The Gov.uk website has today been updated with the below.

It confirms that if we directors want support we are NOT allowed to pivot our business, fulfil any orders that we do have, network, update our websites or prepare aggressive marketing plans to hit the ground running when this nightmare ends. From Gov.uk...

Company Directors

"As office holders, salaried company directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through this scheme. Company directors owe duties to their company which are set out in the Companies Act 2006. Where a company (acting through its board of directors) considers that it is in compliance with the statutory duties of one or more of its individual salaried directors, the board can decide that such directors should be furloughed. Where one or more individual directors’ furlough is so decided by the board, this should be formally adopted as a decision of the company, noted in the company records and communicated in writing to the director(s) concerned.

Where furloughed directors need to carry out particular duties to fulfil the statutory obligations they owe to their company, they may do so provided they do no more than would reasonably be judged necessary for that purpose, for instance, they should not do work of a kind they would carry out in normal circumstances to generate commercial revenue or provides services to or on behalf of their company."

So our current choices are...

(1) Furlough yourself and just do your director duties like filing your accounts, have a director/company meeting with yourself, update your confirmation statement with Companies House and then sit on your arse whilst you watch your baby (business) die a death of a thousand cuts around you.

or

(2) Accept £0.00 support from the government (unless you qualify for the absurd 94 quid a week UC) and do what you can to re-do your business plan, secure finance and sit this out, pivot to serve the at home market (if possible...) and pray that your industry bounces back before you go broke....

These options are disgraceful. All we are asking for is...

(i) That we receive an average of 80% of our annual earnings over the last 3yrs by salary and/or dividend as our support.

(ii) That like self employed people we are not punished by working with all financial help sucked away from us if we do. Instead we are allowed to work to try and keep our businesses afloat so that we can personally and professionally survive and actually retain the ability to keep employing others now and when this crisis passes. Doing so is critical so that we directors/company owners actually have the ability to massively help rebuild our buggered economy when this nightmare ends.

In summary, we are just seeking the same support as everyone else!!

Need to contact me? Use richardh@raptorsms.com