- By Buckinghamshire Business First
- 4 May, 2021
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Order tests for employees; COVID testing available throughout county; next furlough deadline is July 14th.
Order coronavirus tests for your employees if you've registered
The deadline for employers to register to order free rapid lateral flow tests for their employees has now passed.
If you’ve already registered - you can order free rapid lateral flow tests until July 19th 2021.
To order tests, check your email for the link you were sent when you registered. If you cannot find this, you should email: P-and-PSector@dhsc.gov.uk
You can order tests either:
- to use in the workplace
- for your employees to collect and take home
What to do if you’ve not registered
Read the guidance on what to do if you haven't registered for workplace testing.
Book your rapid COVID-19 test now
Fast, free rapid COVID-19 testing is available for people in Buckinghamshire.
There are four test sites open in Amersham, Aylesbury, Buckingham and Wycombe.
There is no need to book a test slot. To get tested and/or collect home test kits, simply visit one of the test centres at a time that is convenient to you.
Mobile and pop-up Rapid Test vans are also visiting locations across the county to carry out tests or provide home test kits for regular at-home testing. Buckinghamshire Council will update the mobile van locations on its social media pages.
Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms but can still pass it on. Regular testing can help break the chain of infection.
COVID-19 'roadmap' outlined by the government
The government has published a four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England over the next few months, depending on progress and outcomes with regards to vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants.
See the potential timeline for businesses reopening or remaining closed.
Read a summary of the roadmap here, and more detailed information here.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) – next deadline
The next deadline for claiming under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is July 14th.
This deadline is for claims relating to June 2021.
HMRC says:
“You can claim before, during or after you process your payroll. If you can, it’s best to make a claim once you’re sure of the exact number of hours your employees will work so you don’t have to amend your claim at a later date. You and your employees do not need to have benefited from the scheme before to make a claim.”
Check if you’re eligible and work out how much you can claim using the CJRS calculator and examples here.
What you need to do now
- If you haven’t submitted a claim for claim periods from November 1st onwards, but believe that you have a reasonable excuse for not having done so, check if you can apply to make a late claim.
- Check you are claiming the right amount by looking at the eligibility criteria and calculating how much you can claim.
- Submit any claims for June no later than July 14th.
- Keep records that support the amount of CJRS grants you claim, in case HMRC needs to check them.
Making your claim online
To make a CJRS claim, you will need to be registered and have the required access, password or activation code for HMRC online services. Read more information here.
Furlough for caring responsibilities
Your employees can ask to be furloughed because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus, such as caring for children who are at home as a result of school or childcare closing. You can place them on furlough and claim for them under the CJRS.
Statutory annual leave can be carried over from 2020/21
Workers are able to carry over any unused statutory annual leave from 2020/21 into the next leave year.
Government regulations introduced in 2020 allowed up to 4 weeks of unused statutory leave to be carried forward from 2019/20 into the next two leave years.
Visit the government advice homepage for information on holidays, time off, sick pay and maternity and paternity leave.
Business Restart Grant scheme now closed
The Business Restart Grant scheme closed on June 30th 2021 and applications can no longer be made.
Bucks Additional Restrictions Grant scheme closed
The Buckinghamshire Additional Restriction Grant scheme is now closed.
If you need information about your application, please email: discretionaryfund@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme closed
The Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme is now closed.
COVID-19 business support homepage
Visit the Buckinghamshire Business First COVID-19 support homepage for advice and information on all things related to business and COVID-19.
