Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
UPDATED: Boris Johnson is expected to announce next week that the two-metre rule will be relaxed from July 4 and that pubs, restaurants, cafés and attractions can reopen post-lockdown.
For independent bars and eateries, the difference between the two-metre rule being enforced and one-metre social distancing is the difference between viability and the 2.8m hospitality staff currently on furlough not having a job to go back to, according to trade body UKHospitality.
The hospitality industry and the Government will also publish guidance next week as to how to reopen your restaurant, pub or hotel post-lockdown.
The guidance does however allow some flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, as seen in other business sectors.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, told the Today programme: “What we understand so far is that they are looking to reopen our businesses on July 4 with appropriate guidelines in place that will allow individual premises to undertake a detailed risk assessment and propose and put forward the control measures that they feel are necessary to keep their team and their guests safe.”
According to the draft post-lockdown hospitality sector guidance, obtained by The Times:
Pubs

Limits to the number of people allowed into pubs with markings

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Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
As businesses start to reopen, the safety of your staff, customers and your suppliers is a priority. One of the first areas to address is your coronavirus risk assessment.
The government has published a series of eight guides to help businesses to reopen across key sectors.
We’ll delve deeper into how you conduct your own risk assessment to ensure that your business is COVID-19 secure.
When should I be doing a coronavirus risk assessment?
If you’re already trading, you need to do it now to prove that you’re working safely. Those who have more time would be wise to carry one out now too.
You have an obligation under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to do a standard risk assessment. The government recommend that you take out a risk assessment in line with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum you must do is:

Identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards)
Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
Take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control

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Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
UKHospitality has set out draft recommendations for how hospitality businesses should operate post-lockdown.
For example, sauces should be removed from eateries and replaced with individually wrapped condiments. Meanwhile, in pubs, people will be discouraged from standing at the bar.
Hotel buffets will also be off the table, at least in the short term, according to a 75-page document from the industry body.
UKHospitality stresses that you must do a thorough risk assessment before reopening to show that you are taking adequate steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Specific guidelines for hotels, pubs/bars and restaurants are set out below.
Hotels, accommodation and hostels

If staff help guests with luggage, keep the required distance apart from guests whilst collecting luggage and either take it to the room before the guest arrives there or knock on the door, step back and leave the luggage at the door. After handling luggage, staff should wash their hands or use a hand sanitiser.
Room service: consider using trays which can be left off the floor next to the door, or think of other ways to protect the order, for example a small light table, or a folding luggage rack both of which have been disinfected

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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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