Coronavirus Business FAQ's | GC Business Growth Hub

Finance: How can I manage tax and reporting?

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

HMRC has recognised that many self-employed are likely to struggle with income levels/cashflow in the coming months and so they have been quite proactive in saying that they will look at all cases of hardship when it comes to paying taxes. Typically, this will involve agreeing to defer an element, or all, of tax due until a later date or to accept phased payments. Please refer to HMRC’s website:

If you cannot pay because of Coronavirus

Call the HMRC Coronavirus helpline:

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

Telephone: 08000 241222 (Opening hours are from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday)

It is worth also looking at your own business cashflow to see what you can do to delay payments out or to chase up payments which are due to you. Take a look at our finance and cashflow guidance sheet at: https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus/resources/2020/03/coronavirus-keeping-the-cash-flowing

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Extension to filling accounts with Companies House

From 25 March businesses affected by coronavirus were able to apply for a 3-month extension for filing their accounts. On 27 June new measures were introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act which will provide companies and other types of business registered at Companies House with more time to file accounts.

From 27 June 2020, eligible companies whose accounts’ filing deadline falls between 27 June 2020 to 5 April 2021, will get an automatic extension. Further information on the temporary changes to Companies House filing requirements is available on the Government website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Defer payment of Business Rates

Business rates have been suspended for businesses in the Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Retail sectors, as well as nurseries and this is being coordinated locally via the Local Authority.

You can use the business rates calculator to estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year.

Find contact details for your Local Authority's Business Support or Business Rates team here.

Additional guidance can be seen here and here respectively.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Defer Valued Added Tax (VAT) and Income Tax payments

On 24 September the Chancellor announced that businesses which deferred VAT due in March to June 2020 will be able to spread out their VAT bill over eleven smaller interest-free payments during the 2021-22 financial year. To take advantage of the scheme, businesses will need to opt-in. The opt-in process will be set up by HMRC in early 2021.

Taxpayers with up to £30,000 of Self-Assessment liabilities will be able to benefit from an additional 12-month extension from HMRC on the “Time to Pay” self-service facility. This means that payments deferred from July 2020, and those due in January 2021, will now not need to be paid in full until January 2022.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Guidance relating to taxable expenses and benefits provided to employees during coronavirus (COVID-19)

The government has released guidance on the Income Tax treatment of certain expenses and benefits paid to employees because of coronavirus. More information including guidance on how to report these to HMRC, is available on the government website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

VAT rate for tourism and hospitality-related activities

On 8 July, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced a 6-month VAT reduction from 20% to 5% on food, accommodation and attractions such as cinemas theme parks and zoos starting from Wednesday 15 July 2020 and valid until January 12 2021.

On 24 September, the Chancellor announced an extension of the cut in the VAT rate to 5% until March 31 2021.

More information on which businesses can temporarily reduce the rate of VAT is available on the government website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Employees: What is the guidance on Statutory Sick Pay?

Statutory Sick Pay guidance

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or self-isolating in line with government advice. You can now also claim SSP for employees who are self-isolating because they’ve been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they’ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus. To check eligibility see here. The online service to claim SSP opened on May 26 and can be accessed here.

This is payable from day 1 instead of day 4.

Small and medium sized businesses can reclaim up to two weeks SSP paid to staff that are absent due to COVID-19. Employers must maintain records of staff absence - employees will not need to provide a GP fit note.

If the employer requires evidence, for those isolated exhibiting coronavirus symptoms an isolation note can be obtained from NHS 111 online. If an individual has been told to self-isolate from the NHS' Test and Trace service, they can use the notification from the service as evidence.

Self-employed individuals who are not eligible for sick pay can apply for Universal Credit and/or apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: Where can I find the latest advice about Coronavirus?

UK Government COVID-19 Business Advice

The latest guidance for employers and businesses is available on the UK Government website and Coronavirus outbreak FAQ page. On 20th April, the government launched a business support finder tool, to help businesses and self-employed people quickly and easily determine what financial support is available to them during the pandemic. The tool can be accessed here.

On the 25th March the government also launched a WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Service. To access the service, users will have to add the following number (07860 064422) to their contacts and message the word "hi". More details about the service can be seen here.

Following government guidance on fraud control during emergency situations, the NorthWest Regional Organised Crime Unit is encouraging the public to be extra vigilant and cautious, as there has been a resurgence of fraudulent government websites trying to capitalise on the emergency measures and schemes being announced to support businesses and individuals. Full guidance can be seen here.

HMRC have also released a series of recorded webinars to help businesses, self-employed individuals and employers and their employees deal with the economic impact of COVID-19.

Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations are also providing coronavirus related support for specific sectors. Support available for the different sectors can be seen here.

A series of public bodies, organisations and charities have also produced additional resources that may be useful to employers and employees. Amongst these is Enterprise Nation, which is hosting the government supported Recovery Advice for Business scheme. The scheme will give SMEs access to free, one-to-one advice with expert advisers to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

NHS guide to Coronavirus

Consult the NHS guide to Coronavirus which provides advice on how to avoid catching or spreading viruses like Covid-19; symptoms, treatment, and what steps you should take if you think you or any of your employees might be infected.

Official guidance on Coronavirus is being updated daily by the Department of Health and Social Care, and Public Health England. Read more here.

On 16 July, the government also published a national monitoring tool that brings together metrics to assess the wider impacts of COVID-19 on the population's health and wellbeing.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

FCO Travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently advising against all non-essential travel, with the exception of certain countries and territories that no longer pose an unacceptably high risk for British travellers.

People returning to the UK must self-isolate for 14 days unless they’re travelling from a country with a quarantine exemption.

As FCO travel advice remains under constant review, it is recommended that you view the latest guidance from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Exporting: What support is available for exporters?

Support for exporting businesses

On 8 September, the government announced a package of new measures to support businesses in the consumer and retail industry to export overseas as part of efforts to help the sector recover from Coronavirus. These include the launch of a Consumer and Retail Export Academy to help businesses export, via a digital learning syllabus. To view the full list of measures announced, visit the government website here.

Businesses that export goods or services and have been impacted by COVID-19 can also access these schemes for support.

Grants for businesses who complete customs declarations – If you are an importer or exporter, or a business which completes customs declarations on behalf of your clients, there are 3 grants available. These grants support with training that helps your business to complete customs declarations and processes, hiring new staff who focus on customs declarations, and IT improvements.

Export Working Capital Scheme - Access to capital finance for export--related projects.

Export Insurance Policy - Insurance from UK Export Finance to manage risk in challenging markets.

Direct Lending facility - A loan from UK Export Finance for overseas buyers to finance the purchase of capital goods and/or services from UK exporters.

GC Business Finance Export Finance - The Greater Manchester Export Fund provides loans to SMEs looking to trade overseas for the first time or expand their current levels of trade.

The Department for International Trade – Guidance for UK business trading internationally and financial support.

Further information on support for UK businesses trading internationally can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Employees: How do I access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?

Finance: What finance is available?

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan will support SMEs with access to finance including loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance from £1k to £5 million for up to 10 years. The scheme will be delivered by more than 40 accredited commercial lenders and government-backed by the British Business Bank.

Find out more information about the scheme here.

For a full list of finance and support schemes for your business, see here.

If you are based in the North West, GC Business Finance can provide loans. Please see here for full details on eligibility.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme

England based businesses in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector will be able to access a cash grant per property, based on its rateable value. Properties with a rateable value below £15k will be eligible for a grant of £10k, whereas businesses whose rateable value is between £15k - £51k will receive a grant of £25k.

This will be managed by the local authorities who will be contacting eligible businesses.

Further guidance on business support grant funding including eligibility criteria can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Funding for small businesses that already pay little or no business rates

The government will be providing additional funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates. This Scheme will provide a grant of £10k to firms receiving small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will be managed by the local authorities who will be contacting eligible businesses.

Further guidance on business support grant funding including eligibility criteria can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Support for larger firms

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) was announced on 3rd April 2020 and is a scheme that is designed to provide debt finance of up to £200m for larger businesses (with a turnover of more than £45m) across the UK, which are experiencing lost or deferred revenues as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The initiative supports a range of products from term loans and overdrafts to invoice finance and asset finance.  Full details of the loan scheme can be seen here.  

The Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) was announced on the 20th of March. The Bank of England will buy short-term debt from large companies, providing funding to businesses by purchasing commercial paper of up to one-year maturity. It will help businesses across a range of sectors to pay wages and suppliers, even while experiencing severe disruption to cashflows. It is available for companies, and their finance subsidiaries, that make a material contribution to the UK economy. The scheme will operate for at least 12 months and for as long as steps are needed to relieve cash flow pressures on firms. Full details of the corporate financing facility can be found on the Bank of England and  UK Finance websites.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant

On 3rd April 2020, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a £3.25m fund to support food redistribution organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The support aims to ensure that people in need and those belonging to vulnerable groups get the necessary food supplies whilst minimising food waste.

The COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant scheme will be made available through the Resource Action Fund administered by sustainability not-for profit WRAP and will be delivered in three phases, with the first one commencing on the 3rd April and the other two on Thursday 9 April.

Relevant organisations will be able to use the grant to fund both capital and revenue costs associated with activities relating to obtaining surplus food from food businesses (such as retailers and food manufacturers) and redistributing this.

Additional details on the new grant scheme can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Future Fund

On 20 April, the Chancellor announced the launch of Future Fund, providing loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors. The scheme which is delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank and was launched on May 20 2020 will remain open until the end of November 2020.

On 30 June, the government announced that more start-ups and innovative firms will be able to apply for the fund. UK companies who participated in highly selective accelerator programmes and were required, as part of that programme, to have parent companies outside of the UK will now be eligible to apply for investment.

Further information on the fund can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Innovate UK Grants & Loans

Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, is set to provide £750m of support for the most R&D intensive SMEs via its grants and loan scheme. The financial support will be made available to both existing Innovate UK customers, as well as firms currently not receiving Innovate UK funding. More information can be seen here.

On 27 June, HMG also unveiled a £200 million package to help innovative businesses bounce back. The Sustainable Innovation Fund will be open to companies across the UK to help companies recovering from the impact of Coronavirus, to keep cutting-edge projects and ideas alive. This funding, delivered through Innovate UK, forms part of a wider £750 million package of grants and loans announced in April to support innovative firms.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS)

On 27th April, the Chancellor announced a new 100% government backed loan scheme for small businesses. The scheme is designed to provide debt finance of between £2k and £50k to UK-based micro businesses experiencing lost or deferred revenues as a result of the pandemic. The scheme launched on Monday 4th May and more details can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Top-up to local business grant funds scheme

On 2 May, the government confirmed additional funds up to £617 million will be distributed to local authorities in England to support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. To be eligible, businesses will have to have under 50 employees and have seen a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restriction measures. There will be three levels of grant payments with the maximum being £25,000. On May 23rd, the government announced that businesses eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be eligible to apply for the Local Authority Discretionary Fund. More details can be found here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Support for dairy farmers

On 6 May, the government announced new funding to support dairy farmers through the coronavirus pandemic. Dairy farmers who have lost more than 25% of their income over April and May due to disruptions from COVID-19 will be entitled to up to £10,000 each to enable them to continue to operate. More details on the Dairy Response Fund can be seen here.

The fund closed for applications on September 11 2020.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Funding for National Cultural Institutions

On 5 July, the government announced a £1.57bn economic support package for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.

Organisations including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans. Funding will also be provided for cultural and heritage sites to restart construction work paused as a result of the pandemic.

The full package of support includes:

£1.15 billion support for cultural organisations in England delivered through a mix of grants and loans. This will be made up of £270 million of repayable finance and £880 million grants.
£100 million of targeted support for the national cultural institutions in England and the English Heritage Trust.
£120 million capital investment to restart construction on cultural infrastructure and for heritage construction projects in England which was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.
An additional £188 million for the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland (£33 million), Scotland (£97 million) and Wales (£59 million).

Further information on the support available can be accessed through the government website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Culture Recovery Fund

On July 28, Government announced a £500 million Film and TV Production Restart Scheme to support production struggling to secure insurance for Covid-related costs.

This scheme is part of the larger Culture Recovery Fund which is open to arts and cultural organisations, including charitable and non-profit organisations as well as private organisations and commercial for-profit ventures. Local Authorities, Universities and other Public Sector bodies who run or maintain cultural services can also apply. You can find more information on eligibility and how to apply for a grant at Arts Council England. Grants are from £50,000 up to £3 million.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Small Business Recovery Fund

On July 30, the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government announced a £20 million fund to help SMEs across England get back on track. Businesses will be able to apply for grants between £1,000 to £3,000, with grants of £5,000 available in exceptional circumstances.  The grant must support the purchase of either professional advice, or the purchase of new technology and equipment to help with business recovery. To register your interest for the grant, please see here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

On August 28, the Government released details for the Green Homes Grant Scheme. This scheme allows homeowners and landlords to apply for a voucher towards the cost of improving energy efficiency and low carbon heating to homes. You can apply for the voucher from end of September 2020, this voucher will cover two-thirds of this cost (up to £5,000) or all the cost (up to £10,000) if the household is on low income. Find more information on the scheme here.

As a first step, if you are a tradesperson or business that carries out energy efficiency or low carbon heating improvements, you should register for TrustMark.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) - Grants for businesses affected by local lockdowns

On September 10, Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced that businesses in England that have closed due to local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will receive support.

Smaller businesses will receive £1,000 every 3 weeks they are required to close. They must occupy a premise with a rateable value less than £51,000.
Larger businesses will receive £1,500 every three weeks they are required to close. They must occupy a premise with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above.
Any businesses still closed at a national level such as nightclubs, will not be eligible

For more information on the grant and to check if you are eligible visit the government website here, and your Local Authority here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Transport-Technology Research and Innovation Grants (T-TRIG)

Creative transport start-ups with a focus on decarbonisation or COVID-19 recovery can bid for the Department for Transport's Transport-Technology Research and Innovation Grants (T-TRIG). The grants programme will be delivered by The Connected Places Catapult and SMEs can apply for 100% funding for a project within scope.

The application deadline is Sunday 11th October and interested businesses can register for an application support and information webinar on the 30th September.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Employees: What support is available for the self-employed?

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

On the 26^th of March, the government announced the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This scheme provides those self-employed individuals or partnerships a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years, with a cap of £2,500 per month. The scheme will be open for an initial three months and people will be able to claim on a specified date between 13-18 May.

On May 29, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, announced that the Self-Employment Income Scheme will be extended, with applications opening in August for a second and final grant. It will be paid out in a single instalment, covering three months’ worth of average monthly trading profits. The value of the final grant will be 70%, up to a total of £6,570. 

On 24 September, the Chancellor announced another extension to the scheme which will run for 6 months from November 2020 to April 2021.

More information can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Universal Credit

If you are self-employed you are able to claim Universal Credit, providing you meet the usual eligibility criteria. To support you with the economic impact of the outbreak, and allow you to follow government guidance on self-isolation and social distancing, from 6 April the requirements of the Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed. This change will apply to all Universal Credit claimants and will last for the duration of the outbreak. New claimants will not need to attend the jobcentre to demonstrate gainful self-employment.

For more information on accessing Universal Credit and other Social Welfare Benefits, see here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

EmployGM

The Growth Company, in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and delivery Partners have launched EmployGM, a new service to tackle job market challenges in Greater Manchester as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). The initiative will enable self-employed individuals who have registered a significant drop in work, secure alternative work opportunities in sectors exhibiting increased worker demand, as well as access careers advice and training. More information on the service can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund or also known as Top-up fund

On 2 May, the government confirmed additional funds up to £617 million will be distributed to local authorities in England to support small businesses that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis. On May 23rd, the government announced that businesses eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be eligible to apply.

To apply, contact your Local Authority, you can find local support here. Each Local Authority will run their own application process and will conduct prepayment checks. 
 
