The government has announced a roadmap for reopening non-essential retail next month. From 1 June, outdoor markets and car showrooms may reopen, subject to premises being made COVID-secure. Following this, from 15 June, all other retailers, ranging from shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, as well as tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets may reopen, if the Government’s five tests are met and these retailers follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement on the phased reopening of the retail sector in England, related workplace guidance and enforcement powers, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“Clarity and guidance on plans for a phased reopening of the retail sector will be welcomed.
“Businesses will be taking a safe, proportionate and risk-based approach to returning to work, in close consultation with their staff. For many this will be an entirely new way of operating as they apply guidance to the practical realities of their business.
“HSE and local authorities should support businesses as they seek to comply with the new rules – and reserve new enforcement powers for the tiny minority of businesses who are wilfully disobeying or ignoring their obligations.”
Also commenting on the reopening of the retail sector, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“Work is already underway in Norfolk with the Chambers, New Anglia LEP and the Business Improvement Districts in Norwich, King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth working together to help support retailers to return to trading.”
Retailers also have the opportunity to attend a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your retail workplace COVID-secure.
Commenting on the outcome of the Scottish Referendum that Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“The people of Scotland have spoken. Their historic decision to remain part of the United Kingdom will be a relief to many businesspeople and a disappointment to others, but it was a decision for the Scottish peoplealone to make.
“The companies I speak to are clear that this cannot simply be the first in a series of referenda, until one side or the other gets the result that it wants. Business and investment prospects across the UK would be deeply hurt by a Quebec-style ‘neverendum’ – a lesson that politicians must heed.
“Yet businesspeople all across the UK have long known that the referendum would be the start, rather than the end, of a process of change. Businesses will now expect Westminster and Holyrood to reach a devolution settlement that is clear, fair to both sides, and swiftly executed.
“Businesses want greater devolution of power to be accompanied by greater devolution of finance, so that Scotland, and the rest of the United Kingdom, take responsibility for their respective tax and spending decisions. English, Welsh and Northern Irish businesses and taxpayers should not be subsidising support or incentives for their Scottish counterparts – nor the other way around.
“Any devolution deal for Scotland should trigger a new debate on local autonomy in England, where businesspeople in many areas want more freedom from Westminster and more influences over how their taxes are spent. Local businesses deserve a say in how a new, less centralized UK is governed in future.
“We have been through a period of disruption. Creative disruption can be galvanizing to countries, just as it is to businesses. It is up to the leaders of our nations now to make sure this is the result. Our United Kingdomnow has the opportunity to define a future direction that stimulates growth and prosperity as never before – and for us together to make our way in the world, firmly on our own two feet.
NHS Test and Trace service to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy
Anyone with symptoms will be tested and their close contacts will be traced
New guidance means those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus
The service is designed to help identify, contain and control coronavirus, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.
From today, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.
People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus.
If those in isolation develop symptoms, they can book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. If they test positive, they must continue to stay at home for 7 days or until their symptoms have passed. If they test negative, they must complete the 14-day isolation period.
Members of their household will not have to stay at home unless the person identified becomes symptomatic, at which point they must also self-isolate for 14 days to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“As we move to the next stage of our fight against coronavirus, we will be able to replace national lockdowns with individual isolation and, if necessary, local action where there are outbreaks.
“NHS Test and Trace will be vital to stopping the spread of the virus. It is how we will be able to protect our friends and family from infection, and protect our NHS.
“This new system will help us keep this virus under control while carefully and safely lifting the lockdown nationally.”
NHS Test and Trace brings together four tools to control the virus.
Test: increasing availability and speed of testing will underpin NHS Test and Trace.
Trace: when someone tests positive for coronavirus the NHS Test and Trace service will use dedicated contact tracing staff, online services and local public health experts to identify any close recent contacts they’ve had and alert those most at risk of having the virus who need to self-isolate. This will be complemented by the rollout of the NHS Covid-19 App in the coming weeks.
