This page will assist employers and businesses through the COVID-19 impact, providing advice on business support, access to finance and other uesful information.

   

Guidance for employees, employers and businesses

This guidance will assist employers, businesses and their staff in addressing coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be regularly updated in line with the changing situation. The guidance will assist employers and businesses in providing advice to their staff on COVID-19, as well as providing details of support available to businesses.

Find out more on GOV.UK website

    

NHS Track and Trace app

To support track and trace, the NHS App for test and trace was launched on 24 September. The app has been designed  to simplify the process of collecting visitors’ details when they enter premises. Using a digital collection system is intended to speed up the process and make it more efficient to track people who may be potentially infected.  In the event someone tests positive for coronavirus, the app will notify people that they have been in contact with someone who is infected. The app will not mention the name of the venue, but it will point people in the direction of public health advice.  

Venues legally required to display a unique QR code are: 

• Hospitality, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés 
• Tourism and leisure, including hotels, museums, cinemas and amusement arcades 
• Close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors 
• Some facilities provided by local authorities, including community centres, libraries and village halls 

More information about organisations within scope in these sectors can be found on the government website here. 

The requirement applies to any establishment that provides an on-site service and to any events that take place on its premises. It does not apply where services are taken off site immediately, for example, a food or drink outlet which only provides takeaways. If a business offers a mixture of a sit-in and takeaway service, contact information only needs to be collected for customers who are dining in. 

It is also helpful to ensure there is another method of collecting data for those visitors not using smartphones, who do not want to use the app or without access to the app. This can be manual if necessary. Even if you have your own QR system, customers can check in via the NHS app instead, so you may want to consider switching to the NHS QR system for ease.  

    

Coronavirus outbreak business communications toolkit

In the event that your business is affected by COVID-19, good communications will go a long way to support your staff, reassure customers and neighbours, and protect your reputation. This toolkit will help your business take the right steps to recovery. It complements the support that your local public health team will give you on operational matters.

View the coronvirus outbreak toolkit   

    

Better Business for All (BBfA) partnership Covid-19 Toolkits

See the following toolkits to help guide you to re-open your business and work safely:

• Considerations for restarting your business safely toolkit    
• Re-opening after a closure toolkit
• Risk Assesssment Toolkit
• Outbreak toolkit

   

Plymouth's COVID-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan Summary

The plan sets out how partner organisations across the city aim to work together to protect residents and support schools, care homes and businesses.

View the Outbreak Management Plan toolkit

  

Got symptoms? Get Tested

We've put together a simple graphic that you can share within your organisation and on social networks on COVID-19 symptoms and what to do.

View the graphic 

    

Social distancing in the workplace 

The government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.

The guidance provides a practical framework for employers to think about what they need to do to continue or restart operations – in a safe manner and in support to workers’ health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These 8 guides cover a range of different types of work which can be read on the below link.

Find out more on the Invest Plymouth page

    

Access free support from experts and help your business recover from the impact of Coronavirus

The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website, gives small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery. Thousands of expert professional and business services advisers are on hand to offer free advice, until 31 December. Small and medium sized businesses can sign up, take the diagnostic tool and access support. Advice will focus on key areas:

• accounting and finance
• people and building a team
• planning, strategy and pivoting
• marketing, PR and social media
• technology and digital tools

Find out more on EnterpriseNation website

  

COVID-19 Workplace Risk Assessment Template

HSENI have produced an example risk assessment for businesses when carrying out a risk assessment for COVID-19.

You can download the template from their website via the link below.

Find out more on HSENI website.

     

COVID-19 Business Support Infographic

We have produced a guide to COVID-19 business support, covering government support measures, who is eligible for support and the available schemes.

Click here or the thumbnail below to view the full infographic. You can click the infographic to zoom in.

          

Support from Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations

The Government is working closely with Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations to support the national response to coronavirus, including ensuring messages from Government are heard by all businesses and that business voices are heard by Government. Via the below website is a list of organisations you can speak with to get advice. Many of these websites also include sector specific guidance and Q&A.

Find out more on Business Support website

         

HMRC Business Support Helpline – 0800 998 1098

HMRC have opened a dedicated helpline for businesses and the self-employed to answer queries or concerns regarding tax payments and finding solutions including:

• agreeing an instalment arrangement
• suspending debt collection proceedings
• cancelling penalties and interest where you have administrative difficulties contacting or paying HMRC immediately

In addition to the helpline there is also a webchat service that is available. Both are open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

      

Coronavirus WhatsApp Information Service

The Govt has started a Whatsapp information service get provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus out to as many people as possible. It will provide information on topics such as coronavirus prevention and symptoms, the latest number of cases in the UK, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting via a chatbot.

To use this free service, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.

Find out more on GOV.UK website 

      

Job Retention Scheme

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will close on 31 October 2020.

From 1 July, employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for the hours not worked.

From 1 August 2020, the level of grant will be reduced each month.To be eligible for the grant employers must pay furloughed employees 80% of their wages, up to a cap of £2,500 per month for the time they are being furloughed.

View the Job Retention (and Self-Employment Income Support) Scheme factsheet here.

You can also download a template if you're claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Find out more on GOV.UK website

   

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

A new online service was launched on 26 May for small and medium-sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees, the government announced on 19 May 2020.

This scheme will allow small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related SSP.

Employers will be able to make their claims through a new online service from 26 May. This means they will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020.

Find out more on GOV.UK website

     

Business Support Hub

To ensure you have up to date access to COVID-19 business support, HM Government have set up a new website which hosts all the details of the schemes the Chancellor has announced. 

A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees. This page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.

See more on HM Government Business Support website.

HM Treasury also post regular video content on their Twitter channel to further support businesses, i.e. Q&A sessions.

See more on HM Treasury Twitter.

     

Taxable expenses if employee works from home due to COVID-19

Find out what equipment, services or supplies are taxable if your employees are working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Find out more on GOV.UK website

    

Government to support businesses through Trade Credit Insurance guarantee

Businesses with supply chains which rely on Trade Credit Insurance and who are experiencing difficulties maintaining cover due to Coronavirus will get support from the government, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen has announced.

Find out more on GOV.UK website

     

Access to financial support document

The HM Treasury has prepared a document to guide businesses on how to access government financial support if you or your business has been affected by COVID-19.

This document highlights key areas of financial support, such as:

• If you're a small or medium-sized business, you may be entitled to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for sickness absence due to COVID-19.
• Some businesses will be eligible for a Business Rates holiday for 1 year from 1 April 2020.
• If your business is eligible for small business rate relief or rural rate relief, you're entitled to a one-off cash grant of £10,000.
• If your business is facing cash flow issues as a result of COIVD-19, there's support available from the British Business Bank and Bank of England.
• If you're self-employed or own a business and you're concerned about not being able to pay your tax bills because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for support through Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Time to Pay service.

You can view the document here.

For more guidance on UK businesses trading internationally during COVID-19, visit the GOV.UK website.