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Covid-19 update
richardscamans • Apr 06, 2020
VisitBritain
The Chancellor has today announced the following:
* An extension of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
(CBILS) to ensure all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19,
rather than just those unable to secure regular commercial financing,
will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during
this difficult time.
* The Government has also announced it will be stopping lenders from
requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000, and will be
making changes to speed up approvals.
* The Government will continue to cover the first 12 months of interest
fees.
* A new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)
will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans
of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45
million and £500 million.
The full announcement can be read here. We will share any further
information and updates on these schemes as they become available.
Additional recent Government announcements include:
* Cash support for food redistribution during the coronavirus
outbreak to prevent food waste.
* Update on deferring VAT payments because of coronavirus,
clarifying that import VAT payments are not included.
* Update to the guidance for local authorities setting out details of
the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and Retail, Hospitality and
Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF), outlining information on state aid,
monitoring and reporting requirements, post-payment checks and the
eligibility of charities.
* The 2020 National Living Wage came into effect on Wednesday 1
April.
been updated to confirm that the government’s assessment that the
expanded retail discount is not a state aid, and that local authorities
should therefore award relief to all eligible properties.
Further to this, the Local Government Association and the Tourism
Alliance have identified some tourism businesses that are not
explicitly mentioned in the business rates relief guidance, but it is
felt that they fall into the intended category. Councils are being asked
to give consideration to the premises listed below for inclusion in
their local schemes:
* Amusement arcades
* Vehicle rental sites
* Conference and exhibition venues
* Travel and tour operators
* Tourism Information Centres
* Tourism Boards/Destination Management Organisations
* Coach operators
* English language schools
* Travel/hospitality industry charities (offices)
* Marinas/boat hire/passenger boat facilities
£50 million Heritage Emergency Fund launched
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
has put together a £50 million fund
to support the heritage sector as an immediate response to the
coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
It is available to organisations across the full breadth of the heritage
sector, including historic sites, industrial and maritime heritage,
museums, libraries and archives, parks and gardens, landscapes and
nature.
Local Growth Hubs
is encouraging businesses across England to contact their local Growth
Hub, which can provide a free to use, impartial and local single
point of contact to all businesses so that they can access the right
advice and support. The hubs can advise businesses on local and national
business support including schemes in place to help businesses through
the current COVID-19 situation. Find your local Growth Hub.
Upcoming business support webinars
UK Government’s Business Support website has a list of upcoming
webinar events from government and non-government partners.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are delivering a programme of webinars on
measures to support employers, employees and the self-employed through
this period of disruption. You can watch a video of the recorded webinar
on the HMRC YouTube channel Coronavirus – (COVID-19): helping
employers to support employees .
With best wishes from the team at VisitBritain/VisitEngland.
Announcement!!!!
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Christmas 2023
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