Category: Coronavirus

Relevant information

2.3.2 Business events

Meetings of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. If permitted venues have multiple, separate meeting facilities, these can be hired out simultaneously for separate meetings/events if social distancing can be maintained, groups can be kept separate, and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. Business meetings and events of over 30 people should not currently take place in any venue. Banqueting and private dining events should not currently take place in any venue.

The Chancellor stated that the task is now to "nurture" the economy by protecting “viable” jobs through the "difficult winter months", and that is why the response "must be different to what came before". Confirming his decision to end the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in October, he announced a package of measures including a successor to the furlough scheme which saw Government pay up to 80% of employees wages. He explained that as the Prime Minister and the Government’s scientific advisers have said that COVID-19 will be here “for at least the next six months”, and therefore the economy will need “a more permanent” adjustment.

As a result, the Autumn budget has been cancelled to allow for the government to focus on its COVID-19 response.

The measures announced by the Chancellor include:

• Introduction of the Job Support Scheme to directly support the wages of people in work, allowing businesses to keep employees in a job shorter hours, with taxpayer paying a third of wages for unworked hours.

• More than one million businesses which have borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme will be offered the choice of more time and greater flexibility for their repayments, under a plan labelled “Pay As You Grow”

• Businesses who deferred tax payments earlier in the year will be given more time and flexibility to pay, HMRC will allow bills to be spread over 11 smaller monthly repayments.

"We welcome measures to support hard pressed businesses, including publishers, who have seen revenues decline with newsstand, advertising and events revenues all been hit hard by the pandemic. While today’s announcements will help the economy through the tough months ahead, more targeted support is needed to support viable businesses," PPA commented. "We continue to call on Government to provide support to this vital sector with extension of Business Rates Relief, event-cancellation insurance and other targeted measures.”

Full details of the packages announced can be found in the Treasury Policy Paper.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/921059/CCS207_CCS0920237970-001_Winter_Economy_Plan_Web_Accessible.pdf

**Updated guidance **from 9th September *

The following mitigations should be meticulously applied when planning business and consumer trade events:

• Crowd Density Standard: at a capacity allowing for compliance with social distancing of 2m, or 1m with mitigation (approximately equivalent to a density of 10㎡ per person)

• Controlled entry: staggering admission to ensure socially distanced arrival

• Managing queues outside the venue to ensure they do not cause a risk to individuals or other businesses, for example by introducing queuing systems, using barriers and having staff direct customers

• Controlled flow during an event: introducing one-way systems and timed tickets to control flow and alleviate congestion

• Providing floor markings, where appropriate, and signage to remind both workers and customers to follow to social distancing wherever possible

• Assigning appropriately distanced seating where events have a seated element and encourage seated events

• Ensuring that on site speakers are subject to restrictions on live performances – see performing arts guidance for more information

• The opening up of the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak is being supported by NHS Test and Trace. You should assist this service by keeping a temporary record of your customers and visitors for 21 days, in a way that is manageable for your business but effective for managing disease transmission risks, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed.

2.2.3 Business events

Meetings of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance.

From 1 August, exhibition and conference centres are also allowed to show small groups (of up to 30 people, with social distancing requirements) around to view the facilities and plan future events., and to enable government backed pilots to take place. They should not be open fully to host events more widely.

From 1 October, it is expected that events of all types (e.g. trade shows, consumer shows, exhibitions, conferences) will be allowed at a capacity allowing for compliance with social distancing of 2m, or 1m with mitigation (approximately equivalent to a density of 10㎡ per person). Where such events involve people speaking loudly for prolonged periods of time any mitigation must include particular attention to the ventilation of the spaces. This will be subject to the latest public health advice.

In a plan the PM said was “looking ahead with optimism” he outlined a number of easing in restrictions, including plans to allow conferences and other business events to recommence from October.

A key pillar of the plan also stated that “ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local ‘stay at home’ orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules, or restrict transport…”

“From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas. They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces, and cancel events” the Prime Minister added, and that all plans remained conditional on prevalence of the virus continuing to fall. "We will not hesitate at any stage to put on the brakes,” he said.

The plan has set out an ambition for a “significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possible in time for Christmas.”

PPA MD, Owen Meredith commented: “This is welcome news and sets out a clear road-map for publishers and their events businesses, which will be essential to planning for recovery.

“However, a lot of uncertainty remains. We urge the government to work with the industry to help build the necessary confidence in consumers and delegates to ensure events attendance and viability. 

"For publishers and events businesses to effectively invest now, protect jobs and plan for the future, the government needs to provide greater clarity and financial security for event organisers. It is simply not possible for publishers and events businesses, already battered by coronavirus and the economic downturn, to bare all the risk of an event being cancelled at the last minute, due to imposition of local restrictions. Without proper government support, October's re-opening will be a meaningless date in the diary.”

• The UK government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer.

• A new code of practice has been developed with leaders from the retail, hospitality and property sectors to provide clarity for businesses when discussing rental payments and to encourage best practice so that all parties are supported.

• The Coronavirus Act will extend the time period for suspension of the forfeiture of evictions from June 30 to September 30, meaning no business will be forced out of their premises if they a miss a payment in the next three months.

