Business support toolkit
The retail toolkit provides helpful guidance on how to reopen shops safely for your staff and customers.
Hospitality support toolkit
To help hospitality businesses reopen and be Covid-19 Secure, we have created a tailor made toolkit which provides helpful guidance on how to reopen safely for your staff and customers.
GOV.UK: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
It is essential you take the time to read through the following guidance to ensure you are prepared to reopen your business. The Government has produced guidance to working safely during the coronavirus for specific work sectors along with practical steps for business to take.
Find out more here
HSE: Coronavirus (COVID-19): working safely
Our guidance on making your workplace COVID-secure gives an overview of the steps employers can take to protect people in the workplace.
Find out more here
Recovery Loan Scheme
The Recovery Loan Scheme is to help businesses of any size access loans and other kinds of finance so they can recover after the pandemic and transition period.
- Up to £10 million is available per business. The actual amount offered and the terms are at the discretion of participating lenders.
- The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender. As the borrower, you are always 100% liable for the debt.
- The scheme is open until 31 December 2021, subject to review.
- Loans are available through a network of accredited lenders, listed on the British Business Bank’s website.
Apply here
VAT Tax cuts and deferrals
The government also announced at Budget plans to extend the 5 per cent reduced rate of VAT for goods and services supplied by the tourism and hospitality sector for a further six months until the end of September 2021. The rate will then increase to 12.5 per cent from October until the end of March 2022, before returning to the normal 20 per cent rate from April 2022.
Read more here
Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020. You can pay now or join the VAT deferral new payment scheme.
Read more here
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
If you’re an employer, find out if you can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to claim back employees’ coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
The online service you’ll use to claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now available.
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will repay employers the Statutory Sick Pay paid to current or former employees.
Read more here
Kickstart scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
Funding will cover for each job placement:
- 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week
- the associated employer National Insurance contributions
- employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions
There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart Scheme funded job.
Find out more here
COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility
The CCFF closed to new purchases on 23 March 2021 as planned
Pay it forward – Mayors Back To Business Fund
Pay It Forward is part of the London Growth Hub’s wider support offer for London’s businesses. This includes an online hub of essential resources and free one-to-one telephone and virtual support. Find out more here
Closed loan schemes
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes and Future Fund were designed to support UK businesses that are losing revenue and seeing their cashflow disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. All schemes are now closed for new applications.
- Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)
- Business Interruption Loan scheme
- Future Fund Scheme
Read more here
LONDON BUSINESS HUB
London Business Hub support London’s businesses to start, sustain and grow.
The best of the capital’s huge business support offering in one convenient place.
Free to use, easy to navigate, personalised to suit your needs and instantly at your fingertips the second you join our thriving community of like-minded business owners. London Business Hub is part of the national network of Growth Hubs delivered across England.
Recover & Grow
A Leadership development programme to make the right pivot for your business.
Find out more here
EU Post-Transition Business Resource Hub
Support for firms to prepare for new rules for business and trade.
Find out more here
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Support for Businesses and Employers
Support to help businesses and employers respond to COVID-19.
Find out more here
Boosting Community Business London
Pilot programme supporting London-based community enterprises
Find out more here
Other Useful links
