Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Businesses and Employers Bulletin 8 April 2020

[Nigel Burtt]

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Businesses and Employers Bulletin 8 April 2020 This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides information for employers and businesses on Coronavirus (COVID-19). Organisations should pay particular attention to the business support information on gov.uk. Contents Additional guidance on social distancing in the workplace Transport and travel guidance COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme HMRC COVID-19 webinars New Updates and Guidance Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance   Additional guidance on social distancing in the workplace To support businesses that remain open during this period in England, the government has published additional guidance to assist employers, businesses and their staff in staying open safely during coronavirus (COVID-19). For specific settings please refer to sector specific guidance. Guidance has been published for: Shops running a pick-up or delivery service Tradespeople and working in people’s homes Construction Manufacturing and processing businesses Retail Logistics businesses Outdoor businesses Farming: visiting farms for animal health and welfare Fishing or other short-term offshore work Cargo-shipping or other long-term offshore work Transport businesses Waste management businesses For advice for business in other nations of the UK please see guidance set by the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. These guidelines are not intended to be comprehensive or to represent every business’s situation, but are illustrative examples. Businesses should also look at the advice being published by trade associations and similar groups on how to apply government guidance in their sector. Read the general guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus.   Transport and travel guidance A new hub on gov.uk brings together Information for people using transport or working in the transport sector during the Coronavirus outbreak. This includes information on: Using public transport Driving private vehicles - cars, vans, motorbikes Bus and lorry drivers Freight, bus and road transport businesses Transport workers Maritime and shipping Aviation and flying Overseas travel   COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme At Budget 2020 the Chancellor announced details about a new coronavirus (COVID-19) Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme. This scheme will allow small and medium sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying Statutory Sick Pay to their employees. HMRC has published new online guidance which includes information about who can use the scheme and the records employers must keep. HMRC is working urgently to set up a system for reimbursement. Existing systems are not set up to facilitate payments to employers. Details about when the new Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme can be accessed and when employers can make a claim, will be announced as soon as possible. HMRC will continue to update employers and the new GOV.UK guidance when these details are available.   HMRC COVID-19 webinars HMRC are delivering a programme of webinars on the measures to support employers, people and self-employed individuals through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.  You can watch a video of the recorded webinar on the HMRC YouTube channel Coronavirus (COVID-19): helping employers to support employees. You can also register to attend a free webinar to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus by registering here.   New Updates and Guidance New Coronavirus (COVID-19) information leaflet Leaflet on what to do to help stop the spread of coronavirus, including information on symptoms and government support. Tourism Minister launches £1.3 million fund to support Destination Management Organisations Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston has launched a new emergency fund to support Destination Management Organisations in England at risk of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 7 April 2020 Updates Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules: all sectors carriage of goods by road Anyone driving under the EU drivers’ hours rules or the GB drivers’ hours rules and undertaking carriage of goods by road can use the relevant relaxation where necessary. The relaxations are not limited to specific sectors or journeys. These two temporary relaxations will run until 23:59 on Tuesday 21 April 2020. Apprenticeship programme response This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of Coronavirus. The guidance has been updated with new information on continuing training and end point assessment for furloughed apprentices, and pausing new funding audits. MHRA guidance on coronavirus Guidance for industry covering the Coronavirus outbreak. Added link to Guidance for manufacturers and Good Practice (GxP) laboratories on exceptional flexibilities for maintenance and calibration during the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the Inspections and Good Practice section. Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, anyone wishing to export personal protective equipment (PPE) to areas outside the EU, European Free Trade Association member states and certain other territories will temporarily need a PPE export licence. The guidance has been updated with a link to a question and answer document by the EU.   Requests for Business Intelligence and Assistance Can your business offer coronavirus (COVID-19) support? UK Government is looking for businesses who can offer support in the multiple areas and has set up an online tool where businesses can register. To find the list of areas and offer support click here. Business Intelligence: share the impact Coronavirus is having on your organisation  We welcome information from businesses on impacts across supply, demand and labour markets, actions to address these impacts, and any gaps in the Government response from your perspective. Please send your intelligence to in...@beis.gov.uk. We are aware that individual company information may be commercially sensitive, and it will be treated accordingly.  Please note that this inbox is only for receiving intelligence and does not provide business advice.     Some aspects of business support are devolved. Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is available.   In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support - including schemes to help businesses through the current situation. Find your local Growth Hub here.  All previous Coronavirus Bulletins can be found here. Please note the information in previous bulletins was accurate on the date it was published and will not be updated.  Guidance, information and announcements on all aspects of Coronavirus can be found at GOV.UK.      Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy  Business Intelligence and Readiness Directorate        8 April 2020   You are receiving this bulletin because you have previously subscribed to this bulletin, the Industrial Strategy Bulletin or the Business Readiness Bulletin. Update your subscription preferences.  If you have been forwarded this bulletin, you can subscribe to receive them directly. After adding your email address click add subscriptions, tick the newsletter box and then click next.