Coronavirus – business support and advice

The government’s new Health Protection (Coronavirus Business Closures) (England) Regulations, 2020 came into effect 21 March requiring certain businesses to close until further notice.

In line with the government roadmap, on 15 June 2020 significant changes were made to the regulations to ease restrictions on business closures. These changes mean that further businesses and venues can open, in particular non-essential retail.

On 23 June 2020 the government announced further easing of restrictions with pubs, bars, restaurants and hairdressers able to open on 4 July.

• list of premises that can reopen
• full information on business closures

Premises that fail to comply with the regulations will be committing a criminal offence. The Council and police have powers to close premises and premises that fail to comply can be prosecuted and may face unlimited fines.

Please make sure that you check the guidance to clarify if you can continue trading or if you must close.

The Council and police will be monitoring compliance with these regulations and will take enforcement action to close premises when required. Please make sure that you follow the government’s requirements to keep yourselves and our community safe.

If you wish to report a premises that is failing to comply, please contact us on 020 8356 4911/3000 or email trading.standards@hackney.gov.uk

You can also report businesses that are not complying with closure regulations using this form:

Report a business

(Updated 24 June)

The government has announced the proposed timeline for the reopening of businesses and to support you in preparing for this they have produced a series of working safely and covid secure guides for different industries.

These cover:

• close contact services
• construction and other outdoor work
• factories, plants and warehouses
• labs and research facilities
• offices and contact centres
• other people’s homes
• restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
• shops and branches
• vehicles
• the visitor economy
• hotels and other guest accommodation

The guidance includes:

• thinking about risk
• who should go to work
• social distancing at work
• managing your customers, visitors and contractors
• cleaning the workplace
• personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings
• workforce management
• inbound and outbound goods
• where to obtain further guidance

You must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the risks of covid-19, using the guidance to inform your decisions and control measures.

If you have fewer than five workers, or are self-employed, you don’t have to write anything down as part of your risk assessment.

Your risk assessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.

There are interactive tools available to support you from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

We will update this section with government guidance and Council support over the coming weeks.

If you have any questions about the covid secure and working safely government guidelines please direct these to HSE Covid-19 enquiries on 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 8pm)
or via their working safely enquiry form.

Legionella risks during the coronavirus outbreak

Employers, the self employed and people in control of premises, such as landlords, have a duty to protect people by identifying and controlling risks associated with legionella.

If your building was closed or has reduced occupancy during the coronavirus outbreak, water system stagnation can occur due to lack of use, increasing the risks of legionnaires’ disease.

The Health and Safety Executive have provided comprehensive guidance on the subject.

If you have any questions about the covid secure and working safely government guidelines please direct these to HSE Covid-19 enquiries on 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 8pm)
or via their working safely enquiry form.

Downloads and links

• social distancing poster A3
• social distancing poster A4
• social distancing illustrated guide for businesses
• reopening checklist for food businesses
• staying Covid-19 secure poster
• working safely business case studies gallery

Council contacts

Commercial waste services

For enquiries regarding commercial waste services
020 8356 6683 or commercialwaste@hackney.gov.uk

Environmental health services

For enquiries regarding food safety, social distancing within premises and other environmental health matters
technicalbusinesssupport@hackney.gov.uk

All food businesses must notify the Council when they intend to reopen. 020 8356 6004 or abdul.basith@hackney.gov.uk

Hackney Works

Hackney Council provides a range of free advice and recruitment services for businesses looking for employees and apprentices.
020 8356 5700 or opportunities@hackney.gov.uk

Licensing service

For enquiries regarding licensing matters:
technicalbusinesssupport@hackney.gov.uk

Markets service

For enquiries from existing and prospective market traders: marketsservice@hackney.gov.uk

Shop front trading

You need a shop front trading licence if you want to sell goods and services outside of your premises.

For enquiries from existing and prospective licence holders: shopfronts@hackney.gov.uk

We will update this section with government guidance and Council support over the coming weeks.

Premises that can remain open must make sure that the government’s social distancing rules are followed.

Social distancing involves reducing day-to-day contact with other people as much as possible, in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible.

If you can’t work from home then you can still travel to work. This is consistent with the Chief Medical Officer for England’s advice.

