Coronavirus
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Jul- 2021 -23 July
Retail shop staff not included on self-isolation exemption list
Retail shop workers have not been included as one of the 16 key sectors on the government’s list allowed to be exempt from isolation rules. The list, revealed by the government last night (22 July), includes workers from digital infrastructure, food production and supply, waste, water, veterinary medicines, energy and…
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22 July
Gov to announce list of workers exempt from isolation
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has revealed that the government is set to announce the list of Uk workers who will be exempt from self-isolation rules later today (22 July). Kwarteng revealed the news while speaking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme. Staff that work in the key sectors that…
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6 July
Usdaw ‘slams’ lifting of restrictions in shops
Usdaw has “slammed” the government’s announcement that it plans to lift safety measures in stores once the final Covid restrictions are lifted on 19 July. In a speech made yesterday (5 July), the Prime Minister confirmed that face coverings would no longer be mandatory in shops from that date, whilst…
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2 July
450,000 businesses to be hit by tapered support measures
The retail sector is set to be hit by the tapering off of government support measures, with businesses now set to contribute 10% towards the cost of furlough following measures that came into effect yesterday (1 July). The move will affect an estimated 450,000 businesses, including many retailers, according to…
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Jun- 2021 -25 June
Consumer confidence remains stable despite restrictions delay
Consumer confidence remained stable at -9 in June despite the government’s recent announcement to delay the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, according to GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index. The index revealed that although four measures were up in comparison to the 21 May announcement, one measure was down. The index measuring…
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21 June
Usdaw calls for £10 minimum wage to thank key workers
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary has said the “best way” to thank key workers is to ensure “fairness at work” – with the chief calling for a new deal for employees that includes a minimum wage of at least £10 per hour, more secure contracts and an end to youth…
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17 June
Gov extends rent moratorium for another nine months
Stephen Barclay MP, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has announced the government’s extension of the rent moratorium for an additional nine months. The measure will assist retailers and hospitality businesses in surviving the year and will prevent landlords from evicting tenants for failing to pay rent throughout the rest…
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15 June
Sunak to reject furlough extension calls despite ‘freedom day’ delay
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to reject calls for an extension of the furlough scheme and business rates report to businesses despite the prime minister announcing a four-week delay to the lifting of restrictions. According to the Guardian, sources close to the chancellor have said that he believes sufficient…
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9 June
RSM retail head calls for ‘more flexible furlough scheme’
Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM, has called for a more “flexible furlough scheme” to allow retailers to “manage peaks and troughs of activity”, as the UK comes out of lockdown. In her plea, which comes ahead of the government’s coronavirus select committee this afternoon, Baker said that retailers…
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7 June
Retailers urge gov to extend credit insurance scheme
Retailers across the UK are calling on the government to extend the scheme that guarantees trade credit insurance, in a bid to support businesses who risk being left without cover once the scheme ends. According to the Financial Times, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reportedly written to business minister…
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