The Chancellor announced that the Job Support Scheme will be expanded to support businesses across the country if they are required to close their premises due to any coronavirus restrictions such as local lockdowns etc. If a business is legally required to shut for some period of time as part of a local or national restrictions, they will be eligible for grants to help pay the wages of staff who cannot work:

• Beginning on the 1^st of November this scheme will be available for six months with a review point in January
• Two thirds of each employees salary (or 67%) will be paid up to a maximum of £2,100 a month
• Up to £3,000 will be made available as grants to businesses required to close in local lockdowns paid per month
• Employers will still be required to cover NICS and pension contributions
• Employees must be off work for a minimum of seven consecutive days
• All payments will be made in arrears – HMRC will launch a claims service for this from early December
• Firms that have been legally closed in the period before 1^st Nov are eligible for the CJRS

Further information is due to be published shortly.