Coronavirus (COVID-19):
information for businesses

Read guidance for:

• reopening your business safely on GOV.UK
• working safely during coronavirus on GOV.UK
• Test and Trace in the workplace on GOV.UK

Specific sector guidance and support

Hospitality business

• Guidance for reopening, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants
• Ask to use outside space next to your business

Outdoor event organisers

Guidance and information for running outdoor events and activities

Food business

Guidance for reopening and adapting your food business on the FSA website

Closures

Most businesses can now reopen if they comply with the COVID Secure guidance. The exceptions can be found in section 3 of the closures guidance (GOV.UK).

To tell us about a business that isn’t following the government’s order to close or is not following the COVID Secure Guidance, you can:

• call 0117 922 2500
• email health.safety@bristol.gov.uk

Report a suspected outbreak

If there’s more than one case of COVID-19 at your workplace, you should contact:

• the South West Health Protection team on 0300 303 8162 or swhpt@phe.gov.uk
• the Bristol City Council public health team at ph.healthprotection@bristol.gov.uk

The heath protection team will:

• carry out a risk assessment
• provide public health advice
• where necessary, establish a multi-agency incident management team to manage the outbreak

The Public Health England (PHE) Health Protection Team will also directly contact businesses if they receive information about confirmed cases that are linked to particular site or workplace.

• Retail, leisure and hospitality business can ​​​apply for a business rates holiday for the 2020 to 2021 tax year
• Nurseries will get a business rates holiday for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. We’ll send revised bills to eligible businesses. 

You may be able to apply for a loan or grant through the:

• Bounce Back Loans scheme (GOV.UK), government-backed loans of £2,000 to £50,000 for small and medium businesses, interest free for 12 months
• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (GOV.UK)
• COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility, help for large businesses through the purchase of their short-term debt (GOV.UK)
• government Future Fund
• Musicians' Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund
• Innovate UK funding opportunities to test ideas and develop innovative products and services
• Food Redistribution Fund
• National Lottery Community Fund, for organisations supporting people and communities affected by COVID-19

You can no longer apply for the:

• Small Business Grant Fund
• Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
• Small Business Discretionary Grant

If you applied, we'll contact you to tell you the outcome.

Read guidance for:

• working safely during coronavirus on GOV.UK
• health professionals on GOV.UK
• adult care providers
• suppliers to the council
• food businesses on GOV.UK
• businesses that want to offer takeaways and deliveries
• running outdoor events and activities

GOV.UK has information about support for businesses, including:

• the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ('furloughing' workers) and Job Retention Bonus
• deferring VAT payments
• deferring income tax payments due through Self Assessment
• applying for more time to file your company's accounts with Companies House
• paying sick pay to employees (statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs)
• what to do if you can't pay your tax bill on time
• support for larger firms through the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility
• protecting high street businesses from aggressive rent collection and closure

Use the GOV.UK coronavirus business support finder to find out what support your business is eligible for.

Licences

Taxi licences: if your vehicle plate is due on or after 30 March, you can extend it for 6 months with no charge.

• Business West
• West of England Combined Authority
• The Federation of Small Businesses
• Enterprise Nation
• Creative England 
• National Council of Voluntary Organisations
• Voscur
• Bristol Food Union
• Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
• Bectu: the union for creative ambition
• Musicians' Union
• UK Hospitality
• Night Time Industries Association
• The British Institute of Innkeeping
• Equity 

Find out about:

• ‘furloughing’ staff through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on GOV.UK
• support with paying sick pay for staff who've been off work because of COVID-19, if you have fewer than 250 employees 

If you can’t work because you’ve had symptoms of COVID-19 or have self isolated, you can apply for:

• Universal Credit (UC) (GOV.UK)
• new style Employment and Support Allowance (GOV.UK)

If you’ve lost income because of COVID-19, you can apply for:

• the Self employment Income Support Scheme (GOV.UK)
• Universal Credit (UC) (GOV.UK), if you’re not eligible for the Self-employment income support scheme

GOV.UK has information about:

• deferring Self Assessment payments due on 31 July 2020 until 31 January 2021 
• support with tax that's due

Future Bright offers careers coaching, training and support to self employed workers whose ability to earn has been affected by COVID-19.

If you're looking for temporary or new staff, email ways2work@bristol.gov.uk with information about the vacancy and we'll help promote it on the Ways2Work website.