Chamber News

Results from the second BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that most businesses have not yet successfully accessed the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the grants for small businesses.

• Just 1% of firms had successfully accessed CBILS and 7% are receiving grants
• 57% of firms have three months cash in reserve or less, 6% of respondents have already run out of cash
• 37% of respondents said they were planning to furlough between 75% to 100% of their workforce over the next week

The leading business organisation’s weekly tracker poll, which serves as a barometer of pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received more than 1,000 responses and is the largest independent survey of its kind in the UK.

The second set of polling was conducted from 1-3 April and follows further announcements made by the government to strengthen CBILS and expand support to mid-sized firms.

Access to government support schemes

Businesses continue to report a high level of awareness of the government’s support schemes:

• 59% of businesses knew details about CBILS and 19% planned to use it
• 42% knew details of the grants available for small businesses and 24% planned to use it

However, the Tracker suggests that awareness is not translating into firms successfully accessing these schemes.

Just 1% of respondents had successfully accessed the CBILS last week, with 8% of respondents unsuccessful. The complexity of the application process and a slow or lack of response from the relevant body were cited as reasons for those who were unsuccessful.

It is hoped that the government’s announcements made on 2 April intended to improve access to the scheme will see success rates increase in future weeks.

7% respondents were currently using grants for small businesses, but 14% had been unsuccessful. When asked about the reasons they were unsuccessful:

• 83% said they did not meet the criteria
• 14% said they had a slow or no response from the relevant body
• 8% said there was insufficient information or guidance available

Cash flow concerns

Business’ cash flow, an important indicator of overall economic health, remains an urgent concern. The percentage of firms reporting less than a month’s worth of cash in reserve (16%) and 1 to 3 months’ cash in reserve (41%) has remained broadly unchanged from the previous week.

Of most concern, the percentage of firms reporting no cash in reserve was 6%. B2C firms were more likely to report that they had no cash reserves (10%) compared to B2B firms and manufacturers (both 4%).

The proportion of respondents reporting over 12 months’ cash in reserve remains at 5% despite a significant increase in the number of respondents.

Businesses furloughing employees

37% of respondents said they were planning to furlough between 75% to 100% of their workforce over the next week, up from 32% last week.

The percentage of firms intending to furlough 100% of their staff increased from 17% in our first week’s results to 20% this week.

Commenting on the results, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:

“Our latest data shows that many businesses face a cliff-edge scenario, either at the end of this month or over the course of the next quarter.

“We’ve seen a big jump in the number of firms furloughing staff, and many are now starting to apply for access to government loan and grant schemes to keep themselves afloat. Yet our research suggests that support is only starting to reach firms on the ground.

“We are pleased that the Chancellor is listening and responding to our calls to strengthen the existing support. Improvements to the CBILS scheme should help more businesses get access to the cash they need over the coming days and weeks. This could be the difference between survival and insolvency for many firms.

“It’s vital that governments across the UK continue to work closely with business over the coming days. Every minute counts, and governments, local authorities and banks must do everything in their power to ensure support gets to firms on the front line more quickly.”

Norfolk Chambers recently surveyed the local business community to understand what challenges they were facing and the kind of support that the Chambers could offer them.  With well over 100 businesses responding from a cross-section of the community, the results highlighted that 77% of businesses in our region cited cashflow as their number one challenge at present.

With the recent heavy impact of the Corona Virus on our business community, many businesses have had to ask staff to either work from home, furlough them, or in some instances make them redundant.  The results represented firms employing over 2,200 people between them.  When asked where their staff currently where, as a result of Covid-19, they advised that 43% were still operating within the workplace – these being key workers and predominantly manufacturers.  23% were working from home, with a further 32% furloughed and just 2% had had to make staff redundant.

Other challenges being faced by the business community were:

• Issues accessing the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – with banks currently struggling to cope with high demand and long delays on lending decisions
• Owner/Directors who are paid by dividend – do not currently qualify for any financial support
• Staff employed after 28 February are ineligible for the Jobs Retention Scheme – firms are making redundancies and losing talented individuals
• Lack of clarity and certainty around how to implement to various government support schemes
• Delays in getting business rate grants from local authorities
• Start-up businesses i.e. less than 2 years old are not currently eligible for any support due to lack of published accounts

Commenting on the current crisis being faced by Norfolk’s business community, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:

“We are working hard, in conjunction with the UK-wide Chamber network to ensure that the support mechanisms the government has put in place actually reach those on the ground who need it the most. 

