REOPENING GUIDE PRACTICAL TIPS & RESOURCES - HEART OF LONDON BUSINESS ALLIANCE 2021
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HEART OF LONDON
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
REOPENING GUIDE
PRACTICAL TIPS & RESOURCES
2021
Table of Contents Reopening Guide 1. Cover 2. Table of Contents 3. Government COVID-19 Roadmap out of Lockdown 4. Budget 2021 5. Business Support Grants & Funding 6. Practical Tips & Resources 7. Commercial Vehicle Reduction in the West End 8. Mental Health & Wellbeing 9. Heart of London Services 10. Contact the Team
COVID-19 Spring Response Government Roadmap out of Lockdown
Budget 2021
Key Information for Heart of London Members
Corporation Tax Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough)
• In 2023 corporation tax will rise to 25% • The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 September
• In line with the increase in the main rate, the Diverted Profits Tax rate will rise to 31% 2021. Between now and June 30, the government will continue to pay 80 percent of wages
from April 2023 so that it remains an effective deterrent against diverting profits out of the for furloughed workers up to £2,500 a month. Click to find out more about how the
UK scheme is changing.
Business Rates
• The 100% business rates holiday in England will continue from April until June. Culture
• This will be followed by 66% business rates relief for the period from 1st July 2021 to 31st • Museums, galleries and live music venues will receive a further £400m of financial support
March 2022, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be to help them re-open following easing of restrictions. This will see the COVID Culture
closed on 5th January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties. Recovery Fund increase from £1.57bn.
• The government will legislate to ensure that the business rates relief repayments that have • Museums are specifically set to receive a further £90m and local cultural projects £18.8m.
been made by certain businesses are deductible for corporation tax and income tax
purposes. For more information and for the budget in full, please visit the links below:
➢ Treasury Press Release
VAT ➢ Government's Key Points
• Hospitality and tourism sectors 5% rate of VAT to be extended for six months to 30th ➢ Budget in Full
September, with an interim rate of 12.5% for an additional six months before returning to
20%.
• The VAT registration and deregistration thresholds will not change for a further period of
two years from 1 April 2022.
• VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme – Any business that took advantage of the original
VAT deferral on VAT returns from 20th March through to the end of June 2020 can now
opt to use the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme, to pay that deferred VAT in up to
eleven equal payments from March 2021, rather than one larger payment due by 31 March
2021, as originally announced.
Business Support Grants & Funding
Key Links & Information
Government Business Support Website Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) support is available to employers and the self-employed, including sole • The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30
traders and limited company directors. You may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants, September 2021. Between now and June 30, the government will continue to
whether your business is open or closed. pay 80 percent of wages for furloughed workers up to £2,500 a month. Find out
more about how the scheme is changing.
Use this business support finder to see what support is available for you and your business. • From July 1, the state support will taper off, with the government then paying 70
percent of wages up to a cap of £2,187.50, and employers covering the rest.
You can also check if your business is eligible for funding via the links below: • From August 1, the government will pay 60 percent of wages up to £1,875, with
Closed Business Lockdown Payment - supports businesses that have been required to close employers having to pick up the remaining 20 percent.
due to the national lockdown that began 5 January 2021. • Claims for furlough days in February 2021 must be made by 15 March 2021. You
Local Restrictions Support Grant for Open Businesses - supports businesses that have can no longer submit claims for claim periods ending on or before 31 October
been severely impacted due to temporary local restrictions. 2020.
Local Restrictions Support Grant for Closed Businesses - supports businesses that have
been required to close due to temporary local restrictions. For COVID-19 safe working advice, please click the relevant link below:
Nightclub, Dance Hall or Adult Entertainment Businesses - supports businesses that have
been closed due to the national restrictions • Shops & Branches
Additional Restrictions Grant - supports businesses that are not covered by other grant • Restaurants, pubs, bars & takeaway services
schemes or where additional funding is needed. • Hotels & other guest accommodation
• Offices & contact centres
You can sign up for regular updates about government support and funding. • Close contact services
• Financial support for businesses
Coronavirus Business Grants
Westminster City Council is administering funding for government grant schemes. The
government has announced a new tranche of grant funding for the same types of business to
cover the period 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021. To find out if your business is eligible and
to apply, click here.
