The Covid-19 situation has been a daunting and worrying time for all businesses and we are here to make sure footwear industry members have a forum in which to air concerns and feel fully supported during such uncharted business times.
Below we have collated a comprehensive list of resources to aid you and your business during this time.
Travel
Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for British people travelling overseas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, if they are legally permitted to travel internationally.
Jobs that qualify for travel exemptions
How to self-isolate when you travel to the UK
Movement of Goods
Moving goods through Customs during the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Customs authorisations during the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Processing licence applications during coronavirus (COVID-19) – Notice to exporters
Advice for the freight transport industry
Policy for the ‘handling of goods, merchandise and other materials’
Furlough Scheme
Check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: step by step guide for employers
What you will need to make your claim:
- a Government Gateway (GG) ID and password – if you don’t already have a GG account, you can apply for one online, or by going to GOV.UK and searching for ‘HMRC services: sign in or register’
- be enrolled for PAYE online – if you aren’t registered yet, you can do so now, or by going to GOV.UK and searching for ‘PAYE Online for employers’
- the following information for each furloughed employee you will be claiming for: Name, National Insurance number, Claim period and claim amount, PAYE/employee number (optional).
- if you have fewer than 100 furloughed staff – you will need to input information directly into the system for each employee. If you have 100 or more furloughed staff – you will need to upload a file with information for each employee; HMRC will accept the following file types: .xls .xlsx .csv .ods.
Claim for wages through the CJRS
Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the CJRS
Steps to take before calculating your claim using the CJRS
Calculate how much you can claim using the CJRS
Reporting employees’ wages to HMRC when you’ve claimed through the CJRS
Find examples to help you calculate your employees’ wages
Including an example of how to calculate the amount you should claim for an employee who is flexibly furloughed here.
Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Changes to working time requirements for Enterprise Management Incentives
Individuals who are furloughed or who have their working hours reduced below the current statutory working time requirement for EMI (as a result of CoronaVirus) will retain the tax advantages of the scheme.
Business Support
The Business Support website will help you find the right support, advice and information to help with the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on your business.
Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Support for UK businesses that trade internationally
Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Rules that have been relaxed to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic
Expanded loan scheme for large businesses – accredited lenders listed on the British Business Bank website.
Covid Corporate Financing Facility
Business support outside of Government
Financial Support Schemes
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – for small and medium businesses
- Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme – for large businesses
- Business support grant funding – guidance for local authorities
- Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan
- Future Fund – Scheme Overview
Moving your business from the physical to the digital – Advise from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
Companies House temporary online service to allow completed forms to be sent digitally – About the Upload a document to Companies House service.
How to treat certain expenses and benefits provided to employees during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Consumer contracts, cancellation and refunds during the Covid-19 pandemic
Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
Claiming financial support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme
Defer your Self Assessment payment on account due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): taxis and PHVs
Actions that drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles (PHVs) can take to protect against coronavirus.
Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 30 or more job placements
- Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 29 or less job placements
Workplace Safety
Advice to provide to staff – Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Including:
- How to help prevent spread of COVID-19
- What to do if someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 has been in a workplace setting
- Advice to give to individuals who have travelled to specific areas
- Advice for the certification of absence from work resulting from COVID19
Advice for employers and employees
Including:
- Working safely
- Furlough and pay
- Furlough letter templates
- Working from home during coronavirus
- Shielding and vulnerable people
- Sick pay for self-isolation
- Holiday and leave
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Mental health
Making your workplace COVID-secure during the coronavirus pandemic
Practical measures to keep your workplace safe, including:
- An increase in the frequency of surface cleaning and hand washing (provision of hand sanitiser.)
- Staff should make every attempt to maintain the 2 metre distancing from other colleagues and customers; however where you are not able to do this make sure measures are in place to reduce transmission.
- Use screens where possible
- Reduce the number of people operating at one time (introduce shift working)
- Limit the number of customers in a store at one time
- Take steps where possible to avoid handling of products.
Guidance on ensuring employee’s safety in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19), for:
- Shops running a pick-up or delivery service
- Manufacturing and processing businesses
- Retail
- Cargo-shipping or other long-term offshore work
- Shops and branches
- Factories, plants and warehouses
Making your workplace Covid-secure: sector specific guidance
Guidance on wearing masks in shops and branches
Information on social distancing
Notice to display to show you have made your workplace COVID-secure
Testing guidance for employers
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) hub
Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make your own.
Technical specifications for personal protective equipment (PPE)
Offer coronavirus support from your business
Personal Support
Online learning platform: The Skills Toolkit – aimed at boosting the nation’s digital or numeracy skills whilst in lock-down.
Find out more about the free online learning platform to boost workplace skills
Ask the Government
Ask a minister a question about coronavirus
Submit a question about coronavirus (COVID-19) to be put to a minister. If your question is chosen, the minister will answer it during an event broadcast to the public.