Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Further Coronavirus sector support can be found at the following places:

Make UK

MakeUK offer a range of resources, template letters and toolkits for manufacturing businesses, as well as set of Coronavirus-related FAQs.

Manufacturing Growth Programme

The Manufacturing Growth Fund developed a range of resources and guidance for SME manufacturers.

Apprentices

The Department for Education’s guidance for schools and educational settings offered helpful advice.

Digital & Creative

Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Your business may operate more than one type of workplace, therefore it is important that you refer to all of the relevant publications.

Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support

Arts Council England launched a new fund for organisations at imminent risk of failure, particular those who had not yet received grants from the Culture Recovery Fund, to provide Coronavirus sector support until the end of the 2020.

Guidance about working safely was issued by the government. Specific Coronavirus sector support for the retail and hospitality industry included:

VAT reduction for hospitality, accommodation and attractions

Some businesses were eligible for a 5% reduced rate of VAT until 30 September 2021 if their business is in the hospitality, hotel or holiday accommodation sector. From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, the reduced rate of 12.5% will apply. Find out if your business was eligible for VAT reduction.

Additional Restrictions Grant

The Additional Restrictions Grant grant was offered to business who were negatively affected by coronavirus. Examples of what made a business eligible were:

• you do not pay business rates and your business was closed by law;
• you supply an industry that had to close because of coronavirus, for example the retail, hospitality or leisure sector;
• your business is in the events sector.

The Additional Restrictions Grant ended on 31 March 2022.

Find out more about the coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant.

Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure

If you were eligible, you:

• may not have needed to pay any business rate for the 2020 to 2021 tax year (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021);
• may not have needed to pay any business rate for the first 3 months of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021);
• may have received 66% off your business rates bills for the rest of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022) – up to a total value of £2 million.

You would receive:

• up to £2m if your business was required to close on 5 January 2021;
• up to £105,000 if your business was permitted to open on 5 January 2021.

You were eligible if your property was a:

• shop;
• restaurant, café, bar or pub;
• cinema or live music venue;
• leisure or assembly property – for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa;
• hospitality property – for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation.

ADHB

The ADHB offered a dedicated Coronavirus hub that included FAQs, articles and sector specific advice.

Build UK

Build UK produced a directory containing sector-specific advice and information.

The government pledged £750 million to ensure VCSE can continue their vital work supporting the country during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including £200 million for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, along with an additional £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts.