ICB's Covid-19 response 20 March Update

For most ICB Bookkeepers, working from home means business as usual. For ICB staff, and most of your clients, it's something new. We're working hard to ensure that our ICB community can be more connected than ever. Here are some of things you should know about: 

Branch Meetings 

Our Branch Meetings will, from 23rd March, take place virtually and be completely free of charge to attend. This means you can enjoy the support and insight of your fellow students and members online from the comfort of your own home. 

We'd like to thank our incredible Branch Chairs for making virtual meetings possible, and for the speed with which they've adapted to hosting virtual meetings via Zoom. Your branches are: 

Inspire Tour  

We're excited to announce that this year's Inspire Tour will now be a digital, fully online event. Brought forward to the 28, 29 and 30 April this will be the perfect opportunity to take part in the UK's biggest online gathering of bookkeepers to enjoy exclusively curated content in the focused learning environment of your own home. 

Whilst we look forward every year to the opportunity to visit each region on the ICB map and meet you face-to-face, we love a challenge (!) and know that, together, we can make the Inspire Tour more valuable than ever. 

You'll save time out of the office and save money on the reduced ticket price. You'll also get an extra hour of CPD and a digital badge to display for your website and emails. 

The new format means we can bring you six hours of vital updates and technical learning from expert speakers spread over the course of three days in the last week of April.  

If you attend all six sessions you'll receive a digital badge for your website and emails.

You can shortly book your tickets now: £70 £45  

Online Exams

We'd like to reassure you that we have unlimited capacity to continue to offer on-demand online exams and mocks. These can be booked up to 14 days in advance either by telephone or through the website, and you'll be able to complete the work from the comfort of your isolation. Just make sure that you're free from distractions and read every question carefully. 

If you have completed all of your core Certified Bookkeeper exams and are already a full Member (MICB) why not try your hand at the new Level 4 suite of advanced qualifications, or a Payroll qualification? 

Centre-Based M8 Exams 

Most of our UK exam centres are closing from Friday 20 March and we are making arrangements to enable you to complete your M8 exam from home. We are able to use the latest technology to provide remote invigilation during this challenging period and until centres reopen. Your health and wellbeing are of utmost importance. 

You will not be penalised, or lose your exam fee, for any COVID-19 related cancellations or delays to your exams.  

Support for individuals, businesses, employees and self-employed 

This is a challenging time for companies, families and individuals. We have been overwhelmed over the last couple of weeks by the tenacity and altruism ICB members have demonstrated in their care for their colleagues, clients and employees. As an ICB Bookkeeper you can play an active role in helping the UK's businesses handle the economic disruption and here at ICB we are committed to supporting you in doing so. 

Some of the measures that have been announced so far: 

• statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs 

• a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England 

• small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief 

• grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 

• the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance 

• the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme to help with tax 

• 12-month delay to IR35 changes 

• Anyone self-isolating who is self-employed can apply for Universal Credit or new-style Employment & Support Allowance 

• emergency legislation to suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while this national emergency is taking place

• no new possession proceedings through applications to the court to start during the crisis

• landlords will also be protected as 3 month mortgage payment holiday is extended to Buy to Let mortgages

• three-month mortgage payments holiday for home owners, and on Help To Buy equity payments
  
  

  If you wish to seek help for you or the businesses you work with these are the COVID-19 helplines:

   

  England

  Telephone number: 0800 024 1222

  Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm 

   

  Scotland

  Telephone number: 0300 303 0660

  Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm

   

  Wales

  Telephone number: 0300 060 3000

  Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm

   

  Northern Ireland

  Telephone number: 0800 181 4422

  Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm