CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams, is writing regularly about the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and what support is available.

At Staffordshire Chambers, we’re very aware of the many issues facing businesses at the moment and are regularly hearing from our members about these concerns. One of the big ones is managing cashflow, which is particularly tricky when businesses are closing down or changing so rapidly.

One of my main pieces of advice would be to talk to the Small Business Commissioner with examples of both good and bad practice you’ve experienced. Some of the bigger companies are changing their terms of payment so they are paying smaller companies sooner, which is great news. But on the other hand, some companies are being quite aggressive, such as blanket decisions on not paying their suppliers for a longer period.

We’ve also found that more businesses are demanding payment in advance of an order being dispatched, or reserving the right to change the prices, as duty shipping rates may change in transit. Our Department for International Trade team at the Chambers can give advice on this.

I’d suggest that if businesses are trading with another Chambers member, talk with each other and try to reach a compromise or an interim payment structure to help tide everybody over in difficult trading conditions. It’s important for the business community to support each other as much as possible to get through this together.

Also, if your business is struggling with the cost of premises then look to your landlord. Every landlord would rather have a business still resident in a few months’ time than deal with an empty property now.

I’d recommend too that businesses speak with their bank at their earliest convenience and look to prepare cashflow projections to help them through.

To support you with all this, we have a webinar on managing cashflow coming up on Tuesday 7^th April – you can sign up for it here.

And through everything, Staffordshire Chambers and Staffordshire Growth Hub are able to talk to you about all of these issues and more – do get in touch and we’ll do all we can to help.

CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams, is writing regularly about the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and what support is available.

Many of us are finding ourselves working from home and learning to adapt to this. I find it interesting how this has us communicating in different ways – I am connecting with more people which I’m really enjoying, and the connections are different.

And I am finding it much more tiring than I anticipated! It’s much harder to have the natural breaks between activity and meetings that are a part of typical office life. When based in an office, I talk to colleagues or have time travelling to and from meetings, which gives a bit of space to think about things. And because the current crisis is so all consuming, any small talk we do get to take part in is all about the crisis, rather than other things you’re doing in your life. It’s all concentrated on a limited topic. All of these things are making for a much more intense working experience.

I find it helps me to stick to a working day and to build a little bit of time around taking breaks – even just walking around the house. My husband is working from home too and we make time to speak to each other about things other than work. I’m lucky that my kids have grown up and left home, as coping with children and teenagers in this current situation presents additional challenges for parents.

I really enjoyed the online webinar that Claire Nicoll did for us last week about home working (all of our new webinar series are available to watch online) and she gives some great hints and tips about working from home. Daniel Ellis’s webinar around technology and how to make it work for you is also really valuable.

On top of that, it is, of course, a really difficult time for Staffordshire Chambers members who are facing a range of issues and problems. As the Chambers is a business too, I am facing some of the same concerns as well as making sure that we deliver the best possible service for the business community.

Over the coming weeks, it would be good to chat to others about how you’re finding working from home and how we can best support you.

Yesterday the Chancellor announced a major package of support for the self-employed impacted by COVID-19.

This scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you’re a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership and you:

• have submitted your Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19
• traded in the tax year 2019-20
• are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19
• intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21
• have lost trading/partnership trading profits due to COVID-19

Your self-employed trading profits must also be less than £50,000 and more than half of your income come from self-employment. This is determined by at least one of the following conditions being true:

• having trading profits/partnership trading profits in 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your total taxable income
• having average trading profits in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your average taxable income in the same period

If you started trading between 2016-19, HMRC will only use those years for which you filed a Self-Assessment tax return.

If you have not submitted your Income Tax Self-Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19, you must do this by 23 April 2020.

HMRC will use data on 2018-19 returns already submitted to identify those eligible and will risk assess any late returns filed before the 23 April 2020 deadline in the usual way.

How much will I get?

You’ll get a taxable grant which will be 80% of the average profits from the tax years (where applicable):

• 2016 to 2017
• 2017 to 2018
• 2018 to 2019

To work out the average HMRC will add together the total trading profit for the 3 tax years (where applicable) then divide by 3 (where applicable), and use this to calculate a monthly amount.

It will be up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months.

The grant will be paid directly into your bank account, in one instalment.

How can I apply?

You cannot apply for this scheme yet.

HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online.

Individuals do not need to contact HMRC now and doing so will only delay the urgent work being undertaken to introduce the scheme.

You will access this scheme only through GOV.UK. If someone texts, calls or emails claiming to be from HMRC, saying that you can claim financial help or are owed a tax refund, and asks you to click on a link or to give information such as your name, credit card or bank details, it is a scam.

What is I am not eligbale?

Not all self-employed people will be able to access this scheme and you won’t be able to claim, but there are other options currently available to you:-

• You can apply for a ‘business interruption loan’. The temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is open to self-employed people and offers access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million for up to six years.

  The Government could also give you a ‘business interruption payment’ to cover the first 12 months of interest and fees on the loan.

  The scheme is now open for applications, and you would need to contact one of the major banks to access.

• You can defer your income tax payments. If you have income tax payments due in July 2020 under the self-assessment system, you can defer them until January 2021.
• You can access universal credit in full. The Government has removed the ‘minimum income floor’ to the universal credit benefit, and will be boosting the standard allowance from Monday 6 April – meaning a single person aged over 25 could get a standard monthly allowance of £409.89.

 Contact Us

If you have any thoughts or comments you would like to make about the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, then please get in touch. Staffordshire Chambers wants to ensure local businesses views are shared back to government.

Contact us by phoning 01782 202222 or info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk or looking at our Coronavirus Toolkit

CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams, is writing regularly about the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and what support is available.

The big news many of are waiting on today is for the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP, to unveil financial aid for self-employed people. There are around 5 million self-employed people in this country, many of whom have lost their income overnight and who are anxious to find out what government support will become available to help them through. There’s been a hint that support will only be given to those who have been trading for three years. I’m lobbying hard for there to be support for all self-employed people.

Another current concern is the news that some banks are asking for personal guarantees on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). This requirement loads most of the risk that the loan goes bad onto the business owner, rather than the banks. Let us know if you’ve been asked to do this so we can raise the issue for you. It’s not fair that business owners are being asked to take more risk, especially at what is already a stressful time.

It’s also worth mentioning that VAT is being deferred for three months – but you’ll still need to file your VAT returns as usual and make sure you cancel your direct debit as otherwise the payment will still go out as before.

At Staffordshire Chambers, we’re working closely with the British Chambers of Commerce and the chamber network across the country to be the voice of business. The British Chambers’ Director General, Adam Marshall, is meeting weekly with the governor of the Bank of England, and daily with heads of various government departments, including BEIS, to ensure our voices are heard and we are a key part of the conversation.

If you raise a concern with us, we share it with the British Chambers. This means there is a direct line to the top through your local Chamber, whatever your issue is.

Remember, everyone at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is working hard to support the business community at this challenging time. While our offices are closed, our phonelines are open 8am-6pm every day – call us on 01782 202222. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub are also still providing great support and dealing with your queries – give them a ring on 0300 111 8002.

We’re here to support the people and businesses of Staffordshire during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams, is writing regularly about the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and what support is available.

At this time of crisis, the accredited chambers across the country are working hard to lobby the government with the aim of getting the best support possible for businesses while we deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Over the past couple of days, there’s been a lot of news that will have an impact for businesses – some good, some bad – and the British Chambers of Commerce, learning from what our members are saying, have been influencing government to try and get better help and FASTER!

Amongst the help is the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which the government is offering to support primarily small and medium-sized businesses to access bank lending, asset finance support and overdrafts, and will be up to £250,000 with a six month interest free period. It is meant to be easy for you to get – contact your bank to get it set up.

We’re aware, however, that banks themselves are suffering, as all businesses are, with staffing. We’ve been asked by UK Finance and the British Chambers of Commerce to notify them of any banks that are taking too long to provide this service. So if you find it difficult, please let me know on info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.

A current campaign is to persuade the government for VAT and PAYE suspension in advance of the next tax point and that the business rates rebate can be extended – this is what you have been asking for and we are asking government. The announcement on wages support should be made today – something else we have asked for as a result of your requests.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is here to support you. We’re a business ourselves, so we understand how challenging this unprecedented time is. Our expert advisors, which include Matt Hustwit providing financial guidance, and Joe Gill answering your HR queries, are here help. Together, we will get through this.

Overview.
Retail businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have been some of the hardest hit as a consequence of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
The Government has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support retail, hospitality and leisure business with the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic.
This Factsheet sets out the range of support currently available. *

Financial Support for Retailers.
• A temporary business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs should be directed to your local authority.
• A £25,000 grant will be provided to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.
Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs should be directed to your local authority.
• Additional funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR) has been announced. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to businesses currently eligible for SBRR. Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs should be directed to your local authority.
• Small businesses should consider the Crowdfunder PAY IT FORWARD scheme. In this time of crisis, Crowdfunder is offering 100% FREE fundraising for your business along with support from Enterprise Nation. This support can be accessed through the PAY IT FORWARD website.
• A new loan scheme, called the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, will launch on the week commencing 23rd March 2020. This will cover loans and overdrafts. To access the scheme you should contact your bank or finance provide. A list of all 40 accredited providers will be available on the British Business Bank website in due course.

Tax Support for Retailers.
• HMRC have set up a phone helpline to support businesses and self-employed people who are concerned about people not being able to pay their tax. You call this helpline on 0800 0159 559
Insurance Support for Retailers.
• Businesses that have cover for both pandemics and Government-ordered closure should be covered, as the Government and insurance industry confirmed on 17 March 2020 that advice to avoid pubs, theatres etc is sufficient to make a claim.
• Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers.
Employment Support for Retailers.
• Statutory Sick Pay will now be available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or those who are unable to work as they are self-isolating in line with Government advice. More information regarding this can be found on Gov.UK website.
• You can always contact the Chamber’s HR Expert, who will be able to answer any questions or provide further support on these areas. Contact joseph.gill@staffordshirechambers.co.uk to arrange a conversation.
Support for Business Crime.
• If you are facing any incidences of business crime, including online fraud, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce currently offer a Business Crime Helpline number which can provide free, independent advice and support. We can also link you to a register of support organizations who are able to provide expert advice over the phone. You call this helpline on 01782 900239.
For the latest information and advice, UK employers and business owners should visit the official guidance for employers and businesses.
* Further fiscal measures are expected in coming days. There may be some variations to the above measures announced among devolved nations.

Key Contacts.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council – 01782 234234
Staffordshire County Council – 0300 111 8000
Stafford Borough Council – 01785 619000
Newcastle Borough Council – 01782 717717
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council – 0345 605 3010
South Staffordshire District Council – 01902 696000
Lichfield District Council – 01543 308000
Cannock Chase District Council – 01543 462621
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce – 01782 202222
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Business Helpline – 0300 111 8002
HMRC Helpline – 0800 0159 559

Useful Links

Gov.uk (Coronavirus Support for Employers) – www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

British Business Bank – www.british-business-bank.co.uk/

PAY IT FORWARD – www.crowdfunder.co.uk/pay-it-forward

Late Payment Information – www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk

Paying HMRC – www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc

ACAS – https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

Staffordshire Prepared – https://www.staffordshireprepared.gov.uk/Preparing-your-business/Is-your-business-prepared.aspx

Over the coming weeks, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams, will be writing regularly about the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and what support is available.

It was really good to see yesterday that the Chancellor and Prime Minister were so clear that they want to do whatever it takes to help businesses, with the announcement of £350bn of help for companies. Businesses of all sizes will certainly need supporting over the coming months.

While I’m so pleased to see the government is giving a range of support, there needs to be more than loans. Businesses are worried about how they would repay these loans, especially as they see what’s happening around their customers and suppliers.

I hope that we will see more measures announced soon.

If you have any concerns, remember that Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we’ll do all we can to support the business community to get through this together.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, shares her thoughts on International Women’s Day and the role of women in business:

I’ve seen how International Women’s Day has grown in stature and prominence over the years. When I was first involved, it was quite a minor thing and quite periphery, whereas now it’s a major event and a lot of organisations want to do something about it.

