From October 1st, employees enrolled in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (or furlough) will only have 60% of the wages paid by HMRC, with the remainder being provided by the employer. While the total wages paid to the employee will not change, up to a cap of £2500 per month, HMRC will reduce … [Read more...]
News for: Finance
Covid Restart Grants offer £1.15 million funding for Cheshire small businesses
Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is launching a new programme of grants to help restart small businesses after Covid pandemic. The £1.15 million fund will offer 80% grants up to £5,000 (or 60% on items purchased from 01 May – 23 July 2020) to support businesses in the … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council expresses new concerns over funding from government
Cheshire East Council has again warned that funding from central government is not sufficient to cover the forecasted impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the borough's finances. The government recently announced the allocation of a further £500m emergency funding for councils across England. … [Read more...]
Expert Opinion: The Bounce Back Loan Scheme explained
The future for many small businesses remains uncertain, despite lockdown restrictions lifting on leisure and hospitality businesses. Questions remain about how quickly demand will return across the economy, both as UK consumers adjust to a 'new normal' and as the coronavirus continues to spread … [Read more...]
Discretionary grant fund reopens for phase two of applications from Cheshire East businesses
Cheshire East Council has announced the second phase of the local discretionary grant fund, which will reopen for applications at 8am on Friday 26 June. The council has already implemented a first phase of this grant scheme which closed on 15 June. Phase one of the discretionary grant scheme … [Read more...]
Wilmslow wealth managers targets new market with global equity fund
Wilmslow based wealth managers, Equilibrium Financial Planning, have announced the launch of a £20 million global equity fund. The new product aims to appeal to a younger client base looking for higher-levels of long-term investment compared to existing portfolios. Mike Deverell, partner and … [Read more...]
Cheshire East discretionary fund launches for prioritised businesses
Cheshire East Council has launched a discretionary fund to support small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. The £4.28 million scheme will be open for applications from Monday 1st June at 8am. The council is asking businesses that think they may be eligible as have been ineligible for … [Read more...]
Handforth financial planning firm provides grant to disability charity
Handforth based financial planning firm, Equilibrium, has provided a grant of £500 to local disability charity, Seashell Trust. Equilibrium made the donation through the firm’s Community Support Scheme. The scheme was established in 2015 to provide financial support to charities and community … [Read more...]
NPIF continues to back small businesses in the North
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) is continuing to support small businesses in the region even in the face of the economic uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So far this year, £14 million has been invested in 61 businesses across the North, including in Cheshire. The £400 … [Read more...]
Government launch top-up to local business grant funds scheme
A top-up fund has been set up for certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the local business grant funds scheme to access support during the coronavirus outbreak. The £617 million fund will support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs outside of the business … [Read more...]
Bounce Back Loans launched with 100% government backed guarantee
Small businesses can now benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing Bounce Back Loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders. The first 12 months of the loan will be both interest free and with no repayments as part of the government's package of support for businesses … [Read more...]
Coronavirus support announced for life science and technology innovations
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a coronavirus support package targeted at the life science and technology sector businesses that are driving innovation. The £1.25 billion packages announced will support the life science and technology sector businesses through the coronavirus outbreak to … [Read more...]