Chamber News

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: [email protected]

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 – [email protected]

South Norfolk Council rates team – [email protected]

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 [email protected] 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.

Companies to receive a 3 month extension period to file accounts:

Companies House have announced that businesses will be given an additional 3 months to file accounts to help companies avoid penalties as they deal with the impacts of COVID-19. Full guidance on applying for an extension can be found here.

Protection from eviction for commercial tenants:

Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19 will be protected from eviction. Further details are now available.

VAT Deferral

Further advice has been released in relation to VAT deferral.  Your VAT return should be filed as usual, but in order to ensure your payments are not taken automatically, direct debits (DDs) should be cancelled.  Government advice on VAT deferral can be found here.

UK Government Business Support website:

The UK government is supporting businesses and their employees through a package of measures during this period of unprecedented disruption. The Business Support website helps businesses find the right support, advice and information to help with the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the support measures that are available. This website will continue to be updated as information becomes available. 

EUR1 Update

As from today, 9th April 2020, Mexico have joined Switzerland and Chile in accepting Electronic Signatures on EUR1s.  You can now apply for these online thorugh the e-zCert system as an Express application if you have the blank forms in your office – blank forms can be purchased from us £8.50+VAT (Members), £17+VAT (non-members).  Alternatively you can submit your application as Standard and we will print onto a blank form and post the document out to you.    Negotiations are still ongoing with other Countries to try and get Electronic Signatures accepted during the Coronavirus period.

Force Majeure Certificates – The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce is offering clients facing issues in the movement of goods due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), a Force Majeure Certificate. 

How to Apply

1. Email a letter confirming details of the force majeure circumstances and the scope of non-fulfilment of contractual obligations due to these circumstances, signed by the Company Director to [email protected]
2. This will need to be backed up by documents by the competent authorities or verifiable sources attesting to the existence of the force majeure circumstances – please note this is not required if circumstances are related to COVID-19
3. A draft certificate will be emailed to you for approval
4. The letter on Norfolk Chambers headed paper will be stamped with the Chamber logo stamp and sent off to you

The cost of the Force Majeure Certificate will be £30+VAT for members and £60+VAT for non-members.   

If you have any queries please contact [email protected] or call 01603 729706

Foreign and Commonwealth Office – UPDATE 09.04.20

The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office is providing a limited service at present for legalisation until further notice. If you have any queries please contact Julie Austin on [email protected] regarding any legalisations you may have over the course of the next few weeks.

Pre-signed Movement Documents (ATRs & EUR1s)

Pre-signed movement documents (ATRs & EUR1s) submitted via e-cert will no longer be processed as the office has closed down. These documents could then be processed and ‘issued retrospectively’ when the office re-opens – we will then need transport documents as additional evidence for these applications.

We must stress that any documents posted to Norfolk Chamber of Commerce may not be dealt with in the short term until we can get a redirection in place. If you require to post documents please contact Julie Austin on [email protected] to discuss.

Export Documentation

Documents processed through the e-zCert system will be as follows:

Express Service – any document received by 3pm will be processed and sent back the same day.

Standard Service – any document received by 12 noon will be processed and posted back to you.    Please bear with us if there are any delays in getting the documents back to you in these unusual circumstances.   We would suggest that you get your applications in as early as you can before the document is required so that you have them back in a timely manner.

Businesses must play their part to help limit the spread of Coronavirus.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech last night, Chris Sargisson, CEO of Norfolk Chambers Said:

“As the UK goes into lockdown, ministers must be crystal-clear about which businesses can continue to operate, and those which must now shut their doors.

“The new restrictions make it all the more important that the package of financial support announced by ministers last week is delivered to firms and employees on the ground as quickly as possible.”

The latest government advice on staying at home and social distancing can be found here.

Guidance has been issued on the closure of all retailers that sell non-essential goods and other non-essential premises, as part of further social distancing measures. A full list of the businesses and premises that must remain closed is available. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal. Retail and public premises which expect to remain open must:

• Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants; and
• Let people enter the shop only in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not crowded.
• Queue control is required outside of shops and other essential premises that remain open.

The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible. Everyone is instructed to comply with the rules issued by the government in relation to coronavirus, in order to protect both themselves and others.

On Friday evening, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced a wider package of support for businesses struggling with the impact of the Corona Virus.  Including support to pay employee wages, deferral of VAT and tax.

Below is an outline of the support available, the eligibility criteria and how to apply.

JOB RETENTION SCHEME – UP TO 80% OF WAGE COSTS

Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.

Eligibility: All UK businesses are eligible.

How to access the scheme

You will need to:

• designate affected employees as ‘furloughed workers,’ 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
• 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 will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. HMRC are working urgently to set up a system for reimbursement. Existing systems are not set up to facilitate payments to employers.

