This newsletter is part of a regular email I send out to businesses in Scunthorpe. If you have not received this email directly from me please subscribe to my Business newsletter here.
Good evening,
I hope that you are keeping well.
I understand that in recent days it has been reported that the surge in cases has led to a lower turnout on some high streets, potentially affecting those in the hospitality and retail industries. I was in town myself yesterday and it was noticeably quiet.
I want to reassure you that I continue to have my finger on the pulse on this issue. Meanwhile, I would like to ask you to please share with me your own experience and the points you would like me to raise with the government and I will do so.
You can do so via replying to this email, or via my contact form here.
As well as the new rules, please find below updates on:
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North Lincolnshire Council Sustainability Grant open
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Grants for Start-Ups in North Lincolnshire
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Making Tax Digital
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Tonnage Tax Reform
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Ongoing Consultations and Calls for Evidence
New Covid regulations
Following Parliamentary votes earlier this week, a number of covid regulations are now in place. Whilst I personally voted against vaccine passports as I do not believe that they are an effective or proportionate measure, now that they are laws it is our duty to follow them.
If you are one of the affected industries please look at the full guidance. As ever I am open to hearing your thoughts on them and what can be done to improve them.
"Covid Passes"
The following venues are now required to carry out mandatory Covid-19 status checks:
- nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques
- other late-night dance venues, where the venue is open between 1am and 5am, it serves alcohol after 1am, it has a dancefloor (or space for dancing) and it provides music, whether live or recorded, for dancing.
- indoor events with 500 or more attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions
- outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as outdoor festivals
- events with 10,000 or more attendees, whether indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events
Exemptions, including weddings, worship and funerals, here.
Each venue must have a 'responsible person' that ensures compliance with a number of obligations relating to the requirement to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry. More information here.
Covid-19 Status Checks are not mandatory for workers, but employers should take 'reasonable steps' to make sure all customer-facing employees have an NHS Covid Pass, proof of vaccination, trial participation or medical exemption, or proof of a negative Covid-19 test result.
Face coverings
As of Monday, face coverings are legally required in most public indoor venues where it is feasible- you can see the full list of premises here.
There are exemptions for settings where masks would not be feasible, including:
- restaurants, cafés and canteens
- pubs, bars and shisha bars
- gyms and exercise facilities (including dance studios)
- leisure centres, swimming pools, and water and aqua parks
- photography studios
- nightclubs, dance halls and discotheques
- Any premises or part of premises where where the main activity is eating, drinking, exercising or dancing.
Please see here for information on worker guidance when it comes to wearing a face mask. If you need any clarification on the requirements for employees, please do get in touch with me or receive free advice from ACAS at acas.org.uk.
Work From Home Guidance
As of Monday 13th, workers who can work from home should do so. Workers can continue to go into work:
- To access equipment necessary for their role
- When their role must be completed in-person
- If they face physical or mental health difficulties
- If they face a challenging home working environment
Close Contacts of Positive Cases
Fully vaccinated contacts of someone with COVID-19 should take rapid lateral flow tests every day for 7 days. Those not fully vaccinated must continue to self-isolate for ten days after their last day of contact with a positive case, and are advised to take a PCR test during this period.
North Lincolnshire Council Sustainability Grant open
Companies that have been trading for at least 12 months are now eligible for grants of up to £10,000 from North Lincolnshire Council to invest in efficient energy technology.
The minimum grant paid out will be £1,000, and the intervention rate will be based on number of employees.
Funding can be used on:
- Energy production infrastructure – solar PV, biomass boilers etc.
- Energy Efficient Products – LED lighting, improved machinery (e.g. dishwasher going from a C to an A+ rating)
- Building Improvements – Replacement boilers to more efficient or heat source pumps, improving insulation.
Grants for Start-Ups in North Lincolnshire
On top of this, NLC have opened a Business Start-Up Grant as a one-off payment to boost the self-employed and small businesses.
Applications will be considered based on best value, with grants generally in the region of £500, up to £1,000.
Grants can be used for equipment and other capital expenditure (other than vehicles and standard IT equipment, such as laptops, computers, tablets) and other specific start-up costs, such as those associated with any accreditations or permits required.
Book an appointment with an NLC business advisor here.
Making Tax Digital
From April 2022, all VAT registered businesses will have to start following Making Tax Digital Rules. If you haven't already done so, please read up on how to prepare here, or sign up now.
Tonnage Tax Reform: Letter from the Transport Secretary
Following the Chancellor's Budget, I am pleased to see that the Transport Secretary has outlined further details on tonnage tax reform. You can read the Secretary's letter to MPs here. If you would like me to raise anything with the Department for Transport, please let me know.
Ongoing Consultations and Calls for Evidence
Business Rates Review: Technical consultation sets out how the government intends to give effect to a number of measures arising from its recent business rates review
Whole Industry Strategic Plan for Rail: Call for evidence on how rail can support long-term national objectives to inform the development of a 30-year strategic plan for the rail industry.
The Introduction of Tenant Satisfaction Measures: Consultation on draft Tenant Satisfaction Measures that apply to all social housing landlords, including local authorities, housing associations and other registered social housing providers.
Income Tax Self Assessment registration for the self employed and landlords: Call for evidence exploring the case for reforming registration for Income Tax Self Assessment and bringing forward the point at which some taxpayers need to register with HMRC.
Modernisation of debt collection for non-paying businesses: A call for evidence seeking views on how HMRC can modernise its collection of tax debts to reflect the changing nature of the economy, where an increased use of e-commerce has given rise to new business practices – including the conduct of business in the UK without having a presence or physical assets here.
Umbrella company market: A call for evidence inviting views on the role that umbrella companies play in the labour market, and how they interact with the tax and employment rights system.
Consulting on making Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) reliefs fairer: A consultation on the SDLT reliefs for purchases of mixed property and multiple dwellings.
Ensuring Landfill Tax continues to support environmental objectives: A call for evidence on how Landfill Tax can support the government’s environmental objectives.
You can view all ongoing consultations/calls for evidence here.
Lastly, I want to wish you and your loved ones a Happy Christmas and my best wishes for 2022. I hope that you have found my updates so far helpful! Any feedback is of course very welcome and I look forward to continuing to do everything I can to support our fantastic local businesses next year!
Best wishes,
Holly
Click here to provide your feedback on my business survey
PREVIOUS UPDATES
- COVID-19 SUPPORT DIRECTORY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES
- useful local mental health support contacts
- Funding Opportunities for Scunthorpe Charities and NFPs/ New Business Grants
- Local Hospitality and Tourism Fund open, Key takeaways from last week's Budget, Campaign Success on Lorry Park Facilities- 03/11/2021
- Government consultation on Vaccine Passports- COVID-19 Business update 28/09/2021
- Share your Kickstart experiences, £220 million to reduce emissions & flexible working consultation launched- COVID-19 Business update 24/09/2021
- Important: Local DWP Kickstart event, updated Furlough and SEISS information, key conslutations - COVID-19 Business update 20/08/2021
- Important consultations, quarantine rules for industries, new allergen regulations and CJRS update- COVID-19 Business update 27/07/2021
- Covid Guidance from Monday, Hospitality Recovery Plan and info for social care providers- 16/07/2021
- Changes in restrictions, final reminder for discretionary grant 15/06/2021
- Discretionary grant up, Farmers Consultation, CJRS elgibility 28/05/2021
- NLC Schemes, 4th SEISS grant, Discretionary Grant update - COVID-19 Business update 05/05/2021
- Updates to work safety guidance, Register for FREE weekly tests, Grants and other business support schemes - COVID-19 Business update 08/04/2021
- Ready to reopen Scunthorpe, FREE lateral flow tests for biz with over 50 employees, SME Brexit Support Fund - COVID-19 Business update 24/03/2021
- Weddings and Sports roadmap + Big update covering support schemes, tax changes, and policy updates - COVID-19 Business update 16/03/2021
- Special Business update - Budget overview - COVID-19 Business update 03/03/2021
- Lockdown grants update, Important Furlough and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme deadlines - COVID-19 Business update 08/01/2021
- Lockdown Grant Details - COVID-19 Business Update 05/01/2021
- Discretionary grant update, notes from Weddings meeting, lower self-isolation period- COVID-19 Business Update 14/12/2020
- Tier 3 Grant open, Tier reviews, outbreak control support and wet pubs grant- COVID-19 Business Update 4/12/20Tier 3 restrictions, new SEISS up - COVID-19 Business Update 26/11/2020
- COVID Winter plan, furlough changes, self-isolation payment - COVID-19 Business Update 24/11/2020
- Discretionary grant released - COVID-19 Business Update 13/11/2020
- Chancellor's announcement updates, Discretionary Grant confirmed, industry guidelines - COVID-19 Business Update 06/11/2020
- Lockdown support and grants - COVID-19 Business Update 04/11/2020
- COVID-19 Business Update 23/10/2020- Chancellor’s IMPROVED Winter Support Package
- Coronavirus Business Update 22.09.20- Chancellor's Winter Support Package
- Coronavirus Business Update 22/09/20- Today's updates and key guidances
- COVID-19 Business Update 08/09/2020- Feedback from hospitality industry needed, job creation schemes available for your business
- COVID-19 Business Update 09/07/2020- Further reopening of businesses, eat out scheme details, green homes grants
- Important update: Chancellor's statement and what it means for you - 08/07/2020
- Quick update - full list of businesses, guidance available - 24/06/2020
- Further opening of key sectors, self-employed support - COVID-19 Business update 23/06/2020
- NLC Discretionary Business Grants now open for application - COVID-19 Business update 01/06/2020
- COVID-19 Business update 29/05/2020 -Important update on furlough, Self-Employed income support scheme EXTENDED
- COVID-19 Business update 26/05/2020- Retail update, tax clarifications, claim for SSP
- COVID-19 Business update 14/05/2020- Major housing update, holiday entitlement guidance, guidance for discretionary council grant released - COVID-19 Business update
- COVID-19 Business update 13/05/2020- Furlough scheme extended, health and safety priority
- COVID-19 Business Update 11/05/20- Details on today's announcements, how to make your workplace "Covid-Safe"
- COVID-19 Business update 04/05/2020- Bounce back loans available NOW, Council to get discretion for grants, further info for employees
- COVID-19 Business update 27/04/2020- New 100% backed loans for small businesses, Furlough scheme feedback
- COVID-19 Business update 15/04/2020- Date set for furlough scheme (get ready!), more info for the self-employed
- COVID-19 Business update 03/04/2020- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, Industry updates
- COVID-19 Business update 27/03/2020- Important update for employers: more details on "furlough"/ "80% scheme"
- COVID-19 Business update 26/03/2020- Self-employed details, letter to Chancellor and Business Secretary
- COVID-19 Business update 24/03/2020- Important guidelines and updates
- COVID-19 Business update 23/03/2020- Lockdown and further information
- COVID-19 Business update 22/03/2020- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, my pledge to the self-employed
- COVID-19 Business update 20/03/2020- URGENT UPDATE
- COVID-19 Business update 18/03/2020- Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Business Rates Holiday, Small Business Grants