Monthly Archives: September 2020

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One in 5 Brits want to go into business for themselves since lockdown

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Originally written by Rory Bennett on Small Business
One in five Britons have either started a new business since lockdown or plan to start one by the beginning of 2021.
According to Direct Line, the most popular sectors to have started a new business are IT and web design (21 per cent), engineering (14 per cent), building/property (8 per cent), education/ training (8 per cent), retail/wholesale (6 per cent) and business/management consultancy (4 per cent).
The surge to start a new business comes as people have come off furlough since lockdown, often to find themselves unemployed.
The Bank of England estimates that unemployment will spike at 2.5m by the end of this year, with the unemployment rate almost doubling to 7.5 per cent. Over 730,000 people have become unemployed since March according to Office of National Statistics.
Research suggests that young people, aged between 18-34, are hardest hit by the pandemic, but 48 per cent have become or intend to be entrepreneurs.
Of the kitchen-table entrepreneurs who have not yet started their venture, 19 per cent hope to have it up and running by the beginning of 2021.
The survey is supported by Companies House data, which showed that more than three times the average number of

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How to get a £30,000 grant for your London-based small business

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Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Today the Mayor of London launches the £1m London Resilience Fund for businesses (including small firms), social enterprises and community groups who are based in the capital.
Funding of up to £30,000 from the £1m pot will be given to projects that develop innovative solutions to environmental and economic solutions facing London’s economy.
This could be an initiative to:

Boost supply chain resilience
Build businesses operational resilience
Tackle inequality
Address food insecurity
Improve health and wellbeing
Improve air quality and tackle climate change

To find out more information, please contact innovation@london.gov.uk.
The London Business Hub also provides a range of free support and funding opportunities to SMEs from all sectors. It includes an online portal where they can get advice on business rates, landlord negotiations, navigate government support schemes and recover reduced revenue streams.
Through a partnership with the Business School (formerly Cass Business School), firms will receive extra support and access one-on-one tailored advice with the Hub’s team of business advisers. A peer-to-peer network has been set up where business owners can discuss the difficulties they’re having.
The hub aims to help with the double blow of COVID-19, a potential no-deal Brexit and other future emergencies.
Sadiq Khan said: “The coronavirus pandemic has hit London’s

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Jobs Support Scheme what it means for your small business

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Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
UPDATED: The government will pay one-third of the wages of small business workers on reduced hours through its new Jobs Support Scheme.
Rishi Sunak announced the six-month Jobs Support Scheme to follow on from the coronavirus furlough scheme and begins on November 1.
Employees must work at least one third of their normal hours and be paid as normal. The government will then top up, covering one-third of pay lost by reducing hours, the business owner will cover another third and the employee will take a 33 per cent pay cut.
The level of government grant will be calculated based on an employee’s usual salary, capped at £697.92 per month.
>See also: Rishi Sunak eyes subsidising wages of part-time workers
Only full-time staff will be eligible for the Jobs Support Scheme.
The Jobs Support Scheme is designed to support full-time staff where there is not enough demand to justify them working a five-day week.
Mr Sunak told MPs he would strike the finely judged balance between managing the virus and protecting “the jobs and livelihoods” of people across the country.
The chancellor previously made clear he did not want to extend the £39bn furlough scheme to keep people in so-called “zombie

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