| Welsh Government Economic Resilience Fund application process now open. |
| Here are the links to access the application forms for the Welsh Economic Resilience Funds. Welsh Economic Resilience Fund – Microbusinesses Access the fund for Microbusinesses (1-9 Employees) here Welsh Economic Resilience Fund – SME’s and Large Businesses Access the fund for SME’s and Large Businesses (10-249 Employees) here Please also find the guidance notes for this fund here We would advise that before submitting an application, that you refer to this link – Welsh Economic Resilience Fund Checker – to ensure that you are eligible and meet all the criteria. If there is any problem with accessing or completing an online application telephone Business Wales directly – 03000 603000. |
| Complaints that the Welsh Government Economic Resilience Fund excludes many small businesses |
| We have had many emails and messages from members who are not able to apply for the Economic Resilience Fund as they do not meet the criteria outlined: You need to be registered for VAT, not paying business rates and employing staff. Many of these businesses are also excluded from the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) and other support packages which have been launched to support businesses during Covid-19. We have put together a survey which we have asked all members and non members to complete so we can contact Welsh Government, UK Government and Local Authorities and update them on the number of businesses who are not able to access support. I have extended the deadline until Sunday now, as Mid Wales Tourism Association have also used our survey to ask the same questions to their members so we can jointly report on what are members are reporting. If you are affected by this anomaly as well as compelling our survey, emailing us to let us know, please make your case known your local Councillor, AM, or MP as the more they are made aware the more likely they can look at putting new packages together. |
| Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to open on Monday 20th April |
| The Job Retention Scheme will open Monday 20th April, and it is worth repeating the following:-It is important that you have all the necessary information to hand. This will include:-1. The bank account number and sort code you would like HMRC to use when they process the claim. 2. The name and phone number of a person in your business for HMRC to call with any queries. 3. Your self-assessment UTR (Unique Tax Reference), Company UTR, or Company Registration Number 4. The full name, employee number and National Insurance number for each of your furloughed employees. 5. The total amount being claimed for all employees, and the total furlough period. For more information please visit the Governments website here.Everyone must ensure that they have their Government gateway login for payroll. If you don’t have a government account for your PAYE please enrol here.It was announced earlier this week that employers can now claim for furloughed employees that were on the payroll on or before 19th March 2020, and were notified to HMRC on RTI before that date. This is good news in some respects, allowing more employees to be furloughed. BUT, beware an anomaly whereby monthly paid staff starting work on 1st March and paid on 31st March will NOT be eligible, whereas a weekly paid employee starting on the same date, but being paid a week later on the 8th March, WILL be eligible.We understand that Employers with over 100 employees will be able to submit via an upload process, whereas employers with less than 100 employees will have to input details for each individual separately. Finally, please note that employees must now have agreed in writing, or by email, to be furloughed, rather than merely being notified. |
| Coronavirus: UK lockdown extended for ‘at least’ three weeks |
| Lockdown restrictions in the UK will continue for “at least” another three weeks as it tackles the coronavirus outbreak, Dominic Raab stated in the COIVD-19 update on the 16th April. He outlined that five conditions needed to be met before the lockdown was eased:Making sure the NHS could copeA “sustained and consistent” fall in the daily death rateReliable data showing the rate of infection was decreasing to “manageable levels”Ensuring the supply of tests and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could meet future demandBeing confident any adjustments would not risk a second peakHe said he could not provide a definitive timeline, but said the prime minister’s warning at the outset of the epidemic that it would take about three months to come through the peak still applied. |
| Join our members Facebook page |
| If you haven’t already, please make sure you join us on our Brecon Beacons Tourism members Facebook group. We have added topics to the group now – so you can search for past posts by topic – which should make things a little easier for you. |
| Check out what free training Business Wales are offering |
| Business Wales have a range of free online training on offer find out more here |
| Latest Visit Wales Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update |
| Have a read of the latest update from Visit Wales here |
