Latest News
1 July 2020
On 29 June 2020, it was announced that areas of Leicestershire would be entering localised lockdown. The government has issued guidance on this, including what this means and which areas will be affected.
When can my business reopen?
With lockdown easing, many businesses across the UK are beginning to reopen. We’ve provided an overview of the changes to expect across the UK over the coming weeks, including expected timelines for businesses reopening and which businesses can and can’t reopen currently.
Each part of the UK is following a different timeline for reopening. Reopening dates may be subject to reviews and relevant criteria being met. Businesses that are reopening should carry out a risk assessment to ensure they are COVID-19 secure.
This information will be regularly reviewed.
Which businesses can open?
- Non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, toys, shoes, furniture, books and electronics
- Auction houses, photography studios and indoor markets
- Outdoor markets, garden centres and car showrooms
Opening from 4 July:
- Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers
- Some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also reopen, including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades
- Libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres
Which businesses can’t open?
New announcements are being made regularly, so be sure to check the government website for updates. There is a full list of businesses which must remain closed at present.
Which businesses can open?
- Indoor workplaces, including factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities, excluding non-essential offices and call-centres
- Street-access non-essential retail, excluding interiors of shopping centres
- Outdoor markets
- Outdoor sports courts
- Zoos and garden attractions for local access
Planned reopening dates
The Scottish government has set out a roadmap for businesses to reopen as they enter the next phase of recovery. All dates are indicative and subject to following physical distancing rules and public health advice.
Phase 2
Opening from 3 July:
- Self-catering accommodation
Opening from 6 July:
- Outdoor hospitality
Phase 3
Opening from 13 July:
- Non-essential shops inside shopping centres
Opening from 15 July:
- Indoor hospitality, hairdressers, barbers, museums, galleries, cinemas, libraries
- All holiday accommodation
- Childcare providers, subject to individual provider arrangements
- Museums, galleries, cinemas and libraries
Which businesses can’t open?
At this time, advice on reopening dates for the following will be reviewed by the Scottish government on 9 July. However, they state the date is unlikely to be before 23 July.
- Non-essential offices and call-centres
- Live indoor and outdoor events
- Indoor gyms
- Other personal retail services
- Indoor entertainment venues (nightclubs, bingo, theatre, music venues)
Which businesses can open?
All non-essential retail shops, providing they comply with the physical distancing duty
Which businesses can’t open?
Some businesses must remain closed, including bars, restaurants, leisure facilities and hotels. The Welsh government is working with the tourism sector to prepare the reopening of self-contained accommodation.
A decision about the next phases of reopening is expected on 9 July, when regulations are reviewed.
Which businesses can open?
- All goods retailers
- Garden centres and plant nurseries
- Outdoor markets and auction houses
- Caravan parks, camp sites and self-contained tourist accommodation
- Animal care or welfare services, including boarding, stabling, grooming, exercising or training animals
Opening from 3 July
- Restaurants, cafes, coffee shops
- Pubs and bars selling food and alcohol on a table service basis
- Hotels can reopen, including restaurants, bars and outdoor areas, but hotel leisure and spa facilities must remain closed
- Visitor attractions
- Guesthouses, guest accommodation, B&Bs, hostels
- Betting shops (this will remain under review)
Planned reopening dates
The following reopening dates are subject to scientific advice, the ability of the business to meet social distancing and hygiene requirements, and the control of the transmission rate. Check official guidance for updates.
Opening from 6 July
- Nail, beauty, hair salons and barbers and tanning services, electrolysis or acupuncture
- Spas
- Tattoo and piercing parlours
Opening from 10 July
- Indoor gyms
- Outdoor leisure playgrounds
Opening from 29 July
- Cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, bingo halls, concert halls and arcades
Opening from 7 August
- Indoor sports courts and skating rinks
- Leisure centres and soft play areas
Which businesses can’t reopen?
Full list of businesses which must stay closed at this time.
