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Apr- 2020 -7 April
Contactless payments in the age of coronavirus
In a matter of weeks our entire payments ecosystem has shifted. Many supermarkets have reacted to the coronavirus pandemic by implementing plastic barriers at checkouts to protect customers and staff during the shopping transaction. Meanwhile countless retailers and services have shifted to cashless payments to remove contact with consumers and…
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6 April
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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6 April
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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2 April
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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Mar- 2020 -30 March
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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30 March
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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30 March
Covid 19: The future health of the high street
The health of the high street is up for debate now more than ever. If retailers were struggling before coronavirus set its sights on our shores, following last week’s forced government closure of non-essential brick & mortar stores throughout the UK, it’s likely that many will have pulled down their…
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28 March
Brighthouse set to call in administrators
Rent-to-own home furnishings brand Brighthouse is reportedly set to call in administrators, placing around 2,400 jobs at risk. According to the BBC, it comes after an increase in compensation claims for selling to people who could not repay due to the coronavirus outbreak. Brighthouse is thought to be the largest…
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27 March
What we know about furlough leave and the CJRS
HMRC published details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) on 26.3.20 which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Key points include: Employees that employers can claim CJRS for For the purposes of CJRS, the definition of employee would include workers and agency workers provided they are subject to PAYE i.e. this…
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27 March
Social shopping is all the rage – but at what cost for retailers?
In recent years, social commerce has become a lucrative way for retailers to easily access new and existing customers through solutions that are easily integrated into a variety of social media platforms. Social commerce has grown quickly, with platforms such as Facebook’s Marketplace and Instagram allowing for a seamless shopping…
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