Government advice and cash grants
- The range of business support measures available to UK businesses and employees are detailed on the government's Business Support website and you can also use the Business Support Finder via this link.
Business support measures
The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy has now been published along with guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. You can read the recovery strategy on this webpage and find guidance via this link.
Updated guidance and support to help your business during Covid-19
Find out about the latest business bonuses, schemes and funds.
New for businesses
- Updated guidance from the government
- Support for businesses outside government
- Businesses affected by lockdown
- Export growth planning
Job retention and income schemes
The government has released revised guidance and extensions to existing job retention schemes, statutory sick pay and self-employment income support. You can read the updates, watch the videos and listen to the webinars on this webpage.
Additional resources
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has updated the list of organisations that have produced additional resources that may be useful to employers and employees.
Federation of Small Businesses
Support offered by the National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses (FSB) can be found here.
Compensation
Businesses in England that are required to shut because of local interventions will now be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks. More information is available on the government website which you can click through to here.
Export Growth Plan
A new package of measures from the government includes additional funding to help businesses recover and grow from the impact of Coronavirus:
- Additional funding now available for small businesses in the South West of England.
- Funds build on recent measures following the sector bounce-back plans to help businesses recover from Coronavirus.
- Measures aim to support local jobs, growth and prosperity.
Advisors
There are also 12 new International Trade Advisers to provide direct support to small businesses in the South West. And the UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s world-leading credit agency, can help businesses grow overseas trade and build back from the impact of coronavirus. UKEF is also expanding its network of regional Export Finance Managers to help local businesses secure the financing they need to trade internationally by appointing renewable energy specialists to put SMEs at the heart of the global transition to clean energy.
Free training with the Export Academy
A pilot Export Academy scheme has also been introduced to support smaller businesses to begin their exporting journey. The Export Academy will deliver a series of activities that will build the capabilities of smaller businesses, creating a new cohort of confident businesses ready to trade. Sign up today.
Available monetary schemes and funds
Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will now continue until the end of October. Furloughed workers will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, and up to £2,500, and new flexibility will be introduced from August to get employees back to work and boost economy. Read more about the furlough scheme on this webpage.
The government has launched a new calculator to help employers with their next claims. Employers can use the calculator to work out how much they have to pay their furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees, how much they can claim for employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions and how much they can claim back. You can access the new job retention calculator via this link.
Employers can now also download a template if you're claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (for claims on or after 1 July 2020). You can download the new template on this webpage.
Kickstart Scheme
The Government has launched the Kickstart Scheme to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit.
Funding is available for businesses to cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions for Kickstart placements. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.
Businesses able to create 30 or more job placements can apply for the funding directly on the Government website.
Smaller businesses interested in creating fully-funded job placements need to apply through an intermediary. The process for SMEs seeking to apply in the West of England is currently being confirmed. Please email us on wearegrowth@westofengland-ca.gov.uk to register your interest in creating a Kickstart placement and we will provide further detail as soon as it is available.
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme supports self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
If you’re eligible for the second and final grant, and your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020, you can make a claim on or before 19 October 2020. Read the guidance on this webpage.
You can claim for the second grant even if you did not make a claim for the first grant. Claim a grant via this link. If you have different circumstances it can affect your eligibility.
If you're self-employed or member of a partnership, find out how your circumstances can affect your eligibility for the scheme on this webpage to understand how HMRC works out trading and non-trading income for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.
Increased financial support for businesses and workers
The government has announced it will significantly increase the generosity and reach of its winter support schemes to ensure livelihoods and jobs across the UK. Please note this builds on agreements reached with Local Authorities moving to Alert Level very high, with extra support for businesses, jobs and the economic recovery. You can find out more on the government website.
Additional information on apprenticeships
You need to hire an apprentice who:
- is new to your organisation
- starts their contract of employment and their apprenticeship with you between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021
For apprentices aged:
- 16 to 24, employers will receive £2,000
- 25 and over, employers will receive £1,500
You can spend the payment on anything to support your organisation’s costs, from facilities and travel to uniforms and salaries. This is in addition to the £1,000 payment the government has already given to help employers meet the needs of some groups of apprentices in the workplace.
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