{"id":10590,"date":"2022-01-07T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=10590"},"modified":"2026-01-16T12:38:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T12:38:48","slug":"covid-financial-support-grants-funds-rebates-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/covid-financial-support-grants-funds-rebates-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid financial support: Grants, funds and rebates for businesses affected by coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCovid financial support: Grants, funds and rebates for businesses affected by coronavirus\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2022-01-07T10:00:40+00:00\">7 January, 2022<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Covid financial support: Grants, funds and rebates for businesses affected by coronavirus\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/covid-financial-support-grants-funds-rebates-businesses\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/simonbrooke\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/08\/Simon-Brooke.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Simon Brooke<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>As they embrace 2022 and look to the year ahead, leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) know they need every bit of financial support they can get to navigate the continuing financial challenges brought about by coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Above almost every other sector, those operating in hospitality and leisure continue to be particularly hard hit by the pandemic and are in need of financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to this ongoing demand, in December 2021, the government announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/1-billion-in-support-for-businesses-most-impacted-by-omicron-across-the-uk\">an update of national grants and other schemes<\/a> intended to help those SMEs and self-employed people who have been most severely affected by the pandemic and by concerns among consumers about spending time in public spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to trade body UK Hospitality, more than half of venues reported falls of more than 40% in their revenue during the weekend before Christmas, with a fifth of businesses experiencing a drop of more than 60%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around 200,000 businesses are eligible for business grants, which will be administered by local authorities and are available now, with more opening up in the coming weeks. We feature details of them in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#financial-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Financial support for businesses during the pandemic<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#statutory-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme for pandemic-related absences<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#omicron-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#culture-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Culture Recovery Fund<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#recovery-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage &ndash; Emergency Resource Support<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#additional-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Additional business support<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#final-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts on financial support during the pandemic<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-b8f54678-434a-456d-88cb-b8875a469bc5\">Download your free Managing Uncertainty guide to help you create business continuity plans that keep your company moving during uncertain times<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"financial-anchor-link\">Financial support for businesses during the pandemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a raft of financial support available for businesses that are struggling due to the impact of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/coronavirus\/\">Covid<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These include Statutory Sick Pay for pandemic-related absences, grants for hospitality and leisure businesses, the Culture Recovery Fund, the Recovery Loan Scheme, a reduced VAT rate for hospitality, accommodation and attractions, and the Time to Pay Arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, more than \u00a3100m of discretionary funding will be made available for local authorities to support businesses outside the leisure and hospitality sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re operating in this industry, you could be eligible for one-off grants of up to \u00a36,000 per premise as well as having access to more than \u00a3100m of the aforementioned discretionary funding through local authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another \u00a330m will be available through the Culture Recovery Fund, which is aimed at cultural organisations that might be struggling during the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon explained how a \u00a3107m package of support is being allocated to help businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This includes \u00a332m more for hospitality and leisure businesses, and \u00a310m targeted at those parts of the hospitality industry that have been most severely affected by the requirement for table service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Scottish government also issued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/coronavirus-covid-19-december-and-january-business-support-top-up-hospitality-information-for-businesses\/\">more information about eligibility for grants<\/a> and details about to access them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Welsh Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, announced more <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/emergency-covid-financial-support-businesses\">details of the eligibility criteria for the Welsh government&#8217;s \u00a3120m financial support<\/a> that has been made available for businesses impacted by Omicron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In England, Scotland and Wales, almost all of this funding is available through local authorities. You should contact yours to find out what you&#8217;re entitled to and how to apply for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"statutory-anchor-link\">Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme for pandemic-related absences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One key element of support is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for pandemic-related absences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to the reintroduction of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19\">Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme<\/a>, from 21 December 2021, if a staff member is off sick or is isolating due to coronavirus, you can reclaim the SSP you pay to them for up to 10 working days (two weeks) of sick leave from HMRC (note, this applies for businesses with 250 employees or fewer as of 30 November 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must have had a UK payroll since at least 30 November 2021 and have already paid the SSP to your staff member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses will be eligible for the scheme from the date of the announcement (21 December), and you&#8217;ll be able to make claims retrospectively from mid-January 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, as a temporary measure, employees can claim SSP from Day 1 rather than Day 4 of their illness. If they&#8217;re caring for someone who&#8217;s self-isolating, they will also be able to claim SSP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"omicron-anchor-link\">Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the financial support packages for hospitality and leisure businesses are one-off grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are based on the rateable value of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They range from \u00a32,700 for a business whose property has a rateable value of \u00a315,000 or less to \u00a36,000 if your business&#8217;s property has a rateable value of more than \u00a351,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the government, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-omicron-hospitality-and-leisure-grant\">Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant<\/a> aims to support businesses &#8220;that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is covered by three possible subsidy allowances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under the <strong>Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance<\/strong>, you&#8217;re allowed up to \u00a3335,000 in Small Amounts of Financial Assistance over any rolling period of three financial years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance<\/strong> offers up to \u00a31,9m across all business grant schemes relating to the pandemic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With the <strong>COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance<\/strong>, if you have hit your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you or your accountant might be able to access further funding under these scheme rules of up to \u00a310m across all COVID-19 Business Grant schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As with most of the other packages, to apply for these support grants, talk to your local council (or visit their website for more details).