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Last updated Tuesday 16 June 13:30 

 

Reopening as lockdown eases

We advise all businesses to follow government advice when re-opening. They have provided guidance on working safely during coronavirus for the following sectors:

  • construction and other outdoor work
  • factories, plants and warehouses
  • labs and research facilities
  • office and contact centres
  • working in other people’s homes
  • restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
  • shops and branches
  • working in vehicles

View the guidance for advice on:

  • thinking about risk
  • who should go to work
  • social distancing
  • managing your customers
  • visitors and contractors
  • cleaning and sanitising the workplace
  • personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings
  • managing your workforce
  • inbound and outbound goods
  • a downloadable poster to display in your workplace, to show you followed the guidance. "Staying Covid-19 secure in 2020".

We can help you to understand the advice. Contact Health Protection by telephone  0114 2735774 or email healthprotection@sheffield.gov.uk

View government guidance - working safely during coronavirus

 

Business support grants

There are 3 grants available for small businesses in Sheffield:

  • £10,000 for businesses in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief
  • £10,000 for retail, hospitality or leisure businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less
  • £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000

Charities that currently occupy premises that have a rateable value, might be entitled to access a grant of £10,000 or £25,000 per property if it is used for retail, hospitality or leisure.

If you are unsure whether your property falls within retail, hospitality or leisure, refer to the business rates guidance to check.

Apply for a business support grant

 

Sheffield Coronavirus Business Grant Scheme (Discretionary)

This scheme is now closed

If you have already applied and have not yet submitted evidence then you must do this by midnight on Wednesday 17 June.

We are looking to provide an additional scheme in the coming weeks.

 

Business rates holiday

We suspended direct debit payments from businesses from April to June to allow them to adjust to the challenges of Covid 19.

  • many businesses will have no rates to pay in 2020/21. Bills showing these reliefs will be issued in the next few days
  • for businesses with a charge to pay, Direct Debit payments will begin from 1 July. Any businesses that need advice should contact BusinessRatesPayment@Sheffield.gov.uk

Businesses entitled to a rate holiday are:

  • any property in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector
  • Ofsted registered nurseries 

You can contact our business rates service at business.rates@sheffield.gov.uk.


Rent relief for council business and community tenants

We're providing the following support for council renters during the Covid-19 pandemic:

All non-residential council tenants

  • We're suspending arrears enforcement action for an initial 3 month period
  • the Coronavirus Act 2020 protects business tenants against action for re-entry or forfeiture of tenancies for non-payment of rent until 30 June 2020

Covid 19 affects different types of tenants in varying ways. We are taking a range of approaches for all non residential Council tenants.

Rent relief is only available for non-residential council tenants. If you are not a council tenant please do not contact us.

Voluntary/community groups on leases, tenancies or licences with the council

  • we've suspended rents and licence fees until 30 June 2020
  • we'll refund any licence fees for licence agreements that cannot be fulfilled (eg park concessions, pitch bookings etc)

Council tenants of commercial retail, food and beverage and leisure premises

  • we will defer Rents and Service Charges until 30 June 2020 by application
  • we may still issue invoices

Applications for rent support

We'll consider each application on an individual basis. We'll take into account:

  • whether the deferred rent could be paid over a period of time
  • the type of business and its circumstances
  • whether the Government has told it to close
  • or if any general restrictions on businesses or movement have affected it

To apply contact Property Services:

Council tenants of commercial industrial, office and workshop premises

  • rent and Service Charges can be deferred until 30 June 2020 by application
  • the deferred rent will be repaid over a period to be agreed
  • businesses will be expected to make the case for any deferred rent
  • invoicing to continue to deferred payment on a case by case basis

Applications for rent support

We'll assess each application on an individual basis. We'll take into account:

  • the type of business and its circumstances
  • whether the Government has told it to close
  • or if any general restrictions on businesses or movement have affected it

To apply contact Property Services:

 

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Government will help all UK employers by:

  • paying up to 80% of the salaries of employees who would otherwise have been laid off
  • paying up to a capped amount of £2,500 per month

Employees must be registered for PAYE online in order to be furloughed, this can take up to 10 days.

Find out how to claim for your employees' wages.

 

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

You are eligible for a loan if your business:

To apply for a loan you should contact your business bank.

Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

 

Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000.

  • no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months
  • loan terms up to 6 years

You cannot apply if you’re already claiming under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

If you’ve already received a loan of up to £50,000 under CBILS and would like to transfer it into the Bounce Back Loan scheme, you can arrange this with your lender until 4 November 2020

Apply for the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan

 

VAT deferral scheme

Businesses will not need to pay VAT from 20 March 2020 to 30 June 2020. All businesses are eligible and you do not need to apply.

 

Income tax deferral

Income tax self-assessment payments due on 31 July 2020 have been deferred until 31 Jan 2021

 

Statutory Sick Pay Relief

Changes have been made to Statutory Sick Pay so that people suffering from coronavirus can take the necessary time off to stay at home or to prevent it's spread:

  • employers with fewer than 250 employees will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for employees unable to work because of coronavirus
  • this refund will be for up to 2 weeks per employee

 

Support for self-employed people

The Government self-employed scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months.

Find out about government self-empoyment grants

 

Support for charities

The Charity Commission has produced advice for the charity sector.

Charities occupying premises with a rateable value

• you may be entitled to a business support grant if that property is used for retail, hospitality or leisure
• see business support grants for further information
• refer to the Government business rates guidance to check that the nature of your business is eligible

Nurseries run as charities

• you may get support through discount of business rates. This will be applied automatically

Charities with employees

• you can use the coronavirus job retention scheme

Contact Business Sheffield

Ask us a question

0114 224 5000

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