DEFERRING VAT AND INCOME TAX PAYMENTS:

The government will support businesses by deferring Valued Added Tax (VAT) payments for 3 months. If you’re self-employed, Income Tax payments due in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2021.

VAT – the deferral will apply from 20 March 2020 until 30 June 2020.

Eligibility: All UK businesses are eligible.

How to access the scheme

This is an automatic offer with no applications required. Businesses will not need to make a VAT payment during this period. Taxpayers will be given until the end of the 2020 to 2021 tax year to pay any liabilities that have accumulated during the deferral period. VAT refunds and reclaims will be paid by the government as normal.

INCOME TAX – For Income Tax Self-Assessment, payments due on the 31 July 2020 will be deferred until the 31 January 2021.

Eligibility: If you are self-employed you are eligible.

How to access the scheme

This is an automatic offer with no applications required.

No penalties or interest for late payment will be charged in the deferral period.

HMRC have also scaled up their Time to Pay offer to all firms and individuals who are in temporary financial distress as a result of Covid-19 and have outstanding tax liabilities.

BUSINESS RATES HOLIDAY FOR RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE BUSINESSES  

We will introduce a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Businesses that received the retail discount in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled by their local authority as soon as possible.

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

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

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

How to access the scheme

There is no action for you. This will apply to your next council tax bill in April 2020. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill automatically to exclude the business rate charge. They will do this as soon as possible.

You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the business rates calculator.

Further guidance for local authorities is available in the expanded retail discount guidance.

CASH GRANTS FOR RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE BUSINESSES 

The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme provides businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant of up to £25,000 per property.

For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, they will receive a grant of £10,000.

For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000, they will receive a grant of £25,000.

Eligibility – You are eligible for the grant if:

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

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
• as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

How to access the scheme

You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.

Guidance for local authorities on the scheme will be provided shortly.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority. Find your local authority.

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES THAT PAY LITTLE OR NO BUSINESS RATES

The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

Eligibility – You are eligible if:

• your business is based in England
• you are a small business and already receive SBBR and/or RRR
• you are a business that occupies property

How to access the scheme

You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.

Guidance for local authorities on the scheme will be provided shortly.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.  Find your local authority.

CORONAVIRUS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION LOAN SCHEME 

A new temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, will launch early next week to support primarily small and medium-sized businesses to access bank lending and overdrafts.

The government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to a per-lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs. The government will not charge businesses or banks for this guarantee, and the Scheme will support loans of up to £5 million in value.

Businesses can access the first 12 months of that finance interest free, as government will cover the first 12 months of interest payments.

Eligibility – You are eligible for the scheme if:

• your business is UK based, with turnover of no more than £45 million per year
• your business meets the other British Business Bank eligibility criteria

How to access the scheme

The full rules of the Scheme and the list of accredited lenders is available on the British Business Bank website. All the major banks will offer the Scheme once it has launched. There are 40 accredited providers in all.

You should talk to your bank or finance provider (not the British Business Bank) as soon as possible and discuss your business plan with them. This will help your finance provider to act quickly once the Scheme has launched. If you have an existing loan with monthly repayments you may want to ask for a repayment holiday to help with cash flow.

The scheme will be available week commencing 23 March.

SUPPORT FOR LARGER FIRMS – CORPORATE FINANCING FACILITY 

Under the new Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility, the Bank of England will buy short term debt from larger companies.

This will support your company if it has been affected by a short-term funding squeeze, and allow you to finance your short-term liabilities.  It will also support corporate finance markets overall and ease the supply of credit to all firms.

Eligibility – All UK businesses are eligible.

How to access the scheme

The scheme will be available early in week beginning 23 March 2020.

We will provide information on how to access the scheme here shortly.

More information is available from the Bank of England.

TAX TIME TO PAY SERVICE 

All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.

These arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to individual circumstances and liabilities.

Eligibility – You are eligible if your business:

• pays tax to the UK government
• has outstanding tax liabilities

How to access the scheme

If you have missed a tax payment or you might miss your next payment due to COVID-19, please call HMRC’s dedicated helpline: 0800 0159 559.

If you’re worried about a future payment, please call them nearer the time.

For full details on all the government support available click here.

NEW ANGLIA GROWTH HUB

Another source of support for your business is the New Anglia Growth Hub.  It is Government funded and ready to offer free advice to all businesses in Norfolk.  If you feel your business has been affected by Coronavirus, whether you are experiencing supply chain issues, order or booking cancellations, a reduction in sales, or any other challenge, contact the Growth Hub to speak to one of our qualified business advisers.

Email [email protected] or telephone 0300 333 6536 (Mon- Fri 9am-5pm)