Support for businesses extended following introduction of new Covid-19 restrictions
Businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to find out more about all available support to them following the introduction of new Covid-19 restrictions from Thursday November 5.
The national Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, also known as the furlough scheme, has now been extended until the end of March next year and there is also a package of support initiatives that have been put in place by the county council and its partners.
In addition, local businesses can find out more about the Kickstart scheme for 16 to 24-year-olds, which enables them to take on fully funded work placements. Staffordshire County Council will shortly launch a Start Up Loans Scheme, a Student Start Up Scheme and the create of a digital Start Up Prospectus for potential new business in Staffordshire.
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the job retention scheme will be extended until March 2021 with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 each month. Anyone made redundant after 23 September 23 can be rehired and put back on furlough. The Job Support Scheme, which was scheduled to come in on Sunday November 1, has been postponed until the furlough scheme ends. The Self-employment Income Support Scheme has also been extended, until April 2021.
Business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant and £1.1bn is being given to district and borough councils, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly.
Any businesses wanting more information on support programmes should contact the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub at www.stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk or call 0300 111 8002.
Find out more about the Job Retention Scheme extension here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Find out more about the Self-employment Income Support Scheme extension here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
All Government business support initiatives can be found here:
