6 July 2021

This update covers:

  • City Corporation extends financial support for SMEs to end of July
  • Wales: Covid business support extended to end of August
  • Northern Ireland: Protection from eviction for commercial tenants
  • England: Plans for Step 4 of the roadmap
  • Scotland: Business organisations encourage workers to get their vaccines
  • Further Covid-19 information

City Corporation extends financial support for SMEs to end of July

The City of London Corporation has announced it is extending the deadline for submissions to its Covid Business Recovery Fund to 30 July. Small businesses that directly interact with the public, such as close-contact services can apply.

More details here

 

Wales: Covid business support extended to end of August

Businesses in Wales still unable to open due to Covid restrictions, or whose income is severely reduced, will be able to apply for another set of business support for July and August.

Read for further information


Northern Ireland: Protection from eviction for commercial tenants

Commercial tenants in Northern Ireland who cannot pay their rent because of coronavirus will be protected from eviction. The special provision in the Coronavirus Act 2020 which protects businesses unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic until 30 September 2021.

Read for full details


England: Plans for Step 4 of the roadmap

The Government has released a document setting out the plans for Step 4 of the roadmap which is expected to start on Monday 19 July.

The key points include:
• Legal requirements to wear a face covering will be lifted.
• Social distancing rules (2 metres or 1 metre with additional mitigations) will be lifted.
• People who have been fully vaccinated will not have to self-isolate if they have been in contact with a positive case.

Instead of legal restrictions, the Government will provide guidance on how people can make informed decisions to manage the risk to themselves and others, reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prevent infections surging again.

The decision to whether to move to step 4 will be decided on Monday 12 July.

The NHBF will provide a further summary once the Government has published additional guidance.


Scotland: Business organisations encourage workers to get their vaccines

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the statement last week from business organisations urging people to get vaccinated and employers to encourage and support their staff to get vaccinated.

Read full statement

 

Read our four nations’ FAQs which include links to the latest government guidance that must be followed.

England: Hair and beauty businesses, including mobile, are now open under government Coronavirus guidelines. Saunas and steam rooms are allowed to open under step 3 of the roadmap, which started on 17 May 2021. Find out more on the government website.

Wales: Hair and beauty businesses, including mobile, are now open under government Coronavirus guidelines.

Scotland: Hair and beauty businesses, including mobile, are now open under government Coronavirus guidelines.

Northern Ireland: Hair and beauty businesses, including mobile, are now open under government Coronavirus guidelines.
Coronavirus: Business closures and restrictions in Northern Ireland

See all updates