Here at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, we’re marking this year’s International Women’s Day with our #EachForEqual event on Monday 9^th March. I’ll be sharing my journey to become the CEO of the Chambers and some of the challenges and biases I’ve faced and overcome.

I’m also speaking at the Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld International Women’s Day event later that afternoon, which will be really interesting as it’ll be a different audience and lots in people in Stafford who I’ve not met before. I’m very much looking forward to it.

And that’s just what I’m doing – there’s loads of events going on across Staffordshire and beyond to mark this important day.

I’m excited to share that we’ll be launching our Women, Work and Wellbeing Network, supported by NatWest and Plum Happy, at our International Women’s Day event. The network will see a variety of activities throughout the year, from workshops on self-awareness and challenging self-limiting beliefs through to social events such as a summer barbeque and Christmas party.

I’m looking forward to seeing some great inspirational speakers and getting to meet lots of women who are Chambers members at these events.

I want the Women, Work and Wellbeing Network to show the number of up and coming women who I come across that there are women who have been there and done it and got the t-shirt and that they haven’t pulled the ladder up behind them – they want to help and encourage other women into leadership.

I hope that the network supports women in being more confident: more confident to take on leadership roles, more confident to start their own businesses, more confident in public speaking. I find it really interesting how women lack confidence – even successful women – and so the network is about helping women feel good about themselves, build their confidence and take on those much greater roles of inspiring, leading and developing.

These days I do see more women in more powerful positions and having more prominence. We need to strengthen the equality between men and women so that we get away from the idea that business has a macho male culture and understand instead that it is just business and it can be done in lots of different ways.

It’s worth us thinking about what we do after International Women’s Day to make sure women aren’t side-lined in just having a day and that we embrace the real impact we have on the economy and society.

How can we engage more women, and get more women into the boardroom and senior roles? How can we make sure women aren’t seen as tokens but are recognised for the real drive, ambition and qualities we can bring to any organisation?

Those are some of the challenges over the next year, and we need to think how we as the Chambers can support overcoming these, both through the Women, Work and Wellbeing Network and everything we do.

As the coronavirus outbreak escalates, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce have been receiving enquiries from businesses asking what steps they should be taking. We’re committed to do all we can to support the business community in Staffordshire at this difficult time.

Coronavirus is a potentially lethal respiratory disease which has now spread to countries throughout the world, including the UK. The virus is classified as an airborne high consequence infectious disease (HCID) and can cause coughing, high temperatures and, potentially, pneumonia.

Staffordshire Chambers coronavirus support sheet:

Each weekday, we’re putting together a support sheet with the latest guidance for businesses. This daily briefing gives you advice on the range of support available, including financial, tax, insurance, employment and mentoring: Staffordshire Chambers Coronavirus Support Sheet 31.03.2020

New rules on staying at home and away from others:

The single most important action we can all take in fighting the coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. The government has introduced three new measures:

1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public

Gatherings of more than two people in public are permitted where the gathering is essential for work purposes – but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.

Travelling to and from work is permitted, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

Every citizen must comply with these new measures. They will initially last for the three weeks from 23 March, at which point the Government will look at them again and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

Update on new social distancing measures:

Guidance has been issued on the closure of all retailers that sell non-essential goods and other non-essential premises, as part of further social distancing measures. A full list of the businesses and premises that must remain closed is available. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal. Retail and public premises which expect to remain open must:

• Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants; and
• Let people enter the shop only in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not crowded.
• Queue control is required outside of shops and other essential premises that remain open.

The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible. Everyone is instructed to comply with the rules issued by the government in relation to coronavirus, in order to protect both themselves and others.

Please note this guidance is different in Scotland. We will keep you updated with developments as soon as possible.

Guidance from Staffordshire Police:

Staffordshire Police have put together the following document for crime prevention advice for empty commercial premises: Empty Commercial Premises Advice

Video message from Adam Marshall:

Take a look at the latest BCC video below where Adam Marshall responds to the recent lockdown announcement and share on your social channels to spread the message with your members.

