The plan to increase access to free covid testing for businesses is crucial

All businesses in England are now able to sign up to the government’s free COVID-19 workplace testing programme.

• Workplace testing now available to all businesses, including those with fewer than 50 employees
• Business encouraged to register interest by 31 March to access free workplace testing
• Regular testing will be a vital part of the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease restrictions

An online portal has been launched for businesses to find out more about offering rapid workplace testing. Businesses will be provided with all the information they need to plan and deliver their testing programme, along with promotional materials.

All local authorities in England are now offering rapid lateral flow testing for small businesses if they can’t offer rapid workplace testing. Businesses can find their local test site online.

BCC says plan to increase access to free covid testing for businesses is crucial to economic recovery

Responding to news of the plan to drop restrictions on which businesses can access free testing, Hannah Essex, Co-Executive Director of the BCC, said:

“This is really good news. We have long argued that it is critical for workplace testing to be expanded to businesses of all sizes and that this service is in place for as long as is necessary. For the government’s roadmap to work, an effective test, trace and isolate system must fit hand in glove with the vaccination programme. It is fundamental to getting businesses open again, and to keeping them open in the months ahead.

“Accredited Chambers of Commerce will be encouraging more businesses to sign up for free testing before the end of March deadline.”