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COVID-19 – AD industry Bulletin

COVID-19 – AD industry Bulletin

Important information about COVID-19 and our industry

Utilities are listed as a critical sector, covering:

  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Water (including sewerage)
  • Waste disposal

Employers in these sectors should confirm with their staff whether they are critical workers and are encouraged to think carefully before identifying staff as key workers
All critical workers should be encouraged to keep their children home where possible and safe.

 

Driving tests and MOTs for heavy vehicles suspended

The DVLA are suspending driving tests for up to 3 months except for critical workers, and MOTs for lorries, buses and trailers are also suspended for 3 months. Further details can be found here. Guidance on drivers’ hours relaxations has also been published. 

 

Support currently available most relevant to ADBA members throughout the AD industry, including support services

UK

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for businesses with a turnover of no more than £45 million per year supports with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to six years:

  • The government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees
  • The scheme will be delivered through commercial lenders backed by the Government-owned British Business Bank
  • There are 40 accredited lenders able to offer the scheme
  • Your business must meet other British Business Bank eligibility criteria
  • To apply, you should talk to your bank or one of the 40 accredited finance providers (not the British Business Bank) as soon as possible, to discuss your business plan

 

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for all UK employers with a PAYE scheme provides access to support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis:

  • HMRC will reimburse 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 per month to safeguard workers from being made redundant
  • It will cover the cost of wages backdated to March 1st and is initially open for 3 months, but will be extended if necessary
  • Affected employees will need to be designated as ‘furloughed workers’ and must be notified of the change – this is subject to existing employment law and, depending on the contract, may be subject to negotiation
  • Once the new online portal is live, information about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings must be submitted to HMRC

 

Small Business Grant Funding to provide £10,000 grants to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief, rural rate relief and tapered relief:

  • Rateable value below £15,000

 

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate to allow small and medium-sized businesses (<250 employees as of Feb-20) to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for staff sickness absence due to coronavirus:

  • This refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of coronavirus

 

Time to Pay supports businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities with their tax affairs

VAT deferral supports businesses by deferring VAT payments for 3 months

Deferral of Self-Assessment payment may defer the Self-Assessment payment ordinarily due to be paid to HMRC by 31 July 2020 until January 2021

Self-Employed Income Support Scheme to provide 80% of income based on an average of the past 3 years of tax returns:

  • HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme with details on how to apply

 

Increased amount of Universal Credit

 

NI

Small Business Grant of £10,000 to be issues immediately to all businesses with an NAV up to £15,000

Full package of measures available

 

Wales

Businesses with a rateable value of £12,000 or less will get a business grant of £10,000

A three-month capital repayment holiday to all customers of the Development Bank of Wales

Full package of measures available

 

Scotland

Full package of measures available

Help with non-domestic rates

Businesses based in Scotland can use the business support finder to identify what support is on offer for them

 

Please share the impact Coronavirus is having on your organisation

We are collating impacts and issues that have arisen for our industry as a result of COVID-19 and are escalating concerns with the relevant government department and/or regulator. Please send your feedback to sam.hinton@adbioresources.org.

In addition, BEIS have asked for information from businesses on impacts across supply, demand and labour markets, actions to address these impacts, and any gaps in the Government response. We are sharing industry wide concerns but if you would like to share your individual circumstances to add to their evidence, please send your intelligence to intel@beis.gov.uk. They 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.

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