Contain: A national Joint Biosecurity Centre will work with local authorities and public health teams in PHE, including local Directors of Public Health, to identify localised outbreaks and support effective local responses, including plans to quickly deploy testing facilities to particular locations. Local authorities have been supported by £300m of new funding to help local authorities develop their own local outbreak control plans.
Enable: Government to learn more about the virus, including as the science develops, to explore how we could go further in easing infection control measures.
The NHS Test and Trace service, including 25,000 dedicated contact tracing staff working with Public Health England, will have the capacity to trace the contacts of 10,000 people who test positive for coronavirus per day and can be scaled up if needed.
The rollout of the NHS Test and Trace service has been made possible by the rapid expansion of testing. The largest network of diagnostic testing facilities in British history has been created and will soon have the capacity to carry out 200,000 tests a day. This includes 50 drive-through sites, more than 100 mobile testing units and 3 mega laboratories.
People who are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service will be given clear information explaining what they must do and how they can access local support if needed. Guidance is also available online at gov.uk/coronavirus. This comes as the Department for Work and Pensions has announced that those having to self-isolate will be eligible for statutory sick pay if they are unable to work from home. This applies across the four nations of the UK.
Commenting on the announcement of the government’s Test and Trace Coronavirus programme, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“‘A comprehensive Test and Trace programme is essential to boosting the confidence of businesses, staff and consumers as the economic re-start continues. Businesses will be keen to play their part in the success of the programme, and will support their staff to follow the guidance.”
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced that the government will be extending the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Those eligible under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which has so far seen 2.3 million claims will be able to claim a second and final grant in August. The grant will be worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
Mr Sunak also set out more details on how the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will continue to support jobs and business as people return to work, following the announcement of an extension of the scheme on 12 May. So far, the CJRS has helped 1 million employers across the UK furlough 8.4 million jobs, protecting people’s livelihoods.
From 1 July 2020, businesses will be given the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part time. This is a month earlier than previously announced to help support people back to work.
Individual firms will decide the hours and shift patterns their employees will work on their return, so that they can decide on the best approach for them – and will be responsible for paying their wages while in work.
From August 2020, the level of government grant provided through the job retention scheme will be slowly tapered to reflect that people will be returning to work. That means that for June and July the Government will continue to pay 80% of people’s salaries. In the following months, businesses will be asked to contribute a modest share, but crucially individuals will continue to receive that 80% of salary covering the time they are unable to work.
The scheme updates mean that the following will apply for the period people are furloughed:
June and July: The government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 as well as employer National Insurance (ER NICS) and pension contributions. Employers are not required to pay anything.
August: The government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500. Employers will pay ER NICs and pension contributions – for the average claim, this represents 5% of the gross employment costs the employer would have incurred had the employee not been furloughed.
September: The government will pay 70% of wages up to a cap of £2,190. Employers will pay ER NICs and pension contributions and 10% of wages to make up 80% total up to a cap of £2,500. For the average claim, this represents 14% of the gross employment costs the employer would have incurred had the employee not been furloughed.
October: The government will pay 60% of wages up to a cap of £1,875. Employers will pay ER NICs and pension contributions and 20% of wages to make up 80% total up to a cap of £2,500. For the average claim, this represents 23% of the gross employment costs the employer would have incurred had the employee not been furloughed.
Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:
“The Chancellor has listened to business communities and struck a careful balance that will help many firms bring furloughed staff back to work flexibly over the coming months.
“The gradual reduction in furlough contributions from the Treasury will give businesses additional time to rebuild their income streams and cash flows, and the decision to give businesses maximum flexibility to bring people back part-time will be appreciated.”
“The furlough scheme has helped companies preserve millions of jobs through lockdown, but many firms still face significant uncertainty ahead. On that basis, closing the scheme to new applicants in June feels premature, and risks undermining some of the work already done to preserve businesses and jobs.
“Over the coming months, government will need to be open to providing new and additional support for businesses and staff who are unable to get back to work for an extended period, especially in sectors of the economy facing reduced capacity or demand due to ongoing restrictions.”
On extended support for the self-employed:
“The extension of support for the self-employed will come as welcome relief for those who have seen their livelihoods impacted by the virus. It is right that this group continues to receive similar levels of support to those on PAYE.”
