Chancellor extends furlough scheme to end of June
The government payment scheme for furloughed workers has been extended into June.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced ahead of today’s Downing Street Press Conference that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) would now be open until the end of June – providing businesses with the certainty they need.
The scheme, which allows firms to furlough employees with the government paying cash grants of 80% of their wages up to a maximum of £2,500, was originally open for three months and backdated from the 1 March to the end of May.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “We’ve taken unprecedented action to support jobs and businesses through this period of uncertainty, including the UK-wide Job Retention Scheme. With the extension of the coronavirus lockdown measures yesterday, it is the right decision to extend the furlough scheme for a month to the end of June to provide clarity.
“It is vital for people’s livelihoods that the UK economy gets up and running again when it is safe to do so, and I will continue to review the scheme so it is supporting our recovery. The government has taken unprecedented action to help the economy and society bridge a period of national emergency so that as many people as possible can get back to work as the situation improves.”
The online claim service for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be launched on GOV.UK on Monday 20 April 2020. Any entity with a UK payroll can apply, including businesses, charities, recruitment agencies and public authorities. You can find more information on the scheme, what you will need to use the portal and eligibility to claim here.
Government announces £10 million fund for England’s fishing businesses
More than 1,000 fishing and aquaculture businesses in England will receive direct cash grants through a fisheries support scheme announced today by Environment Secretary George Eustice and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay.
In the latest step to protect businesses affected by coronavirus, plans unveiled today mean that up to £9 million will be available for grants to eligible fishing and aquaculture businesses.
A further £1 million will be made available to support projects to assist fishermen to sell their catch in their local communities. This money will help fishing businesses find new ways to market and sell their catch while traditional markets are restricted, not only supporting the sector but also the local communities that depend on the industry.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay MP said: “Fishing is at the heart of many of England’s coastal communities – providing local jobs as well as valued produce to their communities and through exports around the world.
“Given the loss of trade particularly to restaurants as a result of Covid-19, this support will help fishing businesses weather the current challenges they face, and facilitate new growth in retail markets through innovative local distribution.”
More information is available here.
Business, academia and government to combine in bid to mass-produce COVID-19 vaccine
A taskforce of industry, academics, government and regulators is being set up to ensure the UK develops and mass-produces a COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible.
Speaking at today’s Downing Street press conference Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced a new government-led “vaccine taskforce”, which he says will accelerate the development, trialling and manufacture of vaccines in the UK to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are looking forward,” said Mr Sharma. “When we make a breakthrough we will be able to manufacture millions.”
But he also urged caution, saying: “There are no guarantees, but we are backing scientists [and] betting big, positioning Britain as a leader in clinical testing and manufacturing.”
“We are looking forward to when do make a breakthrough, we will be ready to manufacture in the millions. We are bringing together a whole range of businesses keen to use their expertise to mass produce vaccines as soon as one is available.
“I am proud of how again and again, Britain has stepped up and answered the call to action. We are problem solvers and the best from science, business and government are joining forces to beat this invisible killer.”
Coronavirus loan scheme for large businesses expanded
A government-backed loan scheme for large businesses affected by coronavirus has been expanded to cover all viable firms, the Chancellor announced today.
Outlining further details of the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loans Scheme (CLBILS) ahead of its launch on Monday, Rishi Sunak said all firms with a turnover of more than £45 million will now be able to apply for up to £25 million of finance, and up to £50 million for firms with a turnover of more than £250 million.
Business with turnovers of more than £500 million were originally not eligible for the scheme, which is being set up to help firms who do not qualify for the existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – for small and medium sized businesses – and the Bank of England Covid Corporate Financing Facility – for investment grade companies. The move, which comes after extensive consultation with businesses, will ensure even more firms are able to benefit from government support.
More information is available here.
Businesses to save up to £300m a year while reducing CO2
Businesses across the UK are set to save up to £300 million a year, as the government launches a consultation on the terms of an extension to the Climate Change Agreement scheme (CCA), which it is estimated will also will prevent an estimated 700,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted each year.
CCAs work by setting targets for reducing businesses’ energy use in return for discounts on the climate change levy on their energy bills. The consultation will enable new targets to be put in place from January 2021, allowing the extension of the scheme beyond its current March 2023 end date to March 2025.
In addition to extending the CCA for thousands of companies currently in the scheme, the consultation will also allow new businesses to apply to join and gain vital access to savings as of January 2021. Under the current rules, businesses have not been able to join the scheme since October 2018.
By joining the scheme businesses will also be helping the fight against climate change. Since the CCA was introduced in 2013, it is estimated to have helped companies reduce energy use by up to 2.3 terawatt hours a year – enough energy to power 140,000 homes.
More information is available here.
Additional new guidance
Temporary relaxation of rules for bus and lorry driver’ licence renewals
Temporary removal of the routine D4 medical is designed make it easier for bus and lorry drivers to renew their driving licence and keep 30,000 drivers on the road each month – click here for more information.
