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Once lockdown ends and businesses classed as non-essential can open once more, it is vital that these businesses adhere to safe practices and do all they can to make the smooth transition to full business activity once more.

Below is a guide to returning to work after lockdown as copied from an article on the Simply Business website by Catriona Smith which is well worth checking out:

Risk Assessments, Budgets & Adjustments

1. `Carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment
   If you haven’t reopened since the start of the pandemic, you’ll need to complete a Covid-19 risk assessment. The government says that if you have fewer than five employees, you don’t need to do one.

There’s nothing new here, but here’s a reminder of things to consider:

check for health and safety hazards
provide hand sanitisation and hand washing facilities
encourage social distancing with two metre markers and signage
identify what could cause transmission of the virus and take steps to prevent it, for example using screens and barriers
stagger shifts
For more information, read the government’s risk assessment guidelines.

2. Update your Google My Business profile
   As the high street opens up, customers will be looking at your business profile page on Google to know whether you’re open. This information appears when you search for your business in Google, so it’s important that it’s up to date.

You should update your page with:

main opening hours
‘More hours’ if you’re running services such as delivery, takeaway, and collection
additional information (called ‘attributes’) to show if you offer online services, such as classes and appointments
any extra services you’re offering
Read Google’s guide on how to edit your business profile for more details.

3. Check you’re insured
   If your business insurance policy lapsed during Covid-19, or you have different requirements due to changes in the way you run your business, make sure you’re covered before getting back to work.
4. Tell customers you’re back in business
   Next, update your website and social media channels and start marketing. Let customers know when you’re opening and create excitement, whether that’s by sharing photos of new stock on Instagram, emailing clients about booking appointments, or filming a video in your fitness studio.

You might also want to revisit your business plan and consider doing a SWOT analysis to give your business a health check.

5. Continue offering online services
   While we’re all excited about getting back into the world, the demand for online services is likely to continue – whether that’s to support those still shielding or simply for convenience.

Depending on your business, many of you may have pivoted to offer services online over the past year, so it could be a good idea to continue this alongside reopening for in-person services if you can.

6. Take time to adjust
   Going back to work after a long time away is likely to be mentally taxing, whether that’s because you’re working through long client waiting lists, rebuilding networks, or just getting used to a new routine.

We’ve all spent many months at home, so it’ll take time to adjust to life after lockdown. To avoid burning out, make sure you’re taking time to look after yourself as you transition back to work – we have a range of wellbeing resources for the self-employed, from stress and anxiety support to nutrition and sleep tips.

If you’re welcoming staff back to the office, make sure you’re looking after employee well-being too. The pandemic has affected everyone differently, so good communication and transparency is important.

7. Stay on top of your budget
   Make sure you have a clear budget (both for your personal life and your business) so you can stay on top of your finances as you revive your business.
8. Access coronavirus support – if you can
   While our research into the impact of Covid-19 suggests many small businesses felt that government support didn’t go far enough, you may be able to benefit from the various schemes still running.`

If You Require Any Help

If you run a business and you require any help on sourcing funding in the form of grants etc, or you need help with your budget, please give our offices a call here in Armagh on 028 3752 2909. We will be very happy to assist you.

Additional funding in the region of a further £16 million is being made available to firms in Northern Ireland who have high growth potential in the not too distant future. Invest NI, together with the British Business Bank through its Regional Angels Programme, are providing this funding in a bid to help these businesses and give a boost to the economy in these trying times. The money will go to aid the Co-investment Fund (Co Fund) NI, managed by Clarendon Fund Managers. This is an excellent initiative and this extra cash could make a huge difference to firms looking to expand.

The Funding Will Help Various Businesses Across N Ireland

This funding is already helping various businesses across Northern Ireland with £2.5M invested across six early-stage and existing Co-Fund NI portfolio companies; Concept Apps, Sustain IQ, Respiratory Analytics, Cirdan Imaging, Axial3D and B-Secur.

Brian Cummings, the Investment Director of Clarendon Fund Managers, is quoted in a recent article on Business Live, saying: “As we approach our 20th year of investing in Northern Ireland’s high growth potential business community, we are delighted to build on Invest NI’s Co-Fund NI programme by welcoming BBI as a new investment partner,”

“This allows us to make more funding available to co-invest alongside business angels and other private investors providing companies with a strong mix of funding and expertise to accelerate businesses growth.”

