October 2020 News and Blogs

People told to self-isolate for up to 14 days will be eligible for financial support from the Welsh Government. People on low incomes can apply to receive a £500 payment if they have tested positive for coronavirus or they are asked to self-isolate by the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service because they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. And a new top-up payment is being introduced for...

Dow Silicones, UK Ltd in Barry are delighted to announce the launch of the 2020/2021 Project SEARCH Programme with 9 young adults joining the Barry site for an academic year. We’d therefore like to welcome Daniel Harding, Joe Coles, Tom Case, Zac Cooke, James Clark, Harvey Milsom, Ewan Heppenstall, Macauley Morgan & Cameron McCourt to The Dow Team. The team are coming to the end of an intensive induction period during which they have met...

Find out if you’re eligible to claim the *Job Retention Bonus and what you need to do to claim it between 15 February 2021 and 31 March 2021. Find out: who can claim employees you can claim for the minimum income threshold get ready to claim contacting HMRC If HMRC are still checking your Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claims, you can still claim the Job Retention Bonus but your payment may be delayed until those...

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the British Retail Consortium has launched the Cyber Resilience Toolkit for Retail, an actionable guide specifically designed for non-cyber experts, such as Board members, those in senior strategic roles, and start-up businesses. It highlights the threats faced by retailers, key questions to consider when developing cyber resilience strategies and guidance on the types of protections retailers should implement. The toolkit outlines recommended actions for retailers in: preventing breaches...

Businesses who deferred VAT due from 20 March to 30 June 2020 will now have the option to pay in smaller payments over a longer period. Instead of paying the full amount by the end of March 2021, you can make smaller payments up to the end of March 2022, interest free. You will need to opt-in to the scheme, and for those who do, this means that your VAT liabilities due between 20 March...

The Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) Phase 3 Business Development Grants applications are now open. This fund is intended to support businesses in Wales with development projects to assist with recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and future sustainability. We expect to support projects that improve the business operation from current circumstances. We particularly welcome development projects that will help sustain and create jobs for young people (25 and under), people with disabilities and...

As we are all currently following social distancing guidelines due to the coronavirus, businesses may not be able to plan like last winter but thinking ahead and preparing for what the weather may bring can make a real difference. There are simple steps all businesses can take to ensure that they are prepared for adverse weather such as: signing up for flood warnings installing flood protection systems checking your insurance policy covers weather damage to...

Trustees are the people in charge of a charity. They play a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity’s work. Trustees’ Week is an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and highlight opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. This year Trustees week takes place from 2 November to 6 November 2020. Events all around...

Economists at the Fraser Allander Institute have been analysing the latest economic outlook, and are looking for interested businesses to review the current economic intelligence about Cardiff City Region, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses around Cardiff. If you would like to know more about how employment has changed, the impacts of working from home, and the potential changes to the way businesses may operate in future, then join the free webinar, which...

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) closes on 31‌‌‌ ‌October 2020 and you will need to make any final claims on or before 30‌‌‌ ‌November. You will not be able to submit or add to any claims after 30‌‌‌ ‌November 2020. From 1‌‌‌ ‌October, the UK government has paid employers 60% of usual wages up to a cap of £1,875 per month for the hours furloughed employees do not work. You continue to pay your...