UK Hospitality update

Dear Berin,

This week saw an increase in the number of areas facing increased lockdown measures, with restrictions being extended in Liverpool City, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough on Thursday. These changes will be implemented from 0:01 on Saturday 3rd October. The measures that are introduced will replicate those that have been put in place in the North East from last week, which prohibit the meeting of people in indoor hospitality establishments. Earlier in the week, more restrictions were introduced in Wales, with Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham also being placed on localised lockdown.

 

Restrictions were amended in the North West, with the Government confirming that it will align the restrictions that are present in Bolton with those of Greater Manchester from October 3rd. This means that hospitality businesses in Bolton can re-open this Saturday. Restrictions still apply, with table service only and venues having to close from 10pm to 5am. There will be deliveries only after 10:00pm for food businesses.

 

In Parliament, the Government confirmed that MPs will be given more opportunity to scrutinise lockdown measures prior to their introduction. This announcement came during an urgent question on the 10pm Curfew on Hospitality. While this does not mean that all restrictions have to go in front of Parliament, it should give MPs the ability to review more regulations prior to their introduction.

UKHospitality is continuing to press government on the current imposition of a 10pm curfew. A hard close time is bad for business and bad for controlling the virus - we need to allow time for people to disperse over a longer period.

 

If you'd like to get in touch to discuss any of this or the topics mentioned in the newsletter, please email us at cv19@ukhospitality.org.uk or for general queries email info@ukhospitality.org.uk

Best wishes,

The UKHospitality Team

This week in Parliament an urgent question was held on the 10pm curfew on hospitality. The question was tabled by Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP. There was strong support for hospitality from across political parties during the debate, including calls for more support to help businesses that can’t reopen, or are operating sub-economically. UKHospitality sent a briefing note to all MPs who were down to speak, highlighting the impact that restrictions were having on the sector, and also outlining the key sector support asks as we move towards the winter.

 

During the debate, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, stated that MPs will be given a vote wherever possible on new restrictions. This is welcome news for the sector, hopefully providing a short consultation period for the impact of new restrictions on businesses to be considered. The Secretary of State also provided an indication that more support for the sector would be forthcoming, stating that ‘the government will do all that it can’ to support hospitality businesses. UKHospitality will continue to work with MPs from all sides who are supportive of the hospitality sector.

 

This week also saw the return of the Internal Market Bill, which passed its final hurdle in the House of Commons. The Bill has been developed to ensure the free flow of goods through the United Kingdom following the end of the transition period. The Bill also aims to guarantee the international community has access to the UK as a whole, knowing the standards and rules are the same throughout.

 

Local lockdowns

Further localised lockdowns have been introduced this week in Merseyside, Middlesbrough, Warrington and Hartlepool. More information on the specific areas that have localised restrictions and the areas impacted can be found here. Further information about the announcement of the lockdown measures can be found here. These areas are now subject to the same restrictions that were introduced in the North East last week. These measures include:

A ban on indoor interaction beyond one household and support bubbles.

Bookings are not accepted if customers exceed a group of 6 outdoors or one household limit indoors.

Customers do not join other groups inside the premises (including outdoor areas such as beer gardens).

UKH will continue to update members on local lockdowns as and when they occur. If you have any questions on how these measures impact businesses, please visit the UKH FAQ page or contact us at cv19@ukhospitality.org.uk

New restrictions in Wales

From 6:00pm on Thursday 1st October, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham were subject to increased restrictions. More information on local lockdown restrictions in Wales is available here. UKHospitality has created a grid which outlines the different regulations in devolved countries and is available here. This grid will be continually updated as and when restrictions change.

Welsh Government Economic Resilience Fund

This week the Welsh Government announced phase 3 of the £140million Economic Resilience Fund, ringfencing £20million for the hospitality sector. UKH welcomes this recognition of the challenges that are facing many sector businesses. The business contribution that has been outlined for the scheme can be waived by up to 100%, with this being at the discretion of the application process. The application process will formally open on Monday October 5th.

New restrictions in Scotland

Further guidance on Scotland and the restrictions that are being put in place can be found on the Government page here. The key change that has been implemented in Scotland is the enforced closure of hospitality businesses at 10pm. The Scottish Government has included a list of FAQs on their website page for businesses with questions relating to the restrictions.