Helping Provide Long Term Capital To Firms

And in the same article, Judith Hartley, CEO, British Business Investments, speaking about the Regional Angels Programme said:

“This £10m commitment to Co-Fund NI is the programme’s first commitment in Northern Ireland, and will help provide long-term capital to smaller businesses with high growth potential,” she said. “To date, British Business Investments has committed £65m through the Regional Angels Programme, providing early-stage capital to over 100 high-growth smaller businesses across the UK.”

Tragically Many Businesses Have Succumbed To The Effects Of The Pandemic

It isn`t just the firms with high growth potential that need help of course. There are very few businesses that have not suffered some issues over the past 12 months as the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all areas of the economy and society. Tragically many businesses have succumbed during this period here in Northern Ireland and become insolvent, but at least the various funding opportunities have helped many to stay afloat and we are now in a position to maybe see the finishing line where lockdown is concerned and look to the future.

An SME Brexit Support Fund has been introduced by HMRC which is designed to help smaller businesses with changes to trade rules with the EU.

Brexit Has Changed The Landscape

Brexit has certainly changed the landscape for businesses that import and export goods from and to the European Union. These changes will of course be permanent, so it is something that all parties will have to get to grips with if they want to carry on successfully trading across the borders. Free movement of goods from Great Britain to the EU has now ended which is nobody`s ideal scenario but it will have to be dealt with and this Support Fund will be welcomed by all traders I am sure.

Helping Businesses Adapt To New Customs & Tax Rules

Below are details of the fund as set out on the Accountancy Daily website:

“Smaller businesses can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU. The fund enables traders to access practical support, including training for new customs, rules of origin and VAT processes.

“To be eligible, businesses must import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU or move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“This follows the Government setting out a new timetable for introducing import border control processes to enable UK businesses to focus on their recovery. Full import border control processes will now be introduced on 1 January 2022, six months later than originally planned.

The Furlough Scheme One Year On

Looking back it is now a year since the furlough scheme, or Job Retention Scheme, was launched in Northern Ireland to protect jobs and save businesses during lockdown. Little did any of us think that we would be back in lockdown 12 months on and maybe it is just as well!

At its peak the Job Retention Scheme supported almost a quarter of a million workers in Northern Ireland and there is no doubt that it saved thousands and thousands of jobs. Even so this safety net could not save every job and up to 10,000 people were made redundant here last year with more job losses inevitably to follow in the coming months. Employers still have to cover the cost of pension and national insurance contributions with no money coming in of course.

Let us all hope for better times ahead as we move towards summer and an easing of lockdown restrictions.

We published a blog last week on the fact that businesses in Northern Ireland, in hospitality and retail, were concerned that there was still no set date to work to for re-opening after lockdown for them. And this is still the case as we write this article, even though there was a further relaxation of lockdown restrictions last Tuesday.

Businesses Becoming Increasingly Tetchy

Local business leaders are becoming increasingly tetchy over this critical issue for them, as many struggle to carry on as going concerns whilst the lockdown is in place.

In this weeks Newsletter Simon Hamilton of the Belfast Chamber is quoted as saying:

“[Tuesday’s] announcement by the Executive was utterly devoid of hope for businesses. Sadly, the Executive have, once again, missed an opportunity to offer businesses in Belfast and right across our region even indicative dates for reopening and allow them time to properly prepare for reopening.

“Many are aghast that whilst our infection and hospitalisation rates compare favourably to Great Britain’s and our vaccination rollout programme is every bit as impressive, we are, seemingly, on the slowest of slow tracks to the reopening of our economy.”

Criticism Of The Executive For Not Working Together With Businesses

And in the same article restauranteur Michael Deane was quoted as being highly critical of the Executive for not working together with businesses to plan a way forward for opening as soon as possible, saying:

“We are walking the plank blindfolded,”

“I don’t think they care about hospitality, and that is the way we feel deep down in our hearts.

“I know that my business is safe for people to come in to. We have all the social distancing, all the table plans, all the sanitisation. We have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to makes Deane’s a safe place to go, and we have been ignored.”

