Furlough
Our coverage of the furlough scheme and its impact on the UK foodservice, hospitality, and catering sectors. We report on government policy updates, employer experiences, sector-specific challenges, and the operational and financial implications for restaurants, pubs, bars, and contract caterers. From workforce retention and reopening strategies to lessons learned post-scheme, this content supports industry professionals navigating staffing, recovery planning, and long-term resilience in a post-pandemic landscape.
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Jun- 2020 -15 JuneComment
The coronavirus diaries: Tara Smyth
On Thursday 26 March 2020, my partner, James Santillo and I celebrated two years of running The Duke’s Head. Thursday 26th March 2020 also happens to be the first day of our personal lockdown, not quite the day we had planned in our heads, but we did still drink the…
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8 JunePubs and Bars
Government green light needed to guarantee fresh beer in pubs for re-opening, says BBPA
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has today called on the government to ‘Get Britain Brewing Again’, by giving the UK’s 2,000 breweries sufficient notice and a definitive date for when pubs will reopen, enabling them to brew fresh beer and get it into pubs ready for their re-opening.…
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4 JuneCoronavirus
#RaiseTheBar campaign says UK risks ‘mass redundancies’ through furlough scheme
The newly launched #RaiseTheBar campaign has warned that the furloughing scheme is “concealing the true picture of unemployment in the UK”, providing financial support to employees whilst their employers are facing closure. The campaign believes adjustments to the furloughing scheme have created an “unlevel playing field” of support, meaning businesses…
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3 JuneCoronavirus
Hiring continues to slowdown in as hospitality jobs and applications drop
Hiring has continued to slow down in the hospitality industry last month, with job vacancies dropping by 49.5% month-on-month, according to the latest job market data from CV-Library. The study looks at job market data throughout May and compares this with figures from the previous month (April 2020) and year…
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3 JuneCoronavirus
Frankie and Benny’s to close ‘large number’ of sites
The Restaurant Group has reportedly told staff that a “large number” of Frankie and Benny’s sites will not reopen when lockdown lifts. According to an email seen by the BBC, the owners of the casual dining chain said that many sites are “no longer viable to trade and will remain…
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1 JuneCoronavirus
Trade associations welcome evolution of furlough scheme
Hospitality trade associations have welcomed the “pragmatic” evolution of the governments furlough scheme announced by the chancellor. The new updates set out how employers will have to start sharing the cost of the scheme which will see employers pay National Insurance and pension contributions from August, then 10% of pay…
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1 JuneRestaurants
Losses at UK’s top 100 restaurant groups jump 94% to £151m
Losses at the UK’ Top 100 restaurant groups increased 94% to £151m last year, growing from a loss of £78m the year before, according to new research from UHY Hacker Young. The firm said the top 100 restaurant groups have seen losses “worsen in recent years” and this trend is…
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1 JuneNews
Fuller’s secures £100m loan
Fuller’s has announced its board has approved the issue of commercial paper under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) for an initial loan of £100m. The move comes as the group said its management has taken additional precautionary measures to ensure it is “in the best possible financial position”, with…
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1 JuneCoronavirus
All pubs will need to be open for tapered furlough to work, says BBPA
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed some aspects of the new furlough scheme announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, including the additional flexibility and gradual tapering from August. However, the trade association has warned that for the tapered support to work, all pubs need to be open and…
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May- 2020 -29 MayPubs and Bars
Hospitality sector urges Sunak to maintain furlough scheme at 80% til October
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and UKHospitality (UKH) have called on the chancellor to extend the Job Retention Scheme to October and increase its flexibility for the pub and hospitality sectors. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the trade bodies have urged the…
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