Business Buzz - COVID-19 Update

April 2020

This edition of Business Buzz will focus on financial support available to businesses in Thurrock, updates to advice and information on how you can help support your local community.

Business Support

The Government has announced a number of support and advice schemes to help businesses cope with COVID-19. Further information on all of these schemes can be found HERE.

The Government has asked Councils to administer some of these schemes including:

Business Rates Holiday Schemes

Eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, as well as eligible children's nurseries can benefit from a business rates holiday for 2020/21.

There is no need to apply for these schemes. Business Rates bills for 2020/21 will be reissued including the relevant reliefs or grants and in the meantime the Council has suspended business rates payments in April 2020 for all businesses. 

Businesses that don't benefit from the Government support or with residual amounts to pay will get new bills that spread their due amounts over 11 months from May 2020.

Grant Funding Schemes

Businesses in a number of sectors can benefit from grant funding schemes. Information on the amounts and sectors included can be found HERE.

Businesses do not need to apply for the funding. However it is vitally important that the council has the correct contact and payment details to enable swift payment. You can updates your details using the same link above. 

Self-Employed: Deferring Council Tax Payments

Self-employed workers who live in Thurrock and are waiting for a grant under the government self-employment income support scheme will be able to defer Council Tax payments until July. 

Self-employed people who wish to take advantage of this deferral option should email council.tax@thurrock.gov.uk advising of their Council Tax reference, name, address and National Insurance number to enable details to be validated with the HMRC.

Once grant has been received by the self-employed worker, deferred Council Tax installments will need to be paid. 

Business Impact Survey 

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership are inviting businesses from across the South East to complete a short survey on the impact of COVID-19 HERE. The information will be used to influence the response to the virus and the plans for recovery. 

Enforcing Closure of Non-Essential Businesses

New Government regulations mean the Council will take action against businesses and venues operating when they shouldn’t be. To prevent the spread of Coronavirus and save lives, the government has ordered certain businesses to close or face prosecutions and fines.

Details on the types of business and venue this applies to as well as the exemptions can be found HERE.

To help us enforce these necessary closures aimed at saving lives, if you suspect a business is operating when it shouldn’t, please report it HERE.

How you can help

Are you a business owner in Thurrock who is able to support Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action (TCCA) and help the local community by supporting vulnerable self-isolating residents across the borough during the COVID-19 outbreak?

TCCA is a partnership led by Thurrock Council, along with Stronger Together and Thurrock CVS delivering the COVID-19 community response across the borough to ensure vulnerable residents get access to food, medicines and social contact.

We are looking for support from local businesses who can provide essentials such as toilet roll, toiletries or nappies and food to support the local food banks.  

We would also like to understand if you are or have the facilities to deliver locally i.e. milkmen, restaurants and pubs offering takeaway services, corners shops etc. and could support the partnership this way.

Any businesses that can offer help of any kind during this challenging time are asked to email business@thurrock.gov.uk and someone from the council leading on TCCA will be in touch with you to discuss opportunities.

Stay home, Save lives

The single most important thing we can all do in fighting Coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. 

1. Stay at home, except for very limited purposes outlined in Government guidance
2. Non-essential shops and community spaces should remain closed
3. There should be no public gatherings of more than two people

Continue to remain patient and calm, look after yourselves, family and neighbours.

Please follow the advice of the government and NHS.

Stay Informed

The Thurrock Council website has further information about coronavirus and its impact on the business community. Information is updated on a regular basis and can be found HERE.

In addition the BEST Growth Hub website will be updated regularly with information and guidance for businesses and employers regarding the current COVID-19 crisis.  For further information click HERE.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership is providing a daily update with the latest guidance and support for businesses.  A link to sign up to receive the newsletters can be found HERE.

The Government has published guidance for employers and businesses which can be found HERE.

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