Main points from today It appears that the Gov updates are starting to slow down.  So, after this week, we will stop sending out the daily updates and just send an update when there is a significant change. HMRC have invited the hospitality industry to register for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme starting today. Register your establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme Beauty salons, nail bars, tattoo and massage studios, physical therapy businesses and spas across England can reopen safely from today. The 7-day rolling average number of deaths reduced to 86 as at 9th July, down from 96 as at 2nd July. Latest Guidance (employment and business) No new guidance today. CJRS guidance can be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance – Read More…

Main points from today The R number range for the UK is 0.7-0.9 and the growth rate range is -5% to -2% as of 10 July 2020.  This is being reported as an increase since lockdown measures were eased.  However, on 3 July 2020 the R number range for the UK was 0.7-0.9 and the growth rate range is -6% to -0%. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Individuals you can claim for who are not employees Find out if you can claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for individuals who are not employees.  First published.  4:30pm, 10 July 2020 CJRS guidance can be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance is here:- Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support – Read More…

Main points from today Outdoor pools can reopen to the public from 11 July. Indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres can reopen on 25 July. Measures in the Gov Guidance to allow this are as follows:- Limiting the number of people using the facility at any one time, for example by using a timed booking system; Reducing class sizes and allowing sufficient time between each class to avoid groups waiting outside during changeover; Ensuring an appropriate number of people are in a swimming pool at any one time; Spacing out equipment or taking some out of service to maintain social distancing; Enhanced cleaning and providing hand sanitizer throughout venues; Considering how the way people walk through their venue could be adjusted to reduce contact, with queue management or one-way systems; – Read More…

Main points from today The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, today set out a ‘Plan for Jobs’ that will ‘spur the UK’s recovery from the Coronavirus outbreak.’ The ‘Plan for Jobs is the second part of a three-phase plan to secure the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus. The third phase will focus on rebuilding, with a Budget and Spending Review in the autumn. The full press briefing is here.  The highlights are as follows:- A Job Retention Bonus will be introduced to help firms keep furloughed workers. UK Employers will receive a one-off bonus of £1,000 for each furloughed employee who is still employed as of 31 January 2021. A new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will also be launched to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people – Read More…

Main points from today No briefing today. Latest HMRC coronavirus (COVID-19) statistics published today show the following:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – as at 5th July, 9.4million jobs furloughed by 1.1 million employers, with a total value of £27.4 billion. Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – as at 5th July, 2.7 million claims made with a total value of £7.7 billion. VAT payments deferral scheme – in the three months from 7th April to 7th June inclusive, 1,228,000 payments were eligible for deferral, of which 498,000 were deferred, totalling £27.5 billion in deferred VAT. 44,391 total deaths with 155 deaths yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) CJRS guidance can be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance is here:- Check if you can claim a grant – Read More…

Main points from today No briefing today. In an emergency budget this coming Wednesday, the Chancellor is expected to announce that firms are to be paid £1,000 bonuses to hire young people as part of economic recovery. 44,236 total deaths with 16 deaths yesterday, the lowest since March.  The 7 day rolling average is down to 98. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all reported no new daily coronavirus deaths for the first time since lockdown began in March. Latest Guidance (employment and business) A useful business specific guide is available on the Gov website.  Simply answer a few questions and the guidance is tailored to your business. Reopen your business safely during coronavirus (COVID‑19) CJRS guidance can be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance – Read More…

Main points from today The PM led the special briefing today. He said:- We are now reporting regularly fewer than 1,000 new cases each day. We need to move away from blanket, national measures, to targeted, local measures.  So instead of locking down the whole country, we will lock down specific premises or local areas where the virus is spreading. To control future local outbreaks there will be five principle components: monitoring, engagement, testing, targeted restrictions and finally, as a last resort, lockdown.  Further details can be found here.  Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 3 July 2020 Transport Secretary, Grant  Shapps has confirmed that self-isolation lifted for lower risk countries in time for holidays this summer. From 10 July 2020 it will be possible to travel to many countries, – Read More…

Main points from today Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, led the special briefing today. 1.6 million children already back at school. From 20th July restrictions on class sizes lifted in early years settings. He confirmed that detailed guidance had been issued (please see details below from earlier today for our school clients). Unlimited home testing kits available to schools from September. Latest Guidance (employment and business) CJRS guidance can be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance is here:- Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Treasury Direction made by the Chancellor under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 A further set of updated rules from the Treasury relating to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme .  10:50am, – Read More…

The Government has published the guidance for schools to follow to enable a full re-opening in September.  The purpose of this article is to give a brief overview.  The full guidance runs to 35 pages. Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak What all schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term. First published.  9:30am, 2 July 2020 Overview The guidance applies to primary, secondary (including sixth forms), infant, junior, middle, upper, school-based nurseries and boarding schools. Independent schools are expected to follow the control measures set out in the guidance in the same way as state-funded schools. Separate guidance is available for early years, further education colleges and for special schools. Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist – Read More…

Main points from today Flexible furlough scheme starts today.  Businesses will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work part time. 829 new cases yesterday.  43,906 total deaths with 176 deaths yesterday.  7 day rolling average to 26th June 117 deaths (lowest since March). Latest Guidance (employment and business) Furlough and Holiday Pay Holiday pay Whilst furloughed you will continue to accrue leave as per your employment contract. You can agree with your employer to vary holiday pay entitlement as part of the furlough agreement, however almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of statutory paid annual leave each year which they cannot go below. You can take holiday whilst on furlough. If you are flexibly furloughed then any hours taken as holiday during the claim period – Read More…