses can stay open in a Covid-compliant way.

However, we must take action to suppress the disease.

First, we are once again asking office workers who can work from home to do so.

In key public services – and in all professions where homeworking is not possible, such as construction or retail – people should continue to attend their workplaces."

Full Statement

• From Monday 14 September, you must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6. This will apply indoors and outdoors, including in private homes. This change will simplify and clarify the rules on social gatherings, so they are easier to understand and easier for the police to enforce. There will be a limited number of exemptions. COVID-19 Secure venues, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total but groups of up to 6 must not mix or form larger groups. This rule will not apply to individual households or support bubbles of more than 6 who will still be able to gather together. Education and work settings are unaffected, and organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30. From Monday, this limit will be enforceable in law.
• Businesses will have a clear duty to support NHS Test and Trace. From 18 September, it will be mandatory for certain businesses to have a system to collect NHS Test and Trace data, and keep this for 21 days. Core COVID-19 Secure requirements will be mandated for hospitality businesses, and egregious breaches enforced. The government has also published simplified COVID-19 Secure guidance, available here.
• The government will support Local Authorities and police forces to respond to breaches of COVID-19 Secure guidelines. We will launch a register of newly qualified and recently retired Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) so that Local Authorities can recruit more quickly and fill any gaps. In addition, we will introduce COVID-19 Secure Marshals to help local authorities support social distancing in towns and city centres.
• The government will take steps to improve compliance with border requirements. We will simplify the Passenger Locator Form needed for travelling to the UK, and take measures to ensure passengers have filled out their form before departure. Border Force will step up and target their enforcement efforts at the border to ensure arrivals are complying with the rules.
• The government will review plans to pilot larger audiences in venues this month. Planned sports pilot events will be limited to smaller, safer numbers, with strict conditions to ensure social distancing, and will not take place in areas where incidence is high. We will review our intention to return audiences to stadia and conference centres from 1 October.
• The government will restrict the opening hours of premises, initially in local lockdown areas, with the option of national action in the future. This has been introduced in Bolton, following a steep rise in cases, and will seek to restrict activities that may lead to a spread in the virus.

Today, the weekly survey by the Office for National Statistics reports that the prevalence of the virus in the community in England is likely to be rising for the first time since May.

That means that, until 15 August at the earliest:

Casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and remaining close contact services must remain closed. Indoor performances will not resume.

Pilots of larger crowds in sports venues and conference centres will not take place.

Wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted, but ceremonies can continue to take place, in line with COVID-Secure guidelines.

Full statement

A summary of the announcements

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's statement to the House on coronavirus.

Boris Johnson sets out timeline for retail to reopen in June

The UK Government's Recovery Strategy

Guidance for employers

Boris's speech 10th May

This sets out the package of measures announced by the Chancellor including details regarding;

• Statutory Sick Pay – Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme opens 26 May

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

The Kickstart Scheme

Flexible furlough Scheme

Claim for wages through the CJRS

Steps to take before claiming

Template for claiming for 100+ employees

HMRC Helpline - New helpline number is 0800 024 1222

VAT

The VAT payments deferral scheme ended on 30 June 2020 as previously set out.

Time to Pay

PPE free from VAT for three months

Businesses are reminded that they need to take steps to reinstate their direct debit mandates so that they are in place in time for payments due in July 2020 onwards. Any outstanding returns should be filed and three working days should be allowed to elapse before reinstating the direct debit mandate. Agents cannot set up direct debit mandates on behalf of clients; the business needs to set up the mandate through their business tax account.

CBILS provides cashflow support for up to 12 months (or possibly more) to cover disruption caused by Coronavirus.

The scheme provides for loans up to £5m for businesses with revenue up to £45m. No interest is payable for the first 12 months as this is settled by the government.

FAQs for SMEs.

The borrower remains liable for 100% of the debt.

New lenders announced

A government-backed loan scheme for large businesses affected by coronavirus has been expanded to cover all viable firms.

The Chancellor announced support for those who are self employed or in a partnership and have lost income as a result of coronavirus.

Different circumstances affecting the scheme

The Bank of England can finance working capital by purchasing commercial paper from larger business ‘making a material contribution to the UK economy’.

Businesses do not need to have previously issued commercial paper in order to participate in the scheme. The scheme will operate for at least 12 months and provides a minimum facility of £1m.

CCFF

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill 2020

The Bill received Royal Assent on 25th June and is now an Act

How to apply for breathing space to consider a rescue plan for your company, under measures to support companies and other types of business in financial difficulty.

From 10 October 2020, Companies House will resume the process to strike off companies we believe are no longer carrying on business or in operation.

Sending forms to Companies House

The measures introduced by the regulations will relieve the burden on businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and allow them to focus all their efforts on continuing to operate.

Most businesses are unlikely to be covered, as standard business interruption insurance policies will exclude pandemics but do check the terms and conditions of your policy.

Government extends support to stop business evictions this year.

No renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home during this difficult time.

Commercial tenants unable to pay rent because of coronavirus will be protected from eviction

New measures to protect UK high street from aggressive rent collection and closure

Mortgage Holiday

This is available to all sectors and buy-to-let landlords but is merely a deferral of the repayments and consequently interest still accumulates on the outstanding loan.

Rent Holiday

Tenants can apply for a rent holiday although it is noted that this is just a deferral and not a waiver of the amounts due.

Government has published a code of practice to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to work together to protect viable businesses.

£1.25 billion support package for UK businesses driving innovation and development

How to apply to the Future Fund

Supporting Innovation - Graeme Blair

Government unveils £200 million package to help innovative businesses bounce back

Advice and guidance on how to protect yourself and your business from fraud and cyber crime.

This scheme will help small and medium-sized businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) to apply for loans of up to £50,000.

This is an additional 5% uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF), so up to £617 million. 

This additional fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs.  Local authorities are being asked to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.

There will be three levels of grant payments. The maximum will be £25,000. There will also be grants of £10,000. local authorities will have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000. It will be for councils to adapt this approach to local circumstances.

£20 million new funding to help smaller businesses recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma is creating 5 new business-focused groups to unleash Britain’s growth potential and create jobs, as part of the government’s plans to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.