Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme until the end of April 2021.

It means the government will pay up to 80% of the wages of staff who have been furloughed.

Sunak also confirmed the he would be extending the government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March.

These changes come ahead of the Budget, which the Chancellor has confirmed will take place on 3 March 2021.

The Chancellor said he would review the employer contribution element of the CJRS in January, but decided to bring this forward to allow businesses to plan ahead for the remainder of the winter and the New Year.

Extending the scheme until the end of April means businesses across the country will have certainty about what support will be available to them.

Businesses will also be given until the end of March to access the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. These had been due to close at the end of January.

Extending the CJRS until the end of April gives businesses certainty well ahead of the 45-day redundancy notice period, with the Budget setting out the next phase of support more than 45 days before the new end date of the scheme.