Welsh Government to strengthen legislation to ensure workplaces and shops are safer

Businesses in Wales will have to carry out a specific coronavirus risk assessment under new Welsh Government legislation.These risk assessments will be the starting point for implementing the reasonable measures that are required to be taken to minimise exposure to the coronavirus on premises open to the public and in workplaces.This involves considering issues such as: whether ventilation is adequatehygieneensuring physical distancing is taking placeuse of PPE and face coverings. It will also include considering how employers maximise the number of people who can work from home. https://gov.wales/welsh-government-to-strengthen-legislation-to-ensure-workplaces-and-shops-are-safer

Keep Wales Safe Assets

Keep Wales Safe assets for use on your communication channels – website, newsletter, social media etc. Here’s a link to the Level 4 regulations – including Easyread, BSL clip and an easyshare leaflet in different languages. https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/9fb61a3e-36b8-4290-ba7b-c4a3f2faeec7/assetbox.html Here’s a link to assets focusing on lockdown, new variant of coronavirus and  strengthened messages – including links for Covid information in different languages on the Welsh Government website. This link has been updated. https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/a0c978ee-43b0-47d6-997c-d56e8bc9148f/assetbox.html Here’s a link to the vaccination assets. https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/658a6788-8824-49d7-a8aa-7fd481aa4685/assetbox.html

ONS Published Survey

The ONS has published a survey on the public actions over the Christmas period and perceptions regarding the future beyond Covid-19. The survey was undertaken before the current lockdowns (Jan 2021) on the perceptions regarding how soon the UK will get back to normal which will have implications for holiday booking patterns this year. The main findings were: A quarter of adults (25%) felt that life will return to normal in six months or less, compared with 22% the week before.One in five (20%) adults felt that it will take more than a year for life to return to normal, compared with 23% the week before. Concerning fort tourism terms […]

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