Dear Member, each day brings new headlines about Covid-19 and its impact on our communities and businesses. The safety and wellbeing of our team and our members is always our biggest priority. We have continued to represent you as you navigate your way through this crisis. We have with the full support of our Board been lobbying our MPs, AMs and councils, sharing insights and intelligence into Welsh Government from your feedback and talking with them about strategy for safe reopening. We have been pushing particularly hard on the unfairness experienced by bona fide self-catering accommodation businesses not getting the support they so badly need. This is not a situation […]
Update from Visit Britain. https://www.visitbritain.org/helping-tourism-industry-recover-covid-19?utm_source=VB_Only_Enews_06_05_2020&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=VB_06_05_2020
HMRC has introduced a temporary measure to help in the destruction of spoilt beer, cider, wine or made-wine during coronavirus for: brewerscider producerswine or made-wine makerspublicans Find out more at the https://www.gov.uk/guidance/destroying-spoilt-beer-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Food Innovation Wales has launched a tool kit of useful templates and links to support Welsh food and drink manufacturers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Developed in collaboration with the Food & Drink Wales Industry Board, the resource includes over 20 templates which companies can use including observation checklists, visitor and return to work questionnaires, change of use guidance, contingency planning and measures to take when restarting a factory following shutdown. To use the Food Innovation Wales COVID-19 tool kit, visit: http://foodinnovation.wales/covid-19-considerations-for-good-manufacturing-practice-in-the-welsh-food-and-drink-processing-sector/ To contact Food Innovation Wales for support, please contact: North WalesFood Technology Centre, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai:Paul Roberts: 07810 647432 / robert5p@gllm.ac.uk
Business leaders in North Wales are calling for a new £3 million hardship fund to be set up provide urgent help for companies who don’t qualify for any of the emergency Covid-19 support. The plea has come from the North Wales and Mersey Dee Business Council, the umbrella body for the private sector in the region, who say many firms are falling through the cracks and are on the verge of going bust. Read the full press release here: https://businessnewswales.com/business-leaders-in-north-wales-call-for-3m-sme-hardship-fund/
Guidance on Communications with your Customers https://businesswales.gov.wales/tourism/sites/tourism/files/documents/C-19_Industry_Support_Document_WG40605_EN.pdf https://businesswales.gov.wales/tourism/sites/tourism/files/documents/C-19_Industry_Support_Document_WG40605_CY.pdf
FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) seeks legal clarity on business interruption insurance alongside package of measures to help consumers and small businesses. This a very welcome move by the FCA for those disputing their Business Interruption cover. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-seeks-legal-clarity-business-interruption-insurance
You may already be aware, but just in case……please see below details of 2 webinars from the UK Govt Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). These are free of charge and questions are welcome in advance. They will incorporate advice on additional support available in Wales. Webinar: Financial support for small businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19) Register to join a free webinar hosted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at 11am on Tuesday 5 May to find out how small business can access the coronavirus business support measures that have been made available to UK businesses. The webinar will cover: Eligibility for small […]
The Future Fund will provide UK government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors. These convertible loans may be a suitable option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The scheme will be delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank. The scheme will launch in May 2020. https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/apply-coronavirus-future-fund
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) members has provided the following guidance on the common questions relating to insurance and other business issues which includes: How does business insurance work?What is business interruption insurance?How do businesses purchase business interruption cover?What do business interruption policies generally cover?Does standard business interruption insurance provide cover for businesses who are not able to operate due to the effects of COVID-19?Does a ‘notifiable disease’ extension to business interruption cover my business for COVID-19?Are there any other extensions to business interruption that may provide cover? https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/business-insurance-guidance-covid-19