Weekly Coronavirus Business Impacts Tracker Poll:

Given the rapid pace of Coronavirus developments and the increased requirements for up-to-date data, we are running a weekly ‘Coronavirus Business Impacts Tracker Poll’ for UK members. This will assess general business conditions from week to week and understand the levels of business awareness and usage of UK government support measures.

The tracker poll has been developed with input from a group of UK Chambers. It will take only 2-3 mins to complete and will be kept under constant review as data is received.

As with all our national surveys outside of QES, if your Chamber has contributed a database to the BCC for surveying members then no action is required. The BCC manages the fieldwork process entirely in-house. If your Chamber has not contributed a database, a standalone link can be provided on request. Contact David Bharier for more information.

New social distancing measures and Chamber documentation staff: 

A reminder from the BCC International Trade team!  If you have yet to do so, now is the time to move documentation staff to home working. This will ensure that we continue to deliver the services that your customers need to keep on trading.

Our approved electronic documentation platforms provide the means to eliminate contact with trader representatives.  Almost all documentation certified by Chambers can be issued remotely when traders apply for certificates through the electronic platforms.

Some traders will need help with setting up and accessing the software used by your Chamber as well as advice on printing documents at their own premises which can also be done remotely.

Contact Liam Smyth for further information and with any queries.

Accounts:

Businesses will be given an additional 3 months to file accounts with Companies House to help companies avoid penalties as they deal with the impact of COVID-19. More here.

Business Support Campaign:

The government has launched a new phase of the Business Support Campaign to help businesses across the UK meet the unprecedented challenge the country is facing in dealing with coronavirus (Covid-19).

The campaign aims to help businesses and their employees with a package of measures through this period of unprecedented disruption. More here.

Support for the charity and voluntary sector:

VAST have put together a useful toolkit for the charity and voluntary sector.

Ministry at Work support:

During these challenging times the Chambers’ chaplaincy support to business is available to take calls for those anxious about their own wellbeing. They can offer various ways to manage mental health at this difficult time, but most importantly someone to talk to. You can call them on 07971966160 and access more information about the service at www.ministryatwork.org.uk

Below, we outline the advice and best practice from the government, NHS, and other organisations:

The NHS has a regularly updated guide to coronavirus, setting out how it is spread, how to avoid catching it, symptoms, treatment and what to do if you think you or any of your employees might be infected. There’s also guidance on self isolating. Details here.

The official guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care, and Public Health England, is here and is being updated daily. This covers the situation in the UK, provides information about the virus and outlines the action the government is taking.

From 17^th March 2020, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all non-essential international travel, initially for a period of 30 days. This advice takes effect immediately. More here.

The Government has released its Coronavirus Action Plan. 

The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development has produced a fact sheet, which sets out how employers should respond to the threat from Coronavirus. More here.

The Department for Transport and Public Health England have produced specific guidance for the transport sector here.

The World Health Organisation has more detailed information including videos on best practice and posters to download to inform your workforce. There’s also a useful myth-buster section and advice on when face masks are appropriate. Click here.

The British Chambers of Commerce have put together guidance.

The BBC has advice on working from home

Access free guides to living and working during the coronavirus pandemic: 

COVID-19 has brought significant changes to the way we live and work, and the rapidly changing situation can make it hard to keep up with the latest news and advice.

Westfield Health know how important it is for HR teams and business leaders to understand the situation, mitigate the risk for business, and care for the health and wellbeing of their people.

They’re creating a series of guides with lots of resources and ideas to support businesses and their people.They’ve already shared their employer guide for preparing for COVID-19, and the next guides in the series are now available for you to download. Take a look here.

RSM coronavirus hub:

RSM have developed a dedicated online platform that brings together the latest from experts and covers numerous topics pertinent to businesses at this time. Here is the link to their coronavirus hub: https://www.rsmuk.com/ideas-and-insights/coronavirus-business-risks

The hub outlines some critical considerations for businesses to help mitigate the risks. They are aiming to keep this as up to date as possible, and there is new content being added daily, but please do bear in mind how fast the situation is changing. There will be challenges for us all in the coming months so if there is anything RSM can assist you, or your members with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.