Joint call for sector-specific support for hospitality

UKH, along with the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have written to the Government urging it to provide much more comprehensive, sector-specific support. The letter calls for: an overhaul of the Jobs Support Scheme; the introduction Lockdown Grants; an extension of the Business Rates Holiday; Rent Debt Proposal VAT Cut and; a Rent Debt Proposal as a matter of urgency. The letter warns that without that support hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the brink of being lost.

Extension of temporary measures introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020

Government has made regulations which will extend a number of temporary measures introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 that were due to expire on 30 September 2020. More information can be found here.

Smart Energy GB looking for SME case studies

Do you have a smart meter? Smart Energy GB would like to hear from small businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) in the retail, hospitality or beauty/hairdressing industries who have a smart energy meter and are interested in being a case study for the smart meter campaign. If you would like to be involved, please email casestudies@smartenergygb.org for further information.

PCA Code Avoidance Factsheet

The PCA has released a factsheet on code avoidance for tied pubs. This factsheet explains the relationship between the Pubs Code and separate non-Code provisions in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act on unfair business practices. The factsheet is available here.

Kickstart gateway

The Kickstart Scheme page has been updated with information on how to check eligibility to be able to apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant on behalf of a group of employers.

Self-isolate law

As of 28 September, people are legally required to self-isolate when instructed to by NHS Test and Trace. Fines for those breaching self-isolation rules will start at £1,000, in line with the penalty for breaking quarantine after international travel, and can increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and for more serious breaches, including for those preventing others from self-isolating. For example, employers threatening self-isolating staff with redundancy if they do not come to work.

A payment of £500 will be available to people on lower incomes who cannot work from home and who would lose income as a result of self-isolating. Local Authorities will handle these support schemes which are expected to be in place by 12 October and will make payments backdated to 28 September.

Post-18 education expansion 

UKHospitality has this week called on the Government to provide hospitality-specific training and support in order to support businesses and employees over the course of the winter.

This followed an announcement by the Government that it intended to expand post-18 education and training. UKH Chief Executive Kate Nicholls called it: “A fantastic opportunity to provide some support for hospitality.”

 

Home Office Campaign- End of Freedom of Movement

The Home Office has today launched a new campaign to ensure businesses are ready for the introduction of the UK’s new points-based immigration system as free movement ends. The key message for businesses is that the way they hire from the EU is changing.

Be The Business Leadership Masterclass

Be the Business, has launched its free leadership masterclasses for hospitality and tourism businesses. Business owners and managers will learn about strategic leadership, embedding resilience, improving their digital presence, developing greater insight into revenue streams and more. They will leave the classes with increased confidence in their leadership and know-how when it comes to dealing with business challenges. Businesses interested to find out more and to sign up to the programme should visit www.bethebusiness.com/masterclass or email hospitality@bethebusiness.com

Sustainability

This week the long-awaited ban on plastic straws and stirrers came into effect. While hospitality businesses are partially exempt from this, there will be some changes to operation for businesses. Straws will now need to be handed out on request and should not be displayed prominently behind the bar. This continues to enable those that require straws to have access to them. Drinks stirrers should not be supplied to customers unless they were bought before October 1st, 2020. UKH has been working closely with DEFRA over the last 2 years on this and a range of other sustainability issues. Many sector businesses have already taken great strides to reduce single use plastics, and we are supportive of these new measures.

 

This week, UKH was delighted to support a joint initiative with the Zero Carbon Forum and other sustainability leaders in the hospitality sector. The new initiative is designed to help UKH members create and implement a plan towards net zero carbon, in order to both meet and influence Government policy on carbon reduction. We are excited to continue to work with all forum members in the future, working together on the roadmap to net-zero carbon emissions.

 

Allergen labelling

With one year to go until the Government introduce food labelling changes, this week the FSA shared an updated free food allergy and intolerance e-training tool. This tool aims to highlight how businesses can prepare for the new labelling changes for and, with one year to go, explain how food businesses can start to prepare for the new labelling prepacked for direct sale food (PPDS).

 

You can find out why the changes are being introduced and how you can help give different food businesses tools and information if they need to adapt here www.food.gov.uk/PPDS.

 

UKH Out and About

This week UKH met with Welsh Government Ministers Ken Skates and Rebecca Evans to discuss business rates and Wales, along with the broader economic challenges that the sector is facing due to COVID-19. UKH is continuing to engage with the Welsh Government on behalf of our members.