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Home > Covid-19 Support for Business
The Growth Hub team are working hard to keep you updated on Covid-19 Support for Business and inform you of the latest on Government schemes and other business support to assist with managing through the impacts of the Coronavirus. Here follows links to schemes, advice, guidance and further business support.
Local Restrictions Tier System
Information for businesses, including what you can and cannot do in each tier, is available below.
Tier 1: Medium alert
Tier 2: High alert
Tier 3: Very High alert
Tier 4: Stay at Home
Guidance on how to make your workplace COVID-secure has been updated to reflect the tiered system.
Guidance on maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace has been updated to reflect the new local tiered system. If your venue can open in the tier it is in, you must continue to follow the guidance. If your venue must close in the tier it is in, you must follow this guidance when you are allowed to reopen.
Local Restrictions Grants
Businesses that have either required to close or have not had to close but which have been severely impacted due to local or national restrictions may be eligible for financial support under the Local Restrictions Grants or Additional Restrictions Grant. You can check your eligibility and find out more information in the links below.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses) – supports businesses that have been severely impacted due to temporary local restrictions. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14 day period under local restrictions.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses) – supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary local restrictions. Eligible businesses are entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14 day period they are closed.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) – supports businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed. Local councils can determine which businesses to target and determine the amount of funding from the ARG. See you local council Coronavirus business support pages for details for ARG in your area.
The Local Restriction Grants including the Additional Restriction Grant (ARG) are administered by your local authority. Businesses should see the coronavirus business support pages for their local authority for more information and how to apply. To find your local authority, please visit Find your local council and enter your postcode. You can also contact the Growth Hub team who can signpost you to the right place for grant information.
Guidance for employers and businesses
Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus. Guidance for businesses on how to recognise, contain and report incidents of coronavirus can be found here – Reporting outbreaks of Covid-19.
Create a coronavirus NHS QR code for your venue. Get visitors to scan the QR code when they arrive, using the NHS Covid-19 app. See here for guidance on producing a QR code poster for your business. See https://www.covid19.nhs.uk/ for how to download the NHS App.
See the Better Business for All (BBfA) partnership Covid-19 Toolkits to help guide you to reopen your business safely:
COVID-19 Re-opening after a closure Toolkit
COVID-19 Risk Assessment Toolkit
There are a range of measures and schemes available to businesses such as grant funding, business rate relief and loans. You can find out the latest updates here and further details for businesses on the Government's Coronavirus Business Support Hub covering how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
See HM Government Coronavirus Business Support Hub
Coronavirus Business Financial Support Finder Tool
The Government has launched an online tool to help employers and the self-employed find Coronavirus financial support. The support finder will show which loans, tax relief and cash grants that businesses can access. Use the Business Financial Support Finder tool.
Summary information and quick links to business support options are below
Support for the Self-Employed
The Self-Employment Income Support scheme has been extended. To make a claim for the third grant your business must have had a new or continuing impact from coronavirus between 1 November 2020 and 29 January 2021, which you reasonably believe will have a significant reduction in your profits. You can make a claim for the third grant if you're eligible, even if you did not make a claim for the first or second.
The third taxable grant is worth 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months' worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total.
Find more information and check your eligibility here Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
You can submit your claim using the link here – Claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. You must make your claim on or before 29 January 2021.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 April 2021.
Under the Scheme, if you cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), you can furlough employees and apply for a grant to cover a portion of their usual monthly wage costs where you record them as being on furlough.
You can claim 80% of an employee's usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. Employers can furlough employees for any amount of time and any work pattern, while still being able to claim the grant for the hours not worked. You can only claim for furloughed employees that were employed and on payroll on 30 October 2020.
Claims for furlough days in December 2020 must be made by 14 January 2021.
Here is the link to Claim for Employee Wages through the Job Retention Scheme.
Bounce Back Loan
The Bounce Back Loan 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.
The scheme is open until 31 March 2021. If you already have a Bounce Back Loan but borrowed less than you were entitled to, you can top up your existing loan to your maximum amount. You must request the top-up by 31 January 2021.
For full details and how to apply, see Bounce Back Loan scheme here.
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – 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.
The scheme is open until 31 March 2021.
Eligibility criteria and how to access the loan scheme is here Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
The CBILS scheme is delivered through accredited lenders including the main retail banks. You should approach a suitable lender yourself via the lender's website. You can find more information and find a lender from the British Business Bank website – find a lender.
Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) – The scheme helps medium and large sized businesses to access loans and other kinds of finance up to £200 million. The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender.
Eligibility criteria and how to access the loan scheme is here Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme
The CLBILS scheme is delivered through accredited lenders including the main retail banks. You should approach a suitable lender yourself via the lender's website. You can find more information and find a lender from the British Business Bank website – find a lender.
Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility
Under this facility, the Bank of England will buy short-term debt from larger companies. This scheme will support your company if it's been affected by a short-term funding squeeze, and allow you to finance your short-term liabilities. It will also support corporate finance markets overall and ease the supply of credit to all firms.
The scheme is delivered through commercial lenders, backed by the Bank of England.
How to apply, eligibility criteria and how to access the financing facility is here Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility
Other Finance Options
Businesses can explore finance options and access a range of finance schemes through the government-owned British Business Bank. The British Business Bank's Finance Hub provides useful information to help with understanding the various finance options that may be available to your business. It also provides guidance on preparing your business for investment.