Guidance on coronavirus testing for critical workers
Guidance is available on coronavirus testing for critical workers who are self-isolating – click here. As part of the key worker testing programme NHS and social care critical workers who are self-isolating because of coronavirus symptoms are currently being tested. This list will be updated as testing becomes more widely available. If you are not covered in this list, you should continue to follow the government guidance for self-isolating – click here to view.
Social care guidance
Information for the social care sector on responding to the coronavirus pandemic is available here.
Specification for ventilators to be used in UK hospitals
This guidance sets out the clinical requirements based on the consensus of what is ‘minimally acceptable’ performance in the opinion of the anaesthesia and intensive care medicine professionals and medical device regulators. An updated version of the specification has been published and is available to view here.
COVID-19 Defra Update
Click here to view the updated page with requirements for travelling and moving goods to France
Guidance for Community Interest Companies (CICs)
The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (CICs) has released guidance for CICs to maintain services for CICs and protect the welfare of employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – click here to view.
Can your business offer Coronavirus support?
Request for support from the U9
The U9 group of universities across the South East are calling for support from businesses to help in the manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE).
University of Brighton
Support/need we are working to meet: PPE manufacture, specifically face shield headbands and visors
Progress made/products available: 100 face shield headbands and 250 visors delivered to SECAMBS; 350 face shields and 650 visors delivered to the Royal Sussex Hospital
Business support required: More materials needed to respond to further demand for PPE, specifically:
- 8 mm to 1.5mm clear plastic sheets for A4 visors (210 x 300mm)
- A4 or A3 clear acetate sheets
- 5 mm to 1.2mm polypropylene sheet A2 or larger
- 4mm to 8mm wide Elastic cord
We can adapt to alternative materials if need be so would be interested to hear from parties with alternatives available.
Contacts: James Tooze at j.tooze@brighton.ac.uk / Glenn Longden-Thurgood at gl@brighton.ac.uk
Personal protective equipment (PPE) hub
A new hub containing guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), and infection prevention and control (IPC) is now available, containing information for both health and social care settings and other workers and sectors. Click here for more information.
The hub also links to the Cross-government UK-wide PPE plan to ensure that critical PPE is delivered to those on the frontline. This includes a new ‘Make’ strategy of encouraging UK manufacturers to produce PPE. We would welcome support from manufacturers who wish to offer their production facilities where they can meet the required specifications for use by the NHS and care sector – click here. New offers can continue to be made via www.gov.uk/coronavirus-support-from-business.
Help the government increase coronavirus (COVID-19) testing capacity
There is also a new hub (click here) for businesses seeking to help the government increase testing capacity in the UK as part of its strategy to protect the NHS and save lives. It includes a raft of information, including specification for the required antibody test and guidance about the criteria laboratories need to meet to partner with a local NHS trust. Businesses can provide support in a number of ways:
- Help supply materials and equipment – click here
- Help supply complete testing methods – click here
- Help provide laboratory capacity – click here
- Help provide new testing methods in 4 key areas – click here
Can your business offer further support?
The UK Government is looking for businesses who can offer support in the multiple areas and has set up an online tool where businesses can register. To offer support click here.
Business support packages: latest updates
A new Coronavirus Business Support Hub is now available at gov.uk/business-support.
The hub brings together key information for businesses including on funding and support, business closures, your responsibilities as an employer and managing your business during coronavirus. The hub also includes information for self-employed people and sole traders.
Funding and support
- Financial support for businesses – click here
- Claim for your employee’s wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – click here
- Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – click here
- Defer your VAT payments – click here
- Prevent your business from being evicted – click here
Support for the retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery sectors
- Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 – click here
- 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England – click here
Self-employed people and sole traders
- Claim a grant through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme – click here
- Self-employment and Universal Credit – click here
- If you cannot pay your tax bill on time – click here
- Carry out work in people’s homes safely (tradespeople) – click here
- Drivers’ hours rules relaxations – click here
- Negotiate a mortgage payment holiday – click here
Your responsibilities as an employer
- What you need to do and how to keep your employees safe – click here
- Claim for your employee’s wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – click here
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employer guide – click here
- Claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) – click here
- Find out what to do if your employee needs time off to look after dependants – click here
- Which expenses are taxable if your employees work from home – click here
- Apprenticeships: how they can continue – click here
- Guidance for Tier 2, 4 and 5 visa sponsors of people affected by coronavirus – click here
Managing your business during coronavirus
- Cleaning your workplace safely – click here
- Handwashing advice posters – click here
- Rules that have been relaxed to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic – click here
- Construction sites and safe working – click here
- Farmers, landowners and rural businesses – click here
- Food businesses – click here
- Freight transport businesses – click here
- Medical and healthcare industry – click here
- Shipping and sea ports businesses – click here
- Supported accommodation, residential care and home care – click here
- Transport businesses – click here
Business closures
- Businesses that must close – click here
- If you’re staying open for business: safe working guidance – click here
- Closing holiday accommodation to temporary residents – click here