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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May- 2020 -29 MayCoronavirus
Monthly pay for hospitality workers down 40%, says Fourth
The majority of furloughed hospitality workers could be earning “significantly less” than 80% of their normal earnings, according to the latest research by Fourth. In light of workers no longer receiving the average addition of 25% tronc to their monthly pay, workers are only receiving 60% of their usual wage…
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27 MayComment
The ‘new normal’ for hospitality
On Monday 11 May the government launched its road map to recovery, backed up by the Chancellor’s announcement on Tuesday 12 May regarding the extension of furlough until October, with a number of limitations / conditions attached. Both for many are hugely welcome, especially as more than two million hospitality…
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20 MayCoronavirus
UKH launches industry roadmap for a safe reopening
UKHospitality has announced the launch of a new campaign that will “highlight that businesses are ready to reopen in a safe and sustainable way” with suitable government support. Alongside the launch of the new #FAIR4Hospitality campaign, the trade body has now called on the government to invest in a “fair…
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19 MayCoronavirus
Sodexo announces reward scheme for employees working through Covid-19
Sodexo UK and Ireland has announced that it will redirect funds from its annual bonus scheme to a special fund that will reward front-line staff who have worked through the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement was made during a regular ‘virtual’ town hall meeting for employees, in which it was also…
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18 MayCoronavirus
Petitions to wind up restaurants rocket 165%
The number of petitions to wind up restaurants has rocketed 165% to 53 in the year ended 20 April, according to the latest figures from UHY Hacker Young. Such petitions, that have been brought forward over bills left unpaid by struggling restaurants, are expected to see a further surge once…
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18 MayComment
The coronavirus diaries: James Santillo
My business surviving the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t worry me, but losing or leaving loved ones does worry me and that’s why we chose to hit the pause button. On Monday 16 March 2020 my partner, Tara Smyth, and I were sat at my parent’s house, and the outbreak still seemed…
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13 MayCoronavirus
Hospitality reacts to furlough scheme extension
The hospitality industry has reacted to the chancellor’s announcement yesterday that he was to extend the government’s furlough scheme to the end of October calling it a “sensible and timely” move that has “prevented thousands of redundancies”. Yesterday (12 May) Rishi Sunak revealed that “no changes whatsoever” will be made…
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12 MayCoronavirus
Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has extended the Government’s furlough scheme until the end of October. Announcing the decision in the house of commons today (12 May) Sunak revealed that “no changes whatsoever” will be made to the current scheme until the end of July. However he noted that…
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12 MayCoronavirus
Chancellor expected to extend furlough scheme to September
Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is expected to extend the Government’s coronavirus furlough scheme to September, but reduce the amount people can claim to 60% of their earnings. According to Sky News, the move aims to prevent some 1.2 million redundancies, and comes after Sunak promised there would not…
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12 MayCoronavirus
Hospitality sector must have additional furlough support, says UKH
The hospital sector must be provided with an “extended and flexible” furlough scheme in order to survive the pandemic, UKHospitality has warned. The trade body has now written to the Chancellor asking for continued support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to “ensure that businesses survive, and jobs are saved”…
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