Coronavirus Business FAQ's | GC Business Growth Hub

Advice and guidance: What are the latest COVID-19 restrictions?

Finance: How can I manage tax and reporting?

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

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

Closed on weekends and bank holidays.

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 2020 businesses affected by coronavirus were able to apply for a 3-month extension for filing their accounts. On 27 June 2020 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 fell between 27 June 2020 to 5 April 2021, got an automatic extension. This was a temporary measure. Any filing deadlines that fall on 6 April 2021 or later will not be automatically extended. Businesses will have to apply for an extension if their company’s filing deadline falls on 6 April 2021 or later and they need more time to file their accounts.

Companies that have already had their accounts deadline extended may not be eligible, as the law only allows a maximum filing period of 12 months.

It’s important to check if you’re eligible for an extension and to apply for an extension before your deadline. You must file your accounts on time or you’ll receive a late filing penalty.

For further information visit the Coronavirus guidance for Companies House customers.

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.

Business Rates relief

Update: In the 2021 Budget, the government announced that the business rates holiday has been extended for 3 months until the end of June 2021. In addition, businesses in these sectors will only be required to pay 66% of their business rates bill from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 (This will be capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 5 January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties).

Business Rates relief for businesses operating in specific industries - retail, hospitality and leisure

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. You’re eligible if your property is a:

shop
restaurant, café, bar or pub
cinema or live music venue
assembly or leisure property - for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa
hospitality property - for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation

You can check here if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Business Rates relief for children’s nurseries

Children's nurseries in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. You’re eligible if your property:

is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register
provides care and education for children up to 5 years old

You can check here if your nursery is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

You do not need to take any action. Your local council will apply the discount automatically. Contact your local council if you’re not getting a relief you think you’re entitled to.

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

Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you’re a UK VAT registered business and deferred VAT due from 20 March to 30 June 2020 and still have payments to make, you have the option to:

Pay the full amount by 31 March 2021
Join the VAT deferral new payment scheme – the online service opens on 23 February 2021 and businesses must opt-in by 21 June 2021.

Businesses using the scheme will be able to:
- pay their deferred VAT in equal instalments, interest-free
- choose the number of instalments, from 2 up to a maximum of 11 (this will depend on the date by which they join the scheme)

The government has published guidance on key actions businesses must take before opting in.

Contact HMRC on 0800 024 1222 if you need additional help to pay by 30 June 2021.

Full details can be found here.

Self-assessment - submitting your tax return

The deadline for submitting your online tax return is usually the 31st of January and individuals missing this deadline are charged a £100 penalty. Because of COVID-19 though, HMRC has announced that the late filing penalty will be waived provided you file by 28 February.

Self-assessment - paying the tax you owe

If you complete a self-assessment tax return the deadlines for paying your tax bill are usually:

• 31 January - for any tax you owe for the previous tax year (known as a balancing payment) and your first payment on account
• 31 July - for your second payment on account

Because of Coronavirus (COVID-19), individuals were able to delay making their second payment on account. If you chose to delay, you were able to pay your deferred July 2020 payment on account any time up to 31 January 2021.

• If you were unable to pay in full by 31 January and you owe £30,000 or less you can set up a payment plan to spread the cost of your latest Self-Assessment bill. You can use the self-serve Time to Pay facility to set up monthly direct debits and this can all be done online up to 60 days after 31 January. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021 (The current rate of late payment interest is 2.6%). In addition, if you still haven’t paid in full, or set up a time to pay arrangement, by 1 April, you will be charged a late payment penalty.

• If your Self-Assessment debts are over £30,000, or you need longer than 12 months to pay your debt in full, you may still be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement by calling the Self-Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200 3822

Full details on Making your Self Assessment payments including Class 2 National Insurance contributions can be found 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.

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.
On 3 March 2021, the government extended the reduced VAT rate until 30 September 2021. To further support businesses a 12.5% interim rate will then apply for a further six months, until 31 March 2022.

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.