• Secondary legislation to prevent landlords using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery unless they are owed 189 days of unpaid rent. The time period for which this measure is in force will be extended from June 30 to September 30.

• An amendment to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill has been tabled which will extend the temporary ban on the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions where a company cannot pay its bills due to coronavirus until 30 September. Find out more here.

*UPDATED – 24th September – Job Retention Scheme replaced with Job Support Scheme. **[View full details here.**](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/job-support-scheme)

JRS extends support through October, will allow for part-time work

The Job Retention Scheme has been extended until the end of October 2020. From August furloughed employees will be allowed to return to work part-time, and will be guaranteed the same rate of pay – 80% of their wages up to £2,500 – through both government support and employer contributions. More details will be released by the end of May.

BEIS publishes guidelines for safe working environments

The driving principle is that everyone who can work from home should continue to do so. All information for offices and contact centres can be found here and for all other workplaces can be found here.

The advice for businesses is focused on 5 key points, which are:

1. Those who can work from home should continue to do so
2. Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment, in consultation with workers or trade unions
3. Maintain 2 metres social distancing where possible
4. Where people cannot be 2 metres apart, manage transmission risk
5. Reinforcing cleaning processes

APA publishes guidelines for film shoots

The Advertising Producers Association have issued guidelines for production companies to take reasonable and practical steps to safeguard the health and safety of everyone attending a film shoot in relation to COVID-19 and to meet their obligations under the Health and Safety Act, and law, and Government regulations on COVID-19. These can be found here.

Govt. announces phased reopening of the economy

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday, the government published this document on the phased reopening of the economy.

The current time-frame is as follows:

13 May – Opening of outdoor public spaces, exercise allowed more than once per day

1 June – Phased return of primary school students, opening non-essential retail, return of closed-door sporting events, reopening of more local public transport

4 July – Opening of leisure facilities (including cinemas), hospitality and restaurants, personal care and public places

These dates are only guidelines, and represent the earliest date considered by Government. Should the 5 tests set out not be met, or should the R-number increase over the next several weeks, it is possible that these dates (particularly the latter two) will be pushed back.

The government has temporarily relaxed the rules in the following areas:

Annual leave: Workers will be allowed to carry over leave into the next 2 years.

Companies House: Enforcement process has been relaxed, including temporarily pausing the strike off process to prevent companies being dissolved.

Delivery drivers’ hours: Rules have been relaxed for 30 days for drivers supplying supermarkets.

Destroying spoilt beer: Temporary measure to help brewers and publicans.

Driver CPC requirement: Temporary changes to allow bus and lorry drivers who cannot complete compulsory Driver CPC training to continue to drive.

Energy supply: Guidance from Ofgem on how to manage this.

Eviction protection for commercial tenants: A ban on eviction for businesses who cannot pay their rent.

Filing accounts and annual statements: 3-month extension from Companies House.

Gender pay gap reporting: Deadline suspended for one year.

Hotel accommodation for key workers: Letter to hotel chief executives allowing them to offer accommodation to support key workers and vulnerable people.

Intellectual property services alterations: Patent applications.

MOTs suspended: vehicle owners have been given a 6-month exemption.

Navigation charges deferred: Charges for air navigation services in European airspace deferred for up to 14 months.

Off-payroll working rules (IR35): The new rules have been delayed by 12 months.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitiser: New suppliers will be able to bring products to market more quickly and easily.

Pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways: Pubs and restaurants will not need planning permission.

Right-to-work checks: Temporary adjustments will make it easier for employers to carry out.

Statutory Residence Test: Temporary changes for those coming to the country to work on COVID-19 related activity.

Taxable expenses: Find out what is taxable while employees are working from home.

• £34 million Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund, managed by Local Authorities, will be allocated to the newly self-employed facing hardship through £2,000 grants
• £20 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies in partnership with Creative Scotland and VisitScotland for creative, tourism and hospitality companies not in receipt of business rates relief
• £45 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies for vulnerable SME firms who are vital to the local or national economic foundations of Scotland

The Scottish Government is also providing £1 million to top up Creative Scotland’s Bridging Bursaries in the not-for-profit sector.

Applications for grants opened at the end of April and recipients will receive funds from early May onwards. Further details about how SME publishers and freelancers can access these grants can be found here.

The measures include a £1 million Creative Wales Fund to provide support for the publishing sector, offering financial support to businesses as they generate content and new digital experiences. The scheme also applies to the TV industry and includes further support for grassroots music venues to respond to immediate pressures (up to £25K per business).

Other schemes include a £7 million Arts Resilience Fund to support artists and arts organisations, £8 million Sport Resilience Fund, £1 million Cultural Resilience Fund for museums, conservation services, archives and public libraries, £750k Emergency Relief Fund to support the smallest and most vulnerable independent sector sport, museum and heritage organisations, and a £250k Digital Library Resources fund.

More details about how publishers can access the Creative Wales Fund can be found here.

This additional fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. Local authorities are being asked to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.

Businesses must be small, under 50 employees, and they must also be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restriction measures. Local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need.

The maximum grant will be £25,000. There will also be grants of £10,000. Local authorities will have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000. It will be for councils to adapt this approach to local circumstances