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Covid-19 news

These are extraordinary times at the moment so we will pull together all useful information for Frome businesses here and keep it as up to date as possible.

See our blog on paying rent.

See this advice from Burton Sweet on the package of financial support on offer and what you can do to prepare.

Government advice

Advice from the government – bookmark this page for the latest updates for businesses and employees.

You can also sign up for government updates – things are changing very rapidly so keep checking links and guidance documents because they seem to be changing almost daily. Sign up here.

This page gives more information from the government on the schemes they are putting in place to help businesses pay employees. Read here about the steps you need to take. It includes information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to pay furloughed workers.

There is information on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) which supports small and medium-sized businesses and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme which supports large businesses (not due to open until the end of April).

This page gives information and guidance to businesses on the actions they can take to protect employees and deal with issues within your business.

This is the Government’s business support hub.

This is information about the help for self employed.

This is a guide on the new small business grants that will be administered by local authorities.

This is the government guide on statutory sick pay for employers.

This is government advice for employees, including sick pay information.

This is the government’s advice on social distancing.

This is a government guide on cleaning your business premises.

The government has set up a dedicated Business Support Helpline – 0300 456 3565 – to enable businesses to find the right help and support across a wide range of topics, from business rates relief, grants and employee advice.

HMRC COVID-19 Helpline 0800 0159 559 is available to support businesses and self-employed people who are worried about paying their tax bills due to Coronavirus.

We have found this useful breakdown of information about the furloughed worker scheme from the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales. Events are changing rapidly so bear in mind it’s as correct as it can be at the time of writing.
This information from the Consumer Council may also be useful to you or your staff. It covers sick pay, mortgage payments, benefits and what banks to doing to support their customers.

Other advice hubs

Mendip District Council’s coronavirus information hub is here.

Somerset Chamber also has an information hub which can be found here. It is also running webinars on a range of subjects. Find out the programme here.

British Chambers of Commerce also has an information hub here.

Heart of the South West Growth hub has an information hub here.

Find information about Frome here from our town council.