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COVID-19 UPDATE
NEWS SPECIAL
NFRN BACKS JABS ARMY
THE NFRN IS BACKING THE SUN’S JABS ARMY VACCINE CAMPAIGN WHICH HAS SMASHED ITS TARGET OF RECRUITING 50,000 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE VACCINE.
The NFRN is getting behind The Sun’s Jabs Army vaccine campaign to recruit volunteers to help with the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine programme.
The crucial Steward Volunteer roles form a key part of the Covid-19 vaccination team, guiding people onsite and helping the vaccination process run safely and efficiently by ensuring social distancing and identifying people who need additional support.
Retailers can also get involved by downloading The Sun Jabs Army poster on The Fed’s website to show their support and enter The Sun’s news bill competition. NFRN members will receive a free poster in the February edition of The Fed magazine, which will reach members this week.
Retailers should send a picture of The Sun Jabs Army poster displayed in store to growsales@news.co.uk to be entered into a prize draw to win £50 off their news bill.
SHOPWORKER PROTECTION DEMANDS RAISED IN PARLIAMENT
FRESH PROTECTION DEMANDS RAISED AS REES-MOGG DISMISSESCALL FOR NEW LAWS.
The NFRN has welcomed the fact that the issue of increasing attacks on retailers during the Covid pandemic has been raised in parliament. Last week, the MP for Blaydon, Liz Twist, asked the Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, to open a debate on the matter in parliament.
Twist said: “Shop workers have really been on the frontline during this pandemic, keeping us supplied with the essentials of life. They do not have the option of working from home.
“Yet, too often, retail workers face abuse and poor treatment from a few customers. Just yesterday, one of my staff witnessed a shop worker being spat at for asking someone to wear a mask going into the store. Can we have a debate in Government time on the impact of Covid-19 on retail workers?”
While he praised retailers for their work, Rees-Mogg stressed that attacks on retailers and shop workers should be dealt with through existing laws.
He said: “The protection of the vital work done by people in supermarkets is one that we should not forget.
“They are protected by the normal law, and if somebody has spat at a worker in a supermarket, that is illegal and the police should be notified and the law should be enforced. Certainly, the Government will do everything they can to encourage the correct enforcement of the law.”
NEW LOCKDOWNS EDGE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE TO NEAR RECORD LOWS
New Deloitte research reveals that the final quarter of 2020 saw consumer confidence in Scotland fall by a further two percentage points to -18%, as the country headed into the New Year under fresh lockdown restrictions. Except for personal finances, all other measures of confidence were below YOY comparisons.
Deloitte’s analysis is based on a nationally representative sample of more than 3,000 UK consumers, (295 from Scotland) between 1 and 4 January 2021, after a Brexit deal had been reached, and as a third national lockdown was announced.
The emergence of a more virulent strain of Covid-19 saw Scottish confidence around health and wellbeing fall 11% in Q4 2020, the lowest level ever recorded at -39%.
ACS WELCOMES KICKSTART PLANS
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed an announcement from the Government on plans to simplify the ‘Kickstart Scheme’. The improved scheme would make it easier for retailers to create new job placements in their local communities.
The amended plans would mean employers could apply directly to the Kickstart scheme from 3 February, regardless of the number of jobs to be funded. Previously, retailers had to apply in partnership with an official ‘Kickstart Gateway’ if they were applying for funding for 29 or fewer placements.
The scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit at risk of long-term unemployment.
OCADO TESTS ELECTRIC AND PEDAL- POWERED VEHICLES
Ocado is trying out new vehicles powered by a mix of electricity and pedal-power to deliver grocery orders.
Being trialled by its Zoom rapid delivery arm, the service operates out of the retailer’s flagship site in Acton in west London.
The vehicles include electric refrigerated vans, electric-assisted refrigerated vehicles and pedal-powered cargo bikes that can travel distances of up to 40 miles.
ALDI TARGETS ARCADIA STAFF
Aldi is actively encouragingArcadia and Debenhams staffto join the discounter to helpfill the 4,000 jobs it intends tocreate across the UK in 2021.
MIRROR VIEW
Newspaper publisher Reach is to accompany forthcoming price rises on its Monday to Friday editions of the Daily Mirror with pro-rata terms. From Monday (1 February), weekday editions rose by 5p. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the new price is 90p, with retailers earning 18p per copy sold. In Scotland, the new cover price is 95p, with stockists getting 19p for each copy they sell.
ASDA FORECOURT DEAL
EG Group has enteredan agreement to acquireAsda’s forecourt businessincluding petrol stations, carwashes, and land. The dealis understood to be around£750m and the sites willremain Asda-branded. EGGroup had earlier concludeda deal to acquire the entireAsda business, subject to CMAclearance.
