Staffordshire moves to Tier 4: what it means for business

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have now joined Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire in moving to Tier 4.

Businesses that have to close may be eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed)). Check if you're eligible.

What Tier 4 means for business (in brief):

• Clinically extremely vulnerable people are advised not to work if they cannot work from home, but others can leave home for work and volunteering purposes. Those who cannot work may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit.
• All shops deemed non-essential by the Government must close (but note that you could be eligible for the LRSG - Closed Grant) . These include clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms (other than for rental), betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, auction houses (except for auctions of livestock or agricultural equipment) and market stalls selling non-essential goods – these venues can continue to be able to operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services. 
• Accommodation such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites, except for specific circumstances, such as where these act as someone’s main residence, where the person cannot return home, for providing accommodation or support to the homeless, or where it is essential to stay there for work purposes.
• Entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, indoor play and soft play centres and areas (including inflatable parks and trampolining centres), circuses, fairgrounds, funfairs, zoos and other animal attractions, water parks and theme parks.
• Indoor attractions at venues such as botanical gardens, heritage homes and landmarks must also close, though outdoor grounds of these premises can stay open
• Travel to Tier 1, 2 or 3 areas for work is permitted. If you need to travel overseas, you should look at the rules in place at your destination and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice.
• Hairdressers, barbers  and tattoo parlours must close.
• Indoor entertainment venues must close.
• People can leave home to fulfil legal obligations.
• Gyms and indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and dance studios must close.
• Businesses and venues which can remain open, following Covid-19 secure guidelines, include:
  • essential retail
  • market stalls selling essential retail
  • market stalls selling essential retail may also stay open
  • businesses providing repair services may also stay open, where they primarily offer repair services
  • petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses
  • banks, building societies, post offices, short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
  • funeral directors
  • laundrettes and dry cleaners
  • medical and dental services
  • vets and pet shops
  • mobility and disability support shops
  • storage and distribution facilities
  • outdoor riding centres
  • places of worship
    
    

Support for businesses include:

• Financial support:
  • WATCH THIS VIDEO - which summarises all of the financial support available to businesses right now.
  • UPDATED: Coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses) - Guidance has been updated to reflect that all Tier 4 businesses required to close will be eligible for grants of up to £1,500 for each 14-day period of closure; the grants will be administered by local authorities. Check if you're eligible.
• claim for employee wages through Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
• check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
• financial support if you're off work because of coronavirus

 Contact the Growth Hub to find out more about financial support during Covid-19