Chamber members at the ‘Look the Business’ event at Jarrolds in Norwich showed their support for the Great Eastern Rail Campaign last night.
The Norfolk Chamber has been lobbying collectively with its partners for years for an improved Norwich to London rail service but the campaign took a significant positive step forward with the production in 2009 of the ‘Once in a Generation Rail Prospect for East Anglia’. Chamber members achieved a breakthrough in 2013 when at a Norfolk Chamber event the Chancellor George Osborne announced the creation of a Taskforce to deliver the Norwich in 90 campaign.
This Taskforce has been working with Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and the campaign has been rebranded as The Great Eastern Rail Campaign.
The campaign is looking to achieve:
A faster and more reliable trains service Norwich to London in 90 mins
More seats and more improved carriages
Significant investment to upgrade the track
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “The Norfolk Chamber membership are passionate about securing an improved rail service. Our economy is really starting to grow and we need the infrastructure to support this growth.
We have a great opportunity of the next couple of months to visibly show the government just how important investment in our railways is to us as the business community and our workforce.
The UK Government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces in England are as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. Join a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your workplace COVID-secure.
The webinars cover a range of different types of workplace settings which are allowed to be open. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of the guides/webinars as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.
Construction and other outdoor work – Guidance for people who run outdoor working environments / Monday 01 June, 11am – Book now
Labs and research facilities – Guidance for people who run indoor labs and research facilities and similar environments / Monday 01 June, 3pm – Book now
Offices and contact centres – Guidance for people who run offices, contact centres and similar indoor environments / Tursday 02 June, 11am – Book now
Homes – Guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to home environments as well as their employers / Tuesday 02 June, 3pm – Book now
Commenting on the extension of the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, including extending the lending limit to £200m, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:
“It is good to see the government continue to listen to business concerns and make improvements to existing schemes.
“These important changes could make a real difference to larger firms in particular and alongside the other lending support schemes will help ensure that more businesses of all sizes get access to the finance they need to help weather this unprecedented economic storm.”
As we all move into the next phase of the UK’s response to Coronavirus, the Rail Delivery Group has issued important guidance.
Only those who cannot work from home should be travelling to work, and where people do so, they should aim to avoid public transport if possible.
The railway in England will be gradually increasing services from today (Monday 18 May) and running longer trains in some places to cope with increasing demand. To maintain social distancing wherever possible, there will still only be space for as few as a tenth of the usual number of passengers.
In our region, Greater Anglia have advised that they will be running a timetable, similar to that operated on a Saturday but with some variations to reflect weekday working patterns – please check their website for full information.
The Rail Delivery Group is asking the public to keep the trains for those who really need them by only travelling when there is no alternative. They are also asking employers to help by considering staggered start and finish times, which will enable people to avoid peak hours, and by actively encouraging people to drive, walk or cycle if possible.
Commenting on the guidance, Jonathan Denby Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia said:
“It’s important to reiterate that only essential journeys should be made and that we are asking those customers that do need to travel to observe social distancing, wherever possible. We will be doing everything we can to help customers do so, with extra signage, floor markings and announcements where practical, but we are also seeking support from customers to adhere to the guidance. In addition, we are asking customers to consider starting or finishing work earlier or later, so that not everyone is travelling at the same time, and to buy tickets online wherever practical (and if that’s not possible to please use contactless payment). The Government is also advising people to wear a face covering when using public transport.
“Our top priority is that customers and staff can travel safely while the coronavirus outbreak persists. We are continuing to pay particular attention to cleaning high contact areas on our trains and stations such as push buttons, door handles and grab rails. We have also been using some “fogging guns”, which are used for spraying and sanitising large areas. They use cleaning chemicals which kill different types of viruses, and are a good way to clean areas which are difficult to reach, quickly and efficiently. The machines can be used to clean trains at any depot, station or train stabling point on the Greater Anglia network. They can also be used, if necessary, in waiting rooms, offices, mess rooms or in other railway buildings.
As we have been doing throughout the lockdown period, we will be monitoring customer numbers and the operation of the revised timetable, to see if we need to make any adjustments.”
At a recent meeting of the Norwich Chamber Council, the feedback from members highlighted that overall the Norwich business community is buoyant. Many companies reported increased staff recruitment and overall growth of their businesses. The retail sector also reported improved sales.
The members also heard from Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Norwich International Airport. Andrew outlined their plans for the airport, including the proposed aeropark and the Aviation Academy. He advised that the airport was now the second largest heliport in the UK with four offshore operators based there. Between them they accommodate over 100,000 offshore workers flying out of Norwich each year.
The plans for the aeropark were highlighted. The 100 acre site will be to the north of the runway and will be aimed at aviation related industries. A link from the A140 will be constructed, however it was noted that the airport and the aeropark would strongly benefit from the development of the Northern Distributor Road.
The Aviation Academy is a unique concept, backed by both the airport and the University of East Anglia. It will help create skilled aviation engineers by offering a work based skills academy that is university backed. Students who complete their training, will graduate with a degree and a Civil Aviation Authority Licence, which is necessary to work on and maintain commercial aircraft.
As the Great Eastern Rail Campaign gathers momentum, New Anglia LEP is writing to over 200 business leaders across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex asking for their personal support for greater investment in the Norwich to London main line.
More than 650 rail passengers and businesses have already signed up to the campaign at newanglia.co.uk/gerailcampaign and over 60 companies have posted comments on why a quality service is vital to them.
The LEP, the region’s MPs, business and rail leaders are heading a Taskforce calling for a faster, more reliable service. The Taskforce is due to report to Government in November making the strong economic case for investment in the line.
To ensure the case is as robust as possible, business leaders are being asked to provide their personal signatures in support of the campaign. The letters are being sent to all sectors from retail and tourism to manufacturing and financial services.
“We are grateful for the support we have already had for the campaign, but personal endorsements from those who suffer the real economic consequences of a poor train service is compelling and it gives us further solid evidence to take to Government in the Autumn,” said Mark Pendlington, chairman of New Anglia LEP.
The Chambers of Commerce from across the three counties have all endorsed the campaign and have received messages of support from many of their members.
Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “Results have shown that a strong business voice helps strengthen the case for investment to Government. The Norfolk Chamber and its partners have been lobbying for key rail improvements, but it is also important for individual businesses to be seen and heard. We would encourage business leaders to participate fully in this campaign as it make good businesses sense.”
To view the Norfolk Chamber’s campaign message click here
Norfolk Chambers recently surveyed the local business community to understand what challenges they were facing and how they were coping with the lockdown and potential easing of these measures.
A cross-section of the business community responded and the results highlighted that 34% of businesses had concerns about implementing social distancing in their workplaces and 32% of businesses cited concerns over future business demand.
The results represented firms employing over 1,433 people between them. When asked where their staff currently where, as a result of Covid-19, they advised that 29% were still operating within the workplace; 25% were working from home; and a further 34% had furloughed their staff. Just 1% had had to make staff redundant, whilst 11% had terminated zero hours or contracted personnel.
When asked about gearing up and re-opening their premises, 54% of respondents said this could be done within 1 to 5 days, and 23% within 1 to 2 weeks. A further 18% said they would need 3 weeks or more to be ready to open.
Other results showed:
26% had received a Small Business Grant
47% had deferred the Tax and VAT payments
18% had requested a business rates holiday
1% had successfully applied for and received a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan
33% had applied for a Bounce Back Loan
7% of businesses were concerned about future cashflow
Commenting on the results, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:
“Norfolk businesses are clearly concerned about implementing the social distancing measures. As the lockdown is eased, clear guidance and information on what each business must do to ensure their workplace is safe, must be available.
“Norfolk Chambers welcomed the government’s recent announcement that the furlough scheme would be extended until the end of October. However, business concerns around future demand highlights that a phased approach and lots of flexibility with the furlough scheme will be needed. Businesses are facing the challenge of balancing between bringing staff back and having sufficient business demand to generate the income to pay them.”