NEWS SPECIAL
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RETAIL UNION URGES SAFETY FIRST WHEN RE-OPENING STORES
BUYMIE HITS UK WITH CO-OP The Co-op has teamed up with Ireland-based Buymie to offer same-day grocery deliveries and personal shopping services across Bristol, the first partnership in the UK for Buymie. Users of its mobile app can select from around 4,000 Co-op products, and choose a convenient delivery slot. The fee is £6.99 for sameday delivery.
£50M SAFETY FUND
USDAW IS CALLING ON RETAILERS TO PUT SAFETY FIRST WHEN REOPENING STORES AS BRITAIN BEGINS EASING OUT OF LOCKDOWN.
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The UK Government has unveiled a £50m ‘Re-opening High Streets Safely Fund’, to enable local authorities In England introduce physical distancing and other safety
sdaw is urging retailers to work with the union to do thorough risk assessments and ensure stores are safe for staff and customers before they are re-opened to the public. Usdaw has also called on the Government for tougher guidance and more rigorous enforcement of safety. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “Usdaw is concerned that businesses will pay little attention to Government advice as they rush to reopen. “Risk assessments and the necessary safety measures must be completed prior to any public announcement that stores are reopening. The Government must make it absolutely clear that a business can be closed down if they fail to comply.” The union also wants the Government’s risk assessment guidance to go further and focus on reducing coronavirus in the workplace with enhanced policies around sickness absence to ensure people with symptoms can stay off work.
measures to help prepare high streets and shoppers for the re-opening of shops.
250K CASHOUT VOUCHERS More than 250,000 vouchers for disadvantaged people have been redeemed since 1 April through PayPoint’s CashOut service, totalling more than £8.5m of support. PayPoint is now working with more than 70 local councils.
8 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 6 / WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 2020
CENTRAL ENGLAND CO-OP LAUNCHES ‘CALL AND COLLECT’ SERVICE Central England Co-op has launched a call and collect service for its Members to provide help for those who need support with their shopping. The Society has over 240 food stores across 16 counties and the service allows Members to call a dedicated number and place their order; their local store will then pick and pack the order that day, before having the order ready to be collected in the afternoon the day after. The Member or a nominated person
will then visit the store and collect the shopping. Payment for the food and essentials will be taken over the phone from the retailer’s head office.
