Tag Archive for: Coronavirus

New Financial Business Support for Coronavirus

 

The Government has announced additional support schemes for businesses most recently impacted by Coronavirus, which include:

  • One-off grants of up to £6,000 for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors
  • Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) for businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates
  • Reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) for businesses with fewer than 250 employees, up to two weeks per employee
  • Discretionary funding will also be made available to support other businesses

Funding and grants will be administered by Merton Council. Information is available on their website, with additional details to be announced in the upcoming weeks here.

We know this is yet another difficult time for businesses, in what should otherwise be a robust trading period. Love Wimbledon is supporting the ‘Business Booster Campaign‘, calling on central Government to provide: business rates relief, an extension to VAT reduction and additional grants up to £15K for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Please do get in touch with the Love Wimbledon team if we can assist you in any way.

Plan B Guidance for the Hospitality Sector

Several changes have come into effect following the announcement of Plan B.

Covid Passes

From 15th December an NHS COVID pass is required for those aged 18 years or over to enter nightclubs, late-night dance venues and indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees. This includes proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test in the last 48 hours or proof of exemption.

A toolkit with marketing resources for venues where proof of COVID status is mandatory for entry can be downloaded here.

Face Coverings

These are now required by law for customers and staff in various indoor settings, including:

  • Takeaway venues where there is no seating
  • Theatres and cinemas
  • Public areas in hotels where food and drink is not being consumed

Face coverings are not legally required in restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs although recommended in crowded indoor settings.

You can find the full Government Guidance for the hospitality sector here.

UKHospitality has provided helpful answers to Plan B FAQs, including how to perform a Covid-19 status check, keeping records and requirements for staff here.

Should you have any questions or require assistance please do get in touch with the Love Wimbledon team.

Businesses Assist the Community Through Covid

Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, Wimbledon businesses recognised the importance of their role in the community.

2020 saw a tremendous effort from Wimbledon businesses to support local and wider initiatives during the Coronavirus pandemic, from local foodbanks to the NHS, and our key workers.

Many businesses and organisations have made heroic efforts and done incredible work, to assist those who are vulnerable or in need within our town. Such responses could be seen from as early on as April 2020, with support from businesses continuing through lockdowns, Christmas and other periods of particular difficulty. With there being an ongoing need for assistance due to the pandemic, there is no sign of support from our businesses dwindling, as 2021 begins.

Here are just a few examples:

Christmas Donations

Students and their families from Wimbledon High generously donated Christmas presents for Wimbledon Guild’s Give a Gift at Christmas campaign, to support children across Merton who would otherwise receive no gift at all. 

Supermarkets Support

To make up for their annual Christmas party being cancelled, the staff of Tesco Metro in Centre Court Shopping Centre, donated toys and food to the Dons Local Action Group, who deliver such items to those in need in the local community. Local Sainsburys and Waitrose stores also donated various items to Wimbledon Guild over the Christmas period.

Office-based Businesses Chip In

We have also seen many of our office-based businesses in Wimbledon supporting local causes such as Domestic and General, who donated money to Wimbledon Guild that would have otherwise been spent on Secret Santa gift exchanges between colleagues and raised over £200. The headquarters of CIPD donated 50 devices to the Keep Kids Connected scheme run by the Dons Local Action Group, to assist children and schools who need such equipment to support remote learning.

 

Local businesses supporting local charities, in-turn supports the community, and strengthens the bonds in our area, meaning that despite these ongoing challenges, Wimbledon will return from Covid-19 as a stronger and more resilient town for all.

If your business can help the community throughout Covid-19 by donating food, drink, clothing, technology or financial support please get in touch with Kevin Gallagher at KevinG@lovewimbledon.org. For a list of local charitable organisations click here.

Supreme Court Rules in Favour of SME Insurance Payouts

Following the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) appeal to the business interruption test case, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of SMEs receiving insurance payouts as a result of closures and financial loss due to Coronavirus. This means that Wimbledon businesses who had claims denied earlier in the pandemic may now be eligible for compensation from their insurers.

 

Sheldon Mills, Executive Director, Consumers and Competition at the FCA, commented:

Coronavirus is causing substantial loss and distress to businesses and many are under immense financial strain to stay afloat. This test case involved complex legal issues. Our aim throughout this test case has been to get clarity for as wide a range of parties as possible, as quickly as possible, and today’s judgment decisively removes many of the roadblocks to claims by policyholders.

We will be working with insurers to ensure that they now move quickly to pay claims that the judgment says should be paid, making interim payments wherever possible. Insurers should also communicate directly and quickly with policyholders who have made claims affected by the judgment to explain next steps.

As we have recognised from the start of this case, tens of thousands of small firms and potentially hundreds of thousands of jobs are relying on this. We are grateful to the Supreme Court for delivering the judgment quickly. The speed with which it was reached reflects well on all parties.

 

Each policy will need to be considered individually against the detailed judgment to work out what it means for that policy. Businesses can expect to hear from their insurers and should get in touch with their broker, advisor or insurer with questions. Businesses unhappy following their insurer’s assessment of their claim may be able to refer their claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service, whose role is to fairly and impartially resolve disputes.

More information about the Supreme Court judgement and the test case can be found here.

 

 

 

 

Merton Council Recovery Grant Scheme

Merton Council Consult with Businesses on Business Plan

Businesses that have been required to close or adapt due to the national restrictions between 5 November – 2 December 2020, may be eligible for the new local economic support announced by the government. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a grant for each 28 day period under national restrictions.

This support is still available if your business has adapted to offer takeaways or ‘click and collect’ products, as your ‘substantive’ business is considered closed.

Grants will be based on the rateable value of the property as at 5 November 2020. The grant amounts for each 28 day period under national restrictions are as follows.

If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of:

  • £15,000 or less, you will receive a one-off cash grant of £1,334
  • over £15,000 but less than £51,000, you will receive a one-off cash grant of £2,000
  • £51,000 and above, you will receive a one-off cash grant of £3,000

Grant income is taxable. The Local Restrictions Support Grant will need to be included as income in the tax return of the business.

Your business may be eligible for a grant from Merton Council if it:

  • occupies property in Merton on which it pays business rates, and
  • was open and trading on 4 November 2020, and
  • has been required to close* for at least 4 weeks because of the national lockdown

Before applying you will need to have the following documents available to upload to support your application:

  • proof of identity of sole trader (e.g. passport, driving licence) or limited company (document confirming company name, registered address, company number)
  • bank statement confirming name and address of account holder (this must be dated within the last 3 months)
  • evidence of trading on 4 November 2020 (e.g. recent invoices for sales or services)
  • evidence to confirm property was occupied (e.g. utility bills)

Find out more and apply here.

*Additional Restrictions Grant
An new discretionary grant scheme will be launched by Merton Council in mid December. This will have a short application window, and we don’t have details yet, so please do ensure you stay in touch through our website page, our Linkedin or through the Merton Council newsletter to be able to apply if you are eligible. We will also send a dedicated newsletter about this too when we have the full details.

Prepare Your Business for the NHS Covid-19 App

 

New measures in place for the Hospitality, Leisure and Close Contact sectors:

  • Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code poster for customers to ‘check-in’ in support of Test and Trace (more details below).
  • Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés must operate table-service only.
  • Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés, including takeaway, are required to close from 10 pm to 5 am (delivery can continue after 10 pm).
  • Customers in indoor hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings.
  • From 28th September businesses will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure. Details about sector-specific guidance, including a Covid Secure Certificate to display, can be found here.

 

Collecting Customer Data

From Thursday September 24th, the NHS Test and Trace app will be able to be downloaded on mobile phones across UK. All hospitality, close contact and leisure businesses are being advised to use this system to assist with the track and trace of your customers.

By displaying the official NHS QR poster, the NHS COVID-19 app has a feature which allows users to ‘check-in’ to your venue by scanning the code. This is a secure way for individuals to ‘check-in’ as the details stay on the person’s phone. In England, people who ‘check-in’ do not then have to provide their contact details as part of the staff, customer and visitor logs. All customers must either check-in with the NHS App or give you their details, this does not change this requirement but should make it easier for your business to manage this process.

Official NHS QR posters can be generated online.

Organisations can find out more about NHS QR codes and how to generate them on the NHS COVID-19 app website.

 

The data that you are being asked to collect is personal data and must be handled in accordance with GDPR to protect the privacy of your staff, customers and visitors.

GDPR allows you to request contact information from your staff, customers and visitors and share it with NHS Test and Trace to help minimise the transmission of COVID-19 and support public health and safety. It is not necessary to seek consent from each person, but you should make clear why the information is being collected and what you intend to do with it.

You do not have to inform every customer individually. You might, for example, display a notice at your premises or on your website setting out what the data will be used for and the circumstances in which it might be accessed by NHS Test and Trace.

Full details are available here.

 

Managing the Local Situation

Some areas of the country are having to deal with local lockdowns and managing local outbreaks. We are monitoring the local situation using the government website that is updated daily.

We are also in regular communication with Merton Council’s Public Health Department. You will see currently Merton has one of the smallest incidences of Covid 19, however we must remain vigilant to provide the safest environment for our customers, so please do continue to maintain high standards of Covid awareness within your business.

 

In preparation for what to do if there is an outbreak, please read through the early outbreak management action cards here.

  1. Identify the source of the possible or confirmed case(s)
  2. Report it to Public Health England Health Protection Team (PHE HPT)
  3. Respond according to the advice received by PHE HPT

Mayor of London Launches
Back To Business Fund

Back to Business Fund Pay It Forward

 

The Mayor of London has launched a £1m Back to Business Fund, match funding up to £5,000 for small and independent businesses through the Pay It Forward London crowdfunding platform. The funding is intended to help businesses expand their operation online, invest in the future and adapt to safe, socially distant practices in sectors that rely on physical trading, including retail, hospitality, leisure, tourism, travel, creative and arts, entertainment and recreation, and health and fitness.

To be eligible, your business will need a crowdfunding project on Pay It Forward London and reach 25% of your campaign target. Once 100% of your target is reached, the funding is released, up to £5,000 – or 50% of your campaign target.

For more details about eligibility, to set-up a project and to apply click here.

Prepare Your Business for Local Lockdowns

 

As we start to recover from the national lockdown, the last thing any business needs to be considering is a local lockdown.

Love Wimbledon is in regular contact with the Director of Public Health and the Merton Council Business Support team and we are monitoring the local statistics carefully. Currently, the risk in the local area is very low. Should any indication of a local lockdown in Wimbledon emerge, we will maintain our communication and support to our BID businesses by keeping you up-to-date with any information.

In the meantime, the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) has recently released a factsheet to help businesses prepare for and navigate local lockdowns.

This covers issues such as:

  • Adding local lockdowns into your business continuity risks
  • Ensuring that you understand any restrictions or measures implemented
  • Sending out clear, reassuring communications to staff
  • How long local lockdowns can last
  • The best way for business to engage with government over local lockdowns
  • How businesses should respond to outbreaks in their workforce

We urge all our businesses to check out the factsheet here, which also includes government guidance on local lockdowns.

Love Wimbledon BID is here as usual to support your business through these times.

 

Wimbledon Post Office Wins Award For Service During Covid

Wimbledon’s The Broadway Post Office recently won a ‘We’re Stronger Together’ award for their service during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Broadway Post Office won the Better for Customers category at the Post Office’s ‘We’re Stronger Together’ regional awards for Greater London. These awards recognise efforts made by postmasters across the region to keep branches open during Covid-19 pandemic and serve their community.

The award was presented virtually to Postmaster Atul Bathia who runs The Broadway Post Office, by Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read. Postmasters who operate branches in the Greater London region had the opportunity to share their experience of running their branch during the pandemic and hear directly about the Post Office’s future growth strategy.

