Information for craft businesses: September 2021

1 June 2021

Resources and advice during the COVID-19 pandemic

1 June 2021

The Sylwia Scarf by Crafts Council Directory member, Ocre.

The crafts are an important part of our social and economic life with the Crafts Council Market for Craft report showing craft sales worth £3 billion to the UK economy.

We know the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on a sector dominated by micro enterprises and sole practitioners and the UK has now left the EU which has affected all businesses.

VAT update

From 1 July 2021, VAT rules on cross-border business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce activities will change. The rationale for these changes is to overcome the barriers to cross-border online sales and address challenges arising from the VAT regimes for distance sales of goods and for the importation of low value consignments. Please visit gov.uk and the European Commission website for advice.

Brexit

Visit our page on advice for UK-based makers and craft businesses.

Crafts Council support

We continue to be in direct and regular contact with relevant government departments and Arts Council England to ensure they are properly briefed on the craft sector situation.

At the end of 2020 we were asked to summarise the impact that Covid-19 and Brexit would have on the craft sector to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) – see summary here.

We have a number of new online business resources including films on the following topics;

Getting noticed with good photography, with Yeshen Venema
Making the most of your mailing list, with Angus and Lorna Ross
Legal requirements for small businesses, with Briffa Legal
Optimise your website with Toyin Laketu
Identify your brand values with Alexandra Lunn
How to build customer profiles with Patricia van der Akker

Connect to us on all our social channels, follow our craft opportunities Facebook page and sign up to our regular maker newsletter.

Further resources

Arts Council England are supporting artists across England recover and grow their creative businesses post COVID with Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants and Developing your Creative Practice.
Support for businesses and self-employed people
Government Business Rates Relief
The Creative Industries Federation represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and they are currently offering six months free subscription.
The Culture, Health & Well-Being Alliance
The Business Finance Guide is a free and independent source of information on the forms of finance available to business owners produced by ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales) and the British Business Bank – it has produced new content designed to help companies to meet financial challenges resulting from the crisis.
Reopen your business safely during coronavirus
Creative United has published an investigative report on the contribution of creative freelancers to the economic, societal, and place-based impacts of the creative industries. Download Mind the understanding gap: the Value of Creative Freelancers.

Covid re-opening

If you are welcoming in-person visitors back to your business or hosting a physical event, please follow our top tips for a safe re-opening:

Generate your own QR code for visitors to scan on the Gov.uk website
Have hand sanitiser at each point of entry
Download a free sign to suit your needs or create a simple text design to print out and remind visitors to please wear a face mask and maintain social distancing.
All visitors should wear a mask/visor in indoor spaces. Artists should wear one as well to protect themselves and others.

Information for craft businesses: September 2021

VAT update

Brexit

Crafts Council support

Further resources

Covid re-opening

Read more

Business Skills

Spring-back talks

Brexit advice

Market for Craft