Please see the latest Business Readiness updates below.
CONTENTS
A message from Business Secretary, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, following the Budget announcement
"Yesterday the Government has delivered an optimistic vision for the future of the British economy, providing certainty on the back of wide-ranging measures that build on our extensive support for workers and businesses across the UK at this difficult and unprecedented time.
The Budget delivers on our commitment to support businesses through the pandemic and level up every corner of the UK, supporting jobs through the extension of the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, as well as the continuation of business rate holidays and VAT cuts for disrupted businesses and the new ‘Help to Grow’ scheme to help 130,000 small and medium businesses build back better.”
BUDGET 2021: Protecting the jobs and livelihoods of the British people
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, presented his Budget to Parliament on Wednesday 3 March 2021. The three-point plan to protect jobs and strengthen public finances announced:
Measures announced in the Budget include:
Coronavirus testing
Letter to businesses on workplace testing: This letter from the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng encourages businesses to test their staff for COVID-19 by registering for free testing kits provided by the government. These tests are for staff who cannot currently work from home. Only businesses registered in England can register for free testing.
Testing guidance for employers: Guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes has been updated to reflect the ongoing evolution of private-sector testing.
Essential workers prioritised for COVID-19 testing: A list of essential workers prioritised for PCR testing for coronavirus is available here.
Reopening businesses and venues in England: NEW Guidance details the steps to reopen certain businesses and venues in England.
Restricting workforce movement between care homes and other care settings: NEW guidance for care home providers on limiting staff movement between settings in all but exceptional circumstances to help reduce the spread of coronavirus infection.
Safety screens for taxis and PHVs: NEW guidance provides advice for drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles (PHVs) who choose to fit a screen or barrier to their vehicle(s) to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Global travel taskforce: The Global Travel Taskforce is charged with exploring safe and secure ways to restart international travel when the time is right. The taskforce will provide a report to the Prime Minister on 12 April, which will be used to help determine when and how to resume safe international travel no earlier than 17 May 2021.
Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care: Guidance has been updated to include changes to the system of controls.
Cyber Aware Campaign: The National Cyber Security Centre have launched a self-assessment tool to help sole traders and micro businesses check how safe they are from cyber threats, and to give advice on areas of improvement. To use the toolkit and for more information visit CyberAware.gov.uk.
New video content to help keep your business moving
Doing business with Europe has changed. You need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring. All businesses can find out what has changed, and check their preparations, by visiting new video content from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The short, on-demand videos cover 18 topics, including importing and exporting, rules of origin and audit and accounting. Click here to immediately access the video content. New rules are here – make sure your business is prepared.
Updated guidance
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:
Update on Kickstart Scheme Grant: Guidance has been updated with information about what employers should spend the £1,500 funding for setup costs on and with information about what to do if a young person leaves their job placement early.
Self-Assessment Payments – Time to Pay: Guidance has been updated to show you can set up a Time to Pay arrangement online for amounts up to £30,000 up to 60 days after 31 January 2021 without having to contact HMRC.
Companies House to resume voluntary and compulsory strike off: Following a temporary pause, Companies House will resume strike off processes from 8 March 2021.