Furlough Scheme

This coverage examines the Furlough Scheme and its impact on the UK petcare industry, focusing on how retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and supply chain operators managed staffing and business continuity during the scheme’s operation. Pet Gazette reports on government policy updates, case studies from pet businesses, and the long-term commercial effects on employment, operations, and recovery. Our coverage provides pet trade professionals with insights into financial resilience, workforce management, and adapting to economic challenges.

Aug- 2020 -

7 August

Coronavirus

Poor July sales rock high street recovery

Poor in-store sales through the month of July have “dampened hopes of a recovery” across UK high streets, according to the latest High Street Sales Tracker from BDO. In-store like-for-like sales decreased by 39.4% last month, down from a marginal base of 0.1% that was reported the year before. According…
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Jul- 2020 -

9 July

Retailers

Bira ‘disappointed’ mini-budget does ‘not help indie retailers’

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has expressed its “disappointment” that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget does not “directly help retail business owners”. Sunak announced a raft of further measures to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus lockdown, in Parliament yesterday (8 July). Features of the budget included…
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8 July

Economy

Chancellor unveils new £9bn retention scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a new scheme to pay companies £1,000 bonus per employee for those they keep on until January on part pay. Sunak said if employers bring back all nine million people who have been furloughed, this will be a “£9bn policy to retain people in work”.…
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6 July

Features

Coronavirus diaries: National Animal Welfare Trust

Running an animal rescue and rehoming charity over the last four months has been a rollercoaster ride in a theme park called Uncertainty. How normal life now seems in January and February as we began implementing our strategic plans, oblivious to the juggernaut around the corner. Coronavirus became a real…
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Jun- 2020 -

30 June

Coronavirus

Government confirms changes to ‘flexible’ furlough scheme

The UK government has confirmed the latest set of changes to its “flexible” furlough scheme – dubbed CJRS V2 – ahead of its launch of the 1 July. HM Revenue and Customs has set out the new guidance as the current version of the Coronavirus Job retention Scheme (CJRS) ends…
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8 June

Features

HMRC – our helpful friend in difficult times?

It is true to say HMRC are showing a fair amount of understanding in these difficult times. They have been asked to put together mechanisms to allow furlough payments and business grants to be claimed. However, it is not surprising that given the time frames the system has not been…
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3 June

Features

Seven ways pets can help with the emotions of lockdown

With the UK having gone into lockdown on 23 March 2020 – and no immediate sign of when life will return to some level of normality – many people across the country have found this has had an adverse effect on their emotions and mental health. Many British households are…
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May- 2020 -

18 May

Features

Covid-19 diary: A month of madness at Charley Chau

You know things are serious when headline sponsors instruct their staff not to attend the world’s biggest dog show. It’s the week after Crufts, sales are a bit flat – unusual – sales usually spike after Crufts. We’ve had a great start to the year so we’re not worried. Monday,…
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12 May

Coronavirus

Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has extended the Government’s furlough scheme until the end of October. Announcing the decision in the house of commons today (12 May) Sunak revealed that “no changes whatsoever” will be made to the current scheme until the end of July. However he noted that…
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11 May

Retailers

Trouble ahead for retail vacancy rates, warns BRC

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company has said the new BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor has revealed that the rate of store vacancies increased to 12.2% in March. The monitor also reported a 0.3% decrease in vacancy rates in shopping centres to 14.1% compared with 14.4%. The South West and Wales…
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