Designed to give distressed companies breathing space from creditors, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill 2019-21 was published on 20 May 2020 (“CIGB”) and is being fast tracked. It will introduce into law the following: A new statutory moratorium process. … Continue reading →

Future Fund Update The Future Fund, announced by the government on 20 April 2020, opened for applications on 20 May 2020. The aim of the Future Fund is to support innovative UK companies, with good potential, in science, innovation and … Continue reading →

Yesterday (27 April 2020) the UK Chancellor announced a new fast-track loan scheme for small businesses which benefits from a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders. The Bounce Back Loans scheme offers sole traders, micro-firms and entrepreneurs with much needed protection … Continue reading →

On 28 March 2020, the Business Secretary announced that UK insolvency laws, which deal with wrongful trading by company directors, would be temporarily suspended in light of COVID-19. Wrongful trading is an offence under the Insolvency Act 1986, which applies to … Continue reading →

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Furlough Scheme”) is up and running and employers can now submit their claims for reimbursement from HRMC through the online portal. This follows a fairly tumultuous period where the rules of the Furlough Scheme … Continue reading →

On 20 April 2020 government announced that it is to establish a new Future Fund scheme to support the UK’s innovative businesses currently affected by Covid-19. Innovative businesses have been unable to access other government business financial support programmes, because … Continue reading →

Coronavirus in the workplace – The useful links: From the Government For businesses HMRC Guidance for employers on the coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme and furlough: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme   Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Webinar   A step by step guide for … Continue reading →

Will furloughed employees be on holiday over the Easter weekend? The bank holiday is finally upon us… For those with furlough arrangements in place, this may be more cause for a headache than the usual hurrah with the current ambiguity … Continue reading →

The UK Intellectual Property Office (“UK IPO”) is the central registry in the UK responsible for dealing with trade mark, design right and patent applications. The UK IPO has confirmed in a recent update that examination reports for UK trade … Continue reading →

The Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) have issued a statement regarding the recent COVID19 outbreak and the impact on the UK’s data protection regime. Many businesses may be required to spend the majority of their time dealing with the consequences of … Continue reading →