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-b8f54678-434a-456d-88cb-b8875a469bc5\">Download your free Managing Uncertainty guide to help you create business continuity plans that keep your company moving during uncertain times<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"culture-anchor-link\">Culture Recovery Fund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the additional support packages unveiled in December 2021, it was announced that the Culture Recovery Fund is to receive an additional \u00a330m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This comes on top of the \u00a31.57bn Culture Recovery Fund rescue package, launched to support cultural organisations suffering from the economic impact of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Available, like many of the other packages, until March 2022, it will support cultural organisations such as museums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to the fund will be at the discretion of local authorities, and you should apply for it through your local council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recovery-anchor-link\">Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage \u2013 Emergency Resource Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Within this is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritagefund.org.uk\/funding\/culture-recovery-fund-emergency-resource\">Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage \u2013 Emergency Resource Support<\/a> initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This help is available to organisations or businesses that own, work with or manage heritage based in England that are at imminent risk of failure due to coronavirus and require a grant between \u00a310,000 and \u00a31m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you&#8217;re able to make a full application to the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage, you&#8217;ll need to submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"additional-anchor-link\">Additional business support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The measures announced in December 2021 for hospitality and other sectors complement those business support packages that are already in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These include <strong>business rates relief<\/strong>, which means the majority of businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors will see a 75% reduction in their business rates bill across the entire financial year and a new 50% capped business rates relief in the next financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside these various help packages, there&#8217;s one element of support that&#8217;s being phased out: the <strong>temporary reduction in VAT for hospitality businesses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 1 October 2021, the VAT rate for these businesses has been 12.5%, up from the reduced rate of 5%. This will continue until 31 March 2022. From 1 April 2022, it will revert to 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the \u00a31.5bn <strong>COVID-19 Additional Relief Fun<\/strong><strong>d<\/strong> for businesses that have not previously had business rates support, you&#8217;ll be protected from eviction if you&#8217;re behind on rent on your premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will continue until March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also access finance for your business through the <strong>Recovery Loan Scheme<\/strong> up until June 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective from 1 January 2022, the maximum amount available to businesses from this scheme has been lowered to \u00a32m, as has the government guarantee, now just 70%. It&#8217;s administered by the British Business Bank and you can apply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.british-business-bank.co.uk\/ourpartners\/recovery-loan-scheme\/for-businesses\/\">on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the <strong>Bounce Back Loan<\/strong> repayment flexibility, you can take a six-month repayment holiday, three six-month, interest-only periods, or extend your loan to 10 years, thereby almost halving the monthly payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Support for the aviation and travel sectors continues, providing packages worth more than \u00a312bn since the beginning of the pandemic with the <strong>Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme<\/strong> available until the end of March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another ongoing lifeline offered by the government to those in all sectors is the <strong>Time to Pay arrangement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re struggling to pay your 2020\/21 Self Assessment tax liability in full by the due date, which is 31 January 2022, you can set up your own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/difficulties-paying-hmrc\/pay-in-instalments\">time to pay arrangement<\/a> online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need to have filed your tax return for 2020\/21, owe less than \u00a330,000 and be within 60 days of the payment deadline. You&#8217;ll still have to pay off your total liability within the next 12 months, if not before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chancellor has asked HMRC to offer businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors in particular, the option of a short delay and payment in instalments, on a case-by-case basis, as part of this scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-anchor-link\">Final thoughts on financial support during the pandemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pandemic have presented businesses with huge challenges. However, the government has responded with a plethora of support packages and other forms of financial assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even before you start on the application procedures, working your way through the various options can take some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, given that most are administered by your local council, making the effort to speak to them, as well as getting professional advice on what&#8217;s most appropriate for you and your business, can offer a good return on your investment of time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Managing uncertainty<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get some top tips to help you create business continuity plans that will keep your company moving during uncertain times.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b8f54678-434a-456d-88cb-b8875a469bc5\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1211\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/09\/Cherryduck_2019_Financial_00085-1211x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/09\/Cherryduck_2019_Financial_00085-1211x810.jpg 1211w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/business-continuity\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness continuity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/government-funding\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGovernment funding\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-1543 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-continuity tag-create-business-plan tag-grow-business tag-start-business business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg 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\/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-05T11:19:49+01:00\">5 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-write-a-business-plan\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFree template: How to write a business plan\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tA business plan is essential for reaching financial success. 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pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":653,"featured_media":9141,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[191,17],"business_type":[4,3,115],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[67,71,73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[220,98,165,96,109],"coauthors":[377],"class_list":["post-10590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-business-continuity","tag-government-funding","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-sized-business","business_type-accountants"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Simon Brooke","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/TibetQT_Medical_CN_FY20_X3_3905.jpg","imagine_tags":{"220":"Accountant accounting","98":"Business continuity","165":"Medium business trade","96":"Medium businesses","109":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice 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