Post Office Area Manager Nafisa Huda, said:

“The Broadway Post Office won in this category for their dedication to the customer in challenging circumstances. Despite being short-staffed, the team decided to focus their efforts on limiting the time a customer would have to spend in branch waiting. Additionally the team managed to increase their Drop & Go service to become the branch with the greatest new sign-ups in London. Their dedication to the customers has been recognised by their receipt of many thank you cards and gifts which have flooded into the branch in recent weeks.”

Postmaster Atul Bathia, said:

“I would like to thank my entire staff team both on the Post Office side and retail side who have been fantastic and have worked hard for me through this difficult time. I also have had tremendous help and support from the Post Office Thank you. Finally, I would like to say a special thank you to all my customers who have been supportive, understanding and caring for all of my Team and other customers by keeping each other safe!”

Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said:

“I have heard many inspiring stories of postmasters going the extra mile and I have welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand how postmasters in Greater London have fared during the pandemic including The Broadway. All retailers have been affected and Post Office was no exception. The next few weeks and months will be a critical period as we try and return to a sense of normality. Post Office branches have a vital role to play in supporting their customers and communities, as well as helping small businesses and independent retailers get back on their feet.”

Cash will continue to play a vital part in our economic recovery from Covid-19. Post Office branches are often the last counter in town where businesses can deposit a day’s takings. Currently business deposits are growing between 10 – 20% week on week.

For small businesses, being able to get goods out to customers is key. Post Office’s ‘Drop and Go’ parcel service has seen a 70% increase in use month on month. Last month, Post Office reactivated its online foreign exchange service and its branch pre-order operation. Customers planning trips abroad can order over 60 currencies online for next day home delivery or collection from all 11,500 Post Office branches. The option to collect in-branch helps increase footfall at our branches and on the UK’s High Streets.

The Broadway Post Office is based at 89 The Broadway, Wimbledon – pop in, show your support to a fellow business owner and #LoveLocal.

Government Announce ‘Recovery Advice for Business’ Scheme

 

The government have just announced their new ‘Recovery Advice for Business’ scheme, through which small businesses will receive free, one-to-one advice from expert advisers on how they can bounce back from coronavirus (COVID-19) and to prepare for long-term recovery.

 

The scheme is hosted on the Enterprise Nation website, and backed by thousands of expert professional and business services advisers who are on hand and ready to do their bit in offering bespoke, specialist assistance in the following areas: accountancy, legal, advertising, marketing, recruitment and digital.

Each adviser has offered at least one hour of free advice a month until the end of 2020 which could deliver a lifeline to thousands of SMEs looking for support.

These experts come from some of the UK’s major professional and trade bodies who have signed up to support the scheme, including: The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW), the Advertising Association, the Law Society and the Management Consultancies Association (MCA).

How Does It Work?

Businesses who wish to access the support, must do so via Enterprise Nation platform. They will then be asked questions on the ‘Make a Plan’ diagnostic tool. This will allow Enterprise Nation to assess and identify both the level and specific areas of support needed.

They will subsequently be directed to a personalised dashboard where they will receive a detailed action plan which will include links to suggested tailored advice and relevant professional advisers willing to help.

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

Over 12,000 advisers in the existing Enterprise Nation community are available to provide advice through the platform, with more new professional advisers being signed up specifically to support the scheme.

Enterprise Nation is providing free access to the platform, until 31st December 2020

Want To Support The Scheme As A Business Expert?

Advisers will need to belong to a professional or trade body and hold valid Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) to join the platform and offer advice. They will then need their Trade Body Coupon Code, demonstrating their membership of a professional body, and the link to the Enterprise Nation adviser sign-up page. This will enable advisers to sign up as part of the programme, for free membership, for the duration of the programme until the end of December 2020. It will also ensure that all advice is provided by appropriate expert advisers.

 

Click here to access this support.