“We continue to lobby Westminster to better understand the challenges being faced by business on a daily basis and urge them to close the obvious gaps, such as parity for Owner/Directors. 

“With regard to CIBLS, more needs to be done by our banks.  Whilst we understand the logistical challenges they are facing, the financial need for many firms is urgent and not something that can wait to be delivered in many weeks or months time.”  

Chancellor strengthens and extends support offer for business

• Current loan scheme extended so more small businesses can benefit
• Lenders banned from requesting personal guarantees on loans under £250,000
• New scheme announced to bolster support for larger firms not currently eligible for loans
• Chancellor emphasises importance of banks moving quickly to support the economy, jobs and businesses

Welcoming Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement on measures to boost financial support for businesses affected by Coronavirus, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:

“We’re pleased that the Chancellor is listening and responding to the real-world concerns of firms across Norfolk who are urgently trying to access financial support.  Improvements to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme will help firms get access to cash more quickly, and the announcement of a new loan scheme for mid-sized companies closes a significant gap in existing support. Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, together with the British Chambers of Commerce, will continue to work with government and the banks to ensure that support reaches businesses at the front line.”

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak is today (Friday 3 April) taking further action to support firms affected by the coronavirus crisis by bolstering business interruption loans for small businesses and announcing a new scheme for larger companies.

More than £90 million of loans to nearly 1,000 small and medium sized firms have been approved under the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) since its launch last week.  And a government-backed scheme to provide financing to larger companies, being operated by the Bank of England, has also provided almost £1.9 billion of support to firms and a further £1.6 billion has been committed. 

To maximise the support available, the Chancellor is extending the CBILS so that all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during this difficult time.

The government is also stopping lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000 and making operational changes to speed up lending approvals. The government will continue to cover the first twelve months of interest and fees.

The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will ensure that more firms are able to benefit from government-backed support during this difficult time. It will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45 million and £500 million. This will give banks the confidence to lend to more businesses which are impacted by coronavirus but which they would not lend to without CLBILS. Loans backed by a guarantee under CLBILS will be offered at commercial rates of interest and further details of the scheme will be announced later this month.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, said:

“We are making great progress on getting much-needed support out to businesses to help manage their cashflows during this difficult time – with millions of pounds of loans and finance being provided to hundreds of firms across the country.

“And now I am taking further action by extending our generous loan scheme so even more businesses can benefit. We have also listened to the concerns of some larger businesses affected by COVID-19 and are announcing new support so they can benefit too.

“This is a national effort and we’ll continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the £330 billion of government support, through loans and guarantees, reaches as many businesses in need as possible.”

The Chancellor will be speaking to bank Chief Executives next week to discuss how the schemes are working and ensure everybody is playing their part.

There have now been over 130,000 enquiries from businesses across the country for business interruption loans, according to latest figures from UK Finance. Some 983 businesses have had finance approved, while banks are processing thousands of loan applications – and scheme changes made today will help them approve loans for the smallest businesses as quickly as possible.

For loans over £250,000, personal guarantees will be limited to just 20% of any amount outstanding on the CBILS lending after any other recoveries from business assets.  Lenders were already prohibited from asking business owners to put their house on the line, but today’s changes will provide further reassurance regarding personal assets during this difficult time.

This will apply to finance already offered under the scheme, to ensure that all business owners receive the same level of government protection.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma MP said:

 “The coronavirus pandemic represents a challenge to businesses unlike any other they have faced before and we are determined to support them through this difficult time.  

 “The changes we are making to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will make it easier for business to access the lending we have put in place, helping them to continue trading and protect the livelihoods of their staff.”

Last week, the Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, wrote to banks asking them to support small and medium-sized enterprises in any way they can. This included ensuring interest rates offered to struggling businesses are reasonable and to pass on the benefit of the Government guarantee to those borrowing under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Take a look at  guidance for UK businesses from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which sets out the details and eligibility criteria for two funding schemes:

• the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF); and
• the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF)

(This was updated yesterday and applies only to England)

VAT Deferral

Last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that there will be a deferral of VAT due to be paid between 20 March 2020 until 30 June 2020 (see link below).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

This essentially means that businesses will automatically qualify to defer payment of the VAT due on their VAT returns for the VAT periods ending February, March or April 2020 until 31/3/2021, although VAT refunds and reclaims will be paid by HMRC as usual.