For full details on eligibility, see here. 
 

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Is my business allowed to reopen?

Advice and guidance: What is the latest guidance on traveling to work?

Guidance relating to work travel

At the moment government guidance is saying that people should work from home wherever possible. In sectors where homeworking is not possible, businesses should take all reasonable steps to ensure people work safely from a COVID-19 Secure workplace. Employers have a duty of care to ensure their employees’ health and safety by implementing all social distancing measures necessary to minimise risk.

Guidance has been released to ensure the public's safety whilst walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak. Since 15 June, face coverings have been mandatory on public transport. In addition, from 23 September customers in private hire vehicles and taxis are also required to wear face coverings.

Exemptions include children under the age of 11, anyone with a disability or condition which means they are unable to wear one, transport staff and emergency services.

Medical grade PPE masks should not be used and be reserved for healthcare and other workers at risk from workplace hazards.

Travel for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has also released guidance, to support employers and staff relying on public transport for work and education.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: Can tradespeople carry out work in people’s homes?

Advice and guidance: Will my business be evicted due to late rent payments or inability to make payment completely?

Protection for businesses with ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent payments

Government has announced that it will safeguard commercial tenants from evictions due to inability to pay rent because of COVID19 and its impact on the business for the next three months. Additionally, the government announced on April 25th new measures to protect UK high street from aggressive rent collection and closure. These included the ban of the use of statutory demands (made between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020) and winding up petitions presented from Monday 27 April, through to 30 June, where a company is not able to pay its bills due to coronavirus. Moreover, the government is looking to introduce legislation to prevent landlords from using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) unless they are owed 90 days of unpaid rent. More information on the measures can be seen here.

On 5th June, the government announced a 2 month extension to the eviction ban which will come into play on 25 June applying to home owners, commercial and leasehold. This will protect renters from evictions until the 23rd August.

On June 19, the government published a code of conduct to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to work collaboratively to protect viable businesses and support their recovery planning.

On 21 August, the government announced an additional 4 week extension to the eviction ban, and the introduction of new 6 month notice periods which will be in place until at least 31 March 2021 to provide residential tenants with greater protection from eviction over the winter.

Commercial tenants will also be protected from the risk of eviction until the end of 2020. In addition, the government will also extend the restriction on landlords using Commercial Rents Arrears Recovery to enforce unpaid rent on commercial leases, until the end of the year.

On 17 September, the government published guidance for landlords and tenants in the private and social rented sectors to explain the possession action process in the county courts in England and Wales. Further guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors is available through the government website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: Are my business premises safe?

Statement from Chief Inspector Zac Fraser Greater Manchester Police (24th March)

Chief Inspector Zac Fraser, Greater Manchester Police released a statement on the 24th March informing businesses of the plans implemented across the region to ensure the safety of businesses and citizens. He also provided information on actions and measures that can be taken by businesses to assist the police.

Actions being taken by the Greater Manchester Police

Increased police patrolling during night hours (9pm – 7am)
Dedicated specialist Public Order Commander on standby in the event that contingency plans need to be enacted
Close work with the CityCo Business Crime Reduction Partnership to identify individuals and groups with a history of targeting businesses in the region
Dedicated Inspector working closely with Manchester City Council's Anti-Social Behaviour team to ensure plans are in place to manage any increase in anti-social and criminal behaviour

Actions businesses can take to maximise security

Remove any cash or high value items from your premises and store into secure storage/stock areas
If able to, retain your own security companies as the police can respond more effectively when CCTV is being monitored in live time and better information is provided
Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity relating to sexual or criminal exploitation. Do also report any hate crime incidents through the relevant online portal or via 101.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Employees: How do I switch my workforce to remote working?

Employees: How can I support my employees with their mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak?

Advice to support mental health during coronavirus outbreak

The Growth Company has developed a Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources pack, which businesses can access here.

On 9 September, Public Health England launched a new Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign providing NHS-endorsed tips and advice to help children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and equip parents and carers with the knowledge to support them.

To support the workforce with their mental health and well-being, employers can also utilise the overall guidance and easy-read guide which was released by the government here. The NHS has also provided a useful directory of mental health helplines, a list of mental health apps, as well as created a page dedicated to well-being whilst staying at home which can be shared with employees. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also created a “Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak” poster which employers can share with remote working employees and/or put up in the workplace if this is to remain open. The government has also released guidance to support the health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce.

For parents, there are also resources to help them better communicate the current situation and ensure the mental well-being of their children. These include UNICEF’s dedicated Coronavirus portal, Young Minds’ blog, and WHO’s relevant poster. For children under the age of 7, parents can also use this book, to discuss and better understand their different emotions to the current situation. For older children, parents can also use this ebook illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler. The government has also released guidance for parents and carers to help them support the mental health of children and young people.

For young people aged 11-18 support is also available via Kooth online counselling, a safe mental health platform providing free tools and advice. To access the resources, see here. Mental health support will also be available for university students via the Student Space platform.

A library of free COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing resources is also available through The Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership’s website. For more information on Greater Manchester's mental health resources, see here. Salford Council for Voluntary Services has also released a list of organisations available to support the mental health of BAME communities in the Greater Manchester region.

On June 8, the government published a Mental wellbeing teacher training module with practical materials for primary and secondary schools to use in order to train staff about teaching mental wellbeing. The module can be accessed here.

Frontline staff and volunteers across England are also able to access a new Psychological first aid in emergencies training course as of Monday 15 June. More details can be seen here.

Wellbeing and mental health advice and guidance has also been released for anyone who is unable to return to the UK during the pandemic and is abroad.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Employees: How can I carry out right to work checks during COVID-19?

Employees: How can I hire staff to meet increased demands for my business’ goods or services in light of COVID-19?

Advice and guidance: How will GCSEs and A levels be awarded following the cancellation of this year’s exams?

Advice and guidance: What can we do to help efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis?

Advice and guidance: What support is available for charities, social enterprises, and community-based organisations?

Support for the charity sector

On 8^th April, the Chancellor announced a £750m package of financial support to help charity and voluntary organisations providing key services and support to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis.

£370m will support small, local charities working with vulnerable people (In England, £310m will be provided through the National Lottery Communities Fund, and £60m will be allocated to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through the Barnett Formula) whereas £360m will be directly allocated by the government, with up to £200m of these grants supporting hospices, and the rest going to organisations such as St John Ambulance, Citizens Advice Bureau and to charities supporting vulnerable children, or victims of domestic violence. An additional £76m government funding to support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and vulnerable children and their families as well as victims of modern slavery was announced on May 2nd.

As part of this package, the government announced on the 7th May the launch of a £10m Domestic abuse safe accommodation: COVID-19 emergency support fund and invited domestic abuse charities providing safe accommodation (including refuges) in England to submit their application by the 21st May. On 5 June, the government reopened the fund for applications on a "first come first served basis". The remaining amount of £1.2 million was open for bidders to apply until 20 July. For more information and to view the list of successful bidders, see here.

To view available funds and how to apply for them see here.

Further details on the government funding for charities can be seen here. Other funding opportunities including the National Emergencies Trust (NET) Coronavirus Appeal, the Big Society Capital loans and investment and others can be seen here.

On 25th June, the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) and the Ministry of Defence announced that 100 Armed Forces charities will benefit from approximately £6million of additional funding to support serving personnel, veterans and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.

Support is also available through the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) run by Social Investment Business (SIB) providing loans for working capital for business models interrupted by COVID-19. SIB have also announced that £4m worth of grant funding has been made available to be used alongside the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund to support charities and social enterprises based in and delivering the majority of their impact in England. RRLF closes to new applications on 30 September.

The government has also said that charities can access many of the measures the Chancellor has announced for businesses. Specifically regarding the Business Rates Reliefs and Grant Funding available to the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality sectors, this guide can help charities understand whether or not they might be eligible for the support.

Government guidance has also been released to generally support charities operating during the pandemic.

