Rishi Sunak

Sunak extends Covid scheme to pay up to half of wages

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced increases to the Job Support Scheme, which will now see the government pay up to half of employees wages. As part of the updated scheme, employers will pay less and employees will work fewer hours to qualify, with the taxpayer subsidy now doubled. The increase…

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Gov to cover 66% of wages for firms forced to shut 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that businesses forced to shut due to local restrictions will be eligible for a grant that pays two-thirds of staff salaries. The government will pay two-thirds, or 67%, of each employee’s salary, up to a maximum of £2,100 a month, if the business is forced…

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Chancellor set to unveil furlough replacement after Budget cancellation

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has cancelled this year’s Budget but is set to unveil new measures aimed at protecting employment and the UK economy in parliament later today (24 September). It is thought the new measures will replace the current furlough scheme, which is set to expire at the end of…

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Usdaw warns business rates increase could risk more jobs

Retail trade union Usdaw has expressed “major concerns” over reports that the government is considering increasing business rates for premises with a rateable value over £51,000. The news comes as reports suggest Rishi Sunak is considering increasing business rates in an effort to boost the UK economy. Instead, Usdaw is…

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PIF urges government for clarity on VAT reductions

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has called on the government to include commercial kennels and catteries in the tourism businesses who will be able to pay lower rates of VAT from next week. The federation said businesses in the pet boarding sector (kennels and catteries) have experienced a huge drop…

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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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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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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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Google UK launches support package for small UK businesses

Google UK has pledged to support small businesses across the country with a new package of products, tools and services to support the reopening and growth of British retail.  From today, small businesses can sign-up to access the support package through Google, who has committed to helping one million small…

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BVA join forces with other healthcare professions to launch petition for business rates relief

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is appealing to the profession to support and widely share a new petition urging the government to grant business rates relief to human and animal healthcare providers affected by Covid-19. The petition, led by the British Dental Association (BDA), calls on the Government to allow…

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