Chancellor announces “unprecedented” support for businesses and employees

In today’s Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Coronavirus statement, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a range of measures that enhance and complement earlier announcements made to support businesses and employees.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, started by telling bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, theatres and cinemas to close as of tonight, although he also said that takeout services could continue.

Mr Sunak then set out the detail of the new Corona Virus Job Retention Scheme. The Scheme, open to all employers, will provide a grant, via HMRC, to employers to pay the wages of those employees that they have furloughed, rather than laid off. The grant will cover 80% of the wage cost, up to £2,500 per employee per month. Employers are free to then top up the grant, if possible. The grant will cover some individuals on zero-hours contracts, paid via PAYE. The grants will be available to cover wages backdated to 1 March 2020. The Scheme will run for a minimum of 3 months, and will be extended as required. The system to deliver this is due to be ready by the end of April 2020.

The Corona Virus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will be available to businesses from Monday and will now be interest free for 12 months, instead of 6. A list of accredited lenders is available here. Further announcements will be made for medium and large enterprises.

Mr Sunak also announced a deferment of next quarter’s VAT payments, with businesses having until the end of the financial year to pay this back.

For individuals, Mr Sunak announced that the standard allowance for Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits will be increased by £1,000 for the next 12 months. The minimum income floor for those Self Employed has also been removed. Self Assessment payments have also been deferred until January 2021.

In addition to the 3 month mortgage holiday previously announced, Mr Sunak also announced an increase to Local Housing Allowance, so that this will cover at least 30% of the market rent in any specific area, as a support for renters.

The above measures are in addition to interventions previously announced, which includes:

• A Business Rates Holiday for all businesses occupying Retail, Leisure and Hospitality properties in the next financial year
• A £10,000 grant to businesses receiving Small Business Rates Relief
• Access to grants of £25,000 for occupied Retail, Leisure and Hospitality properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000
• Access to enhanced Statutory Sick Pay for employees and repayment for employers

Birmingham City Council has confirmed that revised Business Rates bills for 2020/2021 will be issued as soon as possible. Birmingham City Council will also be attempting to stop Direct Debit payments for Business Rates due on 1 April where a discount will now be applied. If, however, your account is debited, please contact your bank to arrange for a repayment to be made to you by Birmingham City Council.

Birmingham City Council is putting together a business case to unlock additional local funding to support businesses. They have asked businesses to complete a short survey by Tuesday 24 March to help them build a body of evidence that supports them to do this. You can access the survey here.

As schools close today, the Government has issued a list of those considered to be Key Workers, whose children can still attend local schools. You can view this list here.

Colmore BID will continue to share confirmed, factual information during this crisis. You can keep up to date by subscribing to our mailing lists. You can join these by emailing info@colmorebid.co.uk. You can also keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin