COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses & Employers
Recent and upcoming changes
Restrictions are easing across the UK.
In England
Step 1 of the roadmap out of lockdown has begun. From 29 March, the ‘stay at home' rule ends - and up to 6 people or 2 households can meet outside. Shielding ends on 31 March.
Moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland?
For Great British businesses moving goods into Northern Ireland, it's important to act now to comply with the new rules. There are five key actions for businesses to take:
- Register for the Trader Support Service
- Get an EORI number
- Check Commodity Codes
- Check whether the UK Trader Scheme could help
- Check goods regulation: Manufactured and Agri-food Goods
For further information on each of these actions, as well as additional guidance and support for business, check our ‘Moving Goods from GB to NI' Explainer: Here.
Additional support available
The Chancellor has also announced one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring. The announcement can be found here.
Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: The Chancellor has announced this scheme (CJRS) has been extended until the end of April 2021. The full guidance for claims from November onwards, including how you can check if you're eligible and how to calculate and make a claim online, can be found here.
Businesses requiring specific assistance can call the Business Support Helpline on 0800 998 1098.
The government has provided detailed guidance about many of the grants available from local authorities for businesses affected by local restrictions. Check if you're eligible:
LRSG (Closed) Addendum grant: Businesses required to close due to temporary local restrictions may be eligible to receive grants of up to £3,000 per 28-day period.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG): The (ARG) provides additional funding for local authorities subject to national lockdown or Tier 3 restrictions, to support businesses that have had their trade affected by the restrictions. This includes:
- closed businesses that don't pay business rates
- businesses that have not been required to close, but are still severely impacted
Each local authority has the discretion to establish business grant schemes or other business support as best fits their area.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open): Where local authorities have been subject to Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions, this grant allows local authorities to make discretionary payments to support businesses that were impacted by the restrictions, but not required to close.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (Sector) provides grants of up to £3,000 per 28-day period to be made to businesses like nightclubs that were required to close on a national basis since March 23.
Coronavirus Support Toolkit: You can find out what other financial support your business (including the self-employed and sole traders) is entitled to, using the government's toolkit.
You can find a full list of the current support measures and easements here.
For further advice from our local partners:
The FSB
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Surrey Chamber of Commerce
Business South
You can also access our Peer Networks service for free help with business recovery.
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