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We will try to keep this page updated as far as possible during
the current crisis
STAY AT HOME. From 5 January 2021, mainland
Scotland moved from Level 4 to a temporary Lockdown, with new
guidance to stay at home except for essential purposes. Some
islands will remain at Level 3.
FURLOUGH SCHEME FURTHER EXTENDED TO APRIL 2021.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will now run until the
end of April 2021 with employees receiving 80% of their current
salary for hours not worked. Similarly, support through the
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be extended,
with the fourth grant covering February to April 2021, and
the government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes
extended until the end of March 2021. (17 December 2020)
HARDSHIP FUND FOR CREATIVE FREELANCERS. This
fund administered by Creative Scotland will close at noon on Monday
1 February 2021.
PRODUCTIVITY CLUB is delivered by SCDI in
partnership with Scottish Government and aims to support businesses
to increase their individual productivity. The Club is free to join
and members come from across Scotland representing businesses of
all sizes and all sectors. (26 October 2020)
CHANGES TO THE JOB SUPPORT SCHEME. The scheme
will begin on 1 November 2020. Under the revised scheme, employers
will pay less and staff can work fewer hours before they qualify.
See also articles by Anderson Strathern, Harper Macleod and on the BBC website explaining the changes and how
the scheme will operate (22 October 2020)
SELF-ISOLATION SUPPORT GRANT. Applications for
the Self-Isolation Support Grant have opened for low income workers
who are asked to self-isolate and would lose income if they needed
to isolate. (13 October 2020)
JOB SUPPORT SCHEME EXPANDED. Under the
expansion, firms whose premises are legally required to shut for
some period over winter as part of local or national restrictions
will receive grants to pay the wages of staff who cannot work. The
government will support eligible businesses by paying two thirds of
each employees' salary (or 67%), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month.
The scheme will begin on 1 November 2020 and will be available for
six months, with a review point in January 2021. (9 October
2020)
JOB SUPPORT SCHEME. Chancellor Rishi Sunak
announced a new scheme to support viable jobs when the Job
Retention Scheme ends. The new scheme will run from 1 November 2020
until 30 April 2021. (24 September 2020)
THE CULTURE ORGANISATIONS AND VENUES RECOVERY
FUND. This £15m fund will close for applications at noon on
Thursday 24 September 2020. (17 September 2020)
PROTECT SCOTLAND APP LAUNCHED. (10 September
2020)
£59 MILLION FUNDING PACKAGE. Culture and
heritage sectors are to benefit from a £59 million funding package
to protect jobs and help the industry weather the effects of the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The culture funds will be
delivered through Creative Scotland and follows on from the
previously announced £12.5 million Performing Arts Venue Relief
Fund and £2.2 million support for Grassroots Music Venues. It comes
as part of the £97 million in UK Government consequentials for the
culture and heritage sectors. (28 August 2020)
SELF EMPLOYMENT INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME. If
you're eligible and your business has been adversely affected on or
after 14 July 2020, you must make your claim for the second grant
on or before 19 October 2020. (17 August 2020). The Money Saving Expert website has useful
advice on applying for this scheme.
SCHOOLS TO RE-OPEN FULL-TIME FROM 11 AUGUST (30
July 2020).
WORKPLACE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL. The Scottish
Government has published risk assessment guidance and a tool for
staff across all industries which should be used by employers to
support staff and line managers to understand and carry out
effective risk assessments. (27 July 2020)
THE COVID-19 PULSE CHECK REPORT: The Impact of
COVID-19 on the UK Publishing Industry provides a snapshot
of the current state of the industry (24 July 2020).
JOB RETENTION BONUS. The government will
introduce a one-off payment of £1,000 to UK employers for every
furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to
the end of January 2021. This was included in its policy paper A
Plan for Jobs 2020 (8 July 2020). Anderson Strathern have published
an update (15 July 2020) on the job retention
scheme including the bonus.
£1.57 BILLION SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR CULTURAL AND
HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS. These new funds announced by the UK
Government include an extra £97 million for Scotland. (5 July
2020)
LIFELINE SUPPORT FOR PERFORMING ARTS
VENUES. A targeted £10 million fund to support Scotland's
performing arts venues has been announced. It will be run by
Creative Scotland, who will publish full details shortly. (3 July
2020)
CREATIVE COMMUNITIES. A new programme from
Inspiring Scotland that aims to support and empower communities to
develop cultural activities. The programme will distribute up to
£600,000 to support communities to develop new initiatives
involving culture and creative arts for the period October 2020 to
June 2021. Applications close on 12 August 2020. (1 July
2020)
HIGH STREET SHOPS RE-OPEN. The public are
being encouraged to shop local as retail businesses across the
country prepare to re-open on 29 June 2020. (29 June 2020)
RETURNING TO WORK SAFELY. The Scottish
Government has issued guidance for workers and employers on
returning to work safely. (24 June 2020)
GRADUAL INTRODUCTION OF PHASE 2 IN SCOTLAND.
This includes the provision for all retail premises with
outdoor entrances and exits to re-open from 29 June 2020. (18 June
2020)
PUBLISHING SCOTLAND'S SUBMISSION to the
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee of the
Scottish Parliament in response to its call for views on the impact
of Covid-19 on Scotland's culture and tourism sectors. (June
2020)
UPDATES ON SELF-EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT AND JOB
RETENTION SCHEMES (29 May 2020).
- The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will
close to new entrants on 13 July 2020. The scheme
will be extended with those eligible able to claim a second and
final grant capped at £6,570 in August.
- The Job Retention Scheme will close to new
entrants on 30 June 2020. This means that the
final date by which an employer needs to agree with their employee
and ensure they place them on furlough is 10
June. From 1 July 2020, businesses will
be given the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part
time. From 1 August employers will have to pay ER NICs and
pension contributions. The Government's contribution will further
reduce from 80% of qualifying wages (to end of August) to 70% in
September and to 60% in October.
ROUTE MAP FOR MOVING OUT OF LOCKDOWN IN
SCOTLAND. A route map setting out a phased approach to easing
lockdown restrictions while still suppressing coronavirus
(COVID-19) has been published by the Scottish Government (see the
document on the Scottish Government website).
it gives details of a gradual four-phase move out of the current
state of lockdown. (21 May 2020)
UK GOVERNMENT ADVICE ON WORKING SAFELY DURING
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19). Guidance to help employers,
employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely
during the coronavirus pandemic (11 May 2020). Includes
specific advice for offices and shops. See also Health and Safety Executive latest
advice including guidance on working safely at
home.
CALL FOR VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON
SCOTLAND'S CULTURE AND TOURISM SECTORS. The Culture, Tourism,
Europe and External Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry on
the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland's culture and tourism sectors
and is seeking your views (28 April 2020).
UK BUSINESS SUPPORT FINDER
ACAS GUIDANCE ON FURLOUGH. ACAS has updated its guidance on furlough and
qualifying start dates, following HMRC publishing new details on 15 April 2020.
ACAS also has a template furlough letter to download.
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