The advice on social distancing measures applies to everyone and should be followed wherever possible.

Workplaces need to avoid crowding and minimise opportunities for the virus to spread by maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres (3 steps) between individuals wherever possible.

This advice applies both to inside the workplace, and to where staff may need to interact with customers.

Staff should be reminded to wash their hands regularly using soap and water for 20 seconds and particularly after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used.

Workers should cover any coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue in a bin and immediately wash their hands.

The practical implementation of this advice will depend on the local circumstances; see examples for various industries.

A few general indicators will be relevant to the majority of business settings:

• make regular announcements to remind staff and/or customers to follow social distancing advice and wash their hands regularly
• encourage the use of digital and remote transfers of material where possible rather than paper format, such as using e-forms, emails and e-banking
• provide additional pop-up handwashing stations or facilities if possible, providing soap, water, hand sanitiser and tissues and encourage staff to use them
• where it is possible to remain 2 metres apart, use floor markings to mark the distance, particularly in the most crowded areas (for example, where queues form)
• where it is not possible to remain 2 metres apart, staff should work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face if possible
• where face-to-face contact is essential, this should be kept to 15 minutes or less wherever possible
• as much as possible, keep teams of workers together (cohorting), and keep teams as small as possible

Additionally, for customer-facing businesses:

• use signage to direct movement into lanes, if feasible, while maintaining a 2 metre distance
• regulate entry so that the premises do not become overcrowded
• use additional signage to ask customers not to enter the premises if they have symptoms
• if feasible, place plexiglass barriers at points of regular interaction as an additional element of protection for workers and customers (where customers might touch or lean against these, ensure they are cleaned and disinfected as often as is feasible in line with standard cleaning procedures)

For further information on social distancing including illustrated guidance, case studies and downloadable posters for your business please see  ‘Reopening your business’ on this page.

By maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors, and sharing these with NHS Test and Trace where requested, you can help to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus. Containing outbreaks early is crucial to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

There is a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 in premises where customers and visitors spend a longer time in one place and potentially come into close contact with other people outside of their household.

To manage this risk, establishments in the following sectors, whether indoor or outdoor venues or mobile settings, should collect details and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors:

• hospitality, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés
• tourism and leisure, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks
• close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors
• facilities provided by local authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres
• places of worship, including use for events and other community activities

The government has issued guidance to businesses detailing the information they should collect, how this should be recorded and next steps.

Public Health England have released COVID-19 outbreak control actions cards for workplaces which set out the steps businesses need to take if a member of staff, customer or visitor has tested positive for the virus.

The guidance covers the 3 steps involved in controlling the outbreak:

1. Identify
2. Report
3. Respond

Each step has clear and concise instructions and provides contact details for the authorities you will need to liaise with during the process.

Guidance has also been provided on measures you may need to put in place, although Public Health England will provide you with personalised advice after undertaking a risk assessment for your business in the event of a confirmed case.

The cards are available for download and businesses are advised to print these off and file with your existing COVID-19 risk assessment paperwork so managers and employees have easy access to this information.

Individual actions cards have been created for the following industries:

• arts, heritage and culture
• cinemas, theatres, comedy and music venues
• construction and outdoor work
• dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers
• hairdressing, barbers, beauty and personal care businesses
• food manufacturers and other large processing plants
• shops and branches
• spas, sports and massage therapy and wellbeing centres

Visit the website to download and print action  cards.

The Food Standards Agency has released guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely when providing takeaway and food delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Planning rules regarding change of use have been temporarily relaxed so that restaurants, cafes and pubs can provide a takeaway and delivery service only.

If you intend to do this, you should notify planning and environmental health and make sure you adhere to food safety guidance.

The government has provided further guidance that will assist employers, businesses and their staff in staying open safely during coronavirus. It covers:

• what to do if someone develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) on site
• travel arrangements
• sick pay
• certifying absence from work
• what to do if an employee needs time off work to look after someone
• limiting spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in business and workplaces
• cleaning and waste
• handling post or packages

This is a challenging time for everyone, and is likely to be especially difficult for apprentices, who are often new to the world of work, employed on short contracts, and can be especially reliant on face-to-face support and guidance, and on-the-job learning.