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership have now added a jobs page onto their website.  The page compiles vacancies with organisations trying to recruit additional staff to continue to operate during the current Covid-19 situation across the East Anglia region.

Vacancies include those at supermarkets, such as Tescos, Morrisons, Aldi and East of England Co-op; food producers such as Bernard Matthews; various vacancies in the care sector, and fruit and crop picking and packing.

Visit vacancies page now.

If you would like more information about adding your vacancies to this page, please contact Natasha Waller on: 07384 253 355 or email: Natasha.waller@newanglia.co.uk

The funding from government to local authorities for business rates relief and small business grants is starting to filter through.  However the local authorities are taking slightly different approaches as to how the funding is being issued to the recipients.  Looking at their websites, we have compiled below the headlines from each local authority.

Please note that as more updates are received from government, the below information may change, please visit the relevant local authority websites for the latest information.

Breckland Council

https://www.breckland.gov.uk/article/14041/Business-Rates-and-Grants

Breckland Council are trying to prepare as much as possible to enable us to deal with the changes and distribution as quickly as they can when they are able to release these payments. 

The grants will be paid out based on the business occupying the relevant property on 11 March 2020. Any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back.

If you think you may be entitled to a grant, please complete their online form

Business Rates Holidays

Government have introduced a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Businesses within these industries do not need to do anything and will be applied to your next bill for April 2020. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill automatically to exclude the business rate charge

Broadland Council & South Norfolk Council

https://www.broadland.gov.uk/downloads/file/5934/covid-19_business_support_faqs

https://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-information/business-support

Q: What support is there for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates?

A: The Government will introduce a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020-21 tax year.

 Eligibility – You are eligible for the business rates holiday if:

• your business is based in England, AND

• your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector.

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be those that are wholly or mainly being used: Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

• as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues,

• for assembly and leisure: or

• for hospitality such as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

Further details on eligibility are set out in the expanded retail discount guidance. Businesses that received the retail discount in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled by the Council as soon as possible.

For qualifying hospitality and leisure businesses you do not need to do anything.  If we consider you are eligible for this rates holiday the Council is already in the process of awarding the discounts and issuing revised bills.  

If you believe you should qualify and haven’t heard from us by 10 April please email: nndr@s-norfolk.gov.uk

Q: I am struggling with my business rates, what should I do?

A: If you are not able to pay your business rates please contact the business rates team as soon as possible.  The sooner the conversation is started they may be able to assist with rescheduling payment dates.

Broadland District Council rates team – business.rates@broadland.gov.uk

South Norfolk Council rates team – nndr@s-norfolk.gov.uk

Great Yarmouth Borough Council

https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/business-rates

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is sending letters this week to about 3,000 local businesses which are eligible for the Government’s business relief grants.

This will go to your premises address or (where different) your correspondence address for business rates. If you are eligible, please complete the online form – HERE. The council will administer and pay out the grants as soon as possible.

The council is working closely with New Anglia LEP, other local councils and business groups to ensure our local businesses get the support they are entitled to.  

If you have any immediate concerns, then please get in touch. Lots of information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice is available HERE on their website which is being kept updated daily.

Please follow the enterpriseGY Twitter account, where rolling updates and information on business support, grants, reliefs and job vacancies are being published.

King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council

https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/businessrateshelp

The form to verify your details for the Small Business Grant or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant is now available. The Borough Council are now working through the list of eligible ratepayers and starting to pay the grant.  Grants paid on 31 March 2020 will show on your bank statement as ‘Bus Grant’ followed by your Business Rates account reference.

The Borough Council have now received the guidance on Business Rates Relief and are busy identifying affected businesses so that we can update accounts and send revised bills to our customers. There is no need for you to contact them or complete any application forms – they will do everything for you.

North Norfolk District Council

https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/tasks/business-and-trade/business-rates/frequently-asked-questions-business-rates-and-coronavirus/

When I am going to hear about getting help with a grant to support my business and how much will it be?

North Norfolk District Council are currently working on identifying businesses which will be eligible for the grants. A one-off grant of £10,000 to support small businesses currently eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) or rural rate relief.

If your business is in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector in England, then you may be entitled to a cash grant. If you have a property with a rateable value of less than £15,000 then you will be entitled to a grant of £10,000, whether or not you are entitled to small business rate relief or rural rate relief.

If your business is in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector. If you have a property with a rateable value of between £14,999 and £51,000, then you will be entitled to a cash grant of £25,000.

NNDC will be contacting customers and asking them to complete an online form to confirm they have the correct occupier and the business is still trading. Once they have the information back, this will be checked and grants awarded.  They are looking to make payments to customers in early April.

Norwich City Council

https://www.norwich.gov.uk/info/20399/coronavirus_covid-19_latest_information_and_advice/3558/support_for_businesses_paying_business_rates

Business rates relief

You don’t need to take any action. Norwich City will identify businesses that are entitled to the discount and will send a revised bill as soon as possible.

Grants

Norwich City are asking all eligible businesses to complete our online form to ensure they have all the correct details to enable them to process their payment.

Business grant scheme form

Not sure if you are eligible for a grant? Make sure by reading through these FAQs.

Business rates collection

Norwich City understand that this a challenging time for many businesses, but we do expect those that can afford to maintain their direct debit or payment plans to keep up with their payments.

However, to support businesses that may be struggling at this time, they will not be taking any enforcement action.

In the short-term, Norwich City are proposing to introduce some flexible payment plans where their customers can opt to start their payments for the new 2020/21 charge period in June rather than April.  Please email revenues@norwich.gov.uk to request a change to your payment plan.

Norfolk Chambers is supporting the Norfolk business community – keeping you up to date and working hard to get further clarity on the various business support options.  We will continue to listen to you and ensure that your voice is heard across both the region and nationally.

Last week was all about us ensuring that the government’s key messages and their rapidly evolving support schemes were clearly visible to the Norfolk business community.  Our remit this week is to ensure that the support schemes available are operating in the way they are meant to and that the necessary support is getting through to those businesses who need it.

The impact of COVID-19 means that the current times are both challenging and unprecedented.  Many businesses are having to operate in radically new ways, facing challenges that they just did not anticipate and many are also trying to make a huge difference in the fight against the virus.

We want to ensure that Norfolk Chambers supports the business community in the most effective and useful ways and have designed a brief poll to help us to understand how best to help.  Make sure your voice is heard and listened to – take the poll now.

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More information has been made available on the package of support for businesses that the government has put in place.  Further clarification on the Jobs Retention Scheme and some temporary changes to the insolvency rules that will help those firms experiencing difficulties.

Jobs Retention Scheme

• government to cover employer National Insurance and pension contributions of furloughed workers – on top of 80% of salary
• those furloughed can volunteer for the NHS without risking their pay

Businesses furloughing staff during the coronavirus outbreak will receive further financial support – with the costs of employer national insurance and pension contributions being covered by the government.  Under the scheme, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to a cap of £2,500 a month.

In a move that could save businesses an extra £300 a month for each employee under the scheme,the government will now cover the employer national insurance and minimum auto-enrollment pension scheme contributions employers pay on the wages they must pay their furloughed staff – on top of the wages covered under the scheme.

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 that mirror the USA’s Chapter 11 procedure, a well-established model adopted by countries around the world.  This includes:

• A moratorium for companies giving them breathing space for from creditors enforcing their debts for a period of time whilst they seek a rescue or restructure;
• Protection of their supplies to enable them to continue trading during the moratorium; and;
• A new restructuring plan, binding creditors to that plan

The proposals will also include key safeguards for creditors and suppliers to ensure they are paid, while existing laws against fraudulent trading and the threat of director disqualification will continue to act as an effective deterrent against reckless misuse of these new measures.

Wrongful trading provisions

The Government will also temporarily suspend the wrongful trading provisions to give company directors greater confidence to use their best endeavours to continue to trade during this pandemic emergency, without the threat of personal liability, should the company ultimately fall into insolvency.

The proposals will also include key safeguards for creditors and suppliers to ensure they are paid, while existing laws against fraudulent trading and the threat of director disqualification will continue to act as an effective deterrent against reckless misuse of these new measures.

In addition, while laws against fraudulent trading and director misconduct will continue to provide a deterrent against poor practices, wrongful trading provisions in 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.

Norfolk Chambers are hearing from many businesses with lots questions about the new Jobs Retention Scheme and how is works.  Below is a guide of what we know so far, that will hopefully answer some of the questions.  But please be aware that there is more information to come from Government.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

What is it?

Government grants will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers, up to a total of £2,500 a month. The scheme, open to any employer in the country, will cover the cost of wages backdated to March 1st and will be open before the end of April for at least 3 months. 

The employer can choose to fund the differences between the grant and an employee’s salary but does not have to.

Am I eligible?

All UK businesses are eligible

What do I need to do to access it?

You will need to:

• Designate affected employees as furloughed workers (when staff members are required to take an unpaid leave of absence) and notify your employees of this change – changing the status of employees remains subject to existing employment law and, depending on the employment contract, may be subject to negotiation. Workersshould not undertake work while they are ‘furloughed’.

• Submit information to HMRC about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings through a new online portal (HMRC will set out further details on the information required).

HMRC are currently working to set up a system for reimbursement as existing systems are not set up to facilitate payments to employers.If your business needs short term cash flow support, you may be eligible for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan.

Who do I need to speak to?

HMRC. This scheme is currently expected to open by the end of April.

The Norfolk Chambers and the rest of the UK Chamber network have been compiling the business questions with the British Chambers of Commerce – here is the most Frequently Asked Questions: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme FAQs.

As the Coronavirus continues to impact the day-to-day operations of businesses across our region, Norfolk Chambers stand ready to support you. Working with the British Chambers of Commerce, we need to hear from you about how your business is coping. Given the rapid pace of developments, we now need to understand the immediate short terms impacts on your business. We are in constant contact with the UK Government and Bank of England as business support packages have been developed. In this 2-3 minute poll: – Covid-19 Business Tracker – please tell us the immediate business conditions you are facing and whether your business is aware of or has used the recently announced support packages from government. Your input is essential to our work on behalf of your business. We intend to seek your views over the next few weeks to track progress. As a business leader, your views have never been more important.

Take the poll now.

Millions of self-employed individuals will receive direct cash grants though a UK-wide scheme to help them during the coronavirus outbreak, the Chancellor announced today.

In the latest step to protect individuals and businesses, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has set out plans that will see the self-employed receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least 3 months.

Millions of people across the UK could benefit from the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, with those eligible receiving a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years. This covers 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment.

Cleaners, plumbers, electricians, musicians, hairdressers and many other self-employed people who are eligible for the new scheme will be able to apply directly to HMRC for the taxable grant, using a simple online form, with the cash being paid directly into people’s bank account.

The scheme will be open to those with a trading profit of less than £50,000 in 2018-19 or an average trading profit of less than £50,000 from 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.  To qualify, more than half of their income in these periods must come from self-employment.

To minimise fraud, only those who are already in self-employment and meet the above conditions will be eligible to apply. HMRC will identify eligible taxpayers and contact them directly with guidance on how to apply. 

Individuals should not contact HMRC now. HMRC will use existing information to check potential eligibility and invite applications once the scheme is operational.

For full information on the Chancellor’s announcement click here.

Grant Applications – FAQ for the Self Employed

HMRC’s tax helpline is changing

HMRC has a set up a phone helpline to support businesses and self-employed people concerned about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus. The tax helpline number is changing. You can now call them on 08000 241222. Opening hours are from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Calls to the old helpline number will be redirected automatically.

 Business Rates Expanded Retail Discount

Guidance on the operation of expanded retail discount 2020 to 2021 has been updated so that certain properties previously excluded from the relief, but that have been the forced to close as a result of coronavirus restrictions, will now be eligible for the relief. Many high street businesses that have closed due to Covid-19 restrictions will now be exempt from business rates including retail, leisure, and hospitality properties, estate agents, lettings agencies and bingo halls.

 Vehicle owners to be granted MOT exemption in battle against coronavirus

Temporary exemption will enable vital services to continue, frontline workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine. Further information can be found here.

 Producing hand sanitiser and gel for coronavirus (COVID-19)

HMRC have produced guidance on temporary changes to the use and supply of denatured alcohol and duty-free spirits, to help businesses who produce hand sanitiser and gel. All guidance on the production and supply of hand sanitiser can be found here.

 Government launches Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp

The UK Government has launched a GOV.UK Coronavirus Information service on WhatsApp. The new free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice. To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started. Further information can be found here.

 Hotel accommodation to support key workers and vulnerable people

Guidance has been updated to clarify the exemption for hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to open so they can offer accommodation to key workers and support rough sleepers to keep them off the streets and in suitable accommodation. Further guidance can be found here.