Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Businesses and Employers Bulletin 27 May 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses and Employers Bulletin - 27 May 2020

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

• Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is now live
• Reminder: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) business webinars – find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure
• New Updates and Guidance
• Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is now live

The UK Government’s Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is now live on GOV.UK

If you’re an employer with fewer than 250 employees, you can now claim for Coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). You can also speak to your tax agent about making claims on your behalf.

The repayment will cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP. For more information on eligibility and how to make a claim please visit GOV.UK

For more information about this Coronavirus support measure, you can also sign-up to HMRC’s Statutory Sick Pay Scheme Webinar.

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

The UK Government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces in England are as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of the guides/webinars as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.

• Thursday 28 May, 11am: Shops and branches– Guidance for people who run shops, branches, stores or similar environments.
• Thursday 28 May, 3pm: Vehicles– Guidance for people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar.
• Monday 1 June, 11am: Construction and other outdoor work– Guidance for people who run outdoor working environments.
• Monday 1 June, 3pm: Labs and research facilities– Guidance for people who run indoor labs and research facilities and similar environments
• Tuesday 2 June, 11am: Offices and contact centres– Guidance for people who run offices, contact centres and similar indoor environments

Tuesday 2 June, 3pm: Homes– Guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to home environments as well as their employers

New Updates and Guidance

New

Transport Secretary announces new measures to keep passengers safe.

Funding to protect and increase transport services, level up infrastructure and regenerate local economies after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Find out more here.

Plans announced for London’s Covid-19 recovery

A new London Transition Board will co-ordinate London’s response as it emerges from the lockdown and begins to reopen its economy while controlling the virus. Find out more here.

Government boosts UK PPE supply with more than 100 new deals

The government has signed deals with more than 100 new suppliers from around the world as well as ramping up domestic production to help meet demand for PPE. From this week, GPs and small care homes can also register on the PPE Portal, a new online portal developed in collaboration with eBay to help primary and social care providers to order critical PPE, as it is scaled up nationally. Find out more here.

Updates

Coronavirus (COVID-19): immigration and borders

Updated to add Entering the UK and Coronavirus (COVID-19): travellers exempt from UK border rules guidance pages.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding - guidance for local authorities

Updated with version 2 of Local Authority Discretionary Fund guidance published – businesses who are eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are now eligible to apply for the scheme.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers

Addition of text 'You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of identification.'

Tell HMRC about an option to tax land and buildings

HMRC have extended the time limit from the date the decision to opt was made. This now applies to decisions made between 15 February and 30 June 2020. Find out more here.

Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020

Added information about what happens if you take your vehicle for its MOT and it fails when the extension has been applied.

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.