A business guide to Coronavirus lockdown

The government has announced a range of support measures to help businesses through this latest lockdown and any subsequent local lockdowns that might follow, including:

Extension to the furlough scheme

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - also known as the furlough scheme - has been extended to run until the end of March. This means the scheme will effectively have been in place for a full year.

The extended scheme will pay up to 80% of the wages of eligible employees who are placed on leave, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. To qualify, employees must have been on your payroll on or before October 30.

The application dates for the Bounce Back Loan and Future Fund schemes have also been extended, meaning you now have until January 31, 2021, to apply for this government-backed funding.

Both the CBILS and CLBILS loan schemes have also been extended, with applications now open until January 31, 2020. If you need additional business finance to help you manage your bills and overheads while in lockdown, it could also be worth looking into alternative funding options offered by other lenders.

The government is also offering grants of up to £3,000 a month for any businesses forced to close their premises, via the Local Restrictions Support Grants.

Although there’s no specific financial support available to help businesses pay their energy bills, any money you can get from grants and government-backed loans can be used to cover the cost of gas and electricity.

But if you’re still struggling to pay your business energy bills, you need to contact your supplier as soon as possible and explain your situation. If you’d sooner speak to one of our energy experts, our energy team is on hand to help sort a repayment plan with your supplier.

It might also be worth running a business energy price comparison to see if you could save money by switching to a better deal.

Give us a call on 0800 188 4930 to discuss your options.

UK Coronavirus lockdown restrictions vary between countries, meaning residents and business owners in England, Scotland and Wales all need to adhere to different rules. While England and Scotland favour ‘tiered’ lockdowns, Wales is imposing blanket restrictions right across the country.

What are the lockdown rules for England?

Lockdown Tier One

This is for areas considered as ‘medium risk’ and restrictions are placed on both indoor and outdoor meetings. The ‘rule of six’ means meetings of groups of more than six people are not allowed unless you’re in a larger household or a support bubble.

There’s also a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars, and restaurants.

Lockdown Tier Two

Areas considered as ‘high risk’ will once again be placed into Tier Two, which will include all Tier One rules and also stipulate that you can only meet in groups of up to six people when outdoors. There’s also a ban on indoor meetings to socialise with people you don’t live with. This includes private homes, pubs, restaurants, or any other venues. You can still meet people in your support bubble and provide childcare for Under 14s.

Lockdown Tier Three

Tier Three is for ‘very high-risk’ areas and includes all Tier One and Two restrictions. It also includes a ban on meeting indoors with anyone who isn’t part of your support bubble, as well as on meetings in certain outdoor locations, including private or pub gardens. You can, however, meet at parks and beaches, along with countryside or forest areas, so long as you are in a group of six or less.

Travel is not permitted outside of a Tier Three lockdown area other than for work, education, youth services or caring work, and all pubs must close unless they regularly serve ‘substantial meals’. Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

What are the lockdown rules for Scotland?

Scotland’s tiered lockdown system will see each region moving into one of five levels - Level Zero being the lowest risk and Level Four being the highest risk:

Level Zero

Life is as close to pre-Covid as possible.

Level One

Six people from two households can meet indoors and up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a pub or restaurant. Hospitality venues have a 10:30pm curfew.

Level Two

Gatherings between households inside people’s homes is not permitted, but up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a Covid-secure pub or restaurant. Most hospitality venues can open. Alcohol can be served indoors with a meal until 8pm and outdoors until 10:30pm.

Level Three

Gatherings between households inside people’s homes is not permitted. Pubs and restaurants can open until 6pm but can’t serve alcohol. Leisure and entertainment venues are closed and non-essential travel in or out of a Level three zone isn’t permitted.

Level Four

Restrictions similar to full lockdown.

What are the lockdown rules for Wales?

Wales has taken a slightly different approach from England and Scotland, and is favouring a set of national restrictions right across the country over the tiered approach.

The main rules in Wales are as follows:

• The maximum number of people that can meet is four, including children under 11
• Face coverings must still be worn in indoor public places
• Do not mix in other people’s homes, except in very limited circumstances.
• If you do need to see other people, try to stick to a bubble of one or two people - it’s safer to see the same one or two people regularly than to see lots of different people occasionally
• Try to meet people outdoors rather than indoors where possible, even in circumstances where the law allows you to meet indoors
• Always be mindful of social distancing, even outdoors
• Work from home if you can
• Pubs, cafes and restaurants are banned from selling alcohol on the premises and all must close at 6pm. Takeaway services can continue after 6pm.

The only thing we can say for certain is that there is a very uncertain future ahead for all of us.

It’s important to make sure your business is fighting fit to handle whatever the next few months bring, and you could help keep your finances in shape by switching to a better energy deal.

See how much you could save by giving us a call on 0800 188 4930, or leave your postcode on our energy comparison page and we’ll call you back.