Government subsidies and special relief resources allocated to support employers, and workers, in their efforts to maintain employment and pull through the crisis.

The UK Government has implemented several measures, which employers may be able to access for financial business support including: making claims for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (currently for up to 80% of employees’ wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions, if they are on furlough leave because of COVID-19); delaying VAT and some other tax payments without incurring a penalty; claiming back employees’ coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme; state-backed bailout loans for both SMEs (small and medium sized businesses) and for large businesses. Business rates relief and grant funds are available for certain businesses and sectors – these are handled differently in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.