Covid-19 Updates

Here's our latest update of the most recent changes announced.

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

Businesses that were open as usual, but were then required to close between 5 November and 2 December 2020 due to the national restrictions imposed by government may be eligible for LRSG (Closed) Addendum.

The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of restrictions.

Cash grants will be between £1,334 and £3,000 for each 28 day qualifying restrictions

period.

Details of how to check your availability and how to apply can be found here. 

 

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 (Local COVID alert levels: High or Very High) since 1 August 2020.

The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the date of the start of the local restrictions.

Cash grants will be between £934 and £2,100 for each 28 day period.

Details of how to check your availability and how to apply can be found here.

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses)
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed)) supports businesses that  were open as usual and were then required to close due to local restrictions (Local COVID alert level: Very High) that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September.

The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of local restrictions.

Cash grants will be between £667 and £1,334 for each 14 day period.

Details of how to check your availability and how to apply can be found here. 

 

Additional Restrictions Grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides grant funding to support those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions.

For example, businesses which supply the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors
businesses in the events sector and businesses required to close but which do not pay business rates.

See yesterday's published guidance for more details.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) further eligibility clarification

HMRC have today published updated to the CJRS guidance so that employers can now find out which employees you can put on furlough and claim for through the scheme.

Eligibility criteria has been made clearer for employees who are made redundant or recently returned from leave.

The dates relating to TUPE eligibility have also been corrected and minor corrections to maternity allowance have been made.

See today's updated guidance from HMRC for more information.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) furlough calculator updates

The updated CJRS calculator can be used to work out what you can claim as an employer.

It can be used for most employees who are paid either regular or variable amounts each pay period (for example, weekly or monthly).

If you are claiming for an employee who is flexibly furloughed, you will need to work out their usual hours before you use the calculator.

Use the latest updated furlough calculator via this link.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJSR) statistics October 2020

Detailed official statistics as at 31 August on the CJRS, with analysis by scheme size, sector, geography, gender and flexible furlough are now available.

Since the peak of 8.9m employments furloughed on 8 May, preliminary figures show that employments furloughed continued to fall to 5.1m on 31 July and 3.3m on 31 August. These figures are based on incomplete data and will be revised in future releases

See HMRC's official statistics published yesterday for further details.

Penalties for not telling HMRC about coronavirus support scheme overpayments

If you've received a grant but were not eligible or you've been overpaid, find out about penalties you may have to pay if you do not tell HMRC.

Overpayments from schemes such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme or Eat Out to Help Out Scheme must be notified to HMRC.

To avoid penalties, monies must be repaid 90 days after the date you received the amount you were not entitled to.

See today's issued guidance from HMRC for more information.

Automatic freedoms for restaurants, pubs and cafes to provide takeaway services for another year  

Restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to provide takeaway services for another year, it was announced this week.

Freedoms enabling outdoor markets has also been extended, enabling the hospitality sector to plan ahead for the economic recovery with certainty.

For more information see the latest government press release.

Bean Green Kitchen collection and delivery service

Our wonderful client the Bean Green Kitchen cafe is now offering collection and delivery services.

This weekend they are delighted to be supporting their local street traders who like many others have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Saturday 14th is the fabulous Handmade Pizza Company alongside Taylors@56 Cocktails where freshly made pizza and cool cocktails (in a bottle) will be available between 4pm and 10pm.

Tomorrow is also Zinging Saturday with chicken zingers available between 12pm and 4pm.

On Sunday, their roast this week is a choice of roast beef and yorkshire pud or roast chicken with all the trimmings, available for collection or delivered to your door between 12:30 and 4:30pm and just £8.95 per person, children £5.95.

Call the Bean Green Kitchen on 0121 439 8388 or 07507 016864 to place your order.  

Please feel free to forward this information onto anyone who may find it useful.