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This is a critical time for The City, the UK and the World. We thought that you might find an update on what we are doing to support businesses and residents helpful. Please let us have your views. There is clearly a long way to go before the battle against this pandemic is won and we all look forward to a safe return to business and economic activity. For now, the important emphasis is on saving lives and protecting the NHS and people.
There is a great deal of information online on what is and isn’t available in terms of Government assistance, but we think these articles are an excellent starting point in terms of explaining the options available. Whether you are a SME, or working for a large business, the Government has put in place numerous schemes to assist with the current crisis.
How to get a Government Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan
- www.tide.co/blog/coronavirus/how-to-get-a-government-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan/
- www.iwoca.co.uk/insights/cbils/
How to get aid if you are Self Employed
How can I furlough my employees?
- www.iwoca.co.uk/insights/furlough-employees-CJRS/
- www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Here is a useful summary from EY outlining a number of areas where you can seek help irrespective of your company size
10 Tips from Entrepreneur Magazine on how to work effectively from home
We detail below the additional and complementary support measures The City of London Corporation is taking alongside the significant financial Government support.
Business rates relief and grants for small businesses
The City of London Corporation is administering the business rates relief and grants for small businesses. Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses do not need to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. We have applied this automatically to businesses in the City of London and direct debits have been cancelled from 1 April.
We are also administering the payment of grants under the scheme for Small Businesses with a rateable value of up to £51,000. A high percentage of businesses don’t have access to their property so we are adding e-mail addresses to accounts to send letters electronically wherever possible. We have been assisting businesses in the Ward directly to help them to gain access to funds. If you are a qualifying business and need assistance please make contact. Payments are being issued directly to those businesses that qualify and no application is required. More …
Rental relief for City businesses
We have made rental payments more manageable for tenants by changing rental payments for the March to June quarter to monthly billing for directly managed premises. This replaces the current quarterly billing scheme. More …
Parking for key workers
Key workers providing essential frontline public services can park without charge at Smithfield, Baynard House (Queen Victoria Street), London Wall and Barbican Centre. Hampstead Heath East Heath car park has been given over for free parking for NHS and other Key Workers at the Royal Free Hospital. Key workers are able to use on-street parking bays free of charge if they leave a note on their vehicle.
Support for charities
City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charity funder, is giving grants of up to £15,000 to all 170 of the small charities it currently supports – £1.25m in total. This will help with running costs and replacing loss of income, supporting them now and in the months ahead.
Working from home – City of London Police guide
Cyber risks have increased with people working from home where you can be less digitally protected. There are high volumes of emails/calls/texts which suit cyber-criminals, unfortunately and COVID-19 is being used in a number of phishing campaigns. Cyber Griffin (a City of London Police initiative that supports businesses and individuals in the Square Mile to protect themselves from cyber-crime) has rolled out a new service: Cyber Griffin Guides – Home working. This is a free-to-all video series covering key advice to protect people working from home. More…
Financial help for SMEs and volunteering
We have called on City firms to donate funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the London Communities Response Fund which we are supporting through our charitable funder, City Bridge Trust. Businesses can make financial contributions to the Fund, which has already secured a total of £2m from City Bridge Trust and the Greater London Authority, by emailing info@londonfunders.org.uk.
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which supports charities Samaritans, Place2Be, Onside Youth Zones and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, all of whom are working to support their service users during this crisis. You can email info@TheLordMayorsAppeal.org to donate to the Appeal. If you want to donate to a national campaign you can do so by contacting the National Emergencies Trust. To volunteer visit the GLA’s Team London website. More information and advice can be found here.
Residents of the Square Mile
We are dedicated to ensuring that we protect the most vulnerable, support our residents and continue to provide key services during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
People living in the Square Mile who are self-isolating and require help can email col-covid-19@cityoflondon.gov.uk or call 020 7606 3030. You can email on behalf of someone else with their consent.
Extremely vulnerable residents can also register to receive government support services. Some non-essential services may need to be closed or operate at reduced levels to support social distancing for staff and service users.
Some people may need extra support at this time, and we are actively encouraging good neighbourliness and support through established local community groups.
City Civic Team
Given the unprecedented circumstances, and in order to provide continuity in Civic leadership, the Lord Mayor and both Sheriffs will remain in office for a second year. Thus Broad Street Ward Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli and Broad Street Ward Common Councilman Christopher Hayward CC will both serve as Sheriff for the Civic Year 2020/21 as well as the current 2019/20 year.
Please get in touch
The City Corporation is looking at what further action can be taken. As your elected representatives we are committed to ensuring that there is a focus on your interests, as well as the wider interests of the City as a whole. Please do let us know if there are unmet needs or issues and concerns that you want us to represent.
This website and our associated Twitter account @broadstreetward will continue to provide further information. Meanwhile we hope that you all remain safe and well.
| Alderman Michael Mainelli Michael.Mainelli@cityoflondon.gov.uk |
Deputy John Bennett John.Bennett@cityoflondon.gov.uk |
| Christopher Hayward CC Christopher.Hayward@cityoflondon.gov.uk |
John Scott CC John.Scott@cityoflondon.gov.uk |
Note – diagram for 20 April 2019 courtesy of SI Units and Z/Yen.