Summaries of funding available to social enterprises, charities and other VCSE organisations can be seen through the links below:

Specific support for Greater Manchester organisations can be seen below:

GM wide

Forever Manchester Community Support Fund – offering awards of up to £5,000 to help local communities during the coronavirus outbreak (I have moved this from the previous paragraph)
Manchester Community Central’s – sources of funding page

Stockport - Stockport Local Fund offering grants of up to £1000 to organisations supporting the Covid-19 response in Stockport, especially those supporting vulnerable groups

Salford - Salford Crisis Fund providing VCSE organisations with grants of up to £500 to help address immediate need arising from the pandemic

Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside - Community Response Fund offering grants for either up to £200 or up to £1,000

Bolton - Bolton’s Fund Covid-19 Resilience Grant offering grants of up to £1,000

Wigan – Support can be seen via the the Community Partnership’s page

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: If a business is closed due to the coronavirus will it still be required to undertake essential inspections?

Advice and guidance: Can I get tested for COVID-19?

Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

On 18 May, the government announced that anyone exhibiting symptoms in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland could get tested.

Further details regarding the testing process can be seen here.

Care homes in the UK can arrange for testing via the the dedicated online portal the government launched on the 11th May.

Essential workers who are self-isolating due to exhibiting symptoms (high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough and/or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste) can book a test themselves via the self-referral portal or have their employer refer them via the secure employer referral portal.

Self-referral Process

Employees who are self-referring can use the new portal to enter their details. They will then receive a text/email inviting them to book an appointment at one of the available drive-through and walk-through testing sites, or to receive a home testing kit. Home testing kits can be returned without booking a courier service, allowing individuals to post their testing kits at any of the 30,000 Royal Mail priority postboxes across the UK, which will all be marked by a regionalised NHS logo by 3 July. Test results from the drive-through and walk-through sites will be sent out by text within 48hrs, and within 72hrs of collection of the home delivery tests.

Employer referral Process

Employers can email portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk to be granted access to the employer portal where they can upload a spread sheet with names and contact details of self-isolating essential workers requiring a test. If referred through this portal, essential workers will receive a text message with a unique invitation code to book a test for themselves (or anyone in their household who is symptomatic). More information can be seen here.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's independent body set up to uphold information rights, has also released guidance for employers relating to workplace testing and data protection. The guidance can be accessed here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: What pension guidance is available to employers?

Safe workplaces: Do I need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work?

Personal Protective Equipment in the workplace

UK Government advises that social distancing (2 meters apart or where not possible "one metre plus"), hygiene (washing your hands regularly) and appropriate workplace cleaning should be used to reduce risk of transmission. For information on the prevention of the transmission of COVID-19 please visit GOV.UK and NHS.

PPE

In accordance to Government Working Safely guidance, when managing the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear at work is not beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to those you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social distancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering; not through the use of PPE. 

The government has released specific guidance in the below settings:

Construction and other outdoor work
Factories, plants and warehouses
Labs and research facilities
Offices and contact centres
Other people's homes
Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
Shops and branches
Vehicles (Guidance for couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and others)
Close contact services
The visitor economy
Hotel and othe guest accommodation
Heritage locations (Guidance for people who work or volunteer in heritage locations)
Performing Arts
Providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities

Guidance is also available for the use of PPE in educational settings.

The exception is clinical settings, like a hospital, or a small handful of other roles for which Public Health England advises use of PPE. If you are in one of these exception groups, you should refer to the Government advice at COVID-19: personal protective equipment (PPE) plan and COVID-19 PPE.

Unison has confirmed incorrect use of PPE may be putting yourself, colleagues and family at additional risk. The virus lives longer on plastics than ordinary clothes, so if not correctly used and disposed of items such as masks can become vessels for spreading infection. 

Cleaning

If there has been a person with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) in your work setting, the minimum PPE to be worn for cleaning an area is disposable gloves and an apron. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds after all PPE has been removed. For all information on cleaning in a non-healthcare setting see here.  

Face Coverings  

From Monday 15 June, face coverings are mandatory on public transport. Exemptions include children under the age of 11, anyone with a disability or condition which means they are unable to wear one, transport staff and emergency services.
From 24 July, face coverings are also mandatory in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs (exemptions apply)  and businesses are expected to encourage compliance and can refuse entry to non-compliant individuals.
From 23 September, customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must also wear face coverings.
From 24 September, these are also required for customers in hospitality venues except when seated at a table to eat or drink. This will also apply to staff in hospitality and retail.
Should an individual without an exemption refuse to wear a face covering, the police have the formal enforcement powers and can issue a fine. From 24 September this is £200 (reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days) for the first offence.
For more information on face coverings and when to wear one, visit the government website.

A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of PPE used by healthcare.  Government is following evidence that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but – if used properly – may have a small effect in protecting others as a precautionary measure. Employers should support their workers in using face coverings safely if they choose to wear one.

The government has also published guidance to support individuals and businesses safely dispose of personal or business waste, including face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE), during the coronavirus pandemic.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: What is the "Build Back Better" initiative?

Safe workplaces: What is the NHS Test and Trace service?

Guidance on the NHS test and trace service

On 27 May, the government announced the launch of the NHS Test and Trace service which will be an integral part of the UK’s recovery strategy. From the 28th May, anyone who tests positive for Coronavirus will be contacted by the service and asked to provide contact details for people they have recently been in contact with, as well as places they have visited. Anyone identified as having been in close contact with someone who has been tested positive will be contacted and required to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not exhibit symptoms, to ensure the risk of the spread of the virus is limited.

To facilitate the NHS test and trace service, employers should support workers who need to self-isolate and must not ask them to attend the workplace. More information on how the service works for employers, businesses and workers can be see here. If multiple cases of coronavirus appear in a workplace, employers should contact their local health protection team to report the suspected outbreak. To help businesses manage the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the workplace, we have developed a quick guide which can be accessed here.

If an Employee is well enough and able to do so, they may work from home. If working from home is not possible, employees instructed by the service to self-isolate are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for every day they are in isolation. Employers can also give employees the option to use their paid leave days if they prefer instead. Further information on how to claim SSP can be seen here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: I want to reopen my business. What do I need to do?

What do i need to do?

Firstly you need to check if your business is allowed to open in the Government’s list of which businesses can and can’t open and/or check with your local authority if your business is not listed.

Next, if you are satisfied that your business can open, you need to put a plan in place to keep your staff and customers safe. To safely reopen your business, you can access the Growth Company's dedicated Reopening Workplaces page which contains a range of tools and resources to support you.

In conjunction with businesses, unions, industry leaders and devolved administrations, the Government has published separate ‘working safely guides’ to help employers ensure workplaces are as safe as possible and these guides should be your starting point.

There is also a list of FAQs produced by the Government about what you can and can’t do.

There are lots of guides that have been produced by trade and industry bodies and these should be considered when carrying out your risk assessment. A list of useful guides can be found here.

The government has also released a reopening tool to help employers identify what their workplace needs to do to keep people safe.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has also provided links to trade body guidance that they have been involved with and includes TV and film production, youth spaces and cinemas, libraries, museums and outdoor events.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Do I need to do a risk assessment?

COVID-19 risk assessment

As part of managing the health and safety of your business you must control the risks in your workplace. To do this you need to think about what might cause harm to people and decide whether you are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm. This is known as risk assessment and it is something you are required by law to carry out. If you have fewer than five employees you don't have to write anything down.

You must carry out a specific COVID-19 risk assessment for your businesses regardless of whether or not you have fewer than 5 employees. The Health & Safety Executive website has lots of information about managing risks at work and advice about how to carry out and complete a risk assessment as well as information about conversations you should have with your workers about preventing coronavirus.

Centre for Assessment within the Growth Company has also provided COVID-19 template risk assessments and guidance on how to complete them.

For the hospitality sector, UK Hospitality guidance includes template risk assessments with possible risk mitigation measures for you to consider.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Do I have to publish my risk assessment?

Safe workplaces: My business has been shut for a while; is there anything else (aside from risk assessment, cleaning and social distancing) I need to do before I reopen?

