Industry support
Help
YOURSELF Racing is just one industry that has found itself at the mercy of the current lockdown but for those who have found themselves out of work a number of schemes exist to help ease the financial burden during these difficult times
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or a large number of racing employees – for example those who work for racecourses, the BHA and the Racing Post – the word ‘furlough’ has entered the lexicon. While being unable to work amid the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, and paid 80% of their monthly salary, capped at £2,500 by the government, such employees at least have their wages sorted out for them, the administration taken care of by their employer. Racing, however, is a sport awash with self-employed workers, including jockeys, and their situation has been both tougher and less straightforward. The government, understandably, took longer to arrange support measures for the self-employed, adding to and extending concerns, and indeed the Self-employment Income Support Scheme’s (SEISS) online service was not due to be available until the middle of May, with payments, backdated to the start of lockdown, by early June. The scheme allows people to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. It will be available for three months initially but might be extended. Individuals can make a claim for Universal Credit while awaiting grants, which do not need to be repaid. Full details can be found at gov. uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-throughthe-coronavirus-covid-19-selfemployment-income-support-scheme The self-employed, meanwhile, are also being helped by measures such as the deferral of self-assessment tax requirements, ‘holidays’ for mortgage payers, and strengthening of the welfare ‘safety net’.
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HMRC has a number for coronavirus queries from businesses and selfemployed individuals: 0800 024 1222, with opening hours from 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Most jockeys are self-employed, and it is estimated that up to 35% may not be eligible for government help. The significant gap – the announcement racing was to be halted with immediate effect came as long ago as March 17 – until racing’s self-employed workers can receive money from SEISS was among the main reasons for the announcement
“We have a tough battle ahead with an unprecedented collapse in income” of an emergency £22 million support package for the sport on April 17. The Professional Jockeys Association, the riders’ umbrella body, was given access to nearly £2m, to provide a mixture of loans and grants to jockeys, agents and valets – the latter two groups being among the less high-profile members of racing’s family but, given their self-employed status and reliance on the sport taking place for livelihoods, as vulnerable as any.
The PJA, additionally, in partnership with the Injured Jockeys Fund, created a Jockeys Hardship Grant Fund. Both organisations set aside a significant six-figure sum from their own funds, matching grant funding from the Racing Foundation, to assist jockeys with immediate hardship issues. There are three elements to the assistance programme for jockeys, agents and valets: an income support scheme; interest-free overdrafts; and the Hardship Grant Fund – full details are available via thepja.co.uk. PJA Chief Executive Paul Struthers said: “There has been significant uncertainty and concern among our members, and I’m sure this has been shared by the many other selfemployed individuals in the racing industry.” Another large group of selfemployed within racing are trainers, and with thousands of racehorses still requiring daily care and exercise it has not been possible for trainers to furlough many staff. The National Trainers Federation’s latest estimate was that around 80% of stable staff are still working. Stable staff should benefit from a scheme to allow trainers to apply for loans to help pay their wages until government support payments are made. The NTF proposed the plan after concern about the gap in receiving money from the Job Retention Scheme for staff who have been furloughed. A new industry scheme – the Racing Relief Fund – will be led by the ROA to meet the welfare needs of horses whose owners are suffering financial hardship. Supported by the Racing Foundation, this will provide up to
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