Further to the update sent out on Monday - regarding the Prime Minister's announcement over the weekend - the 4 week National Lockdown began yesterday and will continue to run up to and including the 2nd December.
All non essential retail, including all hair & beauty (and all mobile) businesses are required to remain closed in England. For full details of the National Restrictions click here
BABTAC, together with other industry bodies, submitted a number of queries from our collective members to BEIS to provide further clarity and the following FAQs have been provided.
After the 2nd December different regions will then return to tiers 1 - 3, depending on the rates of infection in those areas, and further details and decisions will be provided closer to the time by government.
Further Financial Support
The Chancellor's announced the following yesterday:
- the Job Retention Scheme will now be extended across the UK until the end of March 2021 in order to give certainty over the winter months and help protect millions of jobs.
- the next self-employed income support grant will also increase from 55% to 80% of average profits - up to £7,500
Additionally he also announced:
- cash grants of up to £3,000 per month for businesses which are closed worth more than £1 billion every month
- £1.1 billion is being given to Local Authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly
- plans to extend existing government-backed loan schemes and the Future Fund to the end of January, and an ability to top-up Bounce Back Loans
- an extension to the mortgage payment holiday for homeowners
- up to £500 million of funding for councils to support the local public health response.
- an increase in the upfront guarantee of funding for the devolved administrations from £14 billion to £16 billion
For further information on the changes to financial support packages for businesses and self employed for England and the devolved nations please click here
Wales' Firebreak lockdown is due to end at midnight on Sunday the 8th November and from Monday the 9th a new set of national measures will be implemented. To view the Welsh Government's latest updated FAQs click here. We will post any further updates given on our website.
The current 4 week lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland are due to continue and will be reviewed before the 16th November.
Scotland remains on the local level system for now as announced and posted last week - this is due to be reviewed on Tuesday the 10th November.
We will will continue to keep you all updated as we receive further information and do all we can to support our members through this incredibly tough time