Coronavirus Resources
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing significant difficulties for SMEs, start ups, and other small businesses throughout the sector and across other industries. We’re compiling resources from various sources to help businesses through this difficult and uncertain time. We will keep this page updated so check back regularly, and feel free to share any information you think should be included by emailing marketing@sa.catapult.org.uk
For health advice, please see the NHS website
HMRC assistance
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. For those who are unable to pay due to coronavirus, HMRC will discuss your specific circumstances to explore:
- agreeing an instalment arrangement
- suspending debt collection proceedings
- cancelling penalties and interest where you have administrative difficulties contacting or paying HMRC immediately
HM Government Business Support
For updated news and comprehensive resources, please click here
UKRI supported research
UKRI are continually updating their resources which outline how their funding opportunities are being impacted.
Full details can be found on their website, highlights below:
‘There will clearly be major impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on all existing awards from UKRI. We will work with the many institutions affected to understand the full extent of the issues and we will discuss these with the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy and other government departments.
We are planning that UKRI funding programmes will continue, but we will work to identify any impacts on specific calls or research disciplines. Our funding systems – Je-S, IFS and _connect – are operating as normal. We will review our call deadlines and, if required, extend or reopen calls in light of the impact of coronavirus. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate Council or fund. We will continue to receive and decide quickly on grants relevant to the management and follow-up of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘No-cost’ extension requests to grants impacted by coronavirus will be allowed.’
Innovate UK
Innovate UK has allocated funding to support businesses through the Covid-19 lock-down. Advisers from the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Innovate 2 Succeed (i2s) programme will provide up to five days of free bespoke assistance to businesses that under normal circumstances would be innovating and growing but are currently under stress. If you know of a business that needs help, contact Elaine Kearney on e.kearney@oxin.co.uk.
Catapult Resources
UK based companies
Measures announced by government:
This guidance will assist employers and businesses with advice on:
- the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
- how to help prevent spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19
- what to do if someone in the workplace becomes ill
- advice on sick pay and certification of absence from work resulting from COVID-19
- business support measures on rate relief and loans
House of Common Library – Support for Small Businesses:
- A Coronavirus Business Job Retention Scheme that will see banks HMRC pay 80% of “furloughed” workers wages up to a £2,500 per month cap.
- A new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that will see banks offer loans of up to £5m to support SMEs. The Government will cover the costs of interest on these loans for the first six months.
- Scaling up HMRC Time To Pay service, allowing businesses and the self-employed to defer tax payments over an agreed period of time.
- Tax deferments on both self-assessment tax returns and the quarterly tax return for 20 March-30 June.
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) costs for businesses with fewer than 250 employees will be met by the Government in full for up to 14 days per employee.
- Business Rate Relief for all businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector for one year in 2020-21. Eligible pubs will also be entitled to a business rate discount of £5,000.
- Cash grants worth:
- £25,000 to the smallest businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector.
- £10,000 for all business in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief.
- Launching the Bank of England Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) for large businesses.
Click here for the full resource
ICC: General considerations: Force Majeure clauses in commercial contracts
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses, investors and markets of all size are facing uncertainty. This document outlines general considerations to be taken into account for users involved in commercial contractual relations and compliments ICC’s revised Force Majeure clauses for 2020. Click here to find out more.
ESA – Open Call for Proposals “Space helping UK on COVID-19 and other pandemics”
This Open Call for Proposal, setup in cooperation with the UK Space Agency (UKSA), is calling for activities to facilitate the quick integration and deployment of concrete and sustainable solutions to contribute to help alleviate the stress on the UK healthcare ecosystem provoked by the COVID-19 outbreak, making use of the different advantages provided by space-based products and services.
Northern Ireland
Matrixni.org has set up a collection of resources specifically for companies based in Northern Ireland – click here to visit their site.
European companies
For government-backed resources for startups in Europe impacted by Coronavirus, including grants, loans, and other measures, see this fantastic resource from Sifted.eu – ‘Support measures for startups affected by Coronavirus’