Working safely during coronavirus guidance
A practical guide to working safely during COVID-19 has been published to support businesses with safer working practices.
Social distancing guidelines
Full guidance on social distancing for businesses in Northern Ireland.
Reopening your business safely
As more businesses begin to reopen the trading landscape looks very different. The government has published eight separate guides covering eight different types of work environments. These guides set out the steps employers can put in place for meeting their health & safety obligations in the workplace during the coronavirus pandemic. These guides can be seen and downloaded via the GOV.UK website. There is separate guidance for Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, if your business is located in these nations you should ensure you comply with your national guidelines.
Key guides
How to reassure your customers
Learn how to let your customers know you are open for business and COVID secure.
Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment
Learn how to identify hazards and complete a risk assessment form with our blog.
Free downloads
COVID-19: A4 Printable we are open signs
Printable signs to let your customers know that you are open for business following lockdown.Â
COVID-19: A4 Printable Signage Pack
Let customers know your business is COVID-19 secure and help keep everyone on your premises safe with our printable A4 signage pack.
COVID-19: A3 Printable Signage Pack
Let customers know your business is COVID-19 secure and help keep everyone on your premises safe with our A3 printable signage pack.
Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
The government has published eight separate guides covering eight different types of work environments. These guides set out the steps employers can put in place for meeting their health & safety obligations in the workplace during the coronavirus pandemic. These guides can be seen and downloaded via the GOV.UK website. There is separate guidance for Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, if your business is located in these nations you should ensure you comply with your national guidelines.
The guidance focuses on five key points, which the government has stated should be implemented as soon as it is practical
Employees should continue to work from home where they can
Employers should continue to take all reasonable steps to help employees work from home. For those who cannot work from home and whose workplace has not been told to close, employees should return to work where it is safe to do so.
Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment
Employers will need to carry out COVID-19 risk assessments in consultation with their workers or trade unions, to establish what health and safety guidelines to put in place. If possible, employers should publish the results of their risk assessments on their website and the government expects all businesses with over 50 employees to do so.
Maintain social distancing, wherever possible
Employers should re-design workspaces to maintain 2 metre (1 metre from July 4) distances between people by staggering start times, creating one way systems, opening more entrances and exits, or changing seating layouts.
Where people cannot be distanced, manage transmission risk
Employers should look into putting barriers in shared spaces, creating workplace shift patterns or fixed teams minimising the number of people in contact with one another, or ensuring colleagues are facing away from each other.
Reinforce cleaning processes
Workplaces should be cleaned more frequently, paying close attention to high-contact objects like door handles and keyboards. Employers should provide handwashing facilities or hand sanitisers at entry and exit points.
Source: Markel Law LLP
The Scottish Government has published a four-phase plan setting out the approach for easing coronavirus restrictions in Scotland. At present Scotland is in phase two of this routemap.
As Scotland moves through the re-opening plan certain sectors of the economy are being to re-open, including non-essential shops on the 29th June and the tourism and hospitality sector on the 15th July. Businesses can find up to date guidance and re-start information for their sector here and access to guidance on engaging with staff and toolkits on the Healthy Working Lives website.
When businesses re-open they will need to engage with the Test and Protect regime in Scotland, guidance for employers on how to do so can be found on the Scottish Government website.
The Welsh Government has published a plan setting out the approach for easing coronavirus restrictions in Wales.
Maintaining 2m social distancing in the workplace is law in Wales. Businesses are expected to take reasonable measure to ensure this can happen such as, reducing the number of people working on the premises at any one time, increasing space between staff and staggering shifts. Full guidance for businesses can be found here.
The NI Executive has published a phased five-stage coronavirus recovery plan, setting out the approach the Executive will take when deciding how to ease coronavirus restrictions in the future.
Guidance for businesses that open throughout the recovery in Northern Ireland can be found here.
The Guidance focuses on three key areas:
- Following Public Health Guidelines – this includes; ensuring there are facilities for handwashing available and that everyone should