Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
UPDATED: The government will pay one-third of the wages of workers on the days they do not work through its new Jobs Support Scheme. Employers will pay the other third and the employee will take a one-third paycut on days not worked.
In effect, this means the government has only committed to covering one-fifth of the wages of small business workers who are working one-third of their normal hours. Small business owners will be expected to cover 55 per cent of wage costs overall on a five-day week, the government 22 per cent — which means the small business employee faces a 23 per cent overall from November 1.
The question remains whether small businesses will be prepared to dig into their pockets to keep workers “fully employed” – even if they are not at work for the majority of the time under the Jobs Support Scheme – or whether it’s easier just to put them on reduced hours.
Accountancy firm Kreston Reeves pointed out that a flaw in the scheme that would leave small businesses that choose to keep three part-time employees working one third of their normal hours facing significantly higher costs than if
Tag Archive for Coronavirus
Hot Business News Today
When No One Sees You Crying
by Ann Peck • • 0 Comments
We cannot deny the emotions that bring tears to the surface. The only thing we can change is how we cope with everything that’s happening.
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Mexico presents an increase in positivity of COVID-19
by Entrepreneur en Español • • 0 Comments
In a conference Hugo López-Gatell commented that this value had increased two percentage points.
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One in 5 Brits want to go into business for themselves since lockdown
by Rory Bennett • • 0 Comments
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
Hot Business News Today
How to get a £30,000 grant for your London-based small business
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
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
Hot Business News Today
Jobs Support Scheme what it means for your small business
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
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
Hot Business News Today
Covid expected to cost small businesses £69bn
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
The effects of COVID-19 could cost businesses £69bn, according to new figures from Simply Business.
That’s an average of £11,799 per business, made up of lost work, earnings and total revenue.
A worrying 67 per cent of businesses said they had to stop trading at some point in the past six months. There could be more to follow, as 14 per cent said that they’re likely to close in the next one to three months, 12 per cent believed they’ll be closed within the next three to six months and 11 per cent within six months to a year.
Small businesses fear a second lockdown with one in five (17 per cent) saying that they wouldn’t survive.
A large proportion of respondents (48 per cent) believed that it will take at least 12 months to recover the money lost due to COVID-19. A significant 12 per cent thought that it would take two to three years.
However, it’s not an entirely gloomy picture. Despite lockdown’s challenges, 85 per cent plan to remain self-employed and ten per cent plan to start businesses. Others have adopted new technologies – 47 per cent are using messaging apps, 33 per cent are
Hot Business News Today
One in 5 Brits want to go into business for themselves since lockdown
by Rory Bennett • • 0 Comments
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
Hot Business News Today
What new Covid restrictions mean for small business
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Boris Johnson outlined the latest set of Covid restrictions this afternoon, significantly tightening laws for small business in England ahead of a second wave.
The latest set of Covid restrictions, which will become law, threaten any small business that does not comply with fines. Shop assistants in retailers could, for example, be fined £200 for not wearing a facemask behind the counter.
Mr Johnson warned that the new regulations, which underpin the rule of six – preventing any more than six people congregating – will be in place for the next six months.
>See also: Rishi Sunak to extend government coronavirus business support
The new clampdown will be a blow to pubs and restaurants, which from Thursday, September 24 have to shut at 10pm. That means close completely, not last orders.
All pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table service only and must close at 10pm
Staff and customers in pubs, bars and other indoor hospitality must wear facemasks when not eating and drinking
Retail staff and all users of taxis and minicabs must wear face coverings
Covid-secure guidelines for retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors will become law. Businesses will be fined and forced to close if they breach the
Hot Business News Today
Covid expected to cost small businesses £69bn
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
The effects of COVID-19 could cost businesses £69bn, according to new figures from Simply Business.
That’s an average of £11,799 per business, made up of lost work, earnings and total revenue.
A worrying 67 per cent of businesses said they had to stop trading at some point in the past six months. There could be more to follow, as 14 per cent said that they’re likely to close in the next one to three months, 12 per cent believed they’ll be closed within the next three to six months and 11 per cent within six months to a year.
Small businesses fear a second lockdown with one in five (17 per cent) saying that they wouldn’t survive.
A large proportion of respondents (48 per cent) believed that it will take at least 12 months to recover the money lost due to COVID-19. A significant 12 per cent thought that it would take two to three years.
However, it’s not an entirely gloomy picture. Despite lockdown’s challenges, 85 per cent plan to remain self-employed and ten per cent plan to start businesses. Others have adopted new technologies – 47 per cent are using messaging apps, 33 per cent are