Businesses will be given an additional three months to file accounts with Companies House to help companies avoid penalties as they deal with the impact of COVID-19. See here for more information.

Kent County Council, in collaboration with all the local authorities in Kent, will launch a dedicated business support line for coronavirus-related issues, delivered by the Kent & Medway Growth Hub.

This dedicated support line will go live on March 25 at 4pm.

The number to call is: 03333 602300.

Kent County Council has welcomed news from Government that support is now available for businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to the measures available from Government today (March 23), Kent County Council is telling businesses that took advantage of KCC loans that a 12-month interest-free repayment holiday will come into effect from March 28.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste Mike Whiting

KCC Cabinet Member for Economic Development Mike Whiting said: “The coronavirus pandemic is having a serious effect on businesses in Kent and I’m grateful to government for announcing a huge raft of measures to help our local economy.

“Those businesses employ local people and maintain the Kent economy and it is important that we do everything we can to help them, and I’m happy to announce a repayment holiday for loans we have given them.

“KCC’s economic development team is continuing to look at what the county council can offer to ensure survival and recovery after the crisis is over, including looking at providing urgent financial support.

“KCC absolutely recognise this will be a difficult time for providers and suppliers and as an organisation we are ensuring our providers and suppliers are paid promptly.”

Kent’s businesses can now access a range of government support to keep operating.

More than £330 billion of loans and guarantees to help firms continue operating will be available for applications from the two schemes.

For small and medium sized businesses, the new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is now available for applications. This scheme will help any viable business with a turnover of up to £45m to access government-backed finance of up to £5 million.

Interest payments and any lender-levied fees for businesses will be covered by the Government for an initial period of up to 12 months.

Funding from this scheme will be distributed via financial intermediaries, including banks. Information on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan is available through the British Business Bank.

Interest and fees on the loans will be paid by the government the first twelve months, making them interest free to customers. This period may be shorter for firms in the fishery, aquaculture and agriculture sectors.

The government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each facility to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs.

The scheme is available through more than 40 accredited lenders, which are listed on the British Business Bank website.

The Bank of England’s new lending facility for larger firms – the Covid Corporate Financing Facility – is also be open for applications.

Information on the Covid Corporate Financing Facility, including which lenders to contact, is available on Bank of England’s website

These support schemes sit alongside the announcement by the Chancellor of a Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme under which will provide a grant to employers to keep their workers on rather than make them redundant.

Salaries will be paid at 80% of their current level up to a maximum of £2,500.

These grants will be available by the end of April and in the meantime £30bn of cash flow relief has been provided through the deferment of VAT bills.

Alongside this, there is a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England.

For more information on Government schemes, visit www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support

If you are experiencing difficulties continuing to provide services to Kent County Council due to the financial distress caused by the outbreak, send your contact details to one of the following email addresses and KCC will be in touch to discuss the help that may be available as soon as possible.

If you supply:

• children’s services, email supplierdistress.childrenservices@kent.gov.uk
• adult social services, email supplierdistress.adultservices@kent.gov.uk
• any other services, email supplierdistress.otherservices@kent.gov.uk

For more information on support for Kent-based businesses visit Kent’s Inward Investment Agency – Locate in Kent

What support is available for businesses?

The government has announced a variety of measures and financial support for businesses affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:

• A business grant fund of £10,000 for all business currently receiving small business rate relief or rural rate relief.
• Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.
• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which will support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance.
• A 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England.
• A statutory sick pay relief package for small businesses.
• The HMRC Time To Pay Scheme.
• New IR35 tax reforms due to come into effect in April will be pushed back by one year.
• Salary support of 80% for salaries of £2500 per month.

For more information on Government schemes, visit the support for businesses page on GOV.UK

What about KCC business loan schemes?

Kent businesses that have taken advantage of the KCC loans scheme will be given a 12-month interest-free repayment holiday from 28 March. If you are in receipt of one of our business loans, we will be in contact with you directly by letter over the next few days with more information.

My business provides services to KCC but we’re in financial distress, what should I do?

If you are experiencing difficulties continuing to provide services to us due to the financial distress caused by the outbreak, send your contact details to one of the following email addresses and we will be in touch to discuss the help that may be available as soon as possible.
If you supply:

• children’s services, email supplierdistress.childrenservices@kent.gov.uk
• adult social services, email supplierdistress.adultservices@kent.gov.uk
• any other services, email supplierdistress.otherservices@kent.gov.uk.

Where can I get advice and support for my business?

If you’re a Kent-based business looking for advice and support and don’t know where to get help, our partner Locate in Kent could help. Visit the Locate in Kent website or email enquiries@locateinkent.com

The government on Monday (March 23) issued guidance on further businesses and premises that must close, which is available here.

Businesses that can remain open include: Supermarkets, food shops, health shops, pharmacies and non-dispensing pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware shops, laundrettes/dry cleaners, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices, and banks.

Retail and premises that remain open must: Ensure distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants; Let people enter the shop only in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not crowded; Queue control required outside of shops and other essential premises that remain open.