COVID-19

This page covers all the areas for which customers can access support from the government and the wider sector in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information on the measures detailed below, visit the dedicated government guidance on support for businesses here.

This page will be updated regularly to reflect any new developments or announcements. If you have any questions please contact Will Thomson (will.thomson@sibgroup.org.uk) or Miranda Love (Miranda.Love@sibgroup.org.uk)

 

National Lockdowns

England remains in Step 3 of the Lockdown Roadmap. 

The government has announced a 4-week pause at Step 3. Step 3 restrictions remain in place, and you should follow the guidance on this page, which explains what you can and cannot do.

It is expected that England will move to Step 4 on 19 July, though the data will be reviewed after 2 weeks in case the risks have reduced.

Coronavirus restrictions remain in place across the country, including for people who have been vaccinated. In England:

Businesses and venues

 

Further venues are permitted to open. You can visit indoor venues in a group of up to 6 people from different households or a larger group of any size from up to 2 households including support bubbles.

COVID-secure rules, including social distancing requirements, continue to apply in the workplace, and in businesses and public venues.

 

Businesses and venues which can reopen

Indoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including members’ clubs) can reopen. At any premises serving alcohol, customers will be required to order, be served and eat/drink while seated (“table service”). Venues are prohibited from providing smoking equipment such as shisha pipes, for use on the premises.

Indoor entertainment venues such as bingo halls, bowling alleys, and casinos may also reopen, as can indoor parts of outdoor attractions such as theme parks and animal attractions. Outdoor and indoor performance venues such as cinemas and theatres are also permitted to reopen.

Businesses eligible to host childcare and supervised activities for children are able to host these activities (including sport) for all children, regardless of circumstances. Indoor play centres and areas may also reopen.

Businesses and venues which must remain closed

To reduce social contact, some businesses, such as nightclubs, must remain closed or follow restrictions on how they provide goods and services.

There is further guidance on restrictions on businesses and venues in England which explains which restrictions we will seek to ease at Step 4, subject to the outcome of the events research programme, social distancing and COVID-status certification reviews.
 

Government Business Support

Summary of existing economic support: overview of Government support for business and self-employed people during coronavirus.

Coronavirus Guidance and Support: full collection of guidance and support for businesses during Covid-19.

Support Finder Tool: The Government has a support finder tool to help charities, businesses and self-employed people across the UK to determine what financial support is available to them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Job Retention Scheme: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 September 2021 and the level of grant available to employers under the scheme will stay the same until 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021, the level of grant will be reduced and you will be asked to contribute towards the cost of your furloughed employees’ wages. To be eligible for the grant you must continue to pay your furloughed employees 80% of their wages, up to a cap of £2,500 per month for the time they spend on furlough. You can also sign up for email alerts from HMRC about live and recorded webinars, YouTube videos and online guidance.

NEW: Lockdown Grants for Businesses in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Sectors:  On 5 January 2021, The Chancellor has announced £4.6 billion in new one-off lockdown grants will be made available to support businesses and protect jobs through to the Spring.

• the one-off top up grants are for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses and will be worth up to £9,000 per property
• £594 million discretionary fund also made available to support other impacted businesses
• comes in addition to £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of furlough scheme
• This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement on 4 January 2021 that these business will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the virus, and, together with the wide range of existing support, provides them with certainty through the Spring period.
• The cash is provided on a per-property basis to support businesses through the latest restrictions, and is expected to benefit over 600,000 business properties, worth £4 billion in total across all nations of the UK.

The one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows:

• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
• any business which is legally required to close, and which cannot operate effectively remotely, is eligible for a grant

   

Additional Restrictions Grant: Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) supports businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed. Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants. However, we expect the funding to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions. Businesses should visit their local council’s website to find out how to apply.

This could include:

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

 

Kickstarter Scheme: this scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16-24-year olds on Universal Credit. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers 100% of National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage for 25 hours per week for 6 months; associated employer National Insurance contributions; and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

 

Financial Support for Charities and Social Enterprises
 

Grants Online Coronavirus: comprehensive resource that is regularly updated with new funding programmes to assist organisations in responding to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Government Guidance for Organisations

The Government has published guidance for organisations working in specific sectors which might be relevant to SIB customers, these can be accessed below:

• Guidance for the charity sector
• COVID-19 guidance for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
• Financial support for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to respond to Covid-19
• Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus
• Guidance for social or community care and residential settings
• Guidance for education settings
• Guidance for public bodies or local authorities on procurement
• Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
• Guidance on closing certain businesses and venues
• Guidance on processing ticket refunds for cancelled charity events during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): increased risk of fraud and cybercrime against charities.
• Guidance: A list of rules that have been temporarily relaxed to help businesses during the pandemic
• Guidance for businesses seeking to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• Sector guidance on social distancing in the workplace during COVID-19

 

Additional Resources and Advice

• Bates Wells – Coronavirus Legal Insights for charities and social enterprises
• Charity Bank – COVID-19 Resource Hub for Charities and Social Enterprises
• Charity Excellence Framework – COVID-19 Funder Database & Toolkits
• Charity Finance Group – COVID-19 guidance for charities
• Charity Tax Group – Coronavirus Information Hub
• Cooperatives UK – COVID-19 advice for co-ops
• Fundraising Regulator – COVID-19 public fundraising guidance
• Institute of Fundraising – COVID-19 Guidance
• Locality – COVID-19 information and support hub
• NCVO – Coronavirus guidance and resources
• SEUK – Coronavirus support and resources