To delay the spread of coronavirus, the government has instructed some businesses and venues including all pubs, bars and restaurants to close temporarily.
The following businesses and venues have been asked to close:
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Food and drink venues for consumption on-site, such as restaurants and cafes.
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Drinking establishments, including pubs, bars, nightclubs.
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Entertainment venues, including cinemas, theatres, concert halls, and bingo halls.
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Museums and galleries.
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Spas, wellness centres and massage parlours.
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Casinos and betting shops.
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All indoor leisure and sports facilities, including gyms.
This measure will not impact the relaxation of planning rules announced earlier this week which will allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, which will help to support people who are staying at home throughout this period.
Please click HERE for the Government's information on closing non-essential shops and public spaces.
New guidance launched on 11th May 2020 to help get Brits safely back to work.
Guidance & support for Business & employers in Wales
There will be a significant impact on employers of all sizes during the coronavirus pandemic but the Government is taking steps to mitigate this.
Government advice is provided HERE and will be updated as new advice is provided.
Businesses in Wales could benefit from the following schemes:
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The Government is stepping in and helping pay people’s wages – a scheme which is one of the most generous of any in the world – paying grants to support as many jobs as necessary. Any employer in the country – large, small or charitable – who promises to retain their staff, can apply for a grant to cover most of the cost of paying people’s wages. Government grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month. We will place no limit on these grants. The cost of wages will be backdated to 1st March and will be open initially for at least three months – and we will extend the scheme for longer if necessary, currently until the end of October. Businesses who have furloughed their staff can get started on submitting their claims by clicking here or first taking a look at the step by step guide.
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Millions of self-employed people across the UK could benefit from the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme , with those eligible receiving a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit.
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Deferring the next three months of VAT tax, a direct injection of over £30billion of cash to employers, equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP. That means no business will pay any VAT from now until the end of June, and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills
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The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On Tuesday, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million, and we are now extending the time frame of no interest on these loans from six months to twelve months. A further announcement to the package was announced on 3rd April.
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Bounce Back Loans scheme, which will provide loans of up to £50,000, would help bolster the existing package of support available to the smallest businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form from 4 May.
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Suspending the minimum income floor for twelve months – meaning self-employed people can now access Universal Credit at a rate that is equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay for employees. For the self-employed, we are also deferring income tax self-assessment payments for July until the end of January 2021. Further measures to support self-employed people have been announced, such as the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.
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Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme via the British Business Bank
- The Development Bank of Wales is offering a three-month payment holiday for existing customers impacted by the virus which they can request here
Welsh Government support for businesses
Because some aspects of business support are devolved, the Welsh Government has set out a range of support measures , which includes business rate relief and cash grants administered through the business rates system.
Economic Resilience Fund to assist businesses and charities in Wales
The fund is made up of two main elements:
1. A new £100m Development Bank of Wales fund will be available for companies experiencing cash flow problems as a result of the pandemic and will provide loans of between £5,000 and £250,000 at favourable interest rates.
2. Businesses will also be able to benefit from a £400m emergency pot providing:
i) Grants of £10,000 for micro-businesses employing up to nine people. This includes sole traders employing staff. Qualifying businesses will be able to apply by mid-April;
ii) Grants of up to £100,000 for small and medium-sized firms with between 10 and 249 employees. Qualifying businesses will be able to apply from next week.
iii) Support for larger Welsh companies, which are of critical social or economic importance to Wales. This element will be open to qualifying businesses within the next two weeks.
The £500m Economic Resilience Fund will support businesses forced to temporarily cease trading – to go into “hibernation” – or which need cash-flow support to adapt to a remote way of working.
Capital repayment holidays
The Welsh Government has announced the Development Bank of Wales will be offering all its business customers a three-month capital repayment holiday to help them manage the financial fallout from the virus.
Rural Payments Wales (RPW)
Changes have been made to some RPW services in response to the UK Government and Public Health Wales (PHW) advice on coronavirus.
Updates will be available here . Customers will receive a broadcast message informing them that an update is available.
Business support helplines
HMRC tax helpline
HMRC has set up a helpline for businesses and self-employed people who are concerned about paying their tax due to COVID-19.
Call 0800 0159 559 for help and advice.
Business Wales helpline
Get help with your business online, or by calling the Business Wales Helpline.
Telephone: 0300 060 3000
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm
Call for businesses to help make NHS ventilators
The government is looking for businesses who can support in the supply of ventilators and ventilator components across the UK as part of our response to COVID-19.
If you think your business can help, please Register your details online.
Last updated 13th May 2020.