Monthly Archives: May 2020

Hot Business News Today

Only allowing part-time furlough work from August doesn’t make sense

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Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Shop owners are questioning why the government is only okaying furlough staff to work part-time from August, despite encouraging them to re-open next month.
Small retail businesses face a disastrous couple of months before furloughed staff are allowed to come back part-time, with office workers staying away and restaurants and bars closed.
Kate Evans owns independent fashion boutique Precious, which is based in the City of London and whose customers include City workers now working from home.
Evans said: “With offices and restaurants closed, we don’t know how much demand there will be when we reopen next month. The government says it wants independent retailers like us to reopen. Yet we can’t take back furloughed staff to work part-time during these crucial next couple of months. This all-or-nothing approach doesn’t make sense. The furlough scheme needs to be more flexible to support reopening.”
>See also: Rishi Sunak extends job retention furlough scheme to October
Many independent retailers are planning to reopen on a part-time basis initially.
Lobbyists say that the Treasury to open up the furlough scheme now to allow part-time work in retail, what with demand so weak. By August, many are afraid there will be no shops

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Hot Business News Today

What is the average cost of fitting out my shop for coronavirus?

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Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
As lockdown begins to ease, it could cost SMEs hundreds of pounds to fit out their shops so that they are compliant with social distancing guidelines.
On top of their regular outgoings, business owners will be wondering if they have everything they need to operate in this strange new environment.
What is the situation so far?
In his speech on 10 May, Boris Johnson announced that if the COVID-19 situation improves, shops could gradually be reopened from 1 June.
The BEIS have previously laid out draft rules for businesses on how to run post-lockdown. Some of the guidelines focus on safety measures to take for your staff and your customers.
We’ve tallied up the costs of some of the essential items you’ll need to restart your shop-based business.
COVID-19 safety equipment for shops
The items we searched come from workplace supply shops such as Viking, Staples and Nisbets. Please note that all of the prices below exclude VAT.
PPE

Pack of 50 three-ply surgical face masks – £44.99
Powdered latex gloves (pack of 100) – £7.49

Total: £52.48  
Hygiene

Hand sanitiser wall unit – £249
Alcohol hand sanitiser (500ml) – £9.99
Carex Liquid Hand Soap Refill Antibacterial Professional Original (5L) – £23.99
EcoTech Disinfectant Surface Wipes Bucket (500) –

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