Claim for 80% of your employee’s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions, if you have put them on furlough because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
For total eligibility criteria and directions on how to apply, please follow https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Find out if you can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to reclaim employees' coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
For full eligibility criteria and how to apply, follow - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Paying Tax
Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus
Temporary changes to the VAT payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 to help businesses manage their cash flow.
If you’re a UK VAT registered business and have a VAT payment due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, you have the option to:
- defer the payment until a later date
- pay the VAT due as normal
HMRC will not charge interest or penalties on any amount deferred as a result of the Chancellor’s announcement.
For full eligibility criteria and how to apply - head to - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deferral-of-vat-payments-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Deferral of Self-Assessment payments due to coronavirus
The deadlines for paying your tax bill are usually:
- 31 January - for any tax you owe for the previous tax year (known as a balancing payment) and your first payment on account
- 31 July for your second payment on account
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can delay making your second payment on account. If you choose to delay, you’ll have until 31 January 2021 to pay it.
For full details - visit - https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill
If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
Because of coronavirus you may be able to delay (defer) some tax payments without paying a penalty. You can:
- delay VAT payments due before 30 June 2020 until 31 March 2021
- delay your Self Assessment payment on account due in July 2020 until 31 January 2021
Contact the HMRC coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline if you cannot pay any other tax bills because of coronavirus
Business Rates Relief
Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus
We have introduced a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
You’re eligible if your property is a:
- shop
- restaurant, café, bar or pub
- cinema or live music venue
- assembly or leisure property - for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa
- hospitality property - for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation
How to apply
You do not need to take any action. Your local council will apply the discount automatically.
You can estimate the business rate relief using the business rates calculator.
The relief will apply to your business rates bills for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Your local council may have to reissue your bill, but will do this as soon as possible.
Check if your nursery is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus
Nurseries in England do not have to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if your business:
- is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register
- provides care and education for children up to 5 years old (early years foundation stage)
How to apply
You do not need to take any action. Your local council will apply the discount automatically.
You can estimate the business rate relief using the business rates calculator.
Contact your local council if you’re not getting a relief you think you’re entitled to.
When it applies
The relief will apply to your business rates bills for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Your local council may have to reissue your bill, but will do this as soon as possible.
Support for the self-employed
Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
If you're self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been adversely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) find out if you can use this scheme to claim a grant.
The scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months, and capped at £7,500 altogether. This is a temporary scheme, but it may be extended.
If you receive the grant you can continue to work, start a new trade or take on other employment including voluntary work, or duties as an armed forces reservist.
The grant will be subject to Income Tax and self-employed National Insurance.
There is other support available if you’re not eligible for the grant.
HMRC will work out if you’re eligible and how much grant you may get. But you can follow these steps to help you understand how we will do this and what you can do now.
To view the full criteria, what steps to follow and how to apply - visit - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Support for small and medium-sized businesses
Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) provides financial support to smaller businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).
The scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to access loans and other kinds of finance up to £5 million.
The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender and pays interest and any fees for the first 12 months.
To view the criteria, visit - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme
Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund
This scheme will issue convertible loans between £125,000 to £5 million to innovative companies which are facing financing difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Future Fund will provide government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.
These convertible loans may be a suitable option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
The scheme will be delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank.
The headline terms setting out the main features expected to apply to the loans are attached at the bottom of this page. - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/future-fund
Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) enables smaller businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak.
The scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to 25% of their turnover. The maximum loan available is £50,000.
The government guarantees 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5% a year.
For ful criteria and how to apply, visit - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan
Guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
The government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.
These 8 guides cover a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance -
Find guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) for health and social care settings, other non-clinical settings, and for the general public.
5 Steps to Working Safely
Practical actions for businesses to take based on 5 main steps.
Construction and other outdoor work
Guidance for people who work in or run outdoor working environments.
Factories, plants and warehouses
Guidance for people who work in or run factories, plants and warehouses.
Labs and research facilities
Guidance for people who work in or run indoor labs and research facilities and similar environments.
Offices and contact centres
Guidance for people who work in or run offices, contact centres and similar indoor environments.
Other people's homes
Guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to other people's homes.
Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
Guidance for people who work in or run restaurants offering takeaway or delivery services.
Shops and branches
Guidance for people who work in or run shops, branches, stores or similar environments.
Vehicles
Guidance for people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar.
Staffordshire Means – Emergency Businesses Grants
Staffordshire County Council have set up a limited £500,000 businesses fund, to support micro-businesses through this difficult time.
This grant fund is targeted at small, micro and one person businesses that are not eligible for the grants and rate relief packages offered by the government.
A total of £500,000 is available, with the maximum grant being £1,000. The grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis for eligible applicants.
Businesses will need to demonstrate what they need the grant for and what difficulties they are facing during Covid-19 lockdown period.
To read the full eligibility criteria, and read how to apply for the grant visit Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub
Employment and Redundancy Support
Council Vacancies and Useful Jobs Links
For a urrent list of Council vacancies, and a useful list of careers and jobs links, please visit our Jobs page here.
Redundancy and Recruitment Triage Service
New Redundancy and Recruitment Triage Service - Stoke on Trent Staffordshire Growth Hub
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP (SSLEP) is announcing a Redundancy and Recruitment Triage Service for businesses and employees experiencing redundancies as a result of the coronavirus, delivered by the National Careers Service West Midlands including Staffordshire.
SSLEP is working with partners to create a triage service to help those who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, back into employment. Whilst the government has created the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, designed to help businesses retain their staff during the current outbreak by paying 80% of an employee’s salary, there are redundancies currently being made by businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. At the same time, gaps in the labour market are appearing in sectors such as health and care, food retail, wholesale, and distribution due to increased demand.
The Redundancy and Recruitment Triage Service will match those recently made redundant with new work in these sectors currently experiencing growth. The service will also engage with employers facing redundancies to ensure a smooth transition for employees into new work.
The Triage Service is the result of contributions from multiple partners including the Department for Work and Pensions, Local Authorities and others. This service is for all employees affected and businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who are having to make changes to their workforce as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Please follow the advice below to ensure we can support you and the labour market during this time.
Referral process
- If you have been made redundant or are at risk of redundancy contact the National Careers Service now on 0121 296 5550 or email ncswmenquiries@prospects.co.uk to book a telephone appointment.
- If you are an employer whose staff are at risk of redundancy, please call 07879 603635.
- If you require support to fill urgent vacancies, please call 07879 603635.
For general guidance and links to further information on redundancy for both employers and employees, you can read the DWP Factsheet on Redundancy.
Other Essential Information Links (COVID-19)
Last Updated: 25/09/2020