Preparation for reopening

It depends on your type of your business. You may need to carry out checks on gas, electrics or water systems or plant material – some further links for guidance can be found below:

Gas and electrics

The HSE has provided some guidance to business to ensure that your gas and electrics systems are safe to use: https://www.hse.gov.uk/catering/guidance.htm

Water systems and legionella

A legionella risk exists in vacant properties where water is allowed to stagnate within water systems. As a general principle, outlets on hot and cold water systems should be used at least once a week to maintain a degree of water flow and to minimise the chances of stagnation. The following guidance should be considered:

The HSE has produced guidance about how to control risks associated with legionella
The CIEH has also produced a guide regarding Legionnaires disease: lockdown risks and reopening safely
Public Health England suggest following the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group Code of Practice.
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases have also published guidance for managing legionella in building water systems

United Utilities have produced a booklet for businesses on ensuring that their water systems are safe: https://www.unitedutilities.com/globalassets/documents/pdf/8701-business-reopening-covid-19-leaflet-v9-web-acc.pdf

LOLER & PSSR

The law for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) remains in place. The HSE have produced some advice to help duty holders ensure that their work plant and equipment remain safe to use.

Fire safety

You also need to remember your fire safety responsibilities in keeping your staff and customers safe. For example, you should review your fire risk assessment to ensure that it is current and reflects the way your business now operates, ensure means of escape remain open and available, and ensure any necessary maintenance of fire safety equipment. The National Fire Chiefs Council has provided some useful guidance and answers to FAQs for businesses.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: One of my staff is in a vulnerable or ‘at risk group’, what should I do?

Keeping your staff safe

Since the beginning of the pandemic, clinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness (for example, people with some pre-existing conditions), have been asked to take extra care in observing social distancing.

On 23rd June, the government updated its guidance for people who were shielding. From 6 July, they were allowed to meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from different households, while maintaining strict social distancing. They were also no longer required to observe social distancing with other members of their own household.

From 1 August:

The government is advising that shielding is paused. From this date, the government is advising to adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures. Strict social distancing means they may wish to go out to more places and see more people but they should take particular care to minimise contact with others.
Individuals who were shielding can go to work provided the business is COVID-safe, but should work from home wherever possible.

This guidance may vary depending on local restrictions that may be in place.

As for any workplace risk, businesses must take into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics, including, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to suspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention should also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

For further information, please see the Government ‘Safer Working Guide’ for your sector.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Should we check the temperature of staff on their arrival at work or customers upon their arrival?

Temperature checks

There is currently no requirement for businesses to carry out temperature checks or health questionnaires before staff return to work. You must carry out your own risk assessment and decide what you think is necessary for your business to reduce the risk for staff and customers. Some businesses are completing daily health questionnaires with staff. If you do decide to check temperatures, you should ensure that equipment is cleaned in between use.

The Government says there is little scientific evidence to support temperature screening as a reliable method for detection of COVID-19 or other febrile illness, especially if used as the main method of testing. For more information go to: www.gov.uk/government/news/dont-rely-on-temperature-screening-products-for-detection-of-coronavirus-covid-19-says-mhra

For food businesses, there has always been the requirement to check that food handlers are fit to work, and this is covered in the opening checks of the SFBB (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/safer-food-better-business) and should be covered in your HACCP, but this does not deal explicitly with temperature checks.

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

a new, continuous cough
a high temperature (37.8 degrees Celsius or above)
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If staff develop or are showing any of these symptoms, they should go home immediately, self-isolate for at least 10-days and order a coronavirus test. More information on how employers can manage the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the workplace is available here.

If you do decide to take temperatures or carry out health checks with your staff, you should consider the guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: What do I do if one of my staff or a customer gets ill when I reopen?

Safe workplaces: Should we check the temperature of customers prior to entering?

Temperature checks

There is currently no requirement to check the temperature of customers before they enter your premises and in many cases it will be impractical for businesses. However, some businesses, particularly as the hospitality sector begins to reopen may feel that it is necessary, and if so, it should be documented in your risk assessment.

You must carry out your own risk assessment and decide what you think is sensible for your business to reduce the risk for staff and customers. If you do decide to check temperatures, you should ensure that equipment is cleaned in between use.

You may face some objection from customers in having their temperature recorded, and you should therefore ensure that you have a policy in place to deal with this.

Most businesses are displaying posters that ask people not to enter their premises if they have symptoms, some examples of these posters can be found here.

If you do decide to take temperatures of customers, you must be careful how you store this information and should consider the guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Is my restaurant allowed to reopen?

Information for restaurants

From 4th July restaurants, pubs, bars can open provided they are ‘COVID-secure’.

However, from 24 September all pubs, bars and restaurants across England must operate a table service only, except for takeaways. Together with *all hospitality venues, they will be required to close at 10pm though deliveries can continue thereafter.

*Exemptions apply. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can continue beyond 10pm, but only if the performance started before 10pm, and food and drink cannot be served after 10pm.

In addition, due to a spike in Bolton, the Government with immediate effect states that in Bolton all hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to takeaway only; this includes restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs. The restriction of operating hours also applies in this case with all venues (including takeaways) required to close from 10pm to 5am. Read more information at Bolton Local Authority and the Government announcement here.

There is lots of guidance out there for business providing takeaway and delivery service and this has been summarised below:

• Government guidance for business offering takeaway or delivery services.
• The Food Standards Agency has also produced guidance for existing food businesses that are looking to provide a delivery or takeaway service and has included a really useful checklist for food business who are looking to reopen safely after a period of closure.
• The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has also issued guidance which covers food and alcohol takeaways and delivery.
• CTSI and Dept for BEIS have also produced some useful guidance for the food industry.
• Any takeaway or delivery service and plans should be made in conjunction with the business’ own food policy (Safer Food Better Business, or equivalent); Salford City Council has provided a useful SFBB insert and checklist for businesses to include COVID-19 considerations.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: I run a pub, when can I reopen and can I sell alcohol?

Reopening your premise

From 4th July restaurants, pubs, bars can open provided they are ‘COVID-secure’.

However, from 24 September all pubs, bars and restaurants across England must operate a table service only, except for takeaways. Together with *all hospitality venues, they will be required to close at 10pm though deliveries can continue thereafter.

*Exemptions apply. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can continue beyond 10pm, but only if the performance started before 10pm, and food and drink cannot be served after 10pm.

In addition, due to a spike in Bolton, the Government with immediate effect states that in Bolton all hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to takeaway only; this includes restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs. The restriction of operating hours also applies in this case with all venues (including takeaways) required to close from 10pm to 5am. Read more information at Bolton Local Authority and the Government announcement here.

On 25th June, the government announced plans for new laws which will enable more pubs, restaurants and cafes to serve customers outdoors. These will include a simpler licensing process for outdoor seating and temporary changes to the Licensing Act 2003 to allow many more licensed premises, such as pubs and restaurants, to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises without needing to apply for a variation of their licence.

Some licensed premises are also diversifying and expanding during the current pandemic. Some useful guidance is included below:

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has issued guidance which covers alcohol takeaways and delivery.
The British Institute of Innkeeping has also provided some further useful links about diversifying their business on their website.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: We run a café and only have a small kitchen, it will be impossible to socially distance staff, what can I do?

Social distancing in the workplace

The Government advice indicates that in the first instance, you must take all reasonable steps to maintain a 2m distance in the workplace. However, where remaining 2m apart is impossible, people are advised to maintain a 1m distance, whilst taking appropriate precautions to manage transmission risk. You should set out in your COVID-19 risk assessment, the steps you are taking to ensure that you are managing the transmission risk. This may include:

putting in place perspex screens;
creating zonal work areas for staff to reduce contact with other members of staff;
ensuring staff work back to back or side to side;
putting in place a one-way system so staff are not regularly crossing paths or facing each other;
keeping the activity time as short as possible; and
reducing the number of different people each person has contact with, so each person has ‘fixed teams or partnering’

Whilst all the time increasing the frequency of hand-washing and cleaning high-touch hand contact surfaces.

