Business support during COVID-19

Before we are able to award the grants, we need to make sure that you qualify for the grant and we pay it to the correct account.

For businesses in receipt of small business rate relief email LBLSBRRgrant@lewisham.gov.uk.

For those businesses that fall in to the expanded retail, hospitality & leisure industries LBLRDgrant@lewisham.gov.uk.

Please include:

• your business rates account reference
• your business trading name and business address
• your full personal name and current correspondence address
• VAT registration number
• your nominated bank account name
• your nominated bank account number
• your nominated bank account sort code.

If you qualify, grants will be paid directly into the nominated bank account of the business liable for the rates. Therefore the bank details provided must be for the Business Rates account holder.

Once we have received your information, the grant awards will be added to the business rate accounts then refunded by BACs transfer to reach the business account within 3 to 5 working days. A Council direct telephone line – 020 8314 6150 – is also available for businesses to call for further support.

By returning this information, you are confirming that you are the correct recipient of this grant and were occupying the property on and before 11 March 2020. The Council reserves the right to reclaim any grant paid if it is incorrectly claimed and awarded.

Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Via the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme firms with a turnover of more than £45 million can apply for up to £25 million of finance, while firms with a turnover of more than £250 million can apply for up to £50 million of finance. This scheme has been established to support firms that do not qualify for the existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme or the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

If your business is eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme you can now make an application online.

Read the Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan's, letter to businesses regarding COVID-19.

You will know that the Government announced a package of measures to support businesses facing an impact from Coronavirus, and workers.  These steps include:

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: employers will be able to access financial support to pay part of the salaries of employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.
• Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments: VAT payments can be deferred for three months. Income Tax payments due from self-employed workers in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2021.
• HMRC Time to Pay Scheme to help with tax: Businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time to Pay scheme.
• Statutory sick pay relief package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): SMEs will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) costs for sickness absence due to COVID-19.
• Business rates support: businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, and nursery businesses are legible for a business rates holiday for the 2020-21 tax year. Council staff have started to amend the appropriate accounts manually and revised bills will be sent out shortly.
• The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme: provides businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant. Businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000. Those with a rateable value of £15,000 to £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. We will be writing to all affected businesses shortly asking them to provide information that will confirm whether or not they meet the eligibility criteria. Once we have received responses, we will make a decision on awarding the grant and pay any entitlement directly to the appropriate account.
• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme: The temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme supports SMEs with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to six years. The Government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.
• Commercial insurance: businesses which have an insurance policy that covers government ordered closure and pandemics or government ordered closure and unspecified notifiable disease should be able to make a claim (subject to the terms and conditions of their policy). Please contact your provider.

Read about the Government’s ongoing programme of support to business.

The package of business rates measures announced by the Chancellor will help many businesses in the borough and we will be in contact with you shortly if you are affected.  To read more about the package of financial measures, see:

• The Government’s business rates and retail discounts guidance
• The Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance on business support and grant funding.

You many also consider if you are eligible for other employment and financial support, such as universal credit support for council tax or housing costs. For further guidance, please read about housing benefits and council tax.

In addition to this, mortgage lenders have agreed to support customers experiencing personal financial difficulties as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19), including via payment holidays, among other options. Please contact your mortgage lenders for further guidance.

On 26 March 2020, the Chancellor announced a support scheme for those who are primarily self-employed (including members of partnerships) who have lost income due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you are eligible to apply, the COVID-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme allows you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended.

To read more about the scheme and to see if you qualify to apply, please read the Government’s guidance.

Creative industries/arts: Arts Council

Support for businesses

Guidance for employees, employers and businesses

Business rates: expanded retail discount – guidance

Business closures and stay at home frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Guidance for food businesses on Coronavirus

Guidance for food delivery and take away services