Coronavirus Featured Content

The role of the physical store post-lockdown

The role of the physical store post-lockdown Retailers have been hit by an escalating “perfect storm” of issues recently – digital disruption, business rates increases, a weak Christmas peak, and now the Covid-19 virus. Businesses with greater debts, low cash reserves, and reduced margins were sadly always going to struggle,…

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The importance of strategic and empathetic furloughing

We’re hoping that we’re not going to have to furlough. We’re very fortunate in that we are still doing a lot of orders. However, the current uncertainty means that could all change overnight. To that end we’ve got a plan in place. We hope we don’t have to use it…

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Customer contracts in a crisis

We lawyers have been asked a lot of questions about contracts in the past couple of weeks. At this point, I probably don’t need to tell you why. Most of the questions have been along similar lines – “can I get out of this contract?” and “how much will I…

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Coronavirus: furloughed workers and what it means for business

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help businesses that would otherwise be forced to lay off staff in the face of the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID-19.  All businesses with a PAYE scheme in place on 28 February 2020, regardless of size or sector, will be able to…

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The North Face donates TV ad space to healthcare services

Outdoor clothing retailer The North Face has revealed it has given its European TV ad space to healthcare and frontline services for the month of April to help them deliver “critical messages” during the coronavirus outbreak. The retailer said the move comes at a time where the world faces an…

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VAT Deferral – What if I can’t get to the office?

The VAT deferral scheme is automatic but this fact has lulled some businesses into thinking they don’t need to complete a VAT return. It’s easy to think this is no longer necessary, especially as the national shutdown means many businesses can’t physically get to their offices, or have furloughed the…

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Coronavirus and the Retail Property Sector

Coronavirus continues to spread across the world and many countries have now established strict social distancing measures to halt its transmission. This includes government requirements in the UK that all non-essential businesses close their doors for the foreseeable future. While the effects of the virus can be felt in every…

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Coronavirus changing UK’s shopping habits, survey reveals

A new weekly survey has revealed how UK consumers’ relationships with a range of sectors is “changing” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus UK Consumer Tracker from research firm Rare analysed in-store and online purchasing behaviour in the retail, grocery, DIY, beauty, entertainment and alcohol sectors. Compiled…

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The minimum wage increase is about to hit – and it beggars belief

As if to bang the final nail into the coffin himself, we can only assume the Treasury’s top man, chancellor Rishi Sunak, refuses to give ground on the next wave to crash over the retail and hospitality industries. I am talking of course about the increase in the National Minimum…

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What are your legal rights if your job has been affected by COVID-19?

Ever since the coronavirus outbreak gathered speed, life in the UK has largely been put on hold. From staff being unable to work due to self-isolation, to workers needing to stay at home to care for their children after schools were ordered to close, the impact on many businesses and…

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