For more information and practical steps you can take, you should consult the Government Guidance for restaurants offering takeaway and delivery. Many trade associations and other organisations have produced useful guidance and practical steps for businesses to consider during the current crisis and a selection of these are included below.

British Retail Consortium – Guidance for non-food retail stores
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) – Home Delivery Guidance for local shops
British Retail Consortium – Guidance for warehouses and distribution centres
Guidance from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - general guidance and various sectors covered
UK Hospitality – Guidance for Hospitality

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: When my restaurant is allowed to reopen, should I ask all guests to make a booking prior to their arrival?

Plans to reopen

The coronavirus pandemic closed most businesses within the hospitality industry but pubs, cafes and restaurants were allowed to reopen from the 4^th July according to the Prime Minister's announcement on the 23rd June. To view any local restrictions in place, visit our Greater Manchester local restriction guide.

The government has asked certain sectors including hospitality, leisure and tourism, close contact services, and others to collect and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors for 21 days to support the NHS Test and Trace service respond to any local outbreaks. From 18 September, this is required by law.

Launched on the 24 September, the NHS Test and Trace App aims to simplify the tracking process by enabling the public to automatically “check into” a venue and get alerted if they have recently visited a venue where they have come into contact with coronavirus. This means that in England, people who check-in with the official NHS QR poster do not have to provide their contact details as part of the staff, customer and visitor logs. However, businesses are still required to maintain an alternative check-in method (such as a handwritten register) to collect the contact details of those who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app.

Guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care outlines the information required to be collected and how records should be maintained.

To support businesses to better understand what information they should collect from their customers and visitors to support the NHS Test and Trace service, we have developed an easy-to-read guide, available to download here.

More information is provided by the ICO website on collecting information about your customers.

In addition to assisting the NHS Test and Trace service, asking guests to make a booking prior to their arrival may help you manage and ensure you have sufficient social distancing both inside your premises for those dining and ensure that large queues do not build up outside of your premises. Read our quick quide for further information on safely managing queues.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Is there/will there be any limitations on the number of customers I can allow in my premises? Does this include staff working in the premises?

Safe workplaces: What disinfectants/cleaning chemicals should I use? Are antibacterial wipes okay to use to clean surfaces?

Is there specific guidance for appropriate cleaning and hygiene measures?

You should ensure you have thoroughly cleaned your premises and have adequate facilities for staff to wash their hands at the work place, including ensuring you have a hot water supply to all sinks and basins, soap, disposable paper towels for hand drying and hand gel where possible (minimum 60% alcohol).

It is recommended that you should use disposable cloths and first clean surfaces with warm soapy water or detergent and then use a disinfectant to effectively sanitise the surface. You need to increase the frequency of routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, in line with your risk assessment (dependant on number of people, employees, contact etc).

The Food Standards Agency have further information on cleaning here: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/cleaning as well as a cleaning schedule which may help you plan for your food or other type of business.

For general principles of cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic and cleaning guidance for a work place/area where a person with suspected Coronavirus has been, please see government guidance.

Each Government safer working guide also provides information on how you should clean your business before opening and maintaining cleanliness when open.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Is it OK to provide cold water for staff and customers to wash their hands?

Safe workplaces: Can I close the public toilet in my premises?

Safe workplaces: What cleaning regime should I put in place if I keep my public toilet open?

Keeping my public toilet clean and safe

You will need to consider the risks and document this in your risk assessment. Toilets and other high-touch frequency surfaces should be cleaned as regularly as possible. There may be other steps you can take in toilets to reduce the risk of transmission, including the use of paper towels to dry hands; a reusable hand towel should not be used, and the increased availability of hand sanitiser where possible (minimum 60% alcohol) for customers entering and leaving the toilet.

It is recommended that you should use disposable cloths and first clean surfaces with warm soapy water or detergent and then use a disinfectant to effectively sanitise the surface. You need to increase the frequency of routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, in line with your risk assessment (dependant on number of people, employees, contact etc).

The Food Standards Agency have further information on cleaning here: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/cleaning.

For general principles of cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic and cleaning guidance for a work place/area where a person with suspected Coronavirus has been, please see government guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings outside the home.

You should also follow the Government’s safer working guidance on opening customer toilets.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Should I put a Perspex screen up at my till/serving area?

Safe workplaces: How many customers should I allow into my shop?

Capacity on your premises

Each setting and premises is different and the government has no set numbers or percentages about the capacity of your premises. However, you will need to ensure that customers can maintain social distancing, keeping 2m between them. If 2m is not possible, people have been advised to follow the "one metre plus" rule, as long as risk mitigation measures have been put in place.

You may consider calculating your business’ safe capacity (taking into consideration social distancing), and specify details in your risk assessment.

As per the Government advice, safe social distancing measures should include ensuring staff can keep 2m apart where possible and if that is not possible remain 1m apart, whilst implementing measures to manage transmission risk.

For further practical steps, see the Government Guidance on reopening shops and branches: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: We only have narrow pavements outside our premises, how can we control queues and ensure social distancing? Can I mark a public highway with a permanent marking for customers to social distance?

Safe workplaces: I don’t have a card reader/facilities to accept contactless payment what should I do? I am only accepting payment via card/contactless payment – can I refuse to accept cash?

Card/contactless payments

You do not have to accept cash for payment of goods, however you must make it clear to customer what payment types are accepted before people decide to make a purchase. The COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces and money for up to 3-days, so you should encourage customers to pay by card wherever possible.

Staff should be reminded to prompt customers to pay by card before accepting cash, quite often people have a card but out of habit take cash out of their purse or wallet for low cost items. Currently, it is important to use cards to pay, to minimise contact with others. Contactless payment is available for purchases up to £45.

Businesses can also adjust location of card readers to social distancing guidelines (2m, or 1m with risk mitigation where 2m is not viable, is acceptable).

If you do decide to take cash payments, your risk assessment should identify the control measures that need to be in place to protect, you, your staff and customers. If you decide that the till operator should wear a glove to take money, they should be regularly changed. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for good hand hygiene. Hands should be washed on a regular basis, and providing hand sanitiser where possible (minimum 60% alcohol) at the till for staff to use, will complement hand washing.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Should we install hand sanitisers at entrances and throughout our premises?

Installing hand sanitisers

It is considered best practice to provide hand sanitiser for customers to use before entering your premises and again as they leave.

It is also good practice to ensure that baskets and trolley handles in shops are sanitised each time before they are used by the next customer. The sanitiser and disposable paper must be provided and could be managed by a member of staff to ensure that the customers’ hands are not contaminated by a previous customer via the handle.

You might also consider the use of hand sanitiser in other part of your premises, for example at till points and restaurant tables (once they are allowed to reopen). The use of hand sanitiser and their position in your premises should be documented in your COVID-19 risk assessment.

Please note: Hand sanitiser is not a substitute for effective hand washing. Staff must wash your hands properly and regularly, particularly after blowing their nose or coughing into their hand BEFORE they touch any other surfaces.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Which hand sanitiser should I use?

Safe workplaces: What do we mean by a ‘contact’?

Advice and guidance: What support is available for victims of domestic abuse?

Advice and guidance: What support is available for the agriculture, food and drink sector?

Advice and guidance: What support is available for Universities?

University research support package

On 27 June the government announced 2 new support packages that will help protect science jobs. From this autumn, UK universities will be able to access a series of government grants and long-term, low interest loans covering up to 80% of their income losses caused by an expected decline in international students, ensuring that their crucial research can continue.

In addition, approximately £280 million government funding will be made available to universities impacted by Coronavirus. This will fund extensions to grants, allowing them to continue developing ambitious and innovative research projects, funded through UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, including supporting researchers’ salaries and other research costs like laboratory equipment and fieldwork.

Full details on the University research support package can be seen here.

On 16 July, the government further announced the launch of a new government scheme to support English universities at risk of insolvency. The Higher education restructuring regime will be a scheme for higher education providers in England facing financial difficulties as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: I run a beauty salon in the same premises as my hairdressers, am I allowed to open?

