Business News - lockdown business update

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Coronavirus business

Government announced further business support funding

Yesterday the Chancellor announced more support for businesses and more protection for jobs. You can read the full details on the GOV.UK website. The support includes:

  • One-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the spring.
  • A £594 million discretionary fund was also made available to support other impacted businesses.

  • An additional £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and the extension of the furlough scheme.

More detail on this support

• 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.

• Please note that businesses do not need to complete a new application form. Southampton City Council will issue a declaration form to each business that received a previous Local Restriction Support Grant (period 5 November to 2nd December) directly to re-confirm that circumstances remain unchanged. 

• Businesses that have not yet applied to the current schemes should do so.

• Southampton City Council will communicate directly with businesses that have applied for funding.

Existing COVID-19 support information

For information about other current business support cash grants please visit our website.

You can also visit the GOV.UK website and use their tool to find information about further COVID-19 financial support your business might be eligible for.

Additional government resources to support your business during COVID-19 disruptions are also listed on the GOV.UK website which includes details about the business support helpline for free advice.

Highstreet

National lockdown - which businesses can remain open?

All non-essential retail, hospitality and personal care services must close, or remain closed. Restaurants can continue delivery, takeaway or click-and-collect of food and non-alcoholic drinks, but venues will no longer be able to serve alcohol, either for takeaway or click-and-collect.

Essential shops and garden centres can remain open. Entertainment venues and animal attractions such as zoos must close, but the outdoor areas of venues such as heritage homes and botanical gardens can remain open, to be used for exercise. Playgrounds may also remain open.

Indoor and outdoor sports facilities including sports courts, gyms, golf courses, swimming pools, and riding arenas must also close. Elite sport and disabled sport can continue, as can PE lessons for those children attending school.

Find out more information on the national lockdown measures on the GOV.UK website.

Guidance for employers on work absences due to COVID-19

This guidance is for employers and their employees or workers who may not be able to go into work because:

  • they’re self-isolating
  • they’re clinically extremely vulnerable

The guidance sets out the relevant legal framework around absence and the return to work.

Find out more information on the GOV.UK website.
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