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.

Aug- 2020 -

28 August

EOHO scheme leads to 27% increase in Liverpool footfall

The government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme has reportedly led to a 27% increase in footfall to Liverpool compared to July. According to data from the Liverpool BID Company, which manages the Retail/Leisure and Commercial Districts in the city centre, the discount scheme helped Liverpool see its largest footfall…
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11 August

10.5 million meals claimed under ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme

Some 10,540,394 million meals have been claimed under the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, according to new research from HMRC. Will Broome, founder and CEO of retail tech firm Ubamarket, said that with 83,068 restaurants now having signed up to the scheme the figures from the first week are…
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Jul- 2020 -

31 July

Government reveals new £20m grant for small businesses

The government has announced a new £20m grant scheme to help thousands of smaller, independent businesses in England to recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Nationwide Caterers Association, small and medium sized businesses will have access to grants of between £1,000 – £5,000 to help…
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Apr- 2020 -

2 April

Chancellor set to announce overhaul to SME loan scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to announce an overhaul to the SME loan scheme that will allow companies to access help quicker. According to Sky News, Sunak and members of the Treasury were reportedly in talks with major lenders, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of…
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Mar- 2020 -

30 March

UK GDP expected to contract by 15% in Q2 2020

The UK economy is about to enter the deepest recession since the financial crisis, including the steepest quarter-on-quarter decline in economic activity since comparable records began, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). CEBR expects the economy to have contracted marginally in the first quarter of the…
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30 March

Government relaxes insolvency rules

The government has announced a set of changes to help improve the insolvency system to enable companies undergoing restructuring to continue trading. The relaxed measures announced by business secretary Alok Sharma, will allow companies undergoing restructuring to continue to access supplies and raw materials. It has also temporarily suspended wrongful…
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18 March

Chancellor extends rent holidays to all hospitality businesses

All hospitality businesses are eligible for a one-year business rates holiday after the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a series of new measures to help weather the financial strain caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Last week in his maiden Budget Speech the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a one-year rent holiday for…
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17 March

Covid-19: Social distancing measures ‘catastrophic’ for pubs, restaurants and hotels

UKHospitality has said the government’s latest advice that people should avoid pubs, restaurants, hotels will be “catastrophic” for businesses and jobs. It has now called on the government for “immediate support for hospitality”, as well as “meaningful business continuity measures”. UKH’s CEO, Kate Nicholls, said the announcement has “effectively shut…
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17 March

Colliers calls for Rates Deferment Scheme introduction amid Covid-19

Business rates experts at Colliers International have called for the Government to introduce a three-month or even six-month business rates deferment scheme to help businesses impacted by the coronavirus. It follows last Wednesday’s (11 March) Budget announcement, which Colliers said was “largely applauded” for the support given to smaller retail,…
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Feb- 2020 -

24 February

Hospitality insolvencies at highest level in seven years

Insolvencies in the hospitality sector increased by 10.4% in 2019, the highest amount in seven years, according to analysis by real estate adviser Altus Group under the Freedom of Information Act. The Insolvency Service, an agency of The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, paid out a total a…
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