Practical Tips & Resources
General Travel & Cycling to Work
General Travel Information Bike Theft
The latest Government guidance requires everyone to stay at home wherever possible. You Double locking your bike with secure locks when using cycle parking stands is an
must not leave or be outside your home except where necessary. essential deterrent against theft. The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) provides useful
guidance on how and where to lock your bike.
If you need to travel, walk or cycle where possible, and plan ahead and avoid busy times and
routes on public transport. This will allow you to practice social distancing while you travel. Cycle Parking
Last year, we worked with our partners to install over 500 cycle racks, to provide
Transport for London (TfL) services continue to run for those who need to travel for legally additional cycle parking in the area. You can find the cycle parking map here.
permitted reasons.
BIKE-DROP
For the latest safer travel guidance, visit the TfL page here. BIKE-DROP, which offers safe and secure valet-style bike parking, is opening and will be
available in the Heart of London area, at 48 Haymarket, once restrictions have been
Businesses are encouraged to think about staggering staff arrival times or later opening, to assist lifted. For more information, click here.
TfL in reducing demand for travel during the morning peak and to minimise the risk of spreading
Covid 19.
Cycling to Work
As the West End begins to reopen, cycling can be a great choice for those returning to the
workplace. We have created a Cycling to Work guide, which can be found here.
Cycle Route Planning
Plan your route with the new TfL Go app or you can use other cycle route apps, such as
CycleMaps, CityCyclist or Strava.
Practical Tips & Resources
Public Realm, Queuing & COVID-19 testing
Public Realm COVID-19 Workplace Testing
The footway widening, cycle routes and temporary barriers that were previously installed in the Workplace testing is now available to all businesses, including those with fewer than 50
area will remain in place. employees. NHS Test and Trace has launched a portal for employers to request rapid
lateral flow tests for their organisation. Use this service to get the forms you need to order
Please note that the Panton Street road closure that was in place last summer, will not be free lateral flow tests to test your employees in the workplace. You must register on or
reinstated. before 31 March 2021.
Pavement licences for pubs, restaurants and cafes Those who can not access workplace testing should consider Community Testing via Local
Pavement licenses have been extended for another year to end September 2022 to help hospitality Authorities. A postcode checker can be found here.
businesses when they reopen. For more information, click here.
Lateral Flow Waste Disposal
To apply for a pavement licence, click here. The waste from Lateral Flow Test (LFT) rapid testing sites, in a business or organisational
setting, for example in a school, university, pharmacy or office, requires specialist
Queue Management management.
Westminster City Council has produced a guide to support businesses reviewing queuing
arrangements for their respective premises, taking into account social distancing measures. The If you are setting up a rapid testing site at a business premises, then please visit
guidance can be found here. the Westminster City Council website where you will find more details about how
LFT waste can be managed.
Public Toilets
Most public toilets in supermarkets, shopping centres, train stations and service stations remain Test & Trace
open, however, others remain closed. In order to support the area’s reopening on 12 April, An overview of NHS Test and Trace, including what happens if you test positive for
businesses that own and operate permanent sites are asked to reopen these services to coincide coronavirus (COVID-19) or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive,
with the reopening of non-essential retail premises. can be found here.
A map of public toilets available in the area can be found here.Commercial Vehicle Reduction in the West End
5 key actions to improve air quality
Goods vehicles already account for up to 30% of traffic in the West End, with commercial traffic 3. Install a waste compacter
predicted to increase from 200,000 vehicles to 270,000 a day in the future. Businesses can access Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding through us,
from Westminster City Council (WCC) to install waste and recycling
Heart of London Business Alliance is recommending businesses take 5 Key Actions to help compactors. Participation will not cost your organisation anything and will contribute to
reduce the amount of commercial traffic in the area, in order to deliver better air quality and make improving air quality, reducing vehicle trips, reducing carbon and waste. To find out how
a contribution towards a zero-carbon economy. your business can take advantage of the available funding, please contact us here.
