How to get free coronavirus help (non-Government support)
You might already have applied for a Government grant or Business Interruption loan, or submitted your claim for furloughed staff’s pay through the Job Retention Scheme. But what help is out there from other businesses?
We asked you, our members, to tell us about funds, offers and help you’ve found offered by other companies…
Below, you’ll find the list and we want to add more – please let us know about other help you encounter so we can share it with Tide members. Get in touch with us via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Information correct when published. Please check the offer is still valid when you enquire.
Broadband companies
What’s available?
All major UK broadband providers have agreed to remove data allowance caps on all fixed broadband services. The Government announced this initiative was effective from 29 March 2020 and hasn’t yet stated an end date.
Who’s eligible?
If you currently have fixed broadband with a data allowance cap, it’ll be automatically removed if your supplier is one of these companies:
BT/EE, Openreach, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, O2, Vodafone, Three, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, and KCOM
What’s available?
Facebook has launched a Small Business Grants programme. They are offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
Who’s eligible?
Up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries where Facebook operates will be able to receive the grant. To be eligible to apply, you must:
- Have between 2 and 50 employees
- Have been in business for over a year
- Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
- Be in or near a location where Facebook operates
What’s available?
Google offers $340 million in Google Ads credits to help small businesses. If you’re successful, the credits will appear in your Google Ads account and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across Google’s advertising platforms.
Who’s eligible?
All small and medium-sized businesses who have spent money through their Google Ads account in 10 out of 12 months in 2019, and in January and/or February of 2020. Your business is eligible if you advertised directly with Google or through a partner, and comply with Google’s advertising policies.
Hootsuite
What’s available?
Hootsuite is offering free access to their Professional plan to help small businesses and non-profit organisations stay connected to their customers and audiences until 1 July 2020.
Who is eligible?
Hootsuite says that they’re offering this plan free to “organisations in affected industries (restaurants, hotels, event venues, performing arts, etc)”. You’ll need a credit card to get started straight away or there’s an option to fill in an application form.
Ebay
What’s available?
New businesses registering on ebay.co.uk won’t have to pay fees to list or sell from 26 March 2020 until 31 May 2020.
Who is eligible?
Any business new to ebay.
CBI: Confederation of British Industry
What’s available?
Daily coronavirus webinars discussing the impact it has on the business community, and what businesses can do to mitigate the impact.
Who’s eligible?
The webinars and the CBI’s Coronavirus Hub are available for anyone to access.
Photo by Glenn Carstens Peters, published on Unsplash
