Useful information, resources and ideas for business owners, sole traders and freelancers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last updated: May 19th, 2020
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There are also pages for the Education & Community sectors and Business & Enterprise
Emergency planning
Business Resilience and Recovery webinar series – 12 – 1pm
27 May – The Digital Device Landscape
29 May – Crisis Innovation
1st June – Digital Transformation
4th June – Exploiting Agility for Advantage
>> from SUSSEX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – scheme to improve business’ competitiveness, innovation and productivity through funded partnerships with academics and researchers
SME100: Sky’s £1m SME Support Scheme to help 100 small businesses with free AdSmart campaigns
9 useful podcast episodes for out of work freelancers
The government’s Self Employment Income Support scheme is now open for applications
Incredibly useful and easy to navigate interactive workforce planner
Covid-19: returning to the workplace. Guide to help you plan your organisation’s next steps following a period of furlough or once lockdown measures start easing.
Chancellor announces extension to the furlough scheme
Top-up to local business grants fund scheme. Discretionary fund for businesses previously outside the scope of the business grants fund scheme
Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme: £1million fund to help seafood businesses in England increase the supply of local seafood to domestic markets
Future Fund (launches in May). Large government backed loans for innovative companies (eg life sciences, R&D) that are facing difficulties due to coronavirus
Bounce Back Loans. Government backed loans of £2-50,000 to support SME resilience during COVID-19
Open4Business. Free support tool for councils to help their local businesses.
National business response network. Connecting business support to community need in the COVID-19 crisis
>> from BUSINESS RESPONSE COVID
The government has launched a new ‘financial support finder tool’ for businesses and self employed people
Facebook are building in the ability to charge for Facebook Live events and introducing a free video conference calling service
Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund – for social enterprises that are experiencing disruption due to Covid-19
>> from SOCIAL INVESTMENT BUSINESS
Crisis communication and management templates
Extensive series of 20 free webinars designed to support UK businesses to get help, protect their business and save jobs
Webinar – Learn how to start an online business with Amazon – tips from e-commerce experts
>> from SMALL BUSINESS BRITAIN
Various webinars and Facebook live streams relating to aspects of small business
>> from SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Fundraising Online – free online conference with wide-ranging content for all your fundraising, changemaking and innovating needs
Facebook Small Business Grants programme (register to be informed when UK grants are available)
The Prince’s Trust and Natwest Enterprise Relief Fund – £5million fund launched for young entrepreneurs (18-30)
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – Current accredited lenders and partners
Employment and Self-Employment Coronavirus Help
Self Employed Summit
Coronavirus Tech Handbook: a crowd-sourced set of tech, tools and data relating to the coronavirus pandemic
Free document scanning app to minimise COVID-19 and GDPR risk
Creative software Affinity Designer, Affinity Publisher and Affinity Photo can now be used by anyone for free for 3 months
All small businesses are being offered Free Pro access to Flow (cash flow software) for the next 3 months. This gives access to insure 90% of all invoices and guarantee cash flow
Google sheet template for business owners to model their cost savings on furlough and/or reduced working week over the next few months
MUST READ article on how Covid-19 will impact your business over next two years
Free 1:1 sessions on sales strategy planning
Emergency financial support for UK businesses
Advice on financial support, loans and grants for social enterprises
Home-working
Remote working Q&A live streams
Free Zoom training for beginners
Weekly network meetings via Zoom for mothers who are also freelancers
Remote working: a practical safety guide for businesses
Collection of resources to support with the transition to effective remote working
4 services to hold meetings in virtual reality – article
What we learned from running our first ever virtual conference
Remote working resources guide
Zapier is a 100% distributed company with over 300 remote employees in 17 time zones and 28 countries. How do they do it?
Tips around online platforms for work and family
A guide to working from home while under self-quarantine
HR
Connecting people on furlough with volunteer opportunities. Register as a volunteer or as a cause / charity
Working safely during the coronavirus outbreak – a short pdf guide
Great selection of webinars (including recordings of past webinars) relating to all aspects of HR during the coronavirus crisis
Working safely during coronavirus. Updated sector specific guidance for employers, employees and the self employed.
Incredibly useful and easy to navigate interactive workforce planner
Connect with, update and rehire the people you are being forced to furlough or let go of during the coronavirus crisis
Supporting colleagues to stay mentally healthy in unusual working conditions
Latest questions and answers on the Job Retention Scheme
Advice for employers
If the workplace needs to close temporarily
If an employee needs time off work to look after someone
If someone has coronavirus symptoms at work
Good practice steps for employers
Advice for employees
Check if you can get statutory sick pay (SSP)
Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit
Check if you’re eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Your rights if your hours are cut or you’re laid off
What to do if you cannot pay your tax bill on time
Well-being
Wellbeing In A Digital Age
>> from MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
Looking after your mental health while working during the Coronavirus outbreak – tips for employers and employees
>> from MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
My whole self: supporting your mental health while working from home
Why it’s OK for business leaders to feel a bit scared
10 Things to sooth your soul if you’re hunkered in your bunker…
1. Six hours of soothing music from NPR https://lnkd.in/gHS8bR6
2. A one-hour flight over Norway in 4K https://lnkd.in/gK6gu7i
3. Solace in moments of existential angst: a podcast about Groundhog Day https://lnkd.in/gWUheUu
4. Tiny messages to help you get through the next few weeks https://lnkd.in/gES6VH6
5. Aquarium live cams https://lnkd.in/gTAN-GZ
6. Stories of delight https://lnkd.in/gbswYAB
7. The joy of small things https://lnkd.in/gzai5q6
8. How to find joy in working from home https://lnkd.in/grbW7UT
9. Watch the Philharmonie Berlin, at home for free https://lnkd.in/gwhyuzE
10. Love, Kindness and the song of the universe https://lnkd.in/gNFegBh
