Advice and support for businesses
Business grants open for applications
You can now apply for a business grant if your business has been forced to close or has suffered significant loss of income because of lockdown restrictions.
Last updated: 18 November at 14:17
All businesses and venues that remain open should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and staff.
On this page you will find links to information which will help you manage your staff, get support and plan for recovery.
The following businesses and venues must close to reduce social contact:
- all non-essential retail, for example, clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops and auction houses
- indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities
- entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres and arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, zoos and other animal attractions
- personal care services such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture, and tanning salons.
See more information about businesses and venues during lockdown
Business grants are now open for applications. They will stay open until 30 days after national lockdown restrictions are lifted.
The Furlough Scheme (also known as the Job Retention Scheme) has been extended until the end of March 2021. Employees will get 80% of their normal salary.
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension supports self-employed people with two grants, each available for three month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021, and February 2021 to April 2021.
To apply, you must:
- have previously been eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme first and second grant (but you don't have to have applied for them)
- intend to continue to trade and either:
- are currently actively trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
- were previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus
Find out more about the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
You may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants.
Support is available for employers and self-employed people.
NHS Test and Trace is designed to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Find out how you should be using Test and Trace as an employer
You may need to do different things to your make your workplace safe, depending on what type of business it is.