Safe workplaces: As a business, how can I help the NHS Test and Trace effort?

Supporting the NHS Test and Trace service

Local experts from public health England and local authorities in Greater Manchester are working together to support the NHS Test and Trace system. This means that for confirmed cases in your workplace, you will have support to ensure that contacts are traced and provided with advice, and to manage the consequences for your workplace and employees.

What can you do?

As an organisation you can support Test and Trace by minimising the opportunities for the virus to spread and the potential for people to be contacts. The key ways to do this are:

- Ensuring individuals with symptoms do not visit your workplace
- Encouraging frequent hand washing and good respiratory hygiene practices
- Carrying out regular cleaning
- Maintaining social distancing and minimise contact and mixing between individuals
- Ensuring staff self-isolate when instructed to do so.

We also recommend you prepare/review business continuity plans so you know how you will operate, and what steps you will need to take if several people need to self-isolate as a result of being a contact of a confirmed case.

What about taking contact details from customers?

The opening up of the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak is being supported by NHS Test and Trace. From 18 September, businesses in certain sectors are required by law to keep a temporary record of their customers and visitors for 21 days, in a way that is manageable for the business, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed. This could help contain clusters or outbreaks.

Guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care outlines the information required to be collected and how records should be maintained. You should also consider Information Commission Office (ICO) guidance on protecting customer’s details.

Launched on the 24 September, the NHS Test and Trace App aims to simplify the tracking process by enabling the public to automatically “check into” a venue and get alerted if they have recently visited a venue where they have come into contact with coronavirus. This means that in England, people who check-in with the official NHS QR poster do not have to provide their contact details as part of the staff, customer and visitor logs. However, businesses are still required to maintain an alternative check-in method (such as a handwritten register) to collect the contact details of those who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Can I use the space outside my pub/café on the pavement for customers to sit down?

Guidance on outdoor seating

The Business and Planning Act 2020 has now become law. This allows operators to apply to the local authority for a permit for tables and chairs on the public highway/pavement for seated eating and drinking. Operators, whether or not they already hold a tables and chairs/ pavement licence may apply for a pavement licence to the local authority. This is effectively a "Fast track" application process for pubs, wine bars, drinking establishments or other premises used for the sale of food or drink for consumption on or off the premises.

There is a public consultation period of 7-days beginning with the day after the day on which the application is made. The local authority may grant the application subject to certain criteria

A pavement licence granted in this way can last until 30 September 2021 or such time as the local authority specifies in the licence, although that cannot be less than 3 months.

The local authority may publish conditions to apply to the pavement licence which may be different to their standard conditions which relate to tables and chairs licences. Equally, it can apply to revoke the licence if it considers that the conditions have been breached or serve notice on the licence holder requiring the taking of steps to be remedied.

For more information on pavement licences and the information you need to include in your application, please see the Government Guidance on Pavement Licences or contact your local licensing team:

Licensing teams:

Bury	licensing@bury.gov.uk
Bolton	licensing.unit@bolton.gov.uk
Manchester	premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk
Oldham	licensing@oldham.gov.uk
Rochdale	licensing.reg@rochdale.gov.uk
Salford	licensing@salford.gov.uk
Stockport	licensing@stockport.gov.uk
Tameside	licensing@tameside.gov.uk
Trafford	licensing@trafford.gov.uk
Wigan	licensing@wigan.gov.uk

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Can I use my car park as a beer garden so that I can sell to customers outside?

Guidance on the use of car park space

The Business and Planning Act 2020 has now become law. This allows off-sales and consumption of alcohol in outside areas such as beer gardens, outside courtyards, terraces and private forecourts and car parks irrespective of whether they are covered by planning or licensing permissions. This will be a temporary extension to 31 September 2021.

The relaxation of existing rules means that:
• Off-sales, including home deliveries and takeaways, will be allowed before 11pm, or the closure time of an existing outside area, whichever is earlier.
• Pubs and restaurants will be able to use car parks and terraces as dining and drinking areas, using their existing seating licenses.
• Temporary changes to licensing laws will allow many more licensed premises, such as pubs and restaurants, to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. Customers will be able to buy their drinks from a pub and consume them elsewhere, making social distancing easier.
• Conditions preventing the sale of alcohol in open containers will be temporarily suspended.

However, if you plan to set up a bar outside or provide table service in the outside area of your premises, you must ensure that these areas are authorised under your licence. If it is not, you will need to apply for a variation to your licence. Please contact your local authority for further details.

For further details, please see the Government Guidance on new temporary off-sales permissions or contact your local licensing team:

Licensing teams

Bury	licensing@bury.gov.uk
Bolton	licensing.unit@bolton.gov.uk
Manchester	premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk
Oldham	licensing@oldham.gov.uk
Rochdale	licensing.reg@rochdale.gov.uk
Salford	licensing@salford.gov.uk
Stockport	licensing@stockport.gov.uk
Tameside	licensing@tameside.gov.uk
Trafford	licensing@trafford.gov.uk
Wigan	licensing@wigan.gov.uk

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Can I play live sport in my pub?

Safe workplaces: How should I implement the ‘1m plus’ rule in my business?

Safe workplaces: Are groups of people allowed to dine in my restaurant or drink in my pub together if they are from different households?

Limits on gatherings

The Government have said that when eating or drinking out with people you don’t live with (and who are not in your support bubble), you should keep to the wider guidance on group sizes: you must not meet in groups of more than 6.

However, this may not apply to areas with Local Restrictions. For the latest restrictions in Greater Manchester, visit our dedicated page, here.

In all cases, people from different households should ensure they socially distance as much as possible. With this in mind, they should think about where to sit at a table. The Government have stated that the premises should also take reasonable steps to help groups of people to maintain social distancing in line with COVID secure guidelines, meaning that they should be 2m apart or 1m apart with mitigation. Mitigation could include, but is not limited to remaining outside, seating people side by side and spacing the furniture as required, i.e. removing a chair.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Are my customers allowed to stand up at the bar?

Advice and guidance: What is the guidance on social distancing?

Advice and guidance: What are the different types of coronavirus tests available?

Advice and guidance: How can I dispose of my personal or business waste, including face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Advice and guidance: What was the "Eat Out To Help Out" scheme?

Safe workplaces: Will smoking continue to be permitted in outdoor areas of pubs, restaurants and cafes?

Safe workplaces: I run a café/pub/restaurant, do my customers and staff have to wear a face covering in my premises?

Safe workplaces: I have a playground/climbing frame in my pub garden, can I let children visiting with their parents use it?

Safe workplaces: Do customers in my shop have to wear face coverings, and what do I do if they refuse?

Face coverings - Government Guidance

The Government has stated that customers will be required to wear face coverings in all shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs. It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops. If you are in a premises where you are able to sit down and consume food or drink that you have bought, then you can remove your face covering in order to eat and drink on-site, but face coverings should be worn, up until that point.

As a business owner, you should take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law. This can be done by providing signs and other forms of information to remind customers of this requirement. You have done this previously when the ban on smoking indoors was introduced. You can refuse entry or service, as you would, if a customer was intoxicated or aggressive. The police have the powers to enforce these measures, including through issuing a fine of £200 (halving to £100 if paid within 14 days).

For further information, see the Government Guidance on face coverings.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Safe workplaces: Do staff in my shop have to wear a face coverings?

Safe workplaces: Apart from the Government Guidance, what other useful information is available that I can access?

Working safely - Useful information

For more information and practical steps you can take, you should consult the Government Guidance on working safely. Many trade associations and other organisations have produced useful guidance and practical steps for businesses to consider during the current crisis and a selection of these are included below.

British Retail Consortium – Guidance for non-food retail stores
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) – Home Delivery Guidance for local shops
British Retail Consortium – Guidance for warehouses and distribution centres
Guidance from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - general guidance and various sectors covered
UK Hospitality – Guidance for Hospitality

The Health & Safety Executive website has lots of information about managing risks at work and advice about how to carry out and complete a risk assessment as well as information about conversations you should have with your workers about preventing coronavirus.

