A PLEA TO ALL CLIENTS ABOUT CONTACTING US
Please note that all staff with the exception of those listed in contacts below have been furloughed. It is a condition of being furloughed that the staff member does not perform any tasks, including responding to correspondence in connection with their work. Therefore, if you email a furloughed member of staff with information or a request then they will not be able to pass that on, act on it in any way and, more importantly, they will not be able to inform you of this inaction. Please, therefore:
- Restrict all contacts to one of the e-mails or phone numbers which are repeated at the foot of this circular, and
- If you have sent an e-mail to any other staff member over the weekend or this week then please now forward a copy to dave@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
All of our staff are conscientious, and receiving e-mails under these conditions places them in embarrassing and distressing position. Please do not place them in this position.
Contact details are repeated at the foot of this email, after the following important news.
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
Small business grants are a one-off grant of £10,000, or £25,000 if you are in one of the specified retail or hospitality sectors. The grant is administered by the local authority through the rates system. A “claim” form is appearing on some local authority websites. We have today checked four authorities and found the claim forms as follows:
Warrington
https://www.warrington.gov.uk/grants-small-businesses-coronavirus-update
Cheshire West and Chester
We have also checked Halton and Cheshire East. The claim form has yet to appear. All local authority websites have a Coronavirus advice area, and we found both of the above forms in that area. If your business is elsewhere then please regularly check the website for your local council as we are sure that the same form will appear there shortly.
It was clearly stated last week that the grants will be made automatically. Therefore, despite being called “claims”, we would suppose that they are more administrative as they ask for details of your business, your business rate reference number and your bank account. However, completing the form can only speed up the process.
Details of the grants appeared in our circular last Tuesday (we believe) but are replicated here.
Cash Grant for Small Businesses
A one-off grant of £10,000 will be made to all Small Businesses who:
- Is based in England
- Already receives Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief, and
- Occupies property.
This will be administered by the local authority who will contact you if you are eligible for this grant. It is automatic and you need do nothing at present.
Retail and Hospitality Grant and Business Rates Holiday
If your premises are used wholly or mainly in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries and have a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 then this grant is increased to £25,000. If the rateable value to less than £15,000 then the grant is £10,000.
These businesses will also enjoy a business rates holiday for the 2020-2021 tax year.
This grant is available to:
- Shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
- Premises used for assembly and leisure
- Hotels, guest and boarding houses, and self-catering accommodation
This will be administered by the local authority who will contact you if you are eligible for this grant. It is automatic and you need do nothing at present.
FUTURE CIRCULARS
Our next circular will be on Thursday 2nd April.
CONTACT DETAILS
If you wish to contact us about anything, please use only the following contact details:
Dave Watkinson
Telephone: 01925 428896
Email: dave@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
Margaret Black
Telephone: 01925 428895
Email: margaret@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
Tom Coyne
Telephone: 01925 428894
Email: tom@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
Stuart Barr
Telephone: 01925 428893
Email: stuart@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
Sara Garrity
Telephone: 01925 428892
Email: sara@warringtonaccountants.co.uk
If you have difficulties contacting by telephone then please email the individual who will ring you back as soon as possible. Do not use the normal office number as there is no-one to answer.