Import tariffs on a number of COVID-19 medical products have been suspended

On 16 December, the government announced that import tariffs on medical products used to help fight against coronavirus have been suspended, lowering costs on these critical items for organisations across the UK.

The new measures, which ensure no tariffs will be due on imports of goods including face masks, gloves and other protective equipment, will come into effect from 1 January 2021 and are planned to last for 12 months until 31 December 2021. These will be subject to ongoing reviews.

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.

Super-deduction

To stimulate business investment, the government has announced the introduction of the super-deduction, a new 130% first-year capital allowance for qualifying plant and machinery assets.

Key points to consider:

In order to qualify, expenditure must be incurred by a company within the charge to corporation tax on or after 1 April 2021 but before 1 April 2023
The type of assets that may qualify include but are not limited to:
- Solar panels
- Computer equipment and servers
- Tractors, lorries, vans
- Ladders, drills, cranes
- Office chairs and desks
- Electric vehicle charge points
- Refrigeration units
- Compressors
- Foundry equipment
Used and second-hand assets will not qualify for the super-deduction
Expenditure should not be within any of the eight general exclusions in section 46(2) of CAA 2001, which include exclusions for expenditure on cars and on the provision of plant and machinery for leasing
Expenditure incurred under a Hire Purchase or similar contract will be required to meet additional conditions to qualify for the super-deduction

More information is available in the published tax information and impacts note.

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 self-isolating because they (or their household / support bubble) are exhibiting symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID-19. You can now also claim SSP if you are self-isolating because you've been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that you've come into contact with someone with coronavirus.

Employers can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees (this is payable from day 1 instead of day 4) due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The repayment will cover up to 2 weeks SSP starting from the first qualifying day of sickness.

If the employer requires evidence:

an isolation note can be obtained from NHS 111 online (if the employee is self-isolating and cannot work because of COVID-19).
Individuals asked to shield can provide a ‘shielding note’ or a letter from their doctor or health authority advising them to shield because they’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

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. On 20th April 2020, 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.

Several coronavirus restrictions remain in place. To view a summary of the key measures in place visit our guide here.

On the 25th March 2020 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.

The NHS has also created a dedicated webpage to support individuals recovering from 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.

FCO International Travel advice

Visit our guide for the latest advice and guidance on international travel.

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

SME Brexit Support Fund - This scheme was launched on 11 February 2021 and will provide SMEs that are new to importing or exporting with grants up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice. More information is available on the government website.
General Export Facility (GEF) - On 7 December, the government launched the GEF, a new guarantee scheme designed to provide SMEs with export finance up to the value of £25 million and help them recover from COVID-19. Full details of this scheme can be found through our guide here.
On 16 October, the government also launched a new Export Growth Plan to help businesses in England build back better following the pandemic. The plan includes a new £38m Internationalisation Fund from 2020-23 for SMEs in England that will help 7,600 SMEs to internationalist.
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?

UKRI Funding for COVID-19 research

UK Research and Innovation funding

Businesses can find out about UK Research and Innovation's Covid-19 related funding and projects through their website here.

At the GC Business Growth Hub you can also read more from our Innovation team on applying for funding here or by contacting them directly.

Other funding announced - now closed

Innovate UK Loans - Applications closed on 13 January 2021.

Innovate UK is providing up to £210 million in loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations that have a challenge in continuing innovation activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These range between £250,000 and £1,600,000 and are open for:

applicants continuing existing projects with an Innovate UK award
applicants with a new project that follows on from a project with an Innovate UK award (completed in the past 36 months)
applicants continuing, completing or following on from innovation activity that has not been supported by an Innovate UK award in the past 36 months

Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply for an Innovate UK loan, please see the government website.

Sustainable Innovation Fund

On 27 June, HMG unveiled a £200 million package to help innovative businesses bounce back. The Sustainable Innovation Fund was 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, formed part of a wider £750 million package of grants and loans announced in April to support innovative firms.

The Sustainable Innovation Fund is now closed.

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 to support the arts, culture and heritage sector

1. In the 2021 Budget, the Chancellor announced a £700 million package of support to boost the arts, culture and sports sectors. More information will be added in due course.