Our guidance sets out the Council’s recommendations and is informed by the approach we are taking with our own Council apprentices, as well as guidance from the government, the Department for Education (DfE)/Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), and Public Health England.

Global Fund for Children (GFC) and The National Lottery Community Fund  are partnering to support the creation and delivery of the Phoenix Fund – an initiative that will provide £1 million in emergency grants to Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities across England.

The Phoenix Fund aims to put racial justice at the heart of COVID-19 pandemic response. The initiative will support a network of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic charities and groups in England that are working in the heart of their communities, providing essential and emergency services, support, and education tailored to the community.

Applications close on 20 October 2020.

Apply

In May 2020 the Government announced £3.4M of extra funding for businesses in Hackney through the new discretionary grants fund.

The new fund was aimed at small businesses who have experienced a significant fall in income as a result of Covid-19 with ongoing fixed property-related costs and currently outside the scope of the existing Government business grant schemes.

Round 1 of applications opened Friday 12 June and closed 26 June.

Round 2 of applications opened Friday 21 August and closed 28 August.

There will be no further opportunities to apply for this fund, applications from both rounds are being processed and applicants will be notified of an outcome by 30 September.

Further information

The government has launched a new tool to help businesses find coronavirus financial support. After answering a series of questions, businesses are signposted to a list of support they may be entitled to.

The temporary coronavirus business interruption loan scheme supports small and medium-sized businesses with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to six years.

The government will also make a business interruption payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any fees levied by the lender, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.

The scheme will be delivered through commercial lenders, backed by the government-owned British Business Bank. There are 40 accredited lenders able to offer the scheme, including all the major banks.

Apply

The Department for Business has launched the new Future Fund scheme to support innovative companies that are facing financing difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Future Fund will provide government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.

If you cannot maintain your current workforce because your operations have been severely affected by coronavirus, you can furlough employees and apply for a grant that covers 80% of their usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month.

• more information

The self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

The government will bring forward legislation to allow small and medium-sized businesses to reclaim statutory sick pay (SSP) paid for staff sickness absence due to coronavirus.

This refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of coronavirus.

HMRC has a set up a phone helpline to support businesses and self-employed people concerned about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus.

The helpline allows any business or self-employed individual who is concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus to get practical help and advice. Up to 2,000 experienced call handlers are available to support businesses and individuals when needed.

HMRC are also delivering a programme of webinars to support employers, employees and the self-employed through this period of disruption.

The webinars will cover topics like:

• the coronavirus job retention scheme
• refunding eligible statutory sick pay costs
• furloughed employees and more

Watch the first recorded webinar and register for future webinars.

This is an automatic offer with no applications required. UK Registered businesses will not need to make VAT payments normally due with VAT returns during this period.

Taxpayers will be given until the end of the 2020-21 tax year to pay any liabilities that have accumulated during the deferral period. VAT refunds and reclaims will be paid by the government as normal.

Customers who normally pay by direct debit should cancel their direct debit with their bank if they are unable to pay. Please do so in sufficient time so that HMRC do not attempt to automatically collect on receipt of your VAT return.

The Mayor of London is offering 100% free fundraising to help businesses to secure trade by pre-selling vouchers, goods and services.

Through the Pay It Forward initiative, small businesses can offer customers the option to buy goods and services in advance based on a promise to deliver in the future, helping to secure trade through this difficult time.

This means people can book and look forward to future activities – such as meals, events, hotel bookings etc – while supporting their favourite small businesses to stay afloat.

The Mayor of London’s Back to Business Fund will also offer up to £5,000 in match funding to small and independent businesses through the Pay it Forward crowdfunding platform.

It takes moments to sign up and start a fundraising campaign, allowing the public to pledge funds in exchange for future rewards when this is all over.

Arts Council England will offer individuals and organisations working in the cultural sector new financial support during this crisis, totalling £160 million.

They have repurposed all existing investment strands to be able to offer this support.

London’s funders are working together to provide coordinated funding to support groups responding to the needs of communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The London Community Response – which will be coordinated by London Funders – will be available to organisations facing immediate financial pressures and uncertainty because of the coronavirus. These include increasing demands for services, higher staff absences, fewer volunteers and lower donations.