CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS BULLETIN – 17 June 2020

18 June 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses and Employers Bulletin - 17 June 2020

This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support

Business Secretary Alok Sharma chairs a series of economic recovery round-tables

These roundtables bring together businesses, business representative organisations, regulators and leading academics. Discussions focused on the measures necessary to support economic recovery and ensure we have the right opportunities in place for growth across the country over the next 18 months and beyond. The five themes are:

The future of industry: How to accelerate business innovation and leverage private sector investment in research and development.
Green recovery: How to capture economic growth opportunities from the shift to net zero carbon emissions.
Backing new businesses: How to make the UK the best place in the world to start and scale a business.
Increasing opportunity: How to level up economic performance across the UK, including through skills and apprenticeships.
The UK open for business: How to win and retain more high value investment for the UK.

Details of the participants and the questions covered is available here.

Reminder: Continued support for SMEs: Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

The UK Government’s Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme continues to provide financial support to small and medium-sized employers.

If you’re an employer with fewer than 250 employees, and if you’ve paid SSP to employees for coronavirus-related sickness absence, you could be eligible for support. You can also speak to your tax agent about making claims on your behalf.

The repayment will cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP. For more information on eligibility and how to make a claim please find more information here.

New Updates and Guidance

New

Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to the retail sector

The Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Labour Markets, Paul Scully MP, has written to those working in the retail sector. The letter thanks all those who are working in retail as shops across England reopen their doors this week.

Reservists returning to civilian work eligible for government support schemes

Military reservists will be able to access the government’s self-employment scheme and those returning to work in the coming months will be eligible for the job retention scheme. Find out more here.

Updates

COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes

Guidance for those working in care homes has been updated - providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19. Find the updated document here.

Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance

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Help us shine a light on the stories of key workers

Tell us about key workers you know that are helping to keep the UK moving during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please fill in this online form for key workers in the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, consumer goods, scientists/researchers, servicing, postal workers, and oil/gas/electricity/water/sewage/chemical workers.