Welcome to the latest edition of our South and Vale Business Support newsletter!
Resources to help you trade online
We've put together a list of schemes that will help you trade online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Small Shop are taking on new local businesses, enabling them to continue/start selling again. Items can be collected from a safe place, and delivery is contact-free.
The PopUp Business School team have written an article on getting your website right, brilliant for those who want to develop their online presence.
In Henley-on-Thames, the Henley Basket scheme encourages residents to stay at home and order online from an assortment of local businesses. Their orders are then delivered directly to their door, ensuring that strict social distancing measures are carried out.
A discretionary grant fund of £617 million has been announced by UK Government to accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the coronavirus business support grants funds.
Councils are awaiting further guidance on the scheme from government, but initial indications suggest that the funding will be available for businesses in England that employ less than 50 employees and are able to demonstrate a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restrictions.
Once the Councils have received further guidance, we will issue details of how businesses can apply for funding via a special edition of our newsletter.
Get ready for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
HMRC are beginning to contact customers who may be eligible for the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
The claims service will open on 13 May and is being delivered ahead of the original timetable.
The claims process will be very simple, and those eligible will have the money paid into their bank account by 25 May, or within six working days of completing a claim.
HMRC are publishing guidance on the scheme, available here. This guidance will continue to be updated.