Centre for Assessment within the Growth Company has also provided COVID-19 template risk assessments and guidance on how to complete them.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: Which planning permissions are extended under provisions in the Business and Planning Act 2020?

Planning permissions extended

To support the construction sector, provisions in the Business and Planning Act 2020 will enable certain planning permissions and listed building consents in England which have lapsed or are due to lapse during 2020 to be extended.

Which planning permissions are extended?

Unimplemented planning permissions expiring between 23 March 2020 and 19 August 2020 may be reinstated and then extended to 1 May 2021 (subject to Additional Environmental Approval being granted).
Unimplemented planning permissions which expire between 19 August 2020 and 31 December 2020 are automatically extended to 1 May 2021 (with no requirement to obtain Additional Environmental Approval)
All listed building consents expiring between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2020 will be automatically extended to 1 May 2021 (with no requirement to obtain Additional Environmental Approval).

Further information is available through the government website, here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: Are there any local restrictions in Greater Manchester?

Advice and guidance: What is the Small Business Leadership Programme and the Peer Network scheme?

Small business support schemes

The Small Business Leadership Programme and Peer Network scheme  are complementary initiatives aimed at helping SMEs in England improve their leadership skills and enable learning with peers. 

The Small Business Leadership Programme is a fully-funded programme ran by a consortium of business schools. The programme focuses on leadership, innovation, employee engagement, operational efficiency, marketing, sustainable practices, and finance. In order to qualify, your business must be an SME based in England and have been operating for at least a year. Find more information here.

Peer Networks brings together diverse groups of business leaders to tackle challenges and enable peer to peer knowledge exchange. Covering topics such as finance, HR, sales and marketing. Eligibility is the same as the Leadership Programme, with the additional requisite to have a turnover of over £100,00. Register your interest here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: What are the new insolvency measures and how will they affect businesses?

New insolvency measures

What you need to know about the Government changes to Insolvency law

In June 2020, the Government made changes to Insolvency law. These include temporary and permanent measures.

Temporary Measures (* have been extended):

Companies with obligations to hold annual general meetings can continue to have the flexibility to hold these meetings virtually until 30 December 2020.
Statutory demands and winding-up petitions will continue to be restricted until 31 December 2020 to protect companies from aggressive creditors as a result of Covid-19 related debts.
Termination clauses are still prohibited, this stops suppliers from ceasing their supply or asking for additional payments while a company is going through a rescue process. However, small suppliers will remain exempted from the obligation to supply until 30 March 2021 so that they can to protect their business if necessary.
A company may enter into a moratorium if they have been subject to an insolvency procedure in the previous 12 months. The modifications to the new moratorium procedure, which relax the entry requirements to it, will also be extended until 30 March 2021. Measures will also ease access for companies subject to a winding up petition; also to be extended to 30 March 2021.

Permanent measures:

Introduction of a new “Moratorium” process.
Giving companies breathing space from creditors enforcing their debts for a period of time whilst they seek a rescue or restructure.
Prohibition on enforcement of termination clauses in supply contracts. This enables companies to continue trading during the moratorium.
Introduction of a new “Restructuring Plan” process, binding creditors to that plan.

The moratorium is intended to give a company in financial difficulty a time period during which creditors will be unable to enforce debts, so that it can avoid going out of business immediately, and action can be taken to secure its long-term survival. The restructuring plan will also provide an opportunity for financially-distressed companies to work with creditors to restructure their debts.

Finally, companies will be supported through a rescue process by the introduction of new rules to prevent suppliers terminating contracts solely by virtue of a company entering an insolvency process.

Further details on the law changes can be found here. Furthermore, it is recommended that Directors of a company should seek appropriate advice from an Insolvency Practitioner at the earliest opportunity.

As a result of government instructions to stay at home, the Insolvency Service has adapted the way they deliver their services. This includes advice on submitting digital copies of paper documents and forms, contacting the official receiver and guidance on receiving redundancy payments. More information can be found here.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Advice and guidance: What is the Getting Building Fund?

Advice and guidance: What is a support bubble and who can make one?

Advice and guidance: What is the NHS Test and Trace app?

NHS Test and Trace App

The NHS Test and Trace app has been designed to work alongside traditional contact tracing services and testing, to help people to understand if they are at risk of infection so they can take action to protect themselves and their communities.

Launched on the 24 September, the App aims to simplify the Test and Trace process by enabling the public to automatically “check into” a venue and get alerted if they have recently visited a venue where they have come into contact with coronavirus. The tool is quickly set up by completing an online form, printing and displaying a QR code poster and requesting that all visitors scan this on arrival at your premises.

Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, are legally required to display an official NHS QR code poster.

To ensure compliance with the new legislation, business owners should:

1. Create a QR code for your venue online

2. Print and display the poster by the entrance(s) to your premises

For more information on how the NHS Test and Trace App works and what you need to do to ensure compliance with the new regulations, visit our dedicated guide for business.

The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.

Finance: How can I manage tax and reporting?

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

Extension to filling accounts with Companies House

Defer payment of Business Rates

Defer Valued Added Tax (VAT) and Income Tax payments

Guidance relating to taxable expenses and benefits provided to employees during coronavirus (COVID-19)

VAT rate for tourism and hospitality-related activities

Employees: What is the guidance on Statutory Sick Pay?

Statutory Sick Pay guidance

Advice and guidance: Where can I find the latest advice about Coronavirus?

UK Government COVID-19 Business Advice

NHS guide to Coronavirus

FCO Travel advice

Exporting: What support is available for exporters?

Support for exporting businesses

Employees: How do I access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Finance: What finance is available?

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme

Funding for small businesses that already pay little or no business rates

Support for larger firms

COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant

Future Fund

Innovate UK Grants & Loans

Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS)

Top-up to local business grant funds scheme

Support for dairy farmers

Funding for National Cultural Institutions

Culture Recovery Fund

Small Business Recovery Fund

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) - Grants for businesses affected by local lockdowns

Transport-Technology Research and Innovation Grants (T-TRIG)

Employees: What support is available for the self-employed?

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Universal Credit

EmployGM

Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund or also known as Top-up fund

Safe workplaces: Is my business allowed to reopen?

Businesses, premises and services which can reopen

Advice and guidance: What is the latest guidance on traveling to work?

Guidance relating to work travel

Advice and guidance: Can tradespeople carry out work in people’s homes?

Work undertaken by tradespeople to continue

Advice and guidance: Will my business be evicted due to late rent payments or inability to make payment completely?

Protection for businesses with ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent payments

Advice and guidance: Are my business premises safe?

Statement from Chief Inspector Zac Fraser Greater Manchester Police (24th March)

Employees: How do I switch my workforce to remote working?

Growth Company Guide to Remote Working

Employees: How can I support my employees with their mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak?

Advice to support mental health during coronavirus outbreak

Employees: How can I carry out right to work checks during COVID-19?

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Conducting right to work checks

Employees: How can I hire staff to meet increased demands for my business’ goods or services in light of COVID-19?

EmployGM

Advice and guidance: How will GCSEs and A levels be awarded following the cancellation of this year’s exams?

Guidance relating to how qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020

Advice and guidance: What can we do to help efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis?

Actions to help the fight against COVID-19

Advice and guidance: What support is available for charities, social enterprises, and community-based organisations?

Support for the charity sector

Advice and guidance: If a business is closed due to the coronavirus will it still be required to undertake essential inspections?

Inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic

Advice and guidance: Can I get tested for COVID-19?

Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

Advice and guidance: What pension guidance is available to employers?

Pension Guidance

Safe workplaces: Do I need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work?

Personal Protective Equipment in the workplace

Advice and guidance: What is the "Build Back Better" initiative?

“Build Back Better” campaign

Safe workplaces: What is the NHS Test and Trace service?

Guidance on the NHS test and trace service

Safe workplaces: I want to reopen my business. What do I need to do?

What do i need to do?

Safe workplaces: Do I need to do a risk assessment?

COVID-19 risk assessment

Safe workplaces: Do I have to publish my risk assessment?

Safe workplaces: Do I need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work?