2. National Lottery Project Grants (Grants range from £1,000 to £100,000)

The Arts Council England has reopened the fund with a budget of £77.9 million available until April 2021. Funding is available for individual artists, community and cultural organisations. Until April 2021, the fund will focus on the needs of smaller independent organisations and individual practitioners.

Grants can support projects that directly create and deliver creative and cultural activity and content for audiences, visitors and digital users, and also those that have a longer term impact on strengthening the sector, such as organisational development, research and development and sector support.

For more information and to apply for funding, visit the Art Council England's website, here.

3. Developing your Creative Practice (Grants range from £2,000 to £10,000) - now closed

The fund supports creative practitioners thinking of taking their practice to the next stage to research, have time to create new work, travel, training, develop ideas, network or find mentoring.

Round 9 will open for applications on 11 January 2021.

For more information and find out how to apply for the funding when applications open, visit the Art Council's website, here.

4. Culture Recovery Fund - second round (now closed)

On Friday 11 December 2020 Government announced a further round of Culture Recovery Fund investment as part of its £1.57 billion support package for arts, culture and heritage in the UK. The funding will help organisations look to the future. £300 million in grants (applications for the grants closed on 26 January) and £100 million in repayable finance (applications closed on 7 January) will be made available to support organisations’ transition back to usual operating mode from April 2021. Further details are available through Art Council England.

5. Thriving Communities Fund (Grants range from £25,000 to £50,000) - Applications closed at 12pm (midday), 8 January 2021.

This funding is designed to increase social connectedness, and help communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.

Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) organisations working in any of the following sectors:

Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
Environment and nature-based organisations
Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers

Applicants will need to provide 20% match funding, which could include: NHS partners (Clinical Commissioning Groups, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Systems); local government; other trusts and foundations; philanthropy or corporate social responsibility; or a wide range of other possibilities.

For more information and to apply for the funding, visit the Art Council's website, here.

Original package of support

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.

Film & TV Production Restart Scheme

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. The Scheme Rules and Explanatory Notes can be viewed by visiting the government website. The application form can be viewed and submitted through this link.

This scheme has been extended to 31 December 2021.

The registration deadline for this scheme is 23:59 GMT on 31 October 2021, and claims will be able to be submitted up to 23:59 GMT on 31 March 2022 for losses incurred up until 23:59 GMT on 31 December 2021.

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

Green Homes Grant Scheme - The Green Homes Grant voucher scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021.

If you applied to be a registered Green Homes Grant installer before the closing date, your application will still be processed and the government will be in touch to confirm if your application has been successful.

If you are already a registered Green Homes Grant installer, you can continue to carry out work under the scheme provided your customer has been issued a voucher. You must finish the work at least 7 days before the voucher’s expiry date.

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.

Grant support for businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions

A summary of the different grants available for businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions is available through our guide, here.
All grants are allocated through the local authority, so please review your Local Authority's page to see what is available in your area.

Please note that phishing emails seeking to target those eligible for the extended business support grants have recently been reported. Guidance on recognising phishing emails and texts has been published by the government and additional resources are available through our dedicated Cyber crime awareness during the Coronavirus outbreak 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.

Future Fund: Breakthrough

This new £375 million scheme will be launching in early summer of 2021 and will encourage private investors to co-invest with government in the most innovative, R&D-intensive businesses (e.g. those working in life sciences, quantum computing, or cleantech) that are aiming to raise at least £20 million of funding.

To be considered for the scheme you must be a UK based company with significant UK operations.

Further information on the Fund has been published on the British Business Bank 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.

Recovery Loan scheme

On 3 March 2021, the Chancellor announced the launch of the new Recovery Loan scheme which will provide all UK businesses regardless of size access to finance to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow.

Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available through our dedicated page.

The scheme will open on 6 April 2021 and close on 31 December 2021.