4. Use zero-emission delivery services
5 Key Actions Many businesses are switching to zero-emission delivery and courier services. These
services often can be cheaper, faster and are better for the environment. We recommend
1. Property owners to introduce ‘Green Leases’ for new tenants using Xereo, which pools London’s emission free vehicles into one place for all your
A Green Lease is a lease that incorporates clauses whereby the owner and the occupier undertake
delivery and transport needs or E-Cargo Bikes, which operates extensively in the West
specific obligations to improve the sustainable operation and occupation of a property, including End.
the use of the same waste collection, deliveries and servicing companies, which can greatly reduce
pollution and traffic congestion in central London. Further advice about Green Leases can be
5. Switch to zero-emission vehicles
found here and here. Funding and support are available for businesses and organisations considering introducing
electric vehicles. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for electric vehicles,
2. Consolidate waste and recycling collections including commercial vehicles. Businesses can also apply for grants to install Electric Vehicle
There are up to 60 different waste companies operating in Westminster alone. We encourage Charging Points. The funding available is up to £350 per socket, up to a maximum of 40
businesses to switch their waste and recycling supplier to our recommended suppliers, in order across all sites for each applicant.
to reduce the number of operators in the West End. We encourage businesses to use
Westminster City Council Waste Services, operated by Veolia, who not charge VAT and is Most charging point suppliers use renewable energy sources, making the transition
migrating its fleet to entirely electric vehicles or alternatively, Paper Round. to electric vehicles even better for air quality and reducing carbon.
Visit Transport for London (TfL) or Westminster City Council (WCC) for further
guidance about electric vehicles and charging points.Mental Health & Wellbeing Advice & Key Contacts MIND MIND has put together a variety of advice and support for you and your team to help manage your wellbeing during this ever-changing situation – from working at home to supporting team members with children. Click here Mental Health Support for Employers - CIPD CIPD have put together a guide for employers that outlines considerations and provides advice on how mental health can be supported during the COVID-19 Pandemic. For more information, click here Mental Health Foundation – Whether you’re back at the workplace or working from home, the Mental Health Foundation has put together helpful advice on how to look after your mental health during this period of uncertainty. Click here for further details. Every Mind Matters The NHS have created 'Every Mind Matters' which includes practical tips and expert advice. Complete their action plan for way s in which to look after your mental health and follow their simple steps to improve your mental wellbeing. For more information click here
Heart of London Services
Information & Contacts
Security Emergency Contacts
Our private security team is on site on and available on a 24/7 basis. Security is contactable via: Call 999 if:
P: 0743 2273388 / 07523 901505 • a serious offence is in progress or has just been committed
E: info@mylocalbobby.co.uk • someone is in immediate danger or harm
Radio: Safer Business Radio Network channel 2 • property is in danger of being damaged
• a serious disruption to the public is likely
Cleaning
Our street cleansing team will continue their service throughout the day, with a response team If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service 18000
available to deal with issues (staining, spills) within 45 minutes. The team is continuing to deep
clean and degum the area on a nightly basis. Our cleaning team is contactable via: Call the UK Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789 321 if you've seen or heard something that
P: 07717 86 86 34 you think could suggest terrorist activity.
E: sangran.parmar@veolia.com
In addition, we are connected with the following organisations to ensure the relevant, vital
City Inspectors information is shared with our businesses, so that any operational concerns can be escalated:
Our team of dedicated City Inspectors from Westminster City Council continue to deal with waste, ❖ Westminster City Council
environmental and anti-social behaviour issues and are contactable via: ❖ Metropolitan Police
P: 7985 316 249 / 07971 093 664 ❖ Safer West End
❖ West End Security Group
Outreach ❖ London Resilience Business Sector Panel
If you are concerned about a member of the population sleeping on the street, please refer them
via Streetlink. General Enquiries
Heart of London Business Alliance
Metropolitan Police W: heartoflondonbid.london
Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries. E: operations@heartoflondonbid.co.uk / info@heartoflondonbid.co.uk
If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service on 18001 101. P: 07730 760 100 / 020 7734 4507 (office hours only)
Twitter: @HOLBID
LinkedIn: Heart of London Business AllianceCONTACT THE TEAM Area Operations: Robin.Hibbert@heartoflondonbid.co.uk Destination Marketing: Mark.Williams@heartoflondonbid.co.uk Public Affairs: Matt.Arnold@heartoflondonbid.co.uk Company Communications & Media: Emily.Ferrary@heartoflondonbid.co.uk Placeshaping & Public Realm: Dan.Johnson@heartoflondonbid.co.uk Finance & Levy Payments: Jeremy.Brown@heartoflondonbid.co.uk
DRIVING THE RECOVERY OF LONDON’S WEST END
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