COVID-19 Coronavirus Business News

22 Dec 21
Firms can claim one-off grants of up to £6k.

Firms want support as customers cancel bookings

16 Dec 21
Hospitality takings could fall 40% during vital trading period.
24 Nov 21
The scheme remains open for small and medium-sized firms until 30 June 2022.

Economy grows by 0.6% in September 2021

11 Nov 21
Services grow by 0.7%, spurred by in-person GP appointments.

Business rates relief for hospitality, retail and leisure in 2022/23

29 Oct 21
50% discount available, up to maximum of £110,000.

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‘GDP back to pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021’

27 Oct 21
Better than expected growth to oversee economic recovery.

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Economy inches towards recovery in August

14 Oct 21
Economy grows by 0.4% in August after -0.1% slump in July.

Was the stamp duty land tax holiday a success or failure?

13 Oct 21
Pre-pandemic stamp duty land tax rates are back in place until at least 31 March 2022.

Treasury considers recovery loan scheme extension

8 Oct 21
The renewed scheme could become less generous to firms.

Stamp duty land tax reverts back to type

6 Oct 21
Pre-pandemic regime is back in place.

Furlough scheme ends after 18 months

1 Oct 21
Around 1m people were still furloughed.

Borrowing between April and August less than expected

28 Sep 21
Monthly borrowing remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Inflation rises in August to 3.2%

15 Sep 21
End to pandemic-related subsidisation pushes up food prices.

Summer saving hampers consumer spending

2 Sep 21
Britons’ savings down in July but above expectations.

Government borrowing shrinks in July 2021

23 Aug 21
Borrowing is second highest on record for that month.

Inflation rate falls to 2.1% in year to July 2021

19 Aug 21
Year to July 2021 inflation rate hovers above 2% target.

Could NICs rates be about to change for 2022/23?

18 Aug 21
Reports suggest the Government might be about to break a manifesto pledge.

Govt. introduces £750m live events insurance scheme

9 Aug 21
It will cover costs in the event of cancellation.

Furlough support cut threatens to axe jobs

2 Aug 21
One in five businesses say they are likely to make redundancies.

Retail sales figures improved in June 2021

27 Jul 21
The proportion of retail sales fell in the same period.

23 Jul 21
Business confidence in the sector remains low, however.

Monthly borrowing figures start to climb down

22 Jul 21
Borrowing in June 2021 was the second highest on record.

Inflation rate sees fourth month of consecutive growth

14 Jul 21
Rising prices coincides with unlocking of UK economy.

14.5 million jobs supported since pandemic onset

12 Jul 21
Critics argue millions have been “excluded” from support.

COVID-19 loans hit total value of £80 billion

8 Jul 21
BBLS applications accounted for the majority of claims.

Post-pandemic job exodus could cost businesses up to £17 billion

6 Jul 21
The cost equates to £10,076 per business.

Stamp duty holiday begins tapering off

30 Jun 21
Rates will change from today.
23 Jun 21
Chancellor Rishi Sunak rejects extension pleas as COVID-19 restrictions extend.

Government borrowing eases in May

 22 Jun 21
Tax receipts were £1.7bn higher than predicted.

HMRC tasked with £1bn false furlough claims recovery

16 Jun 21
Furlough fraud was previously thought to be £3.5bn.

Rishi Sunak rejects pleas for furlough extension

15 Jun 21
Furlough is to be phased out from 1 July.

The economy grew by 2.3% in April 2021

11 Jun 21
Local holidays and hospitality drove the boost.

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HMRC changes process for furlough claims for multiple employees

1 Jun 21
Updated templates should make the system easier.

Trade credit reinsurance scheme to end

28 May 21
It will end on the originally planned date.

Employers told to issue childcare voucher reminder

26 May 21
HMRC also implies working parents might be better off using tax-free childcare.

Inflation increases to 1.6%

20 May 21
It is a return to pre-pandemic inflation levels.

Unemployment decreases by 0.9%

18 May 21
The employment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels.

DWP rejects keeping £20 universal credit uplift

18 May 21
The Chancellor extended the increase by six months.
14 May 21
More than 550,000 workers have already claimed.

Queen’s speech promises national recovery

12 May 21
It failed to indulge any specific fiscal policies.

Rent debt threatens 330,000 hospitality jobs, survey warns

6 May 21
Eviction bans are to end in July.

History shows COVID-19 debt ‘can be coped with’, researchers claim

5 May 21
The debt-to-income ratio was 250% in 1947.

Breathing space debt respite scheme launched

4 May 21
700,000 people are to benefit from the scheme.

SEISS scam email circulating online

30 Apr 21
Spelling mistakes give the fake document away.

Self-employed income support scheme: Round Four

28 Apr 21
Everything you need to know as the fourth tranche of taxable grants open.

UK tax take down 8% from last year

26 Apr 21
VAT and corporation tax took the biggest total hits.

Gateway for self-employed grants opens

23 Apr 21
HMRC should have already alerted applicants.

Fuel and clothing prices push up inflation

22 Apr 21
Food prices fell over the same period.

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ONS: Labour market is ‘stable but subdued’

20 Apr 21
The unemployment rate “has begun to stabilise”.

Government kicks off new 95% mortgage scheme

19 Apr 21
It aims to increase supply of 5% deposit mortgages.

HMRC publishes penalties for not paying deferred VAT

16 Apr 21
Businesses can still make arrangements to avoid penalties.

Government launches recovery loan scheme

14 Apr 21
The new scheme is open to businesses big and small.

ONS figures show 0.4% growth in February

13 Apr 21
GDP remained below February 2020 levels, however.

Outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail reopen

12 Apr 21
Consumer confidence rebounds as lockdown measures ease.

Recovery Loan Scheme launches

7 Apr 21
Another round of government-backed loans are available.

Land and buildings transaction tax holiday ends

1 Apr 21
Holidays extended in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

UK unemployment rate drops to 5%

25 Mar 21
The ONS estimated 1.7 million people were unemployed in January this year.

HMRC to accept bulk appeals for late tax return penalties

23 Mar 21
The process is available for a period of six months.

UK borrowing hits £19.1bn in February

19 Mar 21
Borrowing was £17.6 billion higher than the same period last year.

CBI: Extend kickstart scheme by six months

17 Mar 21

The scheme is due to end in December 2021.


February CJRS deadline reminder

15 Mar 21
Furlough claims must be made by today.

UK economy shrinks 2.9% in January, ONS reveals

12 Mar 21
The construction industry grew by 0.9% in January 2021.

Final business rates review to be published in Autumn

10 Mar 21
An interim report will be published on 23 March.

Many freelancers still struggling, warns IPSE

9 Mar 21
The grant will cover 80% of average trading profits up to £7,500.

HMRC publishes fourth SEISS grant details

5 Mar 21
Tax returns for 2019/20 will now be taken into account.

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