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

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, made a financial statement on March 26 to launch the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme for self-employed individuals that are impacted by COVID-19.
On September 24, the government extended the scheme which will run for another 6 months from November 2020 to April 2021.
On November 5, the Chancellor increased the value of the next self-employed income support grant from 55% to 80% of average profits.
On 3 March, the government announced that a fifth and final grant will be provided under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme covering the period May- September 2021

For further details on the extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, 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.

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.

On November 3, the government announced that the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for self-employed Universal Credit claimants which was  temporarily relaxed in March 2020 will remain suspended until the end of April 2021.

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.

Safe workplaces: Is my business allowed to reopen?

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

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

On 10 March 2021, the government extended the ban on commercial evictions to 30 June 2021.

The Ministry of Justice will also lay a Statutory Instrument to extend the restriction on the use of the Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) process by landlords. This measure will increase the total number of days’ outstanding rent required for CRAR to be used to 457 days’ between 25 March and 23 June, and 554 days’ between the 24 and 30 June. This measure will continue to provide protection to tenants of commercial leases with rent arrears accumulated during the coronavirus period, while protections from forfeiture for business tenancies are in place under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Past Guidance - Timeline

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 31 December 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.

On 5 November, the government announced that:

Evictions will not be enforced whilst national restrictions are in place (5 Nov - 2 December) and
Evictions will not be enforced by bailiffs until 25 January 2021 at the earliest, except for the most egregious cases where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing

The full guidance applying to landlords and tenants in the private and social rented sectors is available here.

On 9 December, the government extended the business eviction ban until the end of March 2021. The restriction on landlords using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) to recover unpaid rent will also automatically extend to the end of March, in line with the moratorium’s expiry date.

On 8 January, the government announced that tenants in the social and private rented sectors will be protected from eviction with bailiffs not enforcing evictions for 6 weeks until 22 February, and no evictions expected to 8 March at the earliest.

On 16 February, the Housing Secretary extended the ban on bailiff evictions for another 6 weeks - until 31 March. Exceptions to this are for the most egregious cases – anti-social behaviour, illegal occupation and extreme rent arrears equivalent to 6 months’ rent or more. Landlords also continue to be required to give 6-month notice periods to tenants except in the most serious circumstances.

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 do I need to consider when adopting a remote working approach?

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

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

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

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily adjusted the way right to work checks were being carried out.

The following temporary changes were made on 30 March 2020 and remain in place until 16 May 2021.

checks can currently be carried out over video calls
job applicants and existing workers can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app, rather than sending originals
employers should use the Employer Checking Service if a prospective or existing employee cannot provide any of the accepted documents

Employers do not need to carry out retrospective checks on those who had a COVID-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 16 May 2021 (inclusive).

From 17 May 2021 employers must either:

check the applicant’s original documents, or
check the applicant’s right to work online, if they’ve given you their share code

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

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

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

Support for the charity sector

Financial support available

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

GMCVO (Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation)
Charity Bank
Charities Aid Foundation

Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund - closed 31 March 2021

Support is 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 has 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 at 11.59 pm on Wednesday 31 March 2021.

Youth Covid-19 Support Fund - Applications closed on 19 February 2021

The Youth Covid-19 Support Fund will provide grant funding to grassroots youth clubs, uniformed youth groups, and national youth and umbrella organisations. It has been designed to help to mitigate the impact of lost income during the winter period due to the coronavirus pandemic and ensure services providing vital support can remain viable.

Grants are available for essential business costs incurred between 1 November 2020 and 31 March 2021 and these can include staff salaries as well as fixed/operational costs (i.e. rent, utility costs, insurances, facility or equipment hire and others).

To apply for a grant you must be one of the following:
• a registered Charity
• an incorporated not for profit organisation
• an incorporated Community Interest Company

Full details on eligibility and how to apply are available through the Fund's dedicated website.

Thriving Communities Fund - applications closed on 8 January 2021

This funding is designed to increase social connectedness, and help communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.

Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) organisations working in any of the following sectors:

Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
Environment and nature-based organisations
Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers

For more information and to apply, visit the Art Council's website.

Previous support announced

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.

