Tag Archive for: business

MSD Support to Retain, Retrain or Transition

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The Ministry of Social Development’s Redeployment Support Service has been designed to help people at risk of job displacement by supporting them to retrain and retain their employment, or transition to new and appropriate employment or upskilling opportunities.

Services are available to all employers, contractors and self-employed people. Wherever you are based in New Zealand, MSD has regional teams across the country.

MSD offer a range of Redeployment Support services, including, but not limited to:

  • One to One and/or Group Consultation for staff facing job loss
  • Linking people to new employment, training and/or upskilling opportunities
  • Advise for employers on financial support available to help retain and/or retrain staff into other areas of their business
  • Connecting employers to business support agencies
  • Providing collaborative events tailored for those at risk of losing their jobs, with a range of employers and organisations taking part

If you are or know of a business that’s struggling, someone going through a redundancy, or worried about their job, our Early Response Team is here to help. To arrange a confidential time to meet and discuss how MSD can support you, please email canterbury_redeployment_service@msd.govt.nz and one of our team will be in contact.

Download more info about the Redeployment Support Service (PDF 244KB)

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COVID-19 ‘Red’: New Support Schemes for Businesses and the Self-Employed

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Piggy bank wearing a surgical mask

The Government is providing two schemes – one provided by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the other by Inland Revenue – that can provide financial support for self-employed people and businesses who have been directly affected by a move to ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

  • Inland Revenue’s COVID-19 Support Payment is available for self-employed people and other businesses who have experienced at least a 40% drop in revenue. There will be three rounds of payments available.
  • The Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Grant for Self-Employed Individuals will make a one-off grant of $5,000 available to self-employed people working in arts, culture or heritage, whose income has been directly affected by a move to ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Self-employed people in the arts, culture and heritage sector will only be able to receive the Grant or the first COVID-19 Support Payment. We strongly recommend that self-employed people check their eligibility for both schemes, before commencing an application for the Grant for Self-Employed Individuals.

A reminder that organisations, including Sole Traders with employees, are not eligible for the Manatū Taonga Grant. They should, instead, take a good look at the criteria for Inland Revenue’s Covid Support Payment, or, if they are in real trouble, the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund – Organisations. This is our fund of last resort and is used to support cultural organisations which are at clear risk of no longer operating viably. Organisations can receive up to $300,000 through this fund.

Online Information Sessions

These information sessions are open to anyone interested in applying for the Ministry’s Grant for Self-Employed Individuals, but also touch on the other support schemes administered by Manatū Taonga. The small-group sessions discuss and answer your questions around the application process, eligibility, the evidence you’ll need to provide, and introduce our online application system.

  • Tuesday March 8, 12pm
  • Wednesday March 9, 6:30pm
  • Thursday March 10, 12pm

RSVP here for your preferred session.

Or watch a recorded information session on Facebook Live.

Further Information

For the latest information on other initiatives in the Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme, see the Manatū Taonga website.

If you have specific questions, email Manatū Taonga at support.culture@mch.govt.nz.

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Strength in Numbers Participants Announced

Script to Screen have announced the 12 participants selected for their initiative Strength in Numbers, including two of our members. Congratulations to Becky Kuek and her company Mooncake Ltd and Matasila Freshwater (DEGANZ 2021 Incubator alumna) of Tomorrow, Rain!

Strength in Numbers is a series of workshops running from February to June 2022. Its aim is to arm participants with the tools they need to build a sustainable screen business.

The course is led by David Court who founded the Compton School, Australia’s first creative business school. He is the former Head of Screen Business at AFTRS, and worked on the Jackson/Court review of the New Zealand Film Commission.

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COVID-19 Financial Support for Sole Traders and the Self-Employed

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Piggy bank wearing a surgical mask

If your income or business has been impacted by Alert Levels 3 and 4, you may be eligible to apply for financial support. As many directors and editors are self-employed, this is an overview of what support is available from the New Zealand Government to help sole traders and the self-employed.


Wage Subsidy August 2021

Self-employed people and sole traders anywhere in New Zealand can apply for the Wage Subsidy Scheme through the Work and Income website if they are eligible. It’s paid as a two-week lump sum to support businesses that have experienced a decline in revenue attributed to the continuation of Alert Levels 3 and 4.

Each round opens for two weeks. Applications for the fourth round, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #4, opened on Friday 1 October and will remain open until 11.59pm on Thursday 14 October.

Resurgence Support Payment (RSP)

The COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment helps to cover wages and fixed costs for businesses who have been directly affected when there is an increase to Alert Level 2 or higher for a week or more. Sole traders can receive a payment of up to $1,900.

When applications open in MyIR, they will also remain open for one month after all of New Zealand returns to Alert Level 1.

  • Applications for the 1st payment under the alert level increase announced on 17 August are still open.
  • Applications for a 2nd payment under the RSP opened on 17 September.
  • Applications for a 3rd payment will open on 8 October.

Small Business Cash Flow Loan Scheme (SBCS)

The Government will provide loans to small businesses, including sole traders and the self-employed, impacted by COVID-19 to support their cash flow needs. Applications are open through myIR until 31 December 2023. This is a loan so you will need to pay it back, but it’s interest free if you pay it within 2 years.

COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment

A one-off $359 payment when you cannot work from home and you:

  • need to stay at home while waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
  • need to stay home and look after a dependent child who has been asked to get a COVID-19 test.
  • live with someone who has been at a location of interest and need to stay home while they wait for the person in the household to get a negative test result.

You can apply for it through Work and Income at any time, but cannot be taken while you receiving the Wage Subsidy August 2021 or Leave Support Scheme.

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

This scheme provides self-employed people with an income, paid at a flat rate, if they cannot work from home while they’re self-isolating. You need to meet certain criteria to apply.

More information can be found at Work and Income. But note that you can’t get more than one COVID-19 payment at the same time.

Other Support

If you are still having trouble meeting your needs, you might be able to get help from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). You do not need to be on a benefit to get help with urgent costs, such as medical costs, rent or mortgage payments and utility bills.
Use this tool to check what you might get.

Advice for self-employed people with tax-related concerns:
https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/self-employed

 

The above information is provided as an overview guide only based on the COVID-19 financial support tool at www.covid19.govt.nz. Make sure you read the official information provided by IRD, MSD and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to decide which support best suits your personal situation.

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COVID-19: Financial Support Available

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Dear Members,

This is a brief update to pass on financial support information from business.govt.nz, which is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Click here to learn more about:

  • types of financial support available for businesses, including self-employed contractors
  • operating a business at Level 4
  • COVID-19 Business Helplines

In addition to communications from us via email, we will be posting COVID-19 industry news and updates to DEGNZ’s COVID Corner.

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