States Assembly | Submissions - Tim Bartlett - Covid-19 - Support for Businesses

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Dear Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel,

I would like to highlight the disparity between the support schemes available and the apparent lack of suitable and adequate financial support for the Events & Attractions Industry.

The criteria of £300k minimum turnover and GST registration have resulted in more than 95% of the events industry not qualifying for the VAES Scheme. These criteria are not a requirement of the VASS or FCSS.

In addition, the Events Industry is not eligible to defer social security contributions. Please find the attached correspondence.

Meaningful support needs to be in place until the gathering restrictions have been lifted and there is no requirement to physically distance.

Class 2 contributions deferral - JY304211D

Contributions Inbox <SSContributions@gov.je> 15 January 2021 at 16:40 To: Tim Bartlett <tim@bartlett.je>

Hi Tim,

Event organisers are not on the list of acceptable deferment as per the council of ministers (see below), therefore, you are required to pay the contribuons due.

· wellbeing, beauty and cosmetic services including:

hairdressers barbers beauty and nail salons

piercing and tattoo parlours

laser and cosmetic clinics delivering non-essential cosmetic treatments

· indoor sports and exercise including jacuzzi, saunas and steam rooms

· licensed premises (except for takeaway)

· cafes and places of refreshment (except for takeaway)

· hotels and commercial accommodation (except for isolation or essential workers)

· driving instruction

· general retail, including but not limited to:

department stores

clothes

furniture

jewellery

gifts bookshops betting and bookmakers

If you find this unacceptable you can give feedback to the Government on the following link: https://www.gov.je/government/comments/Pages/index.aspx

To: "tim@livehq.je" <tim@livehq.je> 12 February 2021 at 14:11

Dear Tim,

Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to reply to you until now.

Your feedback is the first we have received on Social Security policy through our feedback system and it took a while to get to me.

We have now improved how we deal with policy feedback and these delays won't happen again.

I've also been finding out the answers to your questions, and seeing what other support is available that may be helpful to you.

Can you confirm why the events industry has been intentionally omitted from the 'acceptable deferment' criteria of social security contributions?

The additional deferrals of Social Security contributions and further support under the Co-Funded Payroll Scheme were agreed by Minsters in response to the need to introduce the Winter Strategy Circuit Breaker, which legally required certain businesses to close during December.

In order to ensure that the enhanced business support was affordable, it focused on the businesses whose circumstances had materially altered following the introduction of the Circuit Breaker.

What other support is available?

All the government support available to businesses is included here.

Please look at the Fixed Costs Support Scheme announced earlier this week to see if you are eligible for this - this has broader eligibility for the events industry than the contributions deferrals.

There is also the Business Disruption Loan Guarantee scheme which may be appropriate for you.

Setting up a business (Startup Plan)

Finally, I thought I'd mention the startup plan for people that have recently become self-employed and set up a business, in case this is relevant to your current business, or if you decide to start a new one.

This allows self-employed people to pay a very low contribution amount in the first years of their business, and then pay the balance (if there is a balance to pay) in two years' time. There are more details here.

I hope that I've answered your questions, and please let me know if I can help any further. Kind regards

Mark

Senior Policy Officer

I am currently working remotely – please contact me by email or on Teams.

Government of Jersey

Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance

Hi XXXX,

Thanks for your reply, however you have not provided me with any information that isn't already available.

The events industry is without question the hardest hit by government restriction since March 2020 with an average of 95% detriment as a direct result of the Gatherings Law and your Winter Circuit Breaker.

To put it into perspective:

- My business Jersey Weekender Ltd is 100% down for the 11th consecutive month and will be until restrictions on

gatherings have been lifted. I am unable to defer contributions.

- A gift shop that was closed for Dec and Jan, but still continued to trade is able to defer contributions on the grounds they are 20% down.

The lack of common sense is astounding.

Please advise how event industry circumstances are not adequately 'Materially altered' to qualify?

I'm well aware of support on offer.

The VAES scheme that took 6 months to announce is not fit for purpose and, as with the deferment criteria of contributions it has marginalised the events industry.

The FCSS is designed for hospitality and retail and is already being criticised by those industries for falling short of what is required. For my business, this scheme is worth £1500pm.

I await your response prior to contacting the Scrutiny Panel.

Kind Regards Tim Bartlett

Weekender. 4th & 5th Sept 2021 weekenderjersey.com

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To: Tim Bartlett <tim@livehq.je> 12 February 2021 at 17:38

Hi Tim,

Thanks for your follow up email.

Please allow me some time to consider this this properly and I will reply on Monday. Kind regards ]

Hi {Senior Policy Officer]

I'm yet to receive a response.

Please advise.

Kind Regards Tim Bartlett

Weekender. 4th & 5th Sept 2021 weekenderjersey.com

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16 February 2021 at 17:26

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your email. I understand your views and have passed them on to the Ministers to consider. I will update you on this by the end of the week, if not before.

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Hi XXX,

Can you confirm who you have passed this onto?

I need to ensure I pass the correct information to scrutiny.

Kind Regards Tim Bartlett

Weekender. 4th & 5th Sept 2021 weekenderjersey.com

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Hi XXX, Please advise?

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18 February 2021 at 17:56

Hi Tim,

I passed your feedback on to my colleague who supports the Ministers that agree the business support policies, including the contributions deferrals.

This includes the Social Security Minister who is responsible for the Social Security Law including contributions. My colleague has given them your feedback (and other feedback we have received) about contributions deferrals

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Submissions - Tim Bartlett - Covid-19 - Support for Businesses - 17 February 2021