Since the first COVID-19 lockdown there’s been a deluge of information on support for businesses from central government, local government, banks and other organisations. Now in the third lockdown, sifting through looking for the most relevant and useful information can be a daunting task. We have put together an updated summary of what we consider to be the most relevant available support for you in more detail below. Below we have listed what we consider to be the most relevant of the current schemes available, although beware, the window for application for some of these is limited, so swift action may be necessary.

For brevity, before committing to read all the information below, here is a very useful government link to help you find financial support to which your business may be entitled

Running a tourism business through these unprecedented times requires as much support as is available. VisitEngland’s Business Advice Hub provide access to help for tourism businesses not just to survive but even to focus on areas of growth and adding resilience via a wealth of toolkits, guides and case studies, as well as information on relevant legislation.

As well as lots of helpful pages to support your business welcome, post-lockdown, you can easily apply for the free, UK-wide industry standard consumer mark, “We’re Good To Go”to reassure your customers that your business adheres to Government and public health guidance.

All the available COVID-19 business support and funding resources, tailored for your operation.

Plus useful resources to help you navigate business in Brexit Britain.

Get help for your tourism business at Visit England and Visit Britain – Business Advice Hub

London & Partners business support

Startups can take advantage of the Future Fund (application deadline extended to 31 January 2021), which will issue government loans between £125,000 to £5m to businesses dealing with financing difficulties, subject to match funding from private investors.

Businesses relying on Trade Credit Insurance can also get support with the government’s temporary guarantee, making sure they’re protected against possible payment defaults.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Claim a grant worth 80% of average monthly earnings (up to £2,500 per month) if you’re self-employed or a member of a partnership and have lost income. The scheme is being extended from 1 November 2020, with more guidance to follow. Find out if you’re eligible.

For employers: working safely during coronavirus
Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure.

For employees: work and financial support 
Get information on working safely, working from home, childcare, holiday and sick leave.

WhatsApp information service
Sign up to receive regular and trustworthy updates.

Visa advice
Explore the steps you need to take to extend your visa.

Additional London Specific Resources;

Travelling to and around London
See the latest official advice, resources, information on self-isolation and how to avoid getting sick if you must travel.

Pay It Forward
The Mayor of London is helping businesses pre-sell goods and services in advance through its free crowdfunding platform. Signing up is easy and Londoners can also nominate their favourite local business to get involved.

London Growth Hub
Register for a one-to-one telephone appointment, download a checklist with the key steps and access resources from leading trade organisations.

Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund
Access emergency short-term funding for those who have been directly affected by the closure of productions across the UK.

The UK Government has updated and published a comprehensive resource link for all the available national business support, providing key information including: funding and support guidance; employer responsibility, including paying sick pay to employees; guidance for the self-employed and sole traders; COVID health and safety in practice; changes to business rates; The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; support for larger firms through COVID-19, as well as all the official guidance on key dates and regulations relating to lockdown, what is permitted, and where at the Government Covid business support page.

Businesses & Self-Employed

• Claim a grant through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
• Self-employment and Universal Credit
• If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
• Negotiate a mortgage payment holiday

Funding and Business Support 

• Find out what financial support you can get
• See a list of financial support schemes available
• Find out how you can access the Recovery Loan Scheme
• Find out what support your business representative organisation (BRO) offers
• Coronavirus support for business from outside government
• Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions
• Find out how other businesses have used government support and are reopening safely
• Support for UK businesses trading internationally

Self Employed and Sole Traders

• Claim a grant through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
• Self-employment and Universal Credit
• If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
• Negotiate a mortgage payment holiday

Your Responsibilities as an Employer

• Claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
• Which expenses are taxable if your employees work from home
• Apprenticeships: how they can continue
• Guidance for Tier 2, 4 and 5 visa sponsors of people affected by coronavirus

Testing for employees

• Businesses: register to order coronavirus tests for your employees
• Get a test if you have symptoms

How To Run Your Business Safely

• Register to order coronavirus tests for your employees
• Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure
• How to carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment
• Cleaning your workplace safely
• Keep records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace
• NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers

National Lockdown Rules

• National lockdown rules apply in England

In January unique top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property were announced to help businesses through to the spring as hospitality and visitor economy businesses would remain closed to help control the virus.

These new and additional funding grants range between £4,000 and £9,000 depending on rateable value, and are in addition to the wide range of existing support, provides them with certainty through the Spring period. The cash is provided on a per-property basis to support businesses through the latest restrictions, and is expected to benefit over 600,000 business properties, worth £4 billion in total across all nations of the UK.

Find out if your hospitality or leisure business is eligible to receive a new additional lockdown grant

The last date for fresh applications for; Local Restrictions Grants administered by Royal Borough of Greenwich is 31 March. Please remember to get your applications in on time to access funds available to support your business through COVID-19 restrictions. Please read below for more detail or click here

The Grants due to close for application on 31 March are as follows:

Initially introduced back on 31 October 2020, then updated on November 12th, the Government announced additional support for Local Authorities under national and Local Covid Alert Level 3 restrictions.

