With so much COVID-19 advice, it’s hard to navigate through everything without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re searching for the latest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, or simply wondering what support has been offered to small businesses and the self-employed, it’s hard to know where to begin.
To make things a little easier, we’ve rounded up an advice ‘hub’ area. Here, you’ll find links to helpful, useful information that will keep you updated and hopefully answer any questions you may have during this difficult time.
Let’s all work together to stay safe.
Following the latest government guidelines, salons will not be reopening in England on the 4th July (salons in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland will also open at a later date). Currently, no dates have been announced for when salons can reopen.
Hairdressers and barbers are reopening in the UK from 4th July. For more information, visit the NHBF’s website.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) is a new scheme designed to enable businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme provides financial support to businesses across the UK that are losing revenue, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. BBLS is available through a range of British Business Bank accredited lenders and partners. To find out more about the scheme, visit the British Business Bank’s website.
If you want to keep up to date with the current number of cases for the virus, head to the GOV.UK website for the correct figures.
For a full breakdown of common symptoms and how to respond if you or someone you live with has symptoms, head over to the NHS website.
Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK (including children) and protecting the elderly and vulnerable people can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Whilst you may not have symptoms yet, it’s incredibly important to self-isolate if you have been in contact with (or live with someone) who has shown symptoms for COVID-19. You can read the full guidance for what self-isolating is and how to do it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
If you are self-isolating due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for SSP. You can check your eligibility here.
As we are updated daily throughout this ever-changing situation, the GOV.UK website is the best source of up-to-date guidance during this time.
Furlough is a leave of absence granted by an employer. Furloughed workers are those that are currently unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK government have set up the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to pay the wages of furloughed workers to avoid redundancies. The scheme has been extended until the end of October, for another 4 months. To find out more about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extension (or furlough scheme) head over to NHBF’s website. For more information on the scheme, please see below:
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a temporary scheme set up by the UK government to support employers whose operations have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a temporary scheme in place since 1st March 2020, which has now been extended for 4 months, until the end of October. It allows employers to claim for 80% of furloughed employees’ usual monthly wage, up to £2,500 a month. For more information or to find out if you are eligible to apply, head to GOV.UK.
During this time, your employees might have a lot of questions you may be finding difficult to answer. For a full break down of advice on the Frequently Asked Questions your employees may be asking, head over to NHBF’s website.
Guidance for people who are self-employed and getting less work or no work because of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found here. For more information on the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, visit GOV.UK.
UPDATED 30th June 2020. ALL INFORMATION CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION.
