7 July 2020

This update covers:

  • What’s happening in the four nations?
  • Self-employed must claim for first grant by 13 July 2020.
  • Self-employed: second grant.
  • Scotland: hardship fund for the newly self-employed closes on 10 July 2020.
  • Official GDPR guidance when collecting information for NHS ‘Test and Trace’.

What’s happening in the four nations?

Here’s a roundup of what’s currently happening about reopening across the four nations:

England:

  • Hairdressers and barbers are now allowed to open.
  • They must use the reopening guide for England.
  • An opening date for beauty businesses may be announced this week.

Northern Ireland

  • Hair, beauty and barber businesses are now allowed to open.
  • Northern Ireland must use the reopening guide for England.

Wales

  • Hair and barber businesses are being told to prepare for reopening on 13 July 2020. A final decision will be made on 9 July 2020.
  • No opening date has yet been announced for beauty businesses. The NHBF has written to the First Ministerand the Minister for the Economy to push for the reopening of beauty businesses before the end of July.
  • Reopening guidelines for Wales are expected to be published shortly.

Scotland

  • Hair and barber businesses will be able to reopen on 15 July 2020.
  • No opening date has yet been announced for beauty businesses. The NHBF has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture to push for the reopening of beauty businesses before the end of July.
  • Reopening guidelines for Scotland are expected to be published shortly.

Self-employed must claim for first grant by 13 July 2020

The deadline for making a claim for the first self-employed grant is on or before 13 July 2020.

The scheme currently allows you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. Find out more.

Self-employed: second grant

This scheme is being extended. If you’re eligible for the second and final grant you’ll be able to make a claim from 17 August 2020. You can make a claim even if you did not make a claim for the first grant.

This will be a taxable grant worth 70% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering a further three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total. Find out more about the extension to the scheme.

Scotland: hardship fund for the newly self-employed closes on 10 July 2020

Newly self-employed individuals in Scotland may be eligible for a hardship fund of £2,000 if they meet the criteria. Applications close on 10 July 2020. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

ICO publishes guidance for collecting ‘Test and Trace’ information

The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has published guidance on how to protect client data when collecting contact details for the NHS ‘Test and Trace’ service.

It sets out five simple steps to follow. Find out more.

Read our update on this topic.

See all updates