About Eirlys Jones

Eirlys is the Commercial Director at North Wales Tourism and can be contacted at eirlys.jones@gonorthwales.org.uk or connect with her on LinkedIn you can also follow her on Twitter @EirlysJones5

National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates for 2021

The UK Government has announced the rise in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage from April 2021. For the first time, more younger people will be eligible for the National Living Wage, as the age threshold will be lowered from 25 to 23. In full, the increases are: National Living Wage (23+) to increase from £8.72 to £8.91National Minimum Wage (21-22) to increase from £8.20 to £8.36National Minimum Wage (18-20) to increase £6.45 to £6.56National Minimum Wage (under 18) to increase £4.55 to £4.62Apprenticeship Wage to increase from £4.15 to £4.30 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-announces-pay-rise-for-millions-of-people

8th Jan 2021 Welsh Government 3 week review update

Following the Welsh Government formal review of the alert level four lockdown restrictions, which were introduced at midnight on 19 December, all the measures will remain in place until 29 January. This means non-essential retail, hospitality venues, licensed premises and leisure facilities will remain closed. Unless there is a significant reduction in cases of coronavirus before 29 January – the date of the next three-week review of the regulations – school and college students will continue to learn online until the February half term. The First Minister is reminding people that in the current lockdown people must: Stay at homeWork from home if you can.Keep a 2m distance from others.Wear […]

ERF Business Fund Update

We have received a number of questions relating to the grant funding available for the hospitality and non-essential retail sector – details of the grants available along with a brief description are listed below. Please note that there are 3 funds available each with different eligibility criteria so please check carefully when applying to avoid confusion.   Fund 1 – ERF Sector Specific Support Fund Targeted at hospitality, tourism and leisure companies who are materially impacted with a greater than 60% impact on turnover, as a result of the restrictions introduced from 4th December to 22nd January 2021.EligibilityTo be eligible, businesses must be: VAT registered; limited companies with a turnover of over £50,000pa and […]

£4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs

5th Jan 2021 The Chancellor has announced £4.6 billion new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs. For English businesses -Business Rated Properties Up to £15,000 RV = £4000£15001 – £51000 RV = £6000£51001 + = £9000 The Welsh Government will receive £227 million. Will update you ASAP on what it actually means in terms of additional support for Welsh businesses. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/46-billion-in-new-lockdown-grants-to-support-businesses-and-protect-jobs

Reminder – Restrictions Business Rates Fund opens from 4th January

Welsh businesses forced to closed in the December restrictions that have been materially impacted by the restrictions can apply from 4th January 2021.  Applications are now open on some of the Local Authority (LA) websites, others have not as yet so please keep an eye out…… Link to the individual LA websites is below: Anglesey – https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Business/Business-support-Coronavirus-COVID-19.aspxConwy – https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Business/Restrictions-Business-Fund/Restrictions-Business-Fund.aspxDenbighshire – https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/restrictions-business-fund.aspxFlintshire – https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Business/Business-Rates/Business-Rates-Forms.aspxGwynedd – https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Businesses/Help,-support-and-training/Cronfeydd-Busnes-Cyfyngiadau-Rhagfyr-2020.aspxWrexham – https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/covid-19-support-businesses/restrictions-business-fund https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/erf-restrictions-business-fund

Update Note – Moving Goods from Jan 01

Please see the attached update from the Welsh Government received at 5pm this evening regarding border arrangements from 1 January 2021. The below text accompanied the attached update: If you are planning to either export or move goods across the UK/EU border, please take the time to read this and ensure you are as prepared as possible for the new requirements. Further updates will be available via @WGEconTransport twitter account, the @_Businesswales twitter account and  via our Preparing Wales website (https://gov.wales/preparing-wales). For updates on traffic at Holyhead please check the @TrafficWalesN twitter account. Welsh-Government-Stakeholder-Update-Note-Moving-goods-from-Jan-01-Download