Southwark Council Support for businesses and employers
The government has set out temporary measures with packages available for businesses. These have been put together to help you deal with COVID-19 and its effect on your organisation.Information on how to access these packages will be kept updated – please check back regularly.
To contact the council about support available or issues affecting your business please email SouthwarkBusinessDesk@southwark.gov.uk
Further detail of the support available is available on the government website.
Your businesses may be entitled to the following:
| Support | Eligibility | Benefit | How to access |
| Job retention scheme | All businesses unable to pay staff due to the impact of COVID-19 | The government will provide grants to employers to pay 80% of wages for employees not working, up to £2,500 a month. Payments will be backdated to 1 March 2020. | From HMRC – detail to follow |
| VAT deferral | All businesses | The next quarter of VAT payments will be deferred to June 2020 | From HMRC – detail to follow |
| Statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs | Businesses with <250 employees | SMEs will be able to reclaim 2 weeks Statutory Sick Pay per employee for sickness absence due to COVID-19 | Direct from government – detail to follow |
| Business Rate Relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses | All retail, leisure and hospitality businesses | 100% relief on all business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year | From the council – detail to follow You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the government’s business rates calculator. |
| Grants for small-medium retail, leisure and hospitality businesses | Retail, leisure and hospitality business in properties with rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 | £25,000 cash grant | From the council – detail to follow |
| Grants for all business in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief | Businesses receiving Small Business Rate Relief | £10,000 cash grant | From the council – detail to follow |
| Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme | Primarily small and medium sized businesses which meet the British Business Bank eligibility criteria and are seeking loans of up to £5 million | The government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on loans of up to £5 million, with no interest for the first year | Businesses can access the Loan through banks. Contact your bank or finance provider to find out more. The full rules of the Scheme are available on the British Business Bank website. |
| COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility | Large businesses experiencing a short-term funding squeeze | The Bank of England will buy short term debt from large businesses to allow them to fund short-term liabilities | Detail on how to access this facility to follow More information is available from the Bank of England |
| HMRC Time To Pay Scheme | All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress and in tax arrears | Support with tax affairs and extra time to pay tax bills | From HMRC If you have missed a tax payment or if you might miss your next payment due to COVID-19, call HMRC’s dedicated helpline: 0800 0159 559. |
Support to employees affected by redundancy
The government has announced a job retention scheme which will pay 80% of wages for employees not working due to the impact of COVID-19.
The council’s Southwark Works employment support service is available to provide friendly and professional advice to residents on any employment and training needs. Residents can contact Southwark Works at info@southwarkworks.org.uk or call 020 7740 8200.
Southwark residents facing hardship due to COVID-19 may be entitled to the following:
| Support | Eligibility | Support offer | How to access |
| Southwark Emergency Support Scheme | Southwark residents who: have had their income severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis are over 16 are receiving Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Guaranteed Pension Credit | The council has made changes to the scheme so that those affected by COVID-19 can get urgent support. We normally provide goods or services such as food vouchers or help with your energy bills. | Apply for emergency support You can contact the Southwark Emergency Support Scheme team at 020 7525 2434 |
| Southwark Hardship Fund | Southwark residents who: are over 16 are receiving disability related benefits | The Hardship Fund can support people in debt with household bills including gas, electricity and water, rent and council tax | Apply for emergency support You can contact the Southwark Emergency Support Scheme team at 020 7525 2434 |
Source: Southwark Council website.
Disclaimer: Please here for new updates, the information shown in this page is correct as of Monday 23rd March 2020.
Posted in Coronavirus-Covid-19