08 April 2021
Ministers have an announced that business-related COVID-19 support schemes will largely be extended from April 2021 to June 2021, with claims to be made in July.
Over the last year, the Government has launched a range of schemes to support businesses through the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
- Co-Funded Payroll Scheme (CFPS)
- Visitor Attraction and Events Scheme (VAES)
- Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme (VASS)
- Fixed Costs Support Scheme (FCSS)
- Business Disruption Loan Guarantee Scheme (BDLGS)
While the Island continues to move through the
Island Reconnection Roadmap, and businesses and borders continue to reopen, some businesses will need support for longer.
In line with this progress, the schemes will come to an end, with final claims being made in July, for costs incurred in June.
The Visitor Attraction and Events Scheme (VAES), the Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme (VASS), the Business Disruption Loan Guarantee Scheme (BDLGS), and the Fixed Costs Support Scheme (FCSS) will be extended until June for all eligible businesses.
The Co-Funded Payroll Scheme (CFPS) will be extended until June for those business which were significantly affected by the Winter Strategy Circuit Breaker including hospitality, events and non-essential retail. For businesses on the elevated scheme, the subsidy rate will continue to be up to 90% of an employee’s wage, up to a cap of £2,500 a month.
The standard scheme, which offers a subsidy of up to 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,000 a month, will continue until June for businesses directly linked to the travel sector, such as car hire businesses and inbound passenger services.
Between April and June, support for these eligible businesses will be tapered as follows:
| April
| May
| June
|
Elevated Scheme: Subsidy Formula
| +30%
| +20%
| +10%
|
Elevated Scheme: Maximum Subsidy
| 90%
| 90%
| 90%
|
Standard Scheme: Subsidy Formula*
| +20%
| +20%
| +10%
|
Standard Scheme: Maximum Subsidy*
| 80%
| 80%
| 80%
|
*Available in May and June for hire car companies and inbound passenger transport services and their support services only.
The Co-Funded Payroll Scheme will end for other sectors as planned in April (with claims being made in May).
Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: "To date, we have provided over £110 million of funding to local businesses, to enable them to weather the impacts of the much-needed public health intervention.
"Although many previously-closed businesses are now re-opening, the tapering of the Co-Funded Payroll Scheme will ensure that the Government can continue to provide the appropriate level of support to businesses that have been most affected by public health measures."
Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said: "We are currently anticipating that the island's businesses will be able to return to near-normal trading conditions from the middle of June this year.
"The extension of our core financial support schemes from the end of April to the end of June will ensure appropriate support is in place until the remaining restrictions are lifted.
"As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to keep the business support measures under review and remain prepared to reintroduce support if the prevailing conditions make this necessary in future."
The extension of the schemes is forecast to cost an additional £5.6 million. More information about the schemes is available on the Government of Jersey website.
gov.je