This support takes the form of a funding schemes for the financial year 2020- 2021 and can be used across financial years 20/21 and 21/22. The schemes called; Local Restrictions Grant (LRG) and subsequently Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) both administered by business rate billing local authorities in England.

1)  Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum)

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum) supports businesses in England that have been required to close due to the national restrictions between 5 November and 2 December 2020. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 28-day period under national restrictions.

2)   Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)

To support businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed, this scheme provides local councils with grant funding to support closed businesses that do not directly pay business rates, as well as businesses that do not have to close but which are impacted. In addition, larger grants can be given than those made through Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed).

Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants. However, the funding is expected to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions;

3) The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LSRG (Sector))

Businesses including nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques adult entertainment venues and hostess bars that have been required to close due to the national restrictions introduced in March 2020, and which have not been able to re-open, may be eligible for this grant. Eligible businesses are entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14-day period they are closed. This funding is available from 1 November 2020 and is not retrospective. The grant will be based on the rateable value of business owners properties on 1 November 2020.

4) Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses)

Businesses in England that were open as usual and were then required to close due to local restrictions (Local COVID alert level: Very High) may be eligible for the local restrictions support grant. Eligible businesses are entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14-day period they are closed.

5) Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses)

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Open)) supports businesses that have been severely impacted due to temporary local restrictions. Businesses that have not had to close but which have been severely impacted due to local restrictions (Local COVID alert levels: High or Very High) may be eligible for LRSG (Open).

Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 28-day period under local restrictions.

*Local councils have the freedom to determine the precise eligibility criteria for these grants. However, the funding is expected to be targeted at hospitality, hotel, bed & breakfast and leisure businesses.

Further information:

Check if your business is eligible for a coronavirus grant due to national restrictions (for closed businesses)

*Eligible businesses can get one grant per non-domestic property.

Read more about the update here. 

In order to ensure businesses can access the support they need through continuing economic disruption, Rishi Sunak also confirmed he would be extending the government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March 2021.

The scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to £50,000. The size of loan offered is a maximum of 25% of the company turnover.

The government guarantees 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5% a year with a 6-year repayment plans offered by a number of associated lenders.

If you already have a Bounce Back Loan but borrowed less than you were entitled to, you can top up your existing loan to your maximum amount. You must request the top-up by 31 March 2021.

Find out if you are eligible for a Bounce Back Loan 

The Greenwich Access to Apprenticeships Fund  has been set up as part of the apprenticeship levy scheme update, which allows levy-paying employers, including the council, to transfer up to 25% of their annual levy funds to small businesses, third sector organisations, charities, social enterprises and apprenticeship training agencies.

Department of Work & Pensions £2 billion Kickstart Scheme now accesible to businesses wishing to recruit less than 30 placements via a newly launched South East London Chamber of Commerce & London South East Colleges – Gateway Scheme 

SMEs can apply to SELCC to create a work placement in the Government Kickstart Scheme

Read HMRC’s ‘VAT: reduced rate for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions’ guidance 

Read HMRC’s ‘VAT on admission charges to attractions’ guidance

Use HMRC’s online Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme calculator

The Coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) – eligibility and how to make a claim

The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEI

If your SME / independent business is at risk, and suffering cashflow problems due to the impact of COVID-19 you can “pre-sell your business’ services through the Mayor of London’s Pay It Forward London crowdfunding platform, and the Mayor’s Back to Business Fund will match the funding up to £5,000 each.  The platform will connect you to your local community, enabling you to generate income, manage cashflow and fundraise for free, while keeping the public safe during the shutdown.

Since its launch in April 2020, more than 2,000 London businesses (including from Royal Greenwich) have raised £1.5 million from 24,000 supporters, with the Mayor’s pledges amounting to more than £300,000.

 Learn more about the scheme and start crowdfunding 

It’s time to pull together.

We know that this is a challenging time for the tourism industry and for
local businesses. We want to do what we can to help. We have an incredibly strong destination offer. 2019 was a record year (6.5% growth) with over 20m visitors and our visitor economy is now worth more than £1.5bn supporting almost 17,000 jobs. We will recover.

We’ve put together a few pages of marketing tips and practical guidance related to timely consumer messaging and destination marketing, which we hope you find useful for your own communications.

It’s so important to continue to engage with and inspire our visitors and customers. We need to be prepared for when we come out the other side of this situation and to welcome back our visitors who love everything there is to enjoy in Greenwich. We need to plan for recovery and maximise opportunities.

It is even more important that businesses survive so we have also compiled a summary of business support available and links to regularly updated online information. Read more here

ACAS practical information on coronavirus is reviewed daily to give you, your networks and members access to the most recent updates and common-sense advice. Click here to read more and for details of future webinars.

HR Dept provides HR services and support with employment contracts, employee wellbeing, short term working or anything else you need guidance on as an employer, find out more about their services here

The Federation of Small Business has useful advice and guidance here.