Government

The latest news and updates on government policy, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Oct- 2020 -

9 October

Hospitality sector demands ‘clarity’ amid closure rumours

Hospitality workers in the North of England are requesting clarity from UK government officials following news that restaurants and bars may have to close from Monday. According to Sky News, ministers are said to be still finalising a “traffic light system plan” where different areas of England with the highest…
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6 October

Chancellor defends EOTHO Scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended promoting the return to UK bars and restaurants over the summer through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme. Speaking to Sky News, the chancellor diluted the link between his scheme and the spike in cases across the country as he stated people were “jumping…
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6 October

Tory rebels to vote to end 10pm curfew

The Government’s 10pm curfew on hospitality business may soon come to an end after reports that Tory rebels believe they can muster enough votes to overturn the Government majority. According to The Telegraph, Tory backbenchers believe they can muster up the required 43 votes to overturn the Government’s majority of…
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1 October

Emilia’s Crafted Pasta extends EOTHO scheme

Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, has announced it is extending its Eat Out To Help Out scheme throughout October. The restaurant, which has locations in both Algate and St.Katherine’s Docks, London, officially reopened after Covid-19 restrictions back in July. They are now offering 50% off pasta (up to £10 per person discount)…
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1 October

‘Better’ if Eat Out to Help Out ‘hadn’t happened’, says Sturgeon

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday (30 September) that it “may have been better” if the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme “hadn’t happened.” Speaking on ITV’s Peston yesterday evening, Sturgeon, when questioned about the link between the scheme and the current rise of covid-19 cases across the…
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Sep- 2020 -

30 September

Post-18 education support ‘must target’ hospitality

UKHospitality “welcomed” the government’s plan to expand post-18 education and training, but has urged it to focus the scheme on aiding the hospitality sector. The new scheme will offer adults who do not have A-level (or equivalent) qualifications entitlement to free college courses “valued” by employers, aiming to “boost” opportunities…
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30 September

Hospitality leaders ask for PM’s help to avoid ‘bleakest of winters’

Over 100 hospitality businesses have written directly to prime minister Boris Johnson calling on him to personally do more to support the sector before the ‘‘bleakest of winters’’. Led by trade organisations, including UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, the letter states that there will be more job…
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29 September

Greggs warns of job cuts amid financial uncertainty

Greggs has warned of possible job cuts amid ongoing uncertainty in its third quarter results, despite noting that activity levels have increased as it came into September. While in September like-for-like sales improved to 76.1% of 2019 levels in the four weeks to 26 September 2020, business activity levels still…
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17 September

Government extends commercial eviction ban until end of year

The government has decided to extend its commercial property eviction ban until the end of 2020. Businesses have been shielded from eviction over the last six months through the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria, which was originally set to end on 1 October. Retail and hospitality trade associations, including…
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15 September

Domino’s Pizza to make 5,000 new hires

Domino’s Pizza has announced that it will make 5,000 new hires after the takeaway chain saw sales increase 5.5% during the first quarter of 2020. Up to 1,000 of these new jobs will be apprenticeship positions under the Government’s new Kickstart scheme. The scheme allows for employers to create new…
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