Government Briefing and Additional Updates and Guidance: 19th to 22nd June 2020
BUSINESS BRIEFING FROM GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 PRESS CONFERENCE
The UK’s coronavirus alert level has been downgraded to level three.
The announcement, from the UK’s chief medical officers, means the virus is now ‘in general circulation’ and could lead to a further relaxation of restrictions.
You can read the speech in full here.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND GUIDANCE
New tool to help businesses identify whether they can reopen safely
The government has developed a tool to help businesses in England to reopen safely during coronavirus. This tool encourages businesses to carry out a risk assessment and helps to identify the workplace adjustments that they should make. Employers have the legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site, such as customers and visitors. This tool will help businesses to easily find out what they should do. Employees can also use this tool to check what their workplace needs to do to keep people safe. The tool can be found here.
Reminder to file VAT before 30 June, even if deferring payment
HMRC is reminding businesses that the VAT return must be filed on time, even if payment is being deferred. Payment of VAT falling due between 20 March and 30 June 2020 can be deferred until 31 March 2021. VAT returns with a payment due date after 30 June must be paid in full, on time. For more information, including requesting additional time to pay, visit this page.
HMRC’s latest Employer Bulletin
The Employer Bulletin (June 2020, Issue 84) includes all of the latest COVID-19 updates to help businesses continue to meet payroll obligations to HMRC and to claim any relevant grants and rebates during this challenging time. It includes the latest update on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, along with updates on the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and a reminder for reporting Expenses and Benefits for the tax year ending 5 April 2020.
Self-employed new parents can claim support grant
Self-employed parents whose trading profits dipped in 2018/19 because they took time out to have children will be able to claim for a payment under the self-employed income support scheme, the government has announced. Further details of the change for self-employed parents will be set out by the start of July in published guidance.
Trade negotiations started with Australia and New Zealand
The UK Government has published its negotiation objectives for trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
New satellite data made available to help tackle public challenges
The public sector can access new satellite images of the UK to help issues such as town planning and flood mapping.The first of its kind data archive, launched by the UK Space Agency’s Space for Smarter Government Programme, has updated its free optical and radar data sets of Britain and Northern Ireland. View the data.
Unlocking the power of location: The UK’s geospatial strategy
The government has published a strategy setting out how the UK will unlock the power of location data. The new strategy sets out steps to increase data access, develop skills and support innovation across the UK’s geospatial community. Location data, also known as geospatial data, is used across sectors as diverse as infrastructure, housing and retail. Details are available here.
Flood-hit farmers can now apply to £6m fund
The latest application round of the Farming Recovery Fund is now open to eligible farmers to apply for grants to help them recover from February floods.
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS DURING COVID-19
Government Coronavirus Business Support Hub
You can go here to find out all the latest information about what funding and support is available for your business, managing your business during coronavirus and business closures. There is also a new ‘support finder’ tool to help businesses easily determine what financial support is available to them during the coronavirus pandemic through a quick and simple online questionnaire. You can find out more about the tool here.
Government Coronavirus Business Support WhatsApp
The government has also launched a Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp which is now updated with business support advice. Text ‘hi’ to 07860064422 via WhatsApp and there are business support measures highlighted under option 5 with the relevant links to GOV.UK pages.
Government business support helpline
Contact the government’s business support helpline for free advice
Phone: FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098 Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Email: enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org
HMRC have online help set up to help businesses and self-employed people concerned about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus.
The best way to get help from HMRC on any topic is to contact them online. Alternatively, you can call them on 0800 0159 559.
If your business needs more workers as a result of COVID-19, such as those in food logistics, preparation and retail, post vacancies on Find a Job.
Coronavirus support from Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations
Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations are providing coronavirus related support for specific sectors.
Daily update from GOV.UK.
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
New protections for UK businesses key to national security and fight against coronavirus
Page summary
New protections will be introduced to further safeguard the national security and resilience of the UK.
Change made
First published.
Time updated
12:34pm, 21 June 2020
UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment: research projects
Page summary
Final reports for research projects commissioned as part of the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme.
Change made
Addition of the NPL report, Characterisation of Acoustic Fields Generated by UXO Removal
Time updated
3:58pm, 22 June 2020
Department for International Trade
‘Bounce back’ plan for agriculture, food and drink industry launched
Page summary
A ‘bounce back’ plan of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry has been announced today to help support businesses that have been impacted by coronavirus.
Change made
First published.
Time updated
7:01am, 22 June 2020
Department for Education
Page summary
Application processes for mainstream and special schools applying to convert to academy status.
Change made
Added a link to the new digital ‘apply to become an academy’ service, and information about what to do if you’ve already started an application using a downloaded form or via the previous online application process.
Time updated
9:30am, 22 June 2020
Convert to an academy: guide for schools
Page summary
How maintained schools can apply to convert to academy status.
Change made
Apply to become an academy – Added a link to the new apply to become an academy service, and information about the deadline for completing applications started using the previous online form and paper forms.
Time updated
10:10am, 22 June 2020
Page summary
Links to the apply to become an academy service for mainstream schools, the application process for special schools and PRUs, and information about notifying your local authority.
Change made
Added a link to the new apply to become an academy service, and information about the deadline for completing applications started using the previous online form and paper forms.
Time updated
10:10am, 22 June 2020
Convert to an academy: documents for schools
Page summary
Documents that schools converting to an academy will need as they go through the conversion process.
Change made
Added link to ‘Apply to be an academy service’.
Time updated
12:29pm, 22 June 2020
Privacy notice: international teacher recruitment programmes
Page summary
Information on how we collect and use your personal data as part of our international recruitment programmes.
Change made
Removed STEM from the name of the International Teacher Recruitment Programme as the programme now covers other subjects. Added information to the ‘Lawful use of your personal data’ section of each notice.
Time updated
5:09pm, 22 June 2020
Thousands of children to benefit from free meals and activities
Page summary
Thousands of children in England to benefit from free meals and activities during summer 2020
Change made
First published.
Time updated
5:38pm, 22 June 2020
Education Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 19 June 2020
Page summary
Education Secretary on the Government’s £1 billion Covid catch-up plan to tackle impact of lost teaching time
Change made
First published.
Time updated
5:39pm, 22 June 2020
Teachers’ pension grant: supplementary fund
Page summary
Information on the pension supplementary fund and funding for local authority centrally employed teachers and music education hubs.
Change made
Updated with extension of second window to end of June, as communicated to local authorities.
Time updated
6:36pm, 22 June 2020