England
This coverage focuses on retail developments, trends, and performance across England. Reporting includes store openings and closures, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic initiatives by national and local retailers. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully within England’s diverse retail landscape.
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Oct- 2020 -27 OctoberEconomy
UK weekly retail footfall drops by 1.2%
Retail footfall in the UK has dropped by 1.2% in the last week from the previous seven days, according to recent figures released by Springboard. This continues a growing trend of decreasing footfall figures, with the prior week clocking in a decline of 3.1% Springboard’s data revealed the majority of…
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22 OctoberCoronavirus
Sunak extends Covid scheme to pay up to half of wages
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced increases to the Job Support Scheme, which will now see the government pay up to half of employees wages. As part of the updated scheme, employers will pay less and employees will work fewer hours to qualify, with the taxpayer subsidy now doubled. The increase…
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21 OctoberCoronavirus
UK inflation rises to 0.5% after EOTHO ends
UK inflation for the month of September increased to 0.5% after the end of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme pushed up prices, according to the latest figures from the ONS. The figure is up from 0.2% in August where prices were driven down by the discount scheme.…
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20 OctoberCoronavirus
Footfall continues decline following tiered restrictions
Footfall fell by 3.1% across all retail destinations last week from the week before, following tiered restrictions being introduced across the UK. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall saw largely similar rates of decline in all three destination types, with footfall down by 2.8% in high streets, 3%…
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15 OctoberCoronavirus
London to move to Tier 2
London and Essex will face tougher Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday (17 October), including a ban on the mixing of households indoors, local MPs have been told. According to the BBC, health secretary Matt Hancock is set to update MPs on the latest measures in the Commons later today.…
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9 OctoberCoronavirus
Gov to cover 67% of wages for firms forced to shut
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that businesses forced to shut due to local restrictions will be eligible for a grant that pays two-thirds of staff salaries. The government will pay two-thirds, or 67%, of each employee’s salary, up to a maximum of £2,100 a month, if the business is forced…
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6 OctoberEconomy
High Streets Task Force appoints 150 experts
The High Streets Task Force has appointed 150 professionals to work with local authorities in England over the next four years, supporting their evolution and response to Covid-19. Towns in England will receive advice on progressing local plans, bidding for investment and helping the high street post-pandemic. The ‘experts register’…
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Sep- 2020 -22 SeptemberCoronavirus
Latest Covid-19 restrictions now legal requirements, PM says
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a series of new measures to curb the increase in coronavirus cases, including making Covid-secure rules for businesses a legal requirement. Retail and indoor hospitality staff will also be legally required to wear masks while working. The penalty for not wearing a mask or…
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21 SeptemberCoronavirus
Government launches £95m recovery fund for high street
A new £95m government-funded scheme will support 68 “historic” high streets in England to recover from “declining footfall” and the impact of the pandemic. The initiative, High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), will work with local authorities to convert disused buildings into new shops, workplaces and community spaces. HSHAZ will…
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16 SeptemberComment
What to know: High street tenancies
As the Scottish Government considers extending the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act anti-irritancy provisions, which effectively prevent landlords from terminating commercial leases, speculation is increasing that temporary restrictions in England on landlords taking action against tenants in rent arrears may also be extended. What are those provisions and what do they mean…
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