WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Coronavirus hub
FSB is continuing to talk to the UK government and other authorities to ensure as much help and support as possible is available to small businesses and the self-employed throughout this difficult period. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus hub for information and guidance as well as the Government's support hub. If you are impacted by current disruption we'd like to hear from you - please get in touch.
LATEST ADVICE AND OPPORTUNITIES
Employment roundtables
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is hosting a series of online roundtables with FSB members on the economy and labour market, with a particular focus on the Covid-19 outbreak. This is an opportunity for you to directly contribute to the development of LPC's advice on next year's minimum wage rates, and share your experience with Low Pay Commissioners. Attendance is limited and registration is required. You can sign-up for the three sessions which will have a focus on retail (1 June), hospitality (3 June) and broader perspectives (8 June) on Eventbrite.
Trade Minister Webinar
Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, will discuss the opportunities and hurdles facing small business owners who want to begin or increase exporting activities during an FSB webinar next Friday, 20 May at 2pm. Send your questions for the panel on Twitter using the hashtag #FSBtrade no later than 5pm on May 19. Registration is required.
Free helpline
The Government's Business Support Helpline, which provides free, impartial business support, will be becoming a freephone number from Monday. It will now be 0800 998 1098.
Staying safe
As many business spaces are shut during the pandemic, the Metropolitan Police has released crime prevention advice for business owners. The guide provides tips on how to keep your premises more secure.
Wellbeing hub
The spread of Covid-19 will be causing stress and worry for small businesses and the self-employed, so it's more important than ever to take steps to support your own mental health and that of any employees you may have. Our dedicated wellbeing hub includes resources that can help.
Facebook group
FSB has is running Facebook group for members, small business owners and the self-employed to chat, share best practice and offer support to one other. Now 4,000-strong, we'd love you to join in the conversation.
THE SMALL BIZ WEEK IN REVIEW
Monday
The week began with National Chairman Mike Cherry appearing on Sky News and BBC News to discuss the Government's roadmap to lifting lockdown restrictions. He stressed that "all small businesses will need better clarity on exactly what they need to do in order to follow the guidance."
Following the intervention, the Government published new in-depth guidance for small firms looking to return to work, providing them with practical suggestions and advice as the government looks to bring the economy back on its feet. The guidance is available on our hub.
Tuesday
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be extended for four months until the end of October. Until July, there will be no changes to the scheme whatsoever. Mike Cherry welcomed the announcement on BBC News, whilst stating that we now need to see similar assurances for the self-employed.
Wednesday
Saw FSB publish its Coronavirus Business Survey of more than 5,000 small firms which lays bare the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. One in three small employers are considering redundancies as they struggle to pay bills, shelve exports and pause product development. The survey was covered by the Telegraph, Times, BBC and others.
Meanwhile, applications for the Self-Employed Income Support schemed opened, with the Financial Times reporting that the government saw £340million worth of claims within hours. Mike Cherry responded to the news in The Mirror and The Evening Standard, describing the initiative as a "lifeline" for many.
Also on Wednesday, FSB joined forces with Mail Metro Media to offer £3million worth of free advertising vouchers to small businesses struggling during the pandemic. The giveaway featured in the Daily Mail, i and Metro. Mike Cherry told the titles: "jobs and economic recovery depend on small businesses being able to pull through this crisis and drive growth and innovation beyond it."
Elsewhere, the Government embarked on an initiative to underwrite trade credit insurance, providing some much-needed certainty for those who sell overseas.
Thursday
National Chairman Mike Cherry participated in a webinar with the Spanish Chambers of Commerce where he highlighted how "trade is a vitally important driver for small businesses as it enables them to diversify their markets and become more competitive."
FROM THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
- We continue to take part in regular departmental conference calls with our opposite numbers, involving different business groups and trade bodies, to discuss what more the department and Government could be doing to make all the different support packages as accessible and efficacious as possible for small businesses.
- HMT has announced that the Job Retention Scheme would be extended until October. From August, employers will be invited by Government to start contributing to the 80% wage coverage. The opportunity for employers to part time furlough their employees as businesses eases back into gear, will also be allowed. We are working with HMT to get more detail on this by the end of the month.
- The Government fully launched its guidance for businesses who plan to reopen. We have worked closely with the Department for Business on ensuring the new guidance for a "Covid-secure" workplace, which would be under the auspices of the Health and Safety Executive, would not prove to be an additional burdensome regulation for small firms. We provided a supportive quote on Monday.
- The Department for International Trade, off the back of its UK-US Trade Deal launch the previous week, has now published its negotiating objectives towards a future trade deal with Japan.
- The new Bounce Back Loans Scheme for micro and small businesses has increased its number of lenders to 14. We are working with Government to ensure that no business falls between the cracks, and the number of accessibility hurdles are kept to a minimum.
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