Please find below the latest Businesses and Employers Bulletin from Government.
This bulletin includes:
Please keep us up to date with how you and your businesses are faring.
Contents
Rules on carrying over annual leave to be relaxed
Workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to COVID-19 will now be able to carry it over into the next 2 leave years. These measures will ensure workers won’t lose their leave entitlements and gives more flexibility to business at a time when it is needed most. Find more information here.
Business Support Outside of Government
The Government is working closely with Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations to support the national response to coronavirus, including ensuring messages from Government are heard by all businesses and that business voices are heard by Government. This link list of organisations you can speak with to get advice. Many of these websites also include sector specific guidance and Q&A.
New Updates and Guidance
Ease of regulations on hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment
By easing regulations, new suppliers and businesses that produce ingredients for hand sanitiser will be able to bring their products to market in a matter of days. Easements will include asking the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities to fast-track PPE through the product safety assessment process and allowing products which lack the CE mark onto the market provided products meet essential safety requirements. Find out more here.
Government amends insolvency law to help companies keep trading while they explore options for rescue
Under the plans, the UK’s Insolvency Framework will add new restructuring tools to give companies breathing space and keep trading while they explore options for rescue. The proposals will also include key safeguards for creditors and suppliers to ensure they are paid. The Insolvency Act will be temporarily suspended specifically to give confidence to directors to continue trading without the threat of personal liability, should the company ultimately fall into insolvency. Find out more here.
Exemptions from Devices regulations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Guidance on the fast-track approval of medical devices during COVID-19 outbreak. In this exceptional situation, MHRA may authorise you to supply a non-CE marked device in the interest of the protection of health.
Closing certain businesses and venues – compliance
This document provides guidance on the closure of certain businesses and venues as part of further social distancing measures. As of 26 March 2020, new Regulations extending the restrictions are now enforceable by law due to the threat to public health. New information on compliance has been added to the guidance.
Intellectual Property Office services
Following the coronavirus outbreak, the Intellectual Property Office have made a number of alterations to their services. This includes alterations to trademarks and designs, patents and interrupted days.
Annual inspection waiver for tank vehicles
Authorisation notice allowing tank vehicles, whose roadworthiness test certificate has been extended, to remain in service on the roads of Great Britain without a valid ADR 1(C) certificate.
Renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
This new guidance provides advice to landlords and tenants on the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, and further advice for landlords, tenants and local authorities more broadly about their rights and responsibilities during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
The Cabinet Office have produced guidance around the frequently asked questions around the coronavirus outbreak that businesses might like to share with their employees. Find more information here.
Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance
Help us reach businesses to urgently raise awareness of available support
We need your help to reach businesses across the UK to urgently raise awareness of the new coronavirus government Business Support campaign and the assistance available. A new toolkit includes content and messaging for you to share on your social media, websites, internal channels and newsletters to amplify campaign messages. The toolkit will help ensure all businesses have the best and most up to date information on the support that is available to them in a fast-moving situation.
Technology challenge to support people who are isolating
£500,000 of funding is available for technology companies who come up with digital support solutions for people who need to stay at home because of coronavirus. Funding of up to £25,000 per company is available. For more information on the programme and how to apply, visit techforce19.uk.
Business Intelligence: share the impact Coronavirus is having on your organisation
We welcome information from businesses on impacts across supply, demand and labour markets, actions to address these impacts, and any gaps in the Government response from your perspective. Please send your intelligence to intel@beis.gov.uk. We are aware that individual company information may be commercially sensitive, and it will be treated accordingly. Please note that this inbox is only for receiving intelligence and does not provide business advice.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Business Intelligence and Readiness Directorate
30 March 2020
