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COVID-19 UPDATE
MINISTER ‘DEEPLY SHOCKED’ BY ABUSE OF SHOPWORKERS
SMALL BUSINESS MINISTER PAUL SCULLY MP HAS WRITTEN TO THEACS HIGHLIGHTING HOW ‘DEEPLY SHOCKED’ HE IS BY THE ABUSEFACED BY PEOPLE WORKING IN LOCAL SHOPS.
In a letter to the Association of Convenience Stores CEO James Lowman, Small Business Minister Paul Scully MP has highlighted the “tremendous effort” that convenience stores have made during the pandemic, paying tribute to retailers that have “gone out of their way to support the more vulnerable members of the community during this time”.
Scully said he is “deeply shocked” at the violence and abuse suffered by retailers, often triggered as a result of reminding customers about face coverings and social distancing measures.
Lowman said: “We welcome the Minister’s recognition of the incredible work that convenience stores have put in to keep their communities going over the past year.”
The Assaults on Retail Workers Bill is currently awaiting a second reading in Parliament, which would make offences against people working in shops aggravated for the purposes of sentencing. More details on the Bill are available here.
29,000 PUBS TO REMAIN CLOSED IN APRIL
The British Beer & Pub Association says it believes 29,000 pubs – 60% of all pubs in the UK – will still remain closed in April, even if outdoor service is permitted.
The trade association says this is because most pubs in the UK do not have a big enough garden or outdoor space to re-open and serve customers without opening indoors too.
The figures come as speculation and reporting suggest that outdoor service could be permitted in hospitality venues from April. The BBPA says around 75% of UK pubs have a beer garden or outdoor space, but that only 40% of pubs are likely to have a beer garden or outdoor space big enough.
Even then, if many with big enough outdoor spaces did open, they could still struggle to break even as they would still have vastly reduced capacity and have significant practical challenges such as the April weather to deal with.
It would mean that if pubs did open outdoors only in April, just 17% of UK pub capacity (both indoor and outdoor) would be opened.
SCOTTISH RATES RELIEF EXTENDED
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THERETAIL, TOURIST AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES WILL PAY NO RATESDURING 2021-22.
Scotland’s Finance Secretary announced yesterday that retail, tourist, hospitality and aviation businesses will pay no rates during 2021-22 under proposals from the Scottish Government.
It is one of a series of measures proposed following confirmation of a further £1.1bn of consequential funding arising from UK Government Covid‐19 spending.
The government press release states that: “The move builds on the three month rates relief extension announced in the Scottish Budget and will be taken forward provided the Scottish Government receives the funding already assumed from the UK Budget on 3 March, and that requisite funds are available to maintain existing support into 2021-22.”
‘DATA, NOT DATES’ TO DRIVE LOCKDOWN EASING
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that his Government will take a “data not dates” approach to easing lockdown restrictions, reiterating that England will only ease lockdown measures “cautiously”.
Johnson is expected to set out some form of road map for easing restrictions next week. The PM stated that he only wanted to “be going one way from now on”.
He said relaxation would be done in stages and the reopening of the hospitality industry remains likely to be one of the last things to return.
ASDA’S PERSONALISED CHOCOLATE MACHINE
Asda has added a new machine in its Stevenage innovation store offering customers the opportunity to create personalised chocolates. Launched with Valentine’s Day in mind, the new machine is from Candy Mechanics.
The machine lets shoppers choose from a range of templates then personalise the messaging to their own requirements before collecting their creation and paying at the checkout.
JJ REPORTS GROWTH
JJ Foodservice has reportedsales of £225m for thecalendar year endingDecember 2020, an increaseof 1.3% compared withthe same period the yearbefore, despite Covid-19. Thepredominantly foodservicewholesaler said “quick thinkingand a successful business-toconsumerservice” had helpedrecoup sales.
REPURPOSE REPAYMENTS
Money being repaid tothe Government by largecompanies should be used toprovide additional rates reliefto small and medium-sizedretailers and businesses inthe hospitality industry whichhave been hardest hit bythe pandemic, says tax andadvisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
MILLION MARK
More than one millionpeople at greatest risk fromcoronavirus in Scotland havehad their first dose of thevaccine. The programme hasnow reached more than onefifth(22%) of the 4.5 millionpeople who will be offered ajab.
