COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Support for Businesses and Employers

Government takes action against new COVID-19 variant (28 November 2021)

From Tuesday 30 November, face coverings will be compulsory in shops and other settings such as banks, post offices and hairdressers, as well as on public transport unless individuals are exempt from doing so.

All travellers arriving into the country from 4am on Tuesday 30 November will be required to take a PCR test on or before day 2 and self-isolate until they have received a negative test result.

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England moved to step four of the roadmap for easing coronavirus restrictions on 19 July, and many of the legal restrictions that the Government has imposed through the pandemic have been lifted.  New guidance has been published to help businesses work safely during COVID-19 following the move to step four. 

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London Business Hub has published a series of guides to support businesses across London to reopen and work safely during COVID-19:

• Step four and working safely
• Guidance on the use of face coverings
• NHS Test and Trace – Advice for employers
• Case study on reopening a retail business
• Testing and vaccinations FAQs for business

England moved to step four of the roadmap for easing restrictions on 19 July. Read the latest Government guidance for restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, nightclubs or takeaways.

The following resources provide advice and information to help the hospitality sector navigate the COVID-19 outbreak and reopen safely:

Keeping staff and customers safe

• Reopening and adapting your food business during COVID-19
  The Food Standards Agency has published guidance on hygiene and food safety requirements for food businesses to reopen and operate safely during COVID-19.
• Guidance on maintaining records to support NHS Test and Trace
  Businesses and organisations in certain sectors should collect details and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors to premises to support NHS Test and Trace.
• NEXSTART The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020
  Guidance on the latest coronavirus regulations.
• Legionnaires’ disease: lockdown risks and reopening safely
  The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has published guidance to help businesses reopen safely and manage the risks of Legionnaires’ disease.
• Preventing Legionnaires’ disease
  The Association of London Environmental Health Managers has published information to help businesses manage their water supplies as they reopen to prevent Legionnaires’ diseases.
• NHS Test and Trace
  This guide provides advice for businesses about the NHS Test and Trace service.
• Keeping workers and customers safe during COVID-19 in restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
  The UK Government has published the following guidance for the hospitality sector.
• Night Time Economy – A place manager’s guide to night time economy recovering during COVID-19
  Night Time Economy has published a guide for place managers on recovery planning for the night time.
• Eating and Drinking Outside this Winter
  Advice and guidance to help hospitality venues trade safely using outside spaces.

Advice and guidance

• NEXSTART Business and Planning Bill – Alcohol Licensing
  Temporary change to alcohol licensing law to allow off sales.
• NEXSTART Group Size, Gatherings and COVID-19 Safe Capacity
  This guide provides information on group sizes and gatherings (indoors and outdoors).
• Safer Sounds – COVID-19 safety measures and licensing best practice checklist
  Checklist for reopening hospitality businesses safely during COVID-19.
• NEXSTART Business and Planning Bill 2019-21 Pavement Licences
  Guidance on the new pavement licence.
• NEXSTART Toilets Guidance
  Use of toilets in premises providing takeaways.
• NEXSTART Conditions Compliance Guidance
  Guidance on complying with licence conditions.
• NEXSTART Closure Powers
  Scope of closure powers for enforcement officers.
• Transport for London briefing for leisure and hospitality businesses
  Latest travel advice for businesses engaged in leisure and hospitality.
• NEXSTART Business and Planning Bill – Pavement Licences
  Guidance on the pavement licensing regime.
• NEXSTART Pavement Licence Webinar
  Webinar on the pavement licensing regime.
• UKHospitality FAQs
  Answers to frequently asked questions to help hospitality venues understand the latest restrictions.
• NEXSTART Entertainment and ‘Bubble’ Status Check
  Advice on entertainment and requirements for checking household or bubble status.
• Support for the reopening of outdoor hospitality
  The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has provided a round-up of support for outdoor hospitality. It provides advice to help outdoor hospitality reopen under the Government’s roadmap.

As a result of stressful and uncertain times that coronavirus has presented, the need to consider the mental wellbeing of you and your employees has never been more important.

Our guides include information on business support and the latest guidance to help you manage this, by signposting the best resources to help you manage this important issue during the crisis.

Drawing upon resources from the NHS, Mind and other recognised bodies and organisations, our guides will help you navigate the support that is available as well as detailing preventative techniques that individuals use to manage their mental health.

• Mental health and wellbeing resource pack – support for individuals and businesses
• Mind – Improve mental wellbeing in the workplace
• Wellbeing – A guide for small businesses from the FSB
• Crisis services and planning for a crisis

The Mayor of London has published a series of guides to help support the wellbeing of businesses and employees:

• Digital resources for wellbeing
• Financial wellbeing in the workplace
• Five ways to wellbeing
• Flexible and remote working
• Positive psychology at work
• Promoting physical activity at work
• Supporting Employee Wellbeing in the COVID-19 Era
• Managing an Agile Workforce

London Healthy Workplace Award

The London Healthy Workplace Award (LHWA) is a free accreditation scheme led by the Mayor of London’s Office and supported by Public Health England.

In the case studies below, businesses in London explain why they took part in the LHWA and the benefits they’ve experienced.

• Francis Crick Institute
• Global Aerospace
• Lloyd’s of London
• IOR Group
• M&C Saatchi Group

Guides brought to you by London Business Hub to help your business respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Employment advice

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and furloughing employees
• Mental health and wellbeing resource pack – support for individuals and businesses

Property advice

• Lease obligations and lease reviews
• How to engage in discussions with your landlord
• Rent reviews
• How to negotiate a rent holiday

Managing your business during COVID-19:

• Step four and working safely
• Transport for London briefing for retail businesses
• Managing existing commercial contracts
• Business and continuity planning
• Directors, insolvency and personal liability

Funding for businesses

• Government support for business

Funding for the self-employed

• The Self-employment Income Support Scheme

COVID-19 recovery

• Roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions
• Guidance on the use of face coverings

Boosting Community Business London

Boosting Community Business London is a new pilot scheme to grow high streets and civic centers.

Delivered by community business champions Power to Change and Cooperatives UK and supported by the Mayor of  London, the new fund will help local groups to set up and grow a community business. It will also support existing community businesses looking to run a community share offer.

Find out more

We are offering free fundraising to help businesses to secure trade by pre-selling vouchers, goods and services. Find out more.

Back to Business Fund

The Mayor’s £1m Back to Business Fund will offer up to £5,000 in match funding to small and independent businesses through the Pay It Forward London crowdfunding platform. Find out more at https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/fund.

Learn more about the support currently available from the Government.

The following London Business Hub pages provide advice and information to help businesses and the self-employed navigate the coronavirus pandemic:

• Government support for business
• Government support for the self-employed
• External resources, support and webinars
• Early years sector business support
• Cybersecurity and working safely
• Sector-specific support
• Because I’m a Londoner campaign