Many of the concerns coming into my email inbox are from business owners and this information is for them. It is really difficult to see you struggle at this time. For many of you, demand has fallen off a cliff hence you will have cash flow problems and all the while you will be struggling to access help to pay staff and keep our business afloat. There is help out there and solutions are updated daily. I urge you to persevere and access this help as it is important to provide security to as many people as possible. Together we will get through this.
Here is a few pointers and background information I hope will be helpful
The Scottish Parliament’s Information Research Centre (SPice) daily blog carries contacts, stats and background information about the Coronavirus crisis.
This is updated daily.
UK Government response
- Employer’s with fewer than 250 employee’s will be able to reclaim two weeks’ worth of statutory sick pay paid to employees as a result of Covid-19
- 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England
- Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
- Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis
- New lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
- HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
Scottish Government response
Much of what the UK has announced in business support will be applicable to Scotland.
- The planned 1.6% increase in poundage for the 2020-21 financial year has been withdrawn. This will apply to all Scottish business who pay rates
- Occupied premises in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will receive 100% rates relief from 1 April 2020.
- £10,000 grants for small businesses in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme or Rural Relief
- £25,000 grants for hospitality, leisure and retail properties with a rateable value between £18,000 and £50,999
Employment law is reserved so all UK announcements will be applicable to Scotland
UK Government response:
- Employer’s with fewer than 250 employee’s will be able to reclaim two weeks’ worth of statutory sick pay paid to employees as a result of Covid-19
- In the Budget on 11 March 2020, the Chancellor announced that the Government would introduce an alternative to the fit note that employees can use as evidence that they have been incapable for work.
- The Government has maintained a line that those who are not eligible for SSP should claim benefits instead. The Government has taken steps to ease and speed up claims for access to certain benefits.
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.
If you run a business you can get advice by calling the Find Business Support helpline: 0300 303 0660. Press Option 1 to speak to Coronavirus helpline. Last time I checked there was a 40-minute wait to speak to someone.
Or visit www.findbusinesssupport.gov.scot
Advice about benefits and employment rights is on Citizens Advice Scotland <https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/health/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you/> .
Le dùrachd
Rhoda