CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION
Station to Station have been monitoring the Coronavirus/Covid-19 situation closely as it evolves and are responding to all the multiple queries that our members have via information on our website, email and through the various WhatsApp groups. We will continue to keep you updated on the latest government and Lambeth council advice on how to keep your business going in these unprecedented times.
Below are the resources currently in place – all of these are being amended frequently so do keep checking them.
Download a printable Social Distancing Guide for business owners
• For those of you worried about keeping your business going throughout the next few weeks, please visit this very clear and comprehensive government website page https://www.businesssupport.
It will be updated constantly, so please keep visiting it.
• Covid Budget factsheet with some information on how the government will be financially supporting businesses
• The London Growth Hub has also brought together essential resources to help businesses manage and mitigate exposure to the impact of coronavirus. This page will be kept up to date with the latest developments and support, so your business has access to all the information it needs.
• Telephone helpline to support businesses and self-employed people who are concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus. Contact the HMRC helpline on 0800 0159 559.
If your business provides a home delivery service, please contact us.
We will be promoting this via all our social media links using this HOME DELIVERIES PAGE.
The free Shop & Drop Cargo Bike Delivery Service is also still running for the moment.
We can provide you with a letter of support to your landlord should you need to ask for a rent reduction or temporary rent suspension to help you through this time. If you need this, please contact us with the details.
Rt Hon Rishi Surak
Chancellor of the Exchequer
House of Commons
London, SWIA DAA
Sent by email: rishi.sunak.mp@parliament.uk
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Dear Rishi Sunak,
We write as local representatives and business owners in Lambeth who are deeply concerned about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Lambeth businesses and residents.
While we welcome initial measures to offer some business rate relief in certain sectors, we believe the government must go much further. The scale of the outbreak and the unprecedented measures in response announced yesterday are insufficient and the Government must go further in support of local economies.
Businesses in all sectors are deeply fearful that the outbreak could force them to close permanently, causing major hardship for owners, workers and customers alike.
Businesses in Lambeth are already suffering from reduced footfall and booking numbers and yesterday’s announcement will exacerbate that significantly Announcing that people should not visit restaurants, pubs, bars, theatres and other venues but not enforcing mandatory closure means that many businesses will be left without financial protection.
We urge the Chancellor to mandate the closure of venues to enable them to claim the insurance needed to protect their businesses, as part of a wide package of measures to support businesses to survive That includes funding business rates relief, hardship funds for local authorities to administer and a higher level of statutory sick pay to al workers forced to self-isolate.
Whilst the impact on high street and hospitality-based business is already clear, the impact on the business to business service sector is also a cause for major concern but currently less visible.
We also urge the Government to consider the role that local authorities working in partnership with local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can play in response to the Covid-19 crises. BIDs provide a vital piece of business support infrastructure for Lambeth and across the UK. As a result of business hardship, some BIDs are now facing reduced BID levy income which could put their future at risk. To safeguard BIDs and equip them to support the economic recovery measures that will be needed, needed, we call on Government to work with the BID industry to ensure that BIDs can support all the businesses in their area.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Jack Hopkins
Leader of Lambeth Council
Michael Smith
Managing Director Brixton BID
Louise Abbotts
BID Manager InStreatham
Nic Durston
Chief Executive South Bank BID & South Bank Employers Group
Charlotte Ashworth
BID Manager Station to Station BID
Jeremy Keates
BID Manager This is Clapham
Bernard Collier
Chief Executive Vauxhall One
Natalie Raben
Chief Executive WeAreWaterloo
Reduce your utility and telecoms outgoings quickly by contacting Khush Sodhi at Meercsts and sending him copies of your bills
k.sodhi@meercatassociates.com
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We as a team will still be available as always, Mon to Thur, 9am-5.30pm, and although it is not quite business as usual, we are always at the end of a phone, email or WhatsApp if you need us.
Our job is to support you, so please lean on us.
We will be able to hold meetings via online platforms when necessary, and will be providing updates on our social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and on our website which will be updated constantly.
We will not be in the office for the time-being, but if you need to speak to someone, call or message 07947764259
