COVID-19 help available for your business
As the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak begins to directly impact more businesses, the Government and other bodies are taking steps to ease the pressure on SMEs. To help you access all the available support, here is a compiled list of recent updates and the latest advice for SME businesses affected by Coronavirus.
Government Initiatives
Head to the support for business page of the Government website for details of the initiatives which the Government introduced in the recent budget
- Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020/21 Tax year. It will be applied automatically to your next council tax bill.
- £25,000 grant to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises.
- £10,000 grant to businesses eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief.
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme helps SMEs get better access to bank lending and overdrafts. Here’s a list of lenders involved.
- COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility, the Bank of England will buy short term debt from larger companies. Available w/c 23 March. More info on BoE Website.
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 HMRC’s Time To Pay service. You can call a dedicated hotline to negotiate an agreement based on your individual circumstances.
Dedicated hotline: 0800 015 9559 If you are self-employed, Jobcentre Plus can help you claim what you are entitled to under Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance.
Who can you talk to?
The Federation of Small Businesses offers the following advice on people you should talk to if you’re having difficulty. This page has plenty of detail including contact information – worth a visit.
Protecting your business from disruption
Who can you talk to?
- Talk to your insurer about what happens if you have to close your business.
- Talk to your bank about finance options. In addition to considering new overdraft facilities, banks and finance providers should also be lenient on things like loan repayment.
- Talk to your customers about payment and chase large businesses for immediate payment.
- Talk to the Government about business support.
- Talk to HMRC about time to pay your tax, sick pay costs and employment allowance help.
- Talk to your local authority about your business rates, grants and hardship funds.
- Talk to your landlord about a rent holiday.
- Talk to Jobcentre Plus about benefits for the self-employed.
Looking after your employees
The UK Government has published guidance for employers, explaining how to tackle the following:
- How to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
- What to do if an employee is suspected of carrying Coronavirus.
- Advice for individuals who have travelled to particular areas.
- How staff should respond if they come into contact with someone that has contracted Coronavirus. The full guidance is available here.
Banks and Finance Barclays, Santander, Virgin Money, and TSB have announced they will be offering payment holidays for loans and mortgages to help businesses and individuals affected by Coronavirus.
- Barclays has launched a free telephone helpline offering support and information to its business banking customers. It is also providing repayment holidays. Coronavirus: frequently asked questions
- Lloyds has launched a £2 billion package to help minimise disruption to business operations. Support includes repayment holidays, and no arrangement fees for new or increased overdrafts, invoice discounting and finance facilities. Lloyds Banking Group COVID-19
- NatWest has announced a £5 billion fund to support small and medium-sized firms to deal with the impact of Coronavirus. Support includes the provision of working capital, loan repayment holidays and temporary emergency loans with no fees. NatWest pledges £5bn
- Santander has outlined the support it is offering to customers impacted by Coronavirus. Support includes a helpline and advice on managing finances. Santander business
Protect your business from fraudsters
Fraudsters are exploiting the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus to attempt a variety of scams and cybercrime. Visit our Security Centre for information on how to protect your business from the latest threats.
Get more information on COVID-19 scams and tips on how to keep your business safe
Looking after your mental health
COVID-19 will be causing stress and worry for small businesses and the self-employed, and it is more important than ever to make sure you are taking steps to support your own mental health as well as that of any employees you may have.
- Mind has issued tailored support for mental health in the wake of COVID-19, which includes tips for taking care of your mental health if you have been asked to stay and work at home.
- Heads Together Workplace Wellbeing hub
- NHS has a good page on Mental health and wellbeing with lots of options
This information is correct at the time of publishing on 23th March 2020 however please bear in mind the situation is changing daily.