A Definitive Date To Work Towards Is Critical To Lift The Gloom

We certainly understand the business community`s fears over what the future may hold if there is not some definitive date to work towards for them. They need to feel there is some glimmer of hope amidst the gloom and a feeling that there will be a return to full time trading conditions in the not too distant future. We await more news from the powers-that-be and hope that it is forthcoming very soon and it is positive news for the hospitality and retail industry.

A raft of new business support grants totaling £178 million have been released by the Department of Finance at Stormont as a lifeline to Northern Ireland businesses who have been badly hit by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Up To 20,000 Businesses Eligible

Up to 20,000 businesses are eligible for the grants which are likely to be processed and paid out by next month, some will need to be applied for and some will be paid out to firms automatically. The aim is to keep these businesses afloat and save as many employees jobs as possible.

Breakdown Of The Grants

Here is a breakdown of the grants as published on the BBC News website:

• A £50,000 grant for businesses with a NAV (Net Annual Value) over £51k that are eligible for the 12 months rates holiday. For example: retail, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, childcare and newspaper producers. Airports, food retail and those availing of schemes offered by other departments are excluded from this grant.

• A £25,000 payment for manufacturers with an NAV between £15,001 and £51k.
  
• A £10,000 grant for businesses that received the £25k Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Grant last year and have not been paid LRSS (Localised Restrictions Support Scheme) or CRBSS (Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme) Part B.
  
• £5,000 for businesses that received the £10k Small Business Support Grant and have not been paid LRSS or CRBSS Part B. This includes dry cleaners, butchers and pet shops.

Helping Businesses And Safeguarding Jobs

In the same article Finance Minister Conor Murphy said about these grants:

“This package of support will help businesses and safeguard jobs through the period ahead as we emerge from the current restrictions,”

“These grants will benefit a mixture of businesses including those not provided with grant funding earlier this year, and businesses which have been allowed to remain open but which have experienced a significant reduction in trade due to the restrictions.”

The chief executive of Retail NI very much welcomed the finance packages for businesses, but also reiterated that it was vital to get a definitive date when non-essential retail, close contact services and hospitality can safely reopen, as there is still a great deal of uncertainty which is hampering many businesses efforts to plan ahead.

If you run a business and you want to know if you will be eligible for any of the above grants, or if you need advice on any other accountancy related matter then please don`t hesitate to give our offices a ring for advice on 028 3752 2909.

Business leaders here in Northern Ireland are urging the Executive to give businesses some dates as to when the retail and hospitality sectors will be able to reopen after lockdown.

The Executive Blueprint

Although the Executive has published a blueprint as to how they will proceed there are no definitive dates given in this blueprint. They have not given any dates as they want to be able to react to the coronavirus infection data from week to week, but this does rather leave businesses in limbo and with a great deal of uncertainty.

Clearer Plans Needed For Reopening

Belfast, Derry, Causeway and Newry Chambers are quoted in the Belfast Telegraph saying:

“Our members understand the need for the Executive to be cautious, but we believe they can be clearer on their plans for reopening.

“Indicative dates would give businesses the opportunity to plan for a time when they might reopen.

“This would help with decisions around when to restock, bring staff back into the business and accept bookings in the hospitality sector.”

And speaking on the fact that many of their members have invested heavily to stay afloat they said:

“They have stretched themselves by using their own reserves to stay in business.

“One year on, it is getting increasingly difficult, and they call on the Executive to give them the clarity they need so they can plan for the future.”

Many Businesses Finding It Tough

With non essential businesses closed since just after Christmas many businesses are finding it tough to stay solvent even with the help they have received from the authorities. The rates holiday for businesses has been extended and the furlough scheme is still running too. There has also been various grants over the last 12 months to aid struggling businesses.

As for the blueprint document, the same Belfast Telegraph article states that:

`The document does not include any target dates and ministers have promised decisions on moving between stages will be based on scientific and medical evidence, not the calendar.

It focuses on nine key areas – retail, hospitality, education and young people, work, culture, heritage and entertainment, sports and leisure, travel and tourism, worship and ceremonies, home and community.

The stages of restriction begin with lockdown then extend to cautious first steps, gradual easing, further easing, and preparing for the future.`

This lockdown must be the final lockdown as the economy will not stand a reopening followed by another prolonged closure a few weeks down the line, so whatever decisions the Executive take they must ensure they get it right this time.