Covid-19 Advice and support for businesses

Covid-19 Advice and support for businesses 22 April 2020

our MEA businesses

1:1 Mentoring

Webinars

Grants & Support

For businesses with under 50 employees, our business client managers will answer your key questions

All businesses can now access our free webinars for support on finance, digital and HR queries

Visit our website for full information on how to access grants and government support packages

#ourMEA midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/supporting-ourmea-businesses

Covid-19 Advice and support for businesses Dear business owner, Our entire business community is facing huge and unprecedented challenges as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.

As Chief Executive, I have put the entire resource of our Economic Development team at your disposal during this time. We are providing businesses across Mid and East Antrim with the full assistance, support and resources of our Economic Development team. Our staff are on-hand to help you in any way they can - be it advice on accessing grants, staffing queries, wages, Government support packages, and the very latest, up to date information.

In parallel, we continue to reach out to as many business owners as we can and strongly encourage you to get in touch with us.

Our businesses are resilient, innovative and determined, and as a Council, we will continue to do everything we can to assist you throughout this crisis. *Find out more at the links below. Should you have any questions or wish to discuss any of the support available, please do not hesitate to contact Council’s Economic Development Team on: E: amplify@midandeastantrim.gov.uk W: www.amplifymidandeastantrim.com/about/ T: 028 2563 3562 or 028 2563 5036

#ourMEA midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/supporting-ourmea-businesses

Anne Donaghy

Gregg McKeen

Chief Executive

Chair of Borough Growth

SECTIONS 1. Financial Assistance 2. Business Mentoring Support 3. General Covid-19 advice and support

*Information is accurate at time of circulation, please visit the following links for the latest updates; www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/ supporting-ourmea-businesses

Financial Assistance The ‘support finder’ tool helps businesses and the self-employed to quickly and easily determine what financial support is available to them during the coronavirus pandemic visit www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder Supporting Workers

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The government will pay a grant to cover 80% of furloughed workers wage costs up to a cap of £2,500 per employee per month, to claim visit NIbusinessinfo - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate

The government will work with employers over the coming months to set up the repayment mechanism for employers. Covers up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of COVID-19, visit NIbusinessinfo – paying sick pay employees

Business Support Grant Schemes The Northern Ireland Executive has announced two grants will be available to local businesses impacted by the coronavirus.

Businesses in Northern Ireland will be able to access the following schemes:

Department for the Economy (DfE)

• COVID Small Business Grant - A grant of £10,000 for all small businesses who are eligible for the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme (i.e. all businesses with a NAV up to £15,000, note: exclusions apply). For info visit NI Business or contact the LPS Small Business Grant Scheme Helpline on 0300 200 7809. Small manufacturing companies are now eligible.

• Hospitality, Tourism and Retail Sectors Grant Scheme - An immediate grant of £25,000 for companies in these sectors with a rateable value from £15,000 up to £51,000. To apply visit NIbusiness info

Business Rate Relief

Rates Relief

There will be a three month rates holiday for all business ratepayers, excluding public sector and utilities.

The Small Business Rate Relief Scheme will be continued in 202021. The rates of relief and thresholds for eligibility have not changed.

The Executive budget announced on 31 March also includes a reduction in business rates. For more information visit NIbusinessinfo

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Loan Funding Business Interruption Loan Scheme

CBILS is a new scheme, announced by The Chancellor at Budget 2020, that can provide facilities of up to £5m for smaller businesses across the UK who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruptions to their cashflow visit NIbusinessinfo

Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of over £45 million. Visit NIbusinessinfo

COVID Corporate Finance Funding (CCFF) Programme for Large Companies

Assessed through the Bank of England administered scheme, the BoE purchases commercial paper from companies on similar terms to those prevailing prior to COVID-19 crisis visit NIbusinessinfo

Tax Liabilities

Deferred VAT Payment

VAT payments for all UK businesses will be automatically deferred for 3 months for payments that would otherwise arise during the period from 20 March - 30 June 2020.

Deferred Income Tax payments

Income Tax payments due July 2020 deferred to January 2021. This is an automatic offer with no applications required. No penalties or interest for late payment will be charged.

Delay in water and sewerage bills

Delay in water and sewerage bills

Water and sewerage bills for business and non-domestic customers will be held back until July. A planned annual increase in the non-domestic water and sewerage tariff will also be deferred and reviewed in the autumn.

Self Employed

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Universal Credit Allowance

The Government have announced a range of measures to support those who are self-employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This scheme will allow self-employed individuals and members of partnerships to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months visit NIbusinessinfo How to claim - New claimants do not attend the jobcentre and should claim online.

You can obtain support for your rental costs via universal credits, visit NIbusinessinfo

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The Fishing Industry

£1.5 Million support package for the fishing industry

Announced by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The assistance will be for three months with a maximum amount of total funding per ‘undertaking’ capped at around £104,000.

It will be delivered via monthly payments varying with vessel size.

Other Assistance

The Prince’s Trust and Nat West Enterprise Relief Fund

The £5million Enterprise Relief Fund will offer grants to 18 to 30year olds across the UK who are self-employed and/or running their own business. In conjunction with cash grants, the initiative will offer one-to-one support and guidance to anyone who needs it and who may be worried about their future. To speak to someone about this opportunity, telephone 0800 842842.

The Future Fund scheme will issue loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.

Coronavirus: Future Fund for innovative businesses

These convertible loans may be a suitable option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

The Future Fund will launch in May 2020 visit NIbusinessinfo

Making connections to buy and supply locally

BuySupplyNI.com

BuySupplyNI is a Northern Ireland wide online portal aimed at simplifying the connections to purchase components between buyers and local suppliers within the manufacturing, engineering and construction sectors. Now more than ever we are seeing the necessity to make local connections, to ensure that the needs of the supply chains are met. For more information and to register for free visit www.BuySuppyNI.com

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Business Mentoring Support

Business Webinars

Council are providing a blend of dedicated webinars which follow with provision to book a one to one mentoring slot to support your business in key areas of Finance, Digital/Online and Human Resources.

Amplify

Amplify Business Escalator Programme Council is supporting our existing small and medium sized businesses to navigate through COVID-19 and prepare for the new economic landscape post lockdown to sustain jobs. Get 1-1 mentoring support to help you proactively plan for a new way of working, prepare robust financial plans and to adopt effective and efficient ways to service existing customers and new markets. To access the support, Councils Business Client Managers will conduct an online meeting with you to complete a business diagnostic to identify your support needs.

Contact us now E: amplify@midandeastantrim.gov.uk T: 028 2563 5036

Kickstart

Kickstart continues to provide guidance (currently via virtual mentoring) to support early stage businesses and social enterprises and help prepare for the future E: amplify@midandeastantrim.gov.uk T: 028 2563 5036

Go for it

Are still here to help you start a business. Business advisors can now provide virtual meetings to discuss as business idea.

Call 0800 027 0639 or visit goforitni.com

Can you help?

UKRI Research and Innovation Opportunity

UKRI have announced an open call for research and innovation ideas to address COVID-19. Proposals are invited for short term projects addressing and mitigating the health, social, economic and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.

UK Government Request for Business Support in response to COVID-19

Businesses can use this service to tell the UK Government how your business might be able to help with the response to coronavirus (for example, with the manufacture of medical testing equipment, PPE for health workers, expertise in ICT, communications and other business areas, or provision of hotel rooms).

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General COVID-19 Related Advice and Support NI Business Info

General information on related business support, including answers to FAQs on managing staff health, pay, leave and absence, business operations and finance. Also includes a Coronavirus News section with full information and support to help manage the impact of COVID-19 in your business.

Public Health Agency

Guidance for businesses and employers on support available, as well as poster resources to use on site to help with communications to employees.

The Executive Office

The most recent announcements from The Executive Office are detailed on its news section, which provides details and links to various schemes etc.

HMRC

Guidance for businesses on tax. The helpline allows any business or self-employed individual who is concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus to get practical help and advice.

Time To Pay Helpline: 0800 0159 559 Income Tax Payments due in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2021.

Federation for Small Businesses

Advice and guidance on reducing the risks from the Coronavirus to you and your business targeted at small businesses and the selfemployed.

UK Government Advice

Advice and support for businesses from the UK Government. It includes details of support packages available to businesses due to COVID-19.

Invest NI

Invest NI provide advice and support through its NI Business Info web site. Invest NI’s business support team is also available on 0800 181 4422.

Tourism NI

Tourism NI are providing targeted advice and support for businesses operating in the Tourism sector through their website, as well as a dedicated COVID-19 Business Support Helpline on 028 9592 5313 (Monday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm).

Federation of Master Builders

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) provide advice and support for businesses in the construction industry and its workforce. As well as a dedicated section on their website, members make use of their advice services by telephoning the FMB Helpline on 0116 243 7623 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).

#ourMEA midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/supporting-ourmea-businesses

Guidance for Food Businesses

Guidance and advice for food businesses/operators including best practice on food hygiene, managing employee sickness, social distancing and specific situations.

Hospitality Ulster

Information available online to assist members with legal advice including e.g. furloughing and job retention schemes.

Please contact 028 9032 7578 for further advice.

NI Hotels Federation

The Federation has been working across many strands to assist members with the Coronavirus situation. This has included producing a Toolkit of advice, lobbying for business relief and support and engaging with marketing agencies to prepare for a resumption of normal business.

Social Enterprise NI

A source of information focusing on social enterprise business and organisation support during COVID19.

HSENI COVID-19 Update

Information for employers on health and safety matters in response to COVID-19 and HSENI contact details.

The HSENI has also produced an Example Risk Assessment which shows the kind of approach HSENI expects a small business or workplace to take when carrying out a risk assessment for COVID-19 in the workplace.

NI Chamber COVID-19 Information Hub

This hub provides up-to-date information on business support schemes available from the government, advice and guidance on internal HR issues, such as sick pay, and the work NI Chamber is doing with government to ensure that Northern Ireland businesses make it through this crisis.

Essential businesses and services to remain open

The link takes you to a list of essential and non-essential businesses and services.

Companies House Accounts Filing Extension

Businesses can apply for a 3-month extension for filing their accounts. This joint initiative between the government and Companies House will mean businesses can prioritise managing the impact of Coronavirus.

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Help keep our MEA safe 20 SECS

Stay Home

Wash Hands

Get Support

Stay connected with loved ones.

Keeping social distance is essential if you leave your home.

Regularly wash with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser.

Go to our dedicated website for key information and business support.

#ourMEA midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/supporting-ourmea-businesses