Latest News
Information regarding additional restrictions can be found via the links below
England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland
1 March 2021
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak will announce a new £5bn Restart Grant scheme during Wednesday's budget announcement.
24 February 2021
The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon announced a strategic framework to ease lockdown restrictions in Scotland.
22 February 2021
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined the planned route out of lockdown for businesses in England.
Find out what the planned route out of lockdown in England will mean for when your business can open.
Financial support for small businesses
Funding sources for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic
National grants and schemes available to small businesses and the self-employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FAQ: Supreme Court Business Interruption Insurance Ruling
Our panel of insurance experts discussed the legal and practical implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment for the small business community.
Furlough extension: What you need to know
The furlough scheme has been extended until 30 April 2021, including flexible furlough. Find out how the extension works and what you need to do as an employer.

New ways of working
Face coverings: What are the rules for businesses?
What does the new advice mean for your business? Find out with our guide.
How should your business collect customer details for NHS Test and Trace?
Our guide covers who needs to collect data, how to do it and how to keep it secure.
How to reassure customers your small business is COVID-19 secure
Letting your customers know you are COVID-secure is crucial. Learn how you can fuel customer confidence with our tips and advice.

Looking after your mental health
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has left a deep and lasting impact on the mental health of millions in our country. Research from Mind revealed more than half of adults and over two thirds of young people said their mental health deteriorated during lockdown.
As we head into an uncertain winter which sees the resumption of working from home for some and restriction on socialising for many across the country, finding simple ways to manage your mental health and that of your colleagues, friends and employees is vital.
Key resources
Checklist: Looking after your mental health during COVID-19
FSB Care share advice for looking after your mental health and where you can go if you need support.
Checklist: How to support your employeesâ mental health
Download our checklist from FSB Care on how you can support the mental health of your employees during COVID-19.
Resources to support your mental health during COVID-19
Resources to help support the mental health of yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic

Health and wellbeing: Boosting productivity and resilience in your business
The current pandemic has forced many small businesses to focus on business survival above anything else. Wellbeing may not seem like an important topic at the moment but being actively engaged in improving the health and wellbeing of your staff can help you build a strong, resilient workforce ready to face the challenges of the current climate.
Physical activity, exercise and movement are vital elements of workplace wellbeing
Research from Sport England has shown 62% of adults currently consider exercise to be more important than ever and 65% of people believe exercise is helping with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK's Chief Medical Officer has continually stressed the value of physical activity: âAnything that can be done to encourage and to allow people to take exercise is clearly a good thingâ.
Individuals who sit less and move more live longer, healthier lives.
Taking steps to include daily physical activity and movement while reducing the sitting time of yourself and your employees contributes to a longer healthier life.
Adults spending eight hours a day sat at a desk are up to 60% more likely to die early from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. This risk is reduced with regular, moderate physical activity
An active workforce leads to a more agile, productive and resilient team
Small businesses and sole traders can be hit hard by business interruption through illness and the costs this incurs
2019 research found that if the recommended physical activity guidelines were met globally, it could make employees up to 5 days more productive each year and boost the world economy by an estimated $100bn a year.
Only 6 in 10 adults currently achieves the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
24.6% of adults in England are currently classed as inactive, this means over 11 million people are currently doing less than an average of 30 minutes activity a week.
Government Guidelines state that being active reduces your chances of Type II diabetes by 40%, cardiovascular disease by 35%, joint and back pain by 25%, colon and breast cancers by 20% and can reduce the risk of mental illness by 30%.
Focusing on employee health and wellbeing creates an attractive workplace culture.
Research by CBRE showed that 80% of employees agree that a companyâs culture will be crucial in recruiting and retaining them within the next 10 years.
Developing a wellness based culture doesn't need to be complex and expensive, simple solutions to encourage healthy behaviours such as boosting activity levels can positively impact on how your current and future employees perceive your organisation.
Sources: Sport England covid-19 Physical activity tracker | Government press briefing 15th April | The Lancet, July 2016 – physical activity series | Fitter bodies, fitter economies – Vitality and RAND, 2019. | Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey November 2018/19 Report, published April 2020 | Wellness in the workplace: Unlocking Future Performance – CBRE – occupier survey 2015 –2016
Key resources
Active Travel: A guide for Employees and Employers
Squeeze some activity into your daily commute with our guide.
How to have an active working day in three simple steps
Download our guide to building activity into your working day.
How to hold a moving meeting
Moving meetings held via phone allow you to catch up while talking a walk

When can my business reopen?
Each part of the UK is following a different aproach for businesses, reopening dates may be subject to reviews and relevant criteria being met. Businesses that are reopening should carry out a risk assessment to ensure they are COVID-19 secure.
What does the lockdown in Scotland mean for my business?
Information on the latest lockdown in Scotland
What does the national lockdown mean for my business?
Our guide covers which business can remain open in the current restrictions and sources of funding for small businesses.

Further resources
Learn new
skills
Find guides and resources to help you build your business skills in our Skills Hub.
Find local support
Free events for all small businesses to help you find support, build your skills and meet other business owners.
Tips for working from home
Download our free guide to help you and your employees continue to be productive while working from home.
