Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Businesses and Employers Bulletin 21 May 2020

This bulletin has been provided to us by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support

• Reminder: Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
• Reminder: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) business webinars – find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure
• New Updates and Guidance
• Reminder: Transition - the future relationship between the UK and EU
• Coronavirus - Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance

Reminder: Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

From Tuesday 26 May 2020, small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, will be able to apply to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees.

Employers will be able to make claims to the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme through a new online service as from 26 May. Employers will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020.

HMRC has published online guidance which includes information about who can use the scheme and the records employers must keep. Click here to find out more.

Reminder: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) business webinars – find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure

Join a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your workplace COVID-secure. The webinars cover a range of different types of workplace settings which are allowed to be open in England. You can also find the full written guidance for a range of different types of work and practical actions for businesses to take based on 5 main steps here.

New Updates and Guidance

New

How the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill will help business

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill will put in place a series of measures to amend insolvency and company law to relieve the burden on businesses during the coronavirus outbreak and allow them to focus all their efforts on continuing to operate. The Bill will:

• introduce temporary easements on filing requirements and Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
• introduce new corporate restructuring tools to the insolvency regime to give companies the time they need to maximise their chance of survival
• temporarily suspend parts of insolvency law to support directors during this difficult time

Culture Secretary announces Cultural Renewal Taskforce

The Culture Secretary has announced representatives from the arts, cultural and sporting worlds who will join a new taskforce aimed at helping getting the country’s recreation and leisure sector up and running again.

Updates

Updated information for parents and carers about the wider opening of nurseries, schools and colleges, transport, attendance, free school meals and remote education.

Reminder: Transition - the future relationship between the UK and EU

The UK is in a transition period until 31 December 2020 while the UK Government and the EU negotiate additional arrangements. New information for businesses has recently been published on areas including the UK Global Tariff from 1 January 2021 and Northern Ireland Protocol.

To help keep businesses up to date, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy publishes a free, sister Transition Bulletin alongside the Coronavirus Bulletin. To receive this direct to your inbox subscribe to the Transition Business Bulletin by visiting Gov Delivery Subscriptions: i) Add Subscriptions, and ii) check 'Transition Bulletin' to subscribe.

Coronavirus - Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance

Offer coronavirus support

Tell us how your business might be able to help with the response to coronavirus by using our online service.

Share the impact coronavirus is having on your organisation

Let us know how the outbreak is impacting your business. Please send your intelligence, including information and feedback on the safer workplace guidance, to intel@beis.gov.uk. Commercially sensitive information will be treated accordingly. Please note that this inbox is only for receiving intelligence and does not provide business advice.

Help us shine a light on the stories of key workers

Tell us about key workers you know that are helping to keep the UK moving during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please fill in this online form for key workers in the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, consumer goods, scientists/researchers, servicing, postal workers, and oil/gas/electricity/water/sewage/chemical workers.

Other useful links

Some aspects of business support are devolved. Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is available. In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support. You can also find helpful business case studies and other useful information on the Coronavirus Business Support Blog.