HU UPDATE: 17th APRIL
REOPENING & REBUILDING / ADDITIONAL & ONGOING HELP / GRANTS- ARE YOU READY? / INSURANCE / ACTS OF KINDNESS
WE WILL BE THERE!
With both the Staff Furlough payments and NI £25k grant for hospitality, tourism and retail businesses (NAV £51k) opening on Monday, we have compiled some useful information to help with the application process (below).
But, with many hospitality businesses excluded for any of the grants and others still waiting on payment of the £10k grant, we are doing and will do all we can to have the grants extended and ensure prompt payments of all outstanding financial support.
Whilst this funding will go some way to ease the unbearable financial burden you and our industry have been under, we know that without additional and ongoing financial support, they alone will not ensure the survival of your businesses and our industry. I assure you that with the help of our Industry Response Group, Hospitality Ulster will continue to lobby Government for the help you need and deserve.
Whilst there is still no date for the reopening of the hospitality industry, it is obvious that any return to normal is a long way away, with social distancing likely to be with us for some considerable time.
We are in discussions with Government to inform the debate on reopening hospitality premises and what that might look like under social distancing measures- the additional challenges that would bring both operationally and financially, with many businesses unlikely to be profitable or require all their staff and others unable to open at all. Ongoing financial support and tax relief will be critical, not just to reopen your business, but to rebuild it!
The opening of the grant applications on Monday is an important step, but we are still at the beginning of this journey. There will be many challenges ahead, but whatever it takes, Hospitality Ulster will be there, providing a strong, uncompromising voice and support for you, your business and our industry.
In the coming days we will release details of how you can access our HU Academy training platform, with over 40 accredited training modules which can be used to engage and up-skill furloughed staff at no additional costs to members (T&C apply).
May I also take this opportunity to wish you and your family good health and I look forward to the day when once again we can enjoy the world class hospitality that our industry offers.
Colin Neill
CEO Hospitality Ulster
GRANTS- ARE YOU READY?
Furlough Workers – Job Retention Scheme
With manual input required for businesses with less that 100 staff, it is important that you take time to compile all the necessary data before the claims portal opens on Monday.
What You’ll Need to Make a Claim
Employers should discuss with their staff and make any changes to the employment contract by agreement. Employers may need to seek legal advice on the process. If sufficient numbers of staff are involved, it may be necessary to engage collective consultation processes to procure agreement to changes to terms of employment.
To claim, you will need:
- Your employer PAYE reference number
- The number of employees being furloughed
- National Insurance Numbers for the employees you want to furlough
- Names of the employees you want to furlough
- Payroll/works number for the employees you want to furlough
- Your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference or Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference or Company Registration Number
- The claim period (start and end date)
- Amount claimed (per the minimum length of furloughing of 3 consecutive weeks)
- Your bank account number and sort code
- Your contact name
- Your phone number
More details on how to claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
CLICK HERE to read
HMRC has also updated the information on its Coronavirus helpline (CLICK HERE) for all businesses and self-employed people in financial distress who want to apply for support through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.
It has said that further guidance on Job Retention Scheme will be published later this week in advance of the portal opening on Monday.
You can read our HU updated FAQs here:
CLICK HERE to read
NI £25K HOSPITALITY, TOURISM & RETAIL GRANT
Registration will open on Monday 20 April for businesses to apply for the £25,000 Hospitality, Tourism and Retail Grant
The NI Executive is providing a one-off grant of £25,000 to ratepayers in the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors who pay rates on a property with a rateable value between £15,001 and £51,000.
Further details on how to apply for this grant and access to the online form will be available on Monday 20 April 2020
CLICK HERE to open
INSURANCE
The FCA published a letter yesterday from their CEO to insurance sector CEOs (CLICK HERE) specifically about conduct in relation to business disruption insurance.
They have set up a new small business unit to respond to issues whereby insurers aren't paying out where businesses think they should be, amongst other things. This relates to smaller companies, classed as firms with turnover of less than £6.5m and fewer than 50 employees. They can now take complaints directly to the financial ombudsman.
MTB SOLICITORS: INSURANCE INFO
HU's legal partner McCartan Turkington Breen (MTB Solicitors) are on hand to provide advice and information on your insurance.
Contact Andrew Morrow: andrew.morrow@mtb-law.co.uk
OTHER UPDATES
- Changes announced today will help businesses avoid being struck off the Companies House register as they deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. (CLICK HERE)
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has held a virtual round-table with businesses in NI, to discuss the challenges they are facing. (CLICK HERE)
SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS
Hats off to Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. Yet another act of kindness from an industry that could be excused for just looking inwards as it struggles cope with the financial impact of the Coronavirus.
Do you know of any more? Share and tag us on social media (see below) as a ray of light in these dark days, showing once again that the hospitality industry is still at the heart of our community!
CLICK HERE to read more