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

Local support

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 (This fund is now closed for applications).
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

Anyone exhibiting symptoms in the UK must get tested and self-isolate. Individuals can book a visit to a test site or order a home swab test kit online through the government website. The government has published information on How to use your coronavirus (COVID-19) home test kit.

Once you’ve received a coronavirus home test kit, you must register it in order to receive your results. Home testing kits can be returned without booking a courier service, allowing individuals to post their testing kits at any of the 35,000 Royal Mail priority postboxes across the UK. 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.

In addition to testing being available for people with symptoms, asymptomatic testing is also available. For more information on community and workplace testing for people without coronavirus symptoms, read our guide 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  

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.

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

Guidance on the NHS test and trace service

On 27 May 2020, 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 2020, 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 10 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 must support workers who need to self-isolate and must not ask them to attend the workplace. People are required by law to self-isolate and the government has introduced fines for those breaching self-isolation rules and those preventing others from self-isolating. For more information on how to enable your employees to self-isolate when required to do so, visit our dedicated guide.

More information on how the service works for employers, businesses and workers can be seen here. To help businesses manage the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the workplace, we have developed a quick guide that 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.

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

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

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

Keeping your staff safe

Staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable are no longer advised to shield. However, they should continue to follow the guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and are advised to take additional precautions to protect themselves. It is important that they continue to keep the number of social interactions that they have low and try to limit the amount of time spent in settings where maintaining social distancing might be challenging.

As for any workplace risk, businesses must also 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's ‘Safer Working Guide’ for your sector.

Guidance explaining what you should do as an employer to protect vulnerable workers during the pandemic has also been developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is available 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: 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
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?

Safe workplaces: Is my restaurant allowed to be open?

Information for restaurants

From 12 April 2021, outdoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including in members’ clubs) can reopen. For more information on what this means for your business and how to operate safely, visit our dedicated page.

Businesses that cannot serve customers outdoors can still provide the following services:

food and drinks, including alcohol, on a *takeaway basis. This means that customers can enter the premises to place and collect their order. Food and drinks can also be provided via drive-through, as well as click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered by phone, online, via a mobile app or post, and collected without entering the premises) and delivery.
Venues must not offer alcoholic beverages if their licence does not already permit.

*On November 11 2020, the government announced that restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to provide takeaway services without having to go through a planning application process for another year (until 23 March 2022). This was due to end on 23 March 2021 but will now be extended by another year (The takeaway measure applies to food. The serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to licensing laws.)

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, can I be open and can I sell alcohol?

Information for your pub

From 12 April 2021, outdoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including in members’ clubs) can reopen. For more information on what this means for your business and how to operate safely, visit our dedicated page.

Businesses that cannot serve customers outdoors can still provide the following services:

food and drinks, including alcohol, on a *takeaway basis. This means that customers can enter the premises to place and collect their order. Food and drinks can also be provided via drive-through, as well as click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered by phone, online, via a mobile app or post, and collected without entering the premises) and delivery.
Venues must not offer alcoholic beverages if their licence does not already permit.

*On November 11 2020, the government announced that restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to provide takeaway services without having to go through a planning application process for another year (until 23 March 2022). This was due to end on 23 March 2021 but will now be extended by another year (The takeaway measure applies to food. The serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to licensing laws.)

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: 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.

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 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: 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.

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 (The single transaction contactless payment threshold is set to increase from £45 to £100 later this year).

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. 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’?

Defining a "contact"

Government guidance states that a contact is a person who has been close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You can be a contact any time from 2 days before the person who tested positive developed their symptoms (or, if they did not have any symptoms, from 2 days before the date their positive test was taken), and up to 10 days after.

A contact can be anyone:

living in the same household as someone with COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19
who has had any of the following types of contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 with a PCR test:
- Face-to-face contact at a distance of less than 1 metre
- Been within 1 metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact
- Been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact or added up together over one day)
- Travelled in a car or small vehicle with someone – even if it was only for a very short amount of time
- Sat close to someone on a plane

Interaction between 2 people having taken place through a Perspex (or equivalent) screen, will not be considered sufficient contact, provided that there has been no other contact.