Future Fund – The Future Fund provides 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 an option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access other government business support programmes because they are either pre-revenue or pre-profit. The scheme is open for applications until the 31 January 2021. See Future Fund Overview
Time to Pay Service & HMRC Covid-19 Helpline 0800 024 1222
All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through the HMRC's Time to Pay service. Further details here Time to Pay Service
Business rates holiday, VAT Deferral, Income Tax Referral and other measures
If you're a VAT registered business, check if you can temporarily reduce the rate of VAT on supplies relating to hospitality, accommodation, or admission to certain attractions.
Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus.
You can access information on further support measures on the Government Coronavirus Business Support Hub. Aside from Coronavirus response related measures, there is business support, guidance and information on the Government's general support pages for business and the self-employed here https://www.gov.uk/browse/business
Fraud Alert – please be aware of scams
And be alert to the risk that in these challenging times there may be people wishing to take advantage. Please do not provide bank details over the telephone. For more information and guidance, see Trading Standards Covid-19 Scams Guidance
Other National and Local Support for Business
This section highlights support and guidance offered by various organisations to support you and your business through the Coronavirus disruption
Support for Business from outside of Government
Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations provide advice, guidance and webinars that you may find helpful. The following link takes you to a nationwide list of organisations providing support. It does not cover all business representative organisations but you may find it a helpful starting point. See Other Support & Guidance for Business.
CBI Coronavirus Hub has practical advice and guidance for businesses. See CBI Coronavirus Hub
ICAEW Coronavirus Hub information resources can be accessed here ICAEW Coronavirus Hub
Devon & Plymouth Chamber has a range of resources including guidance and webinars. See Devon & Plymouth Chamber Coronavirus Business Support
Somerset Chamber of Commerce offers information and support for businesses, including an information hub and free to access webinars covering a wide range of topics. See Somerset Chamber Coronavirus Business Support
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has information and guidance for small businesses and the self-employed including a series of webinars and virtual networking sessions for South West businesses. See the FSB Coronavirus Support
Cosmic Remote Working Advice Line 0330 088 4421 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Provided by Cosmic, a Devon-based social enterprise specialising in all things digital, this free helpline is to provide advice and support on remote and home working to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. You can access the free Remote Working Advice toolkit here.
Libraries provide access to online resources such a Cobra factsheets and often host business or start-up related workshops. You can access these services and other business support related resources for free through library membership. See your local library, Devon Libraries, Somerset Libraries, Plymouth Libraries, Torbay Libraries.
TDA Business – provide access to a team of Advisers who can offer support throughout Torbay and in other areas across the South West. See TDA website
Trading Standards – Offer practical guides, advice and business support information. See the Trading Standard Covid-19 Business Advice pages here.
Your Local Authority has the latest Coronavirus updates and advice for your area, plus information on business related support. See Coronavirus pages at Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay. For further local information, see the Coronavirus pages for your local District or Council – Find you local authority here.
Webinars & Online Presentations
HMRC have a range of videos on measures to support employers, employees and the self-employed through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. See the HMRC Webinar Programme
CBI Daily Coronavirus Webinar – you can register for the upcoming webinar and view past CBI webinars here CBI Coronavirus Hub
ICAEW Webinar and information resources can be accessed here ICAEW Coronavirus Webinars
Devon & Plymouth Chamber provides webinars on a wide variety of topics; many are free to attend for members and non-members. See Devon & Plymouth Chamber Events
Somerset Chamber of Commerce have free to access webinars covering a wide range of topics and Covid related measures. See Somerset Chamber Covid-19 webinars
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have a series of webinars and virtual networking sessions. See the FSB South West Event Listing here
SWMAS have webinars on a variety of topics relevant to manufacturing businesses. Take a look here SWMAS Events
HotSW Digital Skills Partnership
Have published information including advice to businesses on remote working, useful tools, webinars and other resources. See HotSW Digital Skills Partnership
Heart of the South West Jobs Launchpad
This is a virtual job and career fair supporting those who have been made redundant, or have been affected by the closure of employers in the Heart of the South West LEP area (Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay). You can search jobs and access tools and resources here – HotSW Jobs Launchpad
Support for Social Enterprises
Social enterprises can access local and national grant funding and other assistance to help through the Coronavirus outbreak. You can explore support in your local areas via the following pages:
Invest Plymouth
Social Enterprise UK have a Coronavirus Support and Resource page
You can also find guidance and financial support offered by the government to charities.
Farming & Related Support
Coronavirus information for farmers, landowners and rural businesses – this page on the Gov.uk site provides guidance and the latest updates. See Information for Farmers
Pick for Britain – Looking to work on a UK Fruit & Veg farm? From pickers and packers, to plant husbandry and tractor or forklift drivers, there are a wide range of roles available. See the Pick for Britain website here
The NFU is providing an information gathering service on behalf of the agricultural and horticultural industries across the UK to assist the government in building a dynamic and up-to-date picture of the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak is having on farmers and growers. You can give your information here NFU Covid-19 Impact Form
Are You Looking for Other Business Support Options?
Our Growth Hub team are on hand to help you navigate the business support options, find answers to your questions and put you in touch with the right schemes to meet your business needs and aspirations. Do Get in Touch and a Growth Hub Adviser from our team will get back to you.
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