COVID-19: Government Guidance Updates
Wednesday, 24 March 2021
The Government have updated their testing and financial support guidance, please see the updates below:
Free Workplace Testing
All businesses regardless of size are now able to register to order free workplace testing kits for their employees who are unable to work from home. Register interest by 31 March to access regular free workplace testing.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
Find out if you are eligible for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme fourth grant which will cover the period February 2021 to April 2021:
- grant will be set at 80% of 3 months’ average trading profits, paid out in a single instalment, capped at £7,500;
- grant will consider 2019 to 2020 tax returns and will be open to those who became self-employed in tax year 2019 to 2020;
- to be eligible for the fourth grant you must be a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership.
Deferred VAT Payments
Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020. You can pay now or join the VAT deferral new payment scheme. If you’re on the VAT
Annual Accounting Scheme or the VAT Payment on Account Scheme, you can join the scheme from 10 March 2021. Further information is available here.
SME Toolkit
- The government have published a document that provides an overview of actions to take, outlines support, helplines and resources that may be useful for SMEs, as well as signposting more detailed guidance on Government websites.
- The SME Brexit Support Fund could give businesses up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.
New rules on professional qualifications
If businesses wish to practise a regulated profession in the EEA or Switzerland and have not yet had their professional qualifications recognised in the EEA or Switzerland, businesses should:
- Check the European Commission’s Regulated Professions Database to find out if their profession is regulated where they intend to work.
- Contact the single point of contact for the country in which they intend to work to find out how to get their professional qualification recognised there.
