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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update 1, 20 March 2020, for business owners

The spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the UK means there are many fast- changing measures which will affect you, your business, your employees and your family. We have put together a list of the most reliable sources to get the most up to date information.

If you need any legal advice in relation to any of these new measures or wish to discuss business decisions you need to urgently make, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Some of the immediate questions people are asking about their businesses include:

  • How much do I need to pay staff if they are not working?
  • If I’ve changed the role of some of my staff, do I need to update their employment contract?
  • We have members of staff due to return from maternity leave in the next few weeks, what should we advise them to do as we are now working from and operating from home?
  • We have had to close our business - how can I protect it against creditors’ claims?
  • I’ve agreed to attend an event which now isn’t taking place, can I get a refund?
  • Customers are asking to extend payment terms and change contractual arrangements, how to we respond?

We can help you:

  • Review business contracts and lending and supply agreements
  • Review commercial leases and advice for exercising break clauses or seeking rent reductions
  • Shareholder agreements and disputes
  • Employment advice
  • Commercial disputes
  • Construction law
  • Reviewing current business structures and trading arrangements

Other sources of advice can be found at:

Advice for businesses in the Maidstone area and details of financial support available
https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-services/covid-19/tier-2-primary-areas/advice-and-help-for-businesses

Advice for businesses in the Gravesham area and details of financial support available
https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/environmental-health/coronavirus-guidance

Advice for employers and employees from ACAS
https://www.acas.org.uk/advice

Government guidelines for employers and businesses 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

HMRC tax helpline for businesses
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-helpline-to-support-businesses-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19

COVID-19 – Latest advice for businesses
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

Companies House advice on COVID-19
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-guidance-for-companies-house-customers-employees-and-suppliers

The Charity Commission’s Guidance for charities on COVIS-19
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/filing-charity-annual-returns-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

Government general advice for the public on the Coronavirus situation in the UK
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

World Health Organisation
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance