Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Businesses and Employers Bulletin 29 January 2021

Please see the most recent COVID-19 bulletin below.

CONTENTS

• Further action to minimise travel across international borders
• Plan for Jobs: skills, employment, and support programmes for jobseekers
• New Guidance
• New video content to help keep your business moving
• Updated Guidance
• Guidance for Hauliers
• Other useful links

Further action to minimise travel across international borders
The government has announced further action for outbound and inbound passengers to minimise travel across international borders and reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

• For those wishing to travel out of the UK - anyone who does not have a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine - the reason for travel will be checked. The list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so that only the most important and exceptional reasons are included. The current list of jobs that qualify for travel exemptions is available here.
• For those seeking to enter the UK - those arriving from countries where the government have imposed international travel bans, and who cannot be refused entry, will be required to isolate in hotels for 10 days without exception. More details will be provided in due course.

For further information on the Home Secretary’s statement, click here.

Plan for Jobs: skills, employment, and support programmes for jobseekers
A new page brings together guidance for jobs seekers so they can develop their skills, get advice on job applications, and search for opportunities. This is part of the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to support, protect and create jobs across the UK.

New Guidance
Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment
The Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment (CBLP) supports businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions, beginning 5 January 2021. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £9,000 from their local council. To find out if you are eligible, and how to apply, click here.

Ask HMRC not to publish your Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claim details.
If as an employer, publishing your claim details could leave individuals at risk of violence or intimidation, you can request HMRC not to publish details about your Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claim. You will need to show evidence that it would result in serious risk of violence or intimidation to:

• you or anyone living with you;
• an individual associated with your business or anyone living with them

For more information on what you will need to make a request, click here.

Companies House pause voluntary and compulsory strike off processes for one month
Voluntary and compulsory strike off processes have been temporarily paused for one month from 21 January until 21 February 2021.This will provide companies with more time to update their records and help them avoid being struck off the register. It will also protect creditors and other interested parties who might have had difficulties receiving notices or registering an objection, or whose objections have not yet been processed. Find out more here.

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. Register now to immediately access the video content. New rules are here – make sure your business is prepared.

Updated Guidance
Businesses Support
Self-Employment Income support Scheme (SEISS)- third grant
Guidance has been updated with a YouTube video about how to claim SEISS, third grant. Watch the video and register for the free webinars to learn more about how to claim the third grant.

The Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG) (for Closed Businesses)
Guidance has been updated with details of grants available during the national restriction period from 5 January 2021, onwards. To check if your business is eligible for a cash grant from your local council for each period under national restrictions, click here.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Find examples to help you calculate your employees' wages
Guidance has been updated with new calculation examples to cover the lookback period and examples to clarify eligibility for the annually paid. For examples to cover the lookback period, click here, and for examples to clarify eligibility for the annually paid, click here.

Changes to the Kickstart Scheme
The government will make it even simpler for employers of all sizes to benefit from joining the scheme by removing the limit requiring they create a minimum of 30 vacancies to apply directly.

• From 3 February 2021, employers can apply directly to the Kickstart scheme for any number of job placements, as the threshold of 30 job placements has been removed.

From 28 January 2021, applications from new Kickstart gateway have closed. Kickstart gateways, already working with the scheme, can continue to add more employers and job placements to their grant agreement.

Guidance for Hauliers
Haulier advice site locations: Guidance has been updated:

• changed closing time for haulier COVID-19 testing sites to 9.30pm;
• South Mimms has been opened for 24-hour testing; and
• To avoid delays, get tested at an advice site before entering Kent or travelling to other Channel crossing points.

For more information on the Haulier advice site, locations, and opening times, click here

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy