National Lockdown
Following the recent confusion about the National lockdown rules and the contradictory press interviews by several ministers and their departments, the Government has updated its guidance for England on what we can and cannot do. Whether this makes matters clearer we will have to wait and see.
The welcome news is the fact that more than 3.4 million people have now received the first dose of a vaccine and nearly 50 per cent of the over 80’s.
The current lockdown rules can be found here:
- England: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
- Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/
- Wales: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
- Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you
Kickstart Scheme grant
If you are an employer looking to create 29 or less job placements for young people, you can apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme. The Government has added information to its guidance about how to add new job placements to the grant agreement in ‘After you have applied’.
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-29-or-less-job-placements
There is also updated information for organisations who want to be a Kickstart gateway and help employers apply for the Kickstart Scheme with information about how to add new job placements or employers to the grant agreement in ‘After you have applied’
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-employers-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-kickstart-gateway
If you are an employer looking to create 30 or more job placements, the updated guidance can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-30-or-more-job-placements
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension – new YouTube video
You can watch HMRC videos to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus. A new YouTube video about the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension has been made available.
Click on the image or visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-if-your-business-is-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19
Job Retention Scheme – Claiming for more than 100 employees
HMRC have updated their template if your clients are claiming for 100 or more employees through the CJRS. Complete a template with the details of the employees you are claiming for and upload this when you claim.
Working in England if you are a senior executive bringing significant economic benefit to the UK
Exemption from quarantine for senior executives bringing significant economic benefit to the UK was suspended as of 4am on Monday 18 January 2021.
Closing certain businesses and venues in England
This guidance sets out restrictions on certain businesses and venues in England during National Lockdown.
There is updated guidance for business closures in line with the latest government guidance.
Travel corridors and pre-travel testing – England
Emergency measures have been introduced at the border to be in place for at least one month in order to protect the UK against new variants.
The list of countries, territories and regions from where people can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate is now suspended.
From this week, if travellers do not present proof of a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test result, they may not be able to board to travel to England and could be fined £500 on arrival. Anyone arriving from the 18th January must self-isolate for 10 days and complete a passenger locator form.
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors
If you have any concerns or queries relating to you and your business, please contact Mariske Byrnes or your usual BM Connect adviser.