More information can be seen via the government's page 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 support is available for victims of domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse: get help during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

The government has published a resource page with support available for victims of domestic abuse. The resources also include advice and guidance for employers, professionals and those working in the domestic abuse sector.

Household isolation instructions as a result of coronavirus do not apply if an individual needs to leave their home to escape domestic abuse.

Further support available

1. National Domestic Abuse helpline

Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline offers free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. Further information including a contact form and a live chat service is available through the website.

If an individual is in immediate danger, they should call 999 and ask for the police.

2. Codeword scheme

If an individual is experiencing domestic abuse and needs immediate help, they can ask for ‘ANI’ in a participating pharmacy. ‘ANI’ stands for Action Needed Immediately but also phonetically sounds like the name Annie. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it means they’re ready to help.

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. For more information on how to enable your employees to self-isolate when required to do so, visit our dedicated guide.

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. 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.

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

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

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

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

Face coverings - Government Guidance

Yes, 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?

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: 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 is a support bubble and who can make one?

Making a support bubble with another household

A support bubble is a close support network between a household with only one adult or a household with one adult and one or more people who were under the age of 18 on 12 June 2020 in the home (known as a single-adult household) and one other household of any size.

From 2 December, eligibility for support bubbles is expanded. You can now form a support bubble with another household if any of the following apply to you:

you are the only adult in your household (any other members of the household having been under 18 on 12 June 2020)
you are the only adult who does not have a disability that needs continuous care (i.e. you are living with any additional adult(s) in the household that have a disability and require continuous care)
you have a child under 1 (regardless of how many other adults are in the household)
you live with a child under 5 with a disability that needs continuous care (regardless of how many other adults are in the household)
you are aged 16 or 17 and live with others of the same age, without any adults

More information on how to make a support bubble with another household can be seen 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: 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 in 2020, 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.

Advice and guidance: What is a childcare bubble?

Employees: What is the Kickstart scheme?

Kickstart scheme overview

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Funding will cover for each job placement:

100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week
the associated employer National Insurance contributions
employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

There is also £1500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.

Originally applications had to be for a minimum of 30 job placements, and organisations unable to offer this many job placements could partner with a Kickstart gateway.

From 3 February 2021, employers can apply directly to the scheme regardless of the number of job placements. However, businesses can also continue to apply through a Kickstart gateway, including those supporting sole traders.

To support businesses, the government has published a series of tips for making a successful Kickstart Scheme application.

To help businesses benefit from Kickstart, the Growth Company has developed three support packages including:

Being a Gateway organisation - to help businesses access the scheme regardless of how many placements you are able to offer
Being a Kickstart Service Partner offering on-placement support, such as individual learning plans and careers advice/support
Employment services - enabling businesses to host placements without having to worry about employment contract and HR-related requirements.

For more information and to register your interest in a Kickstart application, visit the Growth Company's dedicated 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: What are the latest COVID-19 restrictions?

National restrictions

Finance: How can I manage tax and reporting?

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

Extension to filling accounts with Companies House

Business Rates relief

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

Import tariffs on a number of COVID-19 medical products have been suspended

Super-deduction

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 International 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?

UKRI Funding for COVID-19 research

Funding to support the arts, culture and heritage sector

Film & TV Production Restart Scheme

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Grant support for businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions

Future Fund: Breakthrough

Recovery Loan scheme

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

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Universal Credit

EmployGM

Safe workplaces: Is my business allowed to reopen?

National restrictions - Key measures

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

Employees: What do I need to consider when adopting a remote working approach?

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

Actions to help the fight against COVID-19

Finance: 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

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

Guidance on the NHS test and trace service

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

COVID-19 risk assessment

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

Your risk assessment

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

Keeping your staff safe

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

Temperature checks

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

Your staff's health

Safe workplaces: Is my restaurant allowed to be open?

Information for restaurants

Safe workplaces: I run a pub, can I be open and can I sell alcohol?

Information for your pub

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

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

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