industry AUTOMECHANIKA BIRMINGHAM POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 2022 Organisers of the UK exhibition have announced that Automechanika Birmingham has been postponed to 7-9 June 2022, following the postponement of Automechanika Frankfurt to September 2021, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Simon Albert, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt UK, said: “The market has requested to postpone the event, and we are delighted that almost all companies who committed to the original timing will be present in 2022. With over 50% of floor space already taken for the 2022 exhibition, the signs are good for an event with three years of pent-up demand.” Messe Frankfurt UK will continue to support the industry, with a digital resource platform, ‘auto:resource,’ set to launch in the coming weeks.
FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH The furlough scheme will now run until 31 March 2021 and the UK Government will pay 80% of employees’ usual wages for hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. The policy will be reviewed in January to decide whether economic circumstances are improving enough to ask employers to contribute more.
INDUSTRY
Employers will remain liable to the Employers National Insurance costs and the Employers Pension contributions for employees.
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The Chancellor has also announced that the selfemployed grant, that will be released this month for applicants, will be back up to 80% of average earnings, capped at £7,500. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-coststhrough-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Today the Chancellor has announced that CJRS will be extended until the end of March 2021 for all parts of the UK. For claim periods running to 31 January 2021.
BUSINESS AS USUAL “We fully support the government’s decision to allow garages to remain open as normal, and not to enforce another MOT extension,” said Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association (IGA). James continued: “Garages are still busy catching up with the backlog of MOTs that the extension caused earlier this year. A second extension would only cause confusion among consumers and put law-abiding vehicle owners at risk of significant fines by leaving cars unchecked. “We thank the government for their clarity on this matter… Now independent garages can continue to do what they do best – keep their customers safely on the road while providing outstanding value for money.”
