Melksham Chamber exists to provide a forum for local business to talk, work with each other and share information and advice. It represents their views on issues affecting the commercial life of Melksham and connects business and the community for the benefit of the town. The more voices we have the more effective we can be!
Visit the Melksham Chamber Forum on Facebook
Next Steering Group Meeting ……..
Chamber meetings are currently suspended until further notice due to the Coronavirus and the temporary closure of the venue.
You can contact us by email: melksham@mail.com or telephone: 01225 707659.
Our Next Event ……..
Melksham Chamber’s events are currently suspended due to the Coronavirus. What format future events will take and when they will take place is not known at present. Please watch this space and our Facebook Forum.
Help for Business during the Coronavirus restrictions ……..
Government Business Help and Support
Latest Announcement 26/06/20
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – flexible furloughing starts from 1 July
Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). This is a reminder that you can start to flexibly furlough eligible employees from 1 July onwards.
From 1 July, you can claim a more flexible grant for any employee you have previously received a CJRS grant for, and who now returns to work on reduced hours. You can also continue to claim for employees who stay fully furloughed.
You can find guidance on eligibility and how to claim for flexibly furloughed employees by searching for ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ on GOV.UK – Follow this link:
https://www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=%27Coronavirus+Job+Retention+Scheme&order=relevance
What you need to do next
- claim for periods ending on or before 30 June, by 31 July – this is the last date you can make those claims
- agree the hours and shift patterns that you want your employees to work from 1 July
- pay your employees’ wages for the time they’re in work and apply for a job retention scheme grant to cover the remainder of their usual hours for which they are still furloughed
- claim for further furlough periods as needed – the first time you will be able to make a claim for days in July will be 1 July.
Live webinars offering more support on changes to the scheme and how they impact you are available to book online – Follow this link:
We’d be grateful if you don’t call us for more information. All details are on GOV.UK and in our webinars. This will leave our phone lines open for those who need them most.
What to do if you have overclaimed
Some employers have contacted us to let us know that they have claimed too much. If this applies to you, then all you need to do is tell us when you next claim so you can pay it back. You will be asked when making your claim whether you need to adjust the amount to take account of a previous error. Your new claim amount will be reduced to reflect this. You do not need to take any other action but should keep a record of this adjustment for six years.
If you’ve made an error in a previous claim but do not plan to submit further claims, you need to contact us to let us know, so that we can tell you how to repay the money.
Claiming for 100 or more employees?
Please use our new template to claim for periods starting on or after 1 July to ensure your claim is processed quickly and successfully.
You can find this template by searching ‘download a template if you’re claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ on GOV.UK – Follow this link:
Updated guidance on military reservists
Our guidance now confirms you can furlough an employee who is a military reservist returning to work following a period of mobilisation ending after 10 June – even if they haven’t been furloughed before. Search for ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ on GOV.UK to find out more.
Paying your employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and pension contributions
A condition of the CJRS grant is that you pay the related PAYE tax, NICs and pension contributions due on wages. Until 31 July you can continue to claim these for the hours the employee is on furlough. From 1 August employers will no longer be able to claim for NICs and pension contributions.
If you think you may struggle to pay your PAYE tax and/or NICs from August, please contact us as soon as possible, before we start action to recover the unpaid debt. We may be able to give you time to pay.
Protect yourself from scams
Stay vigilant about scams, which may mimic government messages as a way of appearing authentic and unthreatening. Search ‘scams’ on GOV.UK for information on how to recognise genuine HMRC contact. You can also forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.
I hope this information helps you and your business, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on scheme developments over the coming weeks.
Yours sincerely
Jim Harra
Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary – HMRC
Useful links to Help and Support for Business
(Always seek advice of your accountants before taking out any financial assistance)
Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Coronavirus Financial Support for your Business:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Find Coronavirus Financial Support for your Business:
https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder
Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough):
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19):
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Company Directors – Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#individuals-you-can-claim-for-who-are-not-employees
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme
Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan
Coronavirus support from Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-support-from-business-representative-organisations-and-trade-associations
Wiltshire County Council Coronavirus Business Support and Business Grants:
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/business-advice-support-covid19
Wiltshire County Council Coronavirus Business Rates Relief:
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/business-advice-support-covid19
(Scroll down homepage)
Wiltshire County Council Coronavirus Business Recovery Toolkit:
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/business-advice-support-covid19
(Scroll down right hand site of homepage)
Work and financial support:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/worker-support
Coronavirus Small Business Grant Fund:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-small-business-grant-fund
Other measures: Mortgage Payment Holiday, Rent Payment Holiday, contact your mortgage provider or landlord.