Government support for UK businesses during the coronavirus pandemic

Business owners should take advice from an expert commercial or employment solicitor on specific contracts and how the issues set out could apply to their own business. 

There are a number of sources of information on the internet that can be consulted for more general guidance some of which will be updated on a regular basis.  General guidance can be found by navigating from www.gov.uk.

Sources of specific support are listed below in alphabetical order by topic and include:

• Accommodation providers:

www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-advice-for-accommodation-providers

• Business loan interruption scheme:

www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/

• Business rates:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-retail-discount-guidance

• Business rates review:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-review-terms-of-reference/hm-treasury-fundamental-review-of-business-rates-terms-of-reference

• Business rents:

www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-protection-for-businesses-with-ban-on-evictions-for-commercial-tenants-who-miss-rent-payments

• Business support grant funding:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

• Businesses trading internationally:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-uk-businesses/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-uk-businesses-trading-internationally

• Compulsory closure of businesses:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close?utm_source=77e9a975-dcba-4146-b1f9-d36e8d01465f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-enforce-closure-of-businesses-and-other-venues–2

www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance

• Corporate financing facility:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-larger-firms-through-the-covid-19-corporate-financing-facility

www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/market-notices/2020/ccff-market-notice-march-2020

• Essential travel:

www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-essential-travel-guidance?utm_source=38508dca-c5ae-4971-9f8b-3ab8619f94c8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

• Financial support:

www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

• Grant schemes:  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874772/small-business-grant-fund-and-retail-guidance.pdf

• Job retention scheme

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

• Landlord and tenant

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities?utm_source=3f5d6b00-cdcd-4d01-981e-438c90d66133&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

• Late filing of accounts:

www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-more-time-to-file-your-companys-accounts

• Legislation

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/pdfs/ukpga_20200007_en.pdf

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/6/enacted/data.pdf

• Mass gatherings:

www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-mass-gatherings

• Mortgage lending forbearance:

www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/new-guidance-mortgage-providers-lenders-coronavirus

• MoT testing for vehicles:

www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-owners-to-be-granted-mot-exemption-in-battle-against-coronavirus

• Moving home
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

• Online sick note scheme:

www.gov.uk/government/news/online-isolation-notes-launched-providing-proof-of-coronavirus-absence-from-work

• Operating as a food take away business:

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-grant-permission-for-pubs-and-restaurants-to-operate-as-takeaways-as-part-of-coronavirus-response

• Public Health England dashboard: www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f94c3c90da5b4e9f9a0b19484dd4bb14

• Regulations

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/327/made/data.pdf

www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/326/made/data.pdf

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/129/made/data.pdf

• Statutory sick pay

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/304/pdfs/uksi_20200304_en.pdf

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/287/made/data.pdf

• Staying at home:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others

• Travel update:

www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-advises-all-british-travellers-to-return-to-the-uk-now

• Universal credit

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/289/made/data.pdf

• World Health Organisation Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. Current as at 30 March 2020.