Tag Archive for Coronavirus

Insurers pay out nearly 40% of expected £1.2bn SME Covid bill

Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Insurers have paid out on less than half of estimated business interruption loan claims since the Supreme Court tipped in favour of SMEs.
The test case weighed up whether SMES that claimed on business interruption insurance for pandemic-related losses should be entitled to it.
>See also: Small firms win pay-outs in Covid business interruption insurance ruling
More than 10,000 UK policyholders have received some money since the Supreme Court ruling in January, with the total topping £470m. However, thousands are still waiting for an answer, even though the court ruled that decisions should be made quickly.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released the first batch of claims data this week, based on admissions from insurers. It set out how many claims relating to the case had been accepted and repaid.
The regulator’s preliminary assessment last June showed that the total claims from this test case could be £1.2bn. It made clear that this was not a firm estimate and was set out before the Supreme Court’s ruling.
For 8,177 of the claims, where final settlements have been agreed and paid, a total of £280m had been paid out, according to the FCA. For the 2,030 claims that hadn’t been

Read more...

Insurers pay out nearly 40% of expected £1.2bn SME Covid bill

Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Insurers have paid out on less than half of estimated business interruption loan claims since the Supreme Court tipped in favour of SMEs.
The test case weighed up whether SMES that claimed on business interruption insurance for pandemic-related losses should be entitled to it.
>See also: Small firms win pay-outs in Covid business interruption insurance ruling
More than 10,000 UK policyholders have received some money since the Supreme Court ruling in January, with the total topping £470m. However, thousands are still waiting for an answer, even though the court ruled that decisions should be made quickly.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released the first batch of claims data this week, based on admissions from insurers. It set out how many claims relating to the case had been accepted and repaid.
The regulator’s preliminary assessment last June showed that the total claims from this test case could be £1.2bn. It made clear that this was not a firm estimate and was set out before the Supreme Court’s ruling.
For 8,177 of the claims, where final settlements have been agreed and paid, a total of £280m had been paid out, according to the FCA. For the 2,030 claims that hadn’t been

Read more...

Demand for business stress counselling nearly doubles since Covid

Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
An online counselling firm working with businesses whose staff needed help with stress and anxiety saw demand shoot up by 84 per cent over the past year.
Healing Clouds – whose clients include Tesco, HSBC and Crowdcube – said that they are now counselling 3,500 people across the UK compared to 1,900 one year ago.
The rise is highlighted in a report by Harper James Solicitors, which details the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the mental health of business owners.
>See also: City mayors warn of mental health pandemic among self-employed
Toby Harper, CEO of Harper James Solicitors, said: “The pandemic has made it harder to separate family life from work life. And running a business, particularly as a sole founder, can be a very lonely place. The Government obviously has a massive job in rebuilding the economy and supporting businesses who have faced such a challenging year will be very important.
“But it’s vital too that those in charge of Government policy show awareness of the impact the last 12 months has had on the mental health of those running businesses. For many it will be a long road back.”
The report comes on the

Read more...

Covid grant extends to newly started businesses in Kensington and Chelsea

Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) are opening for a third time to even more businesses in Kensington and Chelsea.
Newly started businesses, who began operating in Kensington and Chelsea no more than six months before the March 2020 lockdown, could be eligible to apply for the grant.
Eligible businesses for the grants continue to include those who operate in or out of commercial premises linked to leisure, retail and hospitality and those without premises who face high fixed costs, such as market traders.
In the second round of applications in January, Kensington and Chelsea Council expanded the criteria to include those in residential premises such as taxi drivers and mobile beauty technicians, who can still apply for the ARG.
The ARG gives up to £2,500 for local businesses who have been impacted by Covid-19, with the council awarding £1,705,761 to 1336 businesses through the previous two rounds of the scheme.
Applications for the ARG are open now and the deadline to apply is Friday April 9. Business are encouraged to check the full eligibility criteria before applying on the council website.
Councillor Catherine Faulks, lead member for economy, employment and innovation, said:
“We have listened to business owners who have missed

Read more...

Regular testing is available to make your business a safer workplace

Originally written by NHS Test and Trace on Small Business
As we move towards March 29 and the first easing of restrictions, we look forward to taking these next steps safely. However, as we get to that point, business leaders must plan ahead in order to create safe working environments that will help stop the spread of the virus.
At the time of writing, over 25 million people in the UK have received their first vaccination, which shows huge progress already. While the vaccine does offer us long-term protection, it can’t do everything that is needed on its own. Workplace testing offers us a way forward now, so it is important that business owners act soon.
For free testing until the end of June, register your business before March 31. Simply follow this link. This is open to businesses that aren’t open yet and now includes those with fewer than 50 employees.
The critical role of regular rapid workplace testing
If we are to stop the spread of the virus, we must break the chains of transmission. Millions of people are already using regular rapid testing to help protect those around them. If you are someone that needs to leave the house to go to

Read more...

Covid grant extends to newly started businesses in Kensington and Chelsea

Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) are opening for a third time to even more businesses in Kensington and Chelsea.
Newly started businesses, who began operating in Kensington and Chelsea no more than six months before the March 2020 lockdown, could be eligible to apply for the grant.
Eligible businesses for the grants continue to include those who operate in or out of commercial premises linked to leisure, retail and hospitality and those without premises who face high fixed costs, such as market traders.
In the second round of applications in January, Kensington and Chelsea Council expanded the criteria to include those in residential premises such as taxi drivers and mobile beauty technicians, who can still apply for the ARG.
The ARG gives up to £2,500 for local businesses who have been impacted by Covid-19, with the council awarding £1,705,761 to 1336 businesses through the previous two rounds of the scheme.
Applications for the ARG are open now and the deadline to apply is Friday April 9. Business are encouraged to check the full eligibility criteria before applying on the council website.
Councillor Catherine Faulks, lead member for economy, employment and innovation, said:
“We have listened to business owners who have missed

Read more...