A range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees. For Government information on how to access the support available, who is eligible, when schemes open and how to apply here

To learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus, HM Revenues and Customs are delivering a programme of webinars to support employers, employees and the self-employed through this period of disruption. You can watch the first recorded webinar and register for future webinars here

Runnymede Borough Council business rates information

For specific information and advice on business rates and to apply for the Small Business Grant Fund (SBG) or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLG) please visit Runnymede Borough Council’s website here

Enterprise M3 LEP and Growth Hub information

Businesses can access support from the Enterprise M3 Growth Hub. Please visit their website here or call the business support helpline offering advice and guidance to new and existing businesses in the Enterprise M3 hub area (Mon to Fri - 9am to 6pm) – 0300 456 3565

The following business support advice was issued this week by Enterprise M3 LEP. Please check their website here for further updates or to sign up to their news alerts.

Here is a compiled list of the latest support packages and information for businesses.

General business support

Deferring VAT

The HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

Ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent payments.

Business grants and loans

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5million for SMEs through the British Business Bank: Guidelines from both the British Business Bank and the Government

A lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans.

Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief.

Support for employers

Coronavirus job retention scheme UPDATED

Statutory Sick Pay relief package for SMEs

Annual Leave Relaxation of rules

Financial assistance for employers unable to pay statutory redundancy payments

SEISS (Self-Employment Income Support Scheme)

Support for the retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery sectors

Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000

12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England

Additional guidance on sector-specific support is also available here

Moving goods through customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Find out about moving goods and clearing customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Customs authorisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Find out about temporary changes to customs policy and authorisations to assist businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

COVID-19: information for farmers, landowners and rural businesses

The latest information for farmers, landowners and rural businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Read this page for regular updates.

COVID-19: notification of data controllers to share information

Notification of data controllers in healthcare organisations, GPs, local authorities and arm's length bodies that they should share information to support efforts against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Exceptional good distribution practice (GDP) flexibilities for medicines during COVID-19

Guidance for industry on flexible approaches the government is taking on good distribution practices.

Producing hand sanitiser and gel for the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Temporary changes to the use and supply of denatured alcohol and duty-free spirits, to help businesses who produce hand sanitiser and gel. Information has been updated about requirements that must be followed to make sure sanitiser products are safe to use.

MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated guidance has been produced for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including information on:

• Supporting and authorising the development of vaccines
• Clinical trials of new medicines
• Managing the supply of medicines and healthcare products
• British Pharmacopoeia products and services during the COVID-19 outbreak,
• New guidance on medical devices, clinical investigations, and new guidance for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) facilities.

Other useful sources of business support information include:

Surrey Chambers of Commerce

ACAS

Federation of Small Businesses

Dixcart UK A local Runnymede business have set up a feed on their website to give support to Surrey Business community.

Temporary changes to Right to Work (RTW) checks

The government has announced temporary changes to Right to Work (RTW) checks during the coronavirus outbreak. Since 30 March 2020, Right to Work checks have been temporarily adjusted to make it easier for employers to carry them out during the coronavirus outbreak. Until further notice, employers do not need to see original documents and can complete Right to Work checks over video calls.

Prospective workers are now able to submit scanned documents, rather than originals, to show they have the right to work. Checks continue to be necessary and it is an offence to knowingly employ or let property to anyone who does not have legal immigration status in the UK.

If prospective or existing employees cannot provide any of the accepted documents, employers should use the Employer Checking Service. Once the temporary changes end, employers will be asked to carry out prescribed checks on existing employees who started work during the pandemic.

Temporary changes to driver CPC requirements.

The Department for Transport have set out temporary changes to allow bus and lorry drivers who cannot complete compulsory Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training to continue to drive.

The CIEH has published new guidance to businesses on setting up food delivery and takeaway services in response to COVID-19 restrictions.

Following new Government restrictions placed on public houses, restaurants, cafes and other similar businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many food businesses are considering diversifying to provide food from their existing menus or new dishes for delivery or takeaway.

This can be a valuable service to the community, especially for key workers working long hours or for those who are self-isolating.

CIEH’s flagship guidance will support businesses to trade safely, adhere to government advice and restrictions, and keep their staff and customers safe.

See more to ensure your business complies

Destroying spoilt beer during coronavirus (COVID-19):

HMRC has introduced a temporary measure to help brewers and publicans in the destruction of spoilt beer during the coronavirus outbreak.

Do you have unneeded PPE ( Personal protective equipment) which you could sell or donate to the Surrey County Council?

Items urgently required

• Eye protection EN166:2001 Frame Marking: 3
• Hand sanitiser gel (greater than 60% alcohol)
• Disposable overshoes CE marked
• Disposable overalls CE marked
• Disposable plastic apron (single use)
• Disposable gloves (single use) EN:374/5 (Viral protection)/nitrile purple/ nitrile blue
• Fluid repellent surgical mask (single use) Type 11R medical use
• Drager dust masks
• Hand soap
• Surface Cleanser Spray
• Universal Cleaner
• Cleaning cloths
• Disinfectant
• Blue Wiper Roll
• Industrial Cleaning Wipes (excess of 60% alcohol or a disinfectant contained within it)
• Jumbo Toilet Roll
• Paper Hand Towel

Staff are delivering food parcels and essential supplies to vulnerable people, and carrying out emergency repairs in social housing.

To reduce the spread of Coronavirus and keep them safe we want to provide the appropriate protective safety wear.

If you can help, email [email protected]

An appeal from the Mayor of Runnymede during the Coronavirus crisis.

There are now thousands of residents in Runnymede who have been forced to self-isolate due to their vulnerability as well as increasing numbers suffering economic hardship.

These people will be in great need of our help over the coming weeks for some of the most basic needs, including access to food.

Runnymede Borough Council has recently secured a central facility which will be used to store large numbers of food stuffs. The delivery of these items to many of the vulnerable Runnymede residents will be co-ordinated from this site.

We are working closely with local voluntary groups and charities, like the Runnymede Foodbank, and it is likely that the relief effort from this site will be ramped up further if Surrey County Council uses some of the space to coordinate support to vulnerable residents across Surrey.

All this effort will cost money.

But we are living in very challenging times - and so I am making a direct appeal to those residents in our Borough who are most financially able, and whose income has not been affected by the virus, to make a donation if they can, to the Mayor of Runnymede's Charitable Fund.

In addition to money already made available to Runnymede Foodbank by the Council, this will help us to purchase the foodstuffs that we need to get to our vulnerable residents - and quickly.

We are not seeking contributions from any resident or business suffering hardship because of Coronavirus at this time. However, if you have the financial means and are in a position to please donate here

Launching today is The Rehire Project, a new digital initiative to help as many companies as possible support workers being laid off or furloughed during the coronavirus crisis, and allow them to re-hire rapidly when circumstances improve.

The Rehire Project lets organisations support the workers they’ve had to furlough or lay off during the coronavirus crisis by communicating with them via the platform, offering advice and status updates to keep workers informed on company progress and rehiring prospects. It also delivers automated check-ins so the company is able to monitor availability and commence rehiring instantly when business picks up, without the need for an expensive and time consuming recruitment process.

The online tool is free for smaller businesses, charities and the public sector, with larger organisations paying a nominal fee to help support the service for all users.

Any profits made during the current crisis will be donated to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal and the World Health Organisation.

The Rehire Project was created by Talon, a workforce management software company. Over the past two weeks, Talon has diverted resources from commercial projects, and worked round the clock to create something rapidly to support companies and workers through this crisis.

Companies can sign up to The Rehire Project here

Surrey Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Sussex Chamber, Hampshire Chamber, Surrey County Council, Enterprise M3 and Coast2Capital LEPs have put together a survey to understand how the recently announced government funding is impacting and supporting businesses during the pandemic.

This is the first of a series of surveys that will run over the next few weeks with this one looking at the engagement/uptake of the funding support announced by government.

Please take the time to complete this survey, which will help to inform the government of the effectiveness of their strategies, highlight areas where more support is needed and help Surrey businesses.

Take the survey here

This new fund aims to help community sport and physical activity organisations who are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

Further information is available here.

We will be posting regular updates on our website, as well as sending out our e-newsletter and messages on our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, so please sign up or ‘follow’us.