COVID-19 updates
Client Zone
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Welcome to our COVID-19 information area which includes updates from our team and service information.
We stand with you in challenging times
Furthermore, we have been able to offer an added level of support, from guiding clients on their reopening plans to advising them on government grant funding and finance. We have also been sending regular updates and information to help them stay on top of developments and the support available to them.
On this page you can find our recent updates and information to help you manage your business as the landscape changes. We have also included details of the steps we have taken to ensure service continuality throughout.
We would like to extend our thoughts and best wishes to all of our clients, contacts and colleagues during this time. We are here to help and if you have any specific concerns or require assistance, please contact us.
Kind regards,
The Rouse Team
Our latest COVID-19 updates
Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
Grants were issued to the self-employed based on their average monthly profits.Click to read more >>
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
HMRC has reopened a claims portal for small employers to again claim refunds for coronavirus (COVID-19)-related sick pay.Click to read more >>
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
An extended 'furlough' scheme ran until the end of September 2021, covering employee wages.Click to read more >>
Bounce Back Loans
A 100% government backed loan for small businesses to borrow £2,000 - £50,000, interest free for 12 months.Click to read more >>
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Government-backed loans up to £5 million.Click to read more >>
HMRC Time to Pay
Time to pay for business tax: Businesses and the self-employed in financial distress can agree bespoke ‘Time to Pay’ arrangements giving extra time to settle tax affairs.Click to read more >>
Corporate Financing Facility
Funding for large businesses purchasing commercial paper of up to one-year maturity.Click to read more >>
VAT Payment Deferral
Businesses were able to defer VAT payments and pay back in interest-free instalments.Click to read more >>
Income Tax Payment Deferral
Individuals and directors have been able to defer self-assessment tax payments, without incurring penalties or interest for late payment.Click to read more >>
£25,000 Retail / Hospitality Grant
The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme provided businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant of up to £25,000 per property.Click to read more >>
Commercial tenant eviction ban
Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of coronavirus will be protected from eviction until 25 March 2022.Click to read more >>
Business Rates Holiday
Businesses in eligible sectors can claim 66% business rates relief for the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022.Click to read more >>
£10,000 Small Business Grant Scheme
This scheme provided a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.Click to read more >>
3 month extension to file your accounts
If your accounts will be late because your company is affected by COVID-19, you can apply for an automatic and immediate 3 month extension to file your accounts. Companies that have already extended their filing deadline, or shortened their accounting reference period, may not be eligible.Click to read more >>
Future Fund
A scheme for innovative and high-growth businesses, with the government investing £125,000 - £5 million in those qualifying.Click to read more >>
Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Funding for businesses with turnover over £45 million who are not able to access CBILS.Click to read more >>
VAT cut for the hospitality sector
A temporary VAT cut for hospitality and tourism businesses on qualifying items.Click to read more >>
Kickstart funding for job placements
This scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.Click to read more >>
Business Grants
Grants are now available for those in the hospitality and leisure sector, as well as further discretionary grants for businesses across all industries.Click to read more >>
£1,000 bonus for taking on trainees
Employers could apply for a £1,000 bonus, a cash boost, to help them take on new trainees.Click to read more >>Recovery Loan Scheme
From 6 April 2021 lenders will provide 80% government backed loans between £25,000 and £2 million.Click to read more >>
Our service updates
Our services
All clients: Please notify us as soon as possible if you experience any business interruption or personal difficulties so that we can prepare and do all we can to assist you.
Office opening: Our office working hours are Monday – Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm, excluding bank holidays. We are alternating our team between office and home working during this period. Whether we are in the office or working from home, our team are contactable on the same phone numbers and emails that you ordinarily use for us.
Deliveries: You are able to drop off documents to our office via our office letterbox which is emptied at regular intervals. If you do need to drop a large delivery during office open hours, please contact your Rouse Representative directly to ensure we are on hand to collect it. We also encourage clients to use our online file sharing platform and portal if you are able to send these electronically to us instead (see further details below).
How can I send a large document or files to you electronically? With your data security in mind, we encourage clients to send files or documents to us electronically via our ‘Rouse Share’ platform or ‘Oneclick’ client portal / secure workspace rather than by email. Please contact us for a request code/upload link (for Rouse Share) or to be set up on our client portal. These can both be accessed from our Client Zone.
Am I able to arrange a video conference call with my Rouse contact/s? We have accounts with Zoom, Teams and 3CX to offer remote/video meeting facilities. Please arrange your meeting with your Rouse contact/s and let them know if you have a preference between these video conferencing platforms.
Payroll: We urge clients to send payroll information to us as soon as possible, regardless of previously agreed timetables. This will help us to build in a safety time buffer for any unforeseen disruption.
Our preparations
To ensure that we can continue to provide our services to clients we have in place:
A remote technology IT system which allows our firm to work from home where necessary;
A phone infrastructure which allows calls to be automatically re-routed to staff who are working from home;
Encrypted file/document sharing platforms eliminating the need to mail or hand deliver sensitive documents;
Video conferencing technology to conduct meetings and connect colleagues in multiple locations;
A response team which is in communication regularly to review and coordinate our actions;
Introducing office safety precautions, including working bubbles, Perspex screens, a one-way system and cleaning/sanitising procedures.
Useful external links
Department for Work and Pensions- Covid-19: Support for businesses and employees
FSB – Advice to Small Business on Covid-19
