We have created this Covid-19 Toolkit for small businesses to help you navigate to the right place for the information that you need
On a practical level, interpreting the legislation, even with the guidance can be difficult to translate into your specific circumstances. In January 2021, Adam Wagner, human rights barrister with Doughty Street Chambers, calculated that since March 2020, when the first lockdown was brought into force there had been 64 changes to the legislation. It is therefore not surprising that finding a conclusive answer to a question can be challenging in these unprecedented and challenging times. There are sources of support available for you, your bookkeeper, accountant, any industry specific bodies for your industry as well as organisations such as the FSB. Once you have concluded your judgement on any matter, whether it be business operations or interpretation of eligibility for grants, you should keep a copy of the guidance at the time that you referred
Full details of The Coronavirus Act 2020 can be found here:
There is much information and guidance available to help you interpret the legislation here
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
With the speed at which changes are made and must be acted on it is important to ensure that you are getting current guidance from a trusted source as well as ensuring that you are looking at current guidance not someones blog that has since become outdated, for this reason we have mainly provided links so that you can read the guidance directly to ensure you are reading the latest version
Cherwell Business Adaptation Fund
Application Deadline Midday 27th May 2022
Applications open to business in Cherwell who have been impacted by Coronavirus restrictions
Details of businesses that are subject to restrictions or closure can be found here
THERE ARE NO CURRENT RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE
Coronavirus (COVID-19) support is available to businesses:
- Loans, tax relief and cash grants are available
- Employers might be eligible for financial support to pay wages
- Self-employed people might be eligible for a taxable grant covering 80% of trading profits
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae
Use the business support finder can help you navigate the support available for you and your business
Covid-19 Business Grants
Grants do not need to be repaid but will be declared as income in your accounts
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support businesses that are severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant, when most needed. Funding was first made available in financial year 2020 to 2021 and can be used across financial years 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022. However local authorities are encouraged to distribute funding to businesses which require support as soon as possible. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-additional-restrictions-grant
Generally available through your local council for those with business premises paying business rates. Some grants have a discretionary element for those not paying business rates, details can be found on your local authority website
Cherwell District Council https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/258/coronavirus/675/coronavirus-guidance-for-businesses/2
South Northamptonshire Council https://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/info/4/business/445/covid-19-support-for-employers-and-employees/2
Warwickshire District Council https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20827/coronavirus/1553/coronavirus_information_for_businesses
You should check the website of any industry specific organisations for any grants available for your industry
Business Rates Relief
Business rates relief may be available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses and you should check with your local authority for details and eligibility
Covid-19 Business Loans
THESE SCHEMES HAVE A CLOSING DATE
Loans will need to be repaid
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme
Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan
Recovery Loan Scheme https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recovery-loan-scheme
Support for self employed and partnerships
CLAIMS FOR SEISS SCHEME HAVE NOW CLOSED
DEADLINES APPLY FOR APPLICATION
Grants do not need to be repaid but will be declared as income in your accounts
It is important to distinguish that sole traders and partners, eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme are able to continue trading, subject to general Covid-19 business restrictions
www.sapphirebusinessservices.co.uk/wp/2021/07/06/further-detail-issued-about-fifth-seiss-grant/
Support for businesses paying tax: Time To Pay Service
If you cannot pay your tax bill on time because of coronavirus, you may be able to delay it without penalty using HMRC’s Time to Pay service.
Support for Employers
CJRS SCHEME HAS NOW ENDED
DEADLINES APPLY FOR APPLICATION EACH MONTH
Grants do not need to be repaid but will be declared as income in your accounts
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
It is important to note that employees who have been furloughed must not undertake any work for the business that has furloughed them for the time that they are furloughed. Flexible furlough may be available, allowing some working time and also employees are able to work for other employers provided that their employment contract allows
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
THIS SCHEME IS NOW CLOSED
This scheme will be reintroduced from mid-January 2022
For Covid-19 related SSP
NEST – Coronavirus impact: Support for employers and your workers relating to pension contributions
https://www.nestpensions.org.uk/schemeweb/helpcentre/workers/coronavirus-support-for-employers.html
Find out about taxable expenses and benefits when they are paid to employees because of coronavirus and how to report them to HMRC.
www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-treat-certain-expenses-and-benefits-provided-to-employees-during-coronavirus-covid-19?
If you had a VAT payment due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, you can defer payment until 31 March 2021. Instead of paying the full amount by the end of March 2021, you can make up to 11 smaller monthly instalments, interest free. All instalments must be paid by the end of March 2022
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deferral-of-vat-payments-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Other sources of information is available on Federation of Small Businesses Covid-19 hub
Benefits are payments from the government to certain people on low incomes, or to meet specific needs.
Use an independent benefits calculator to find out:
- what benefits you could get
- how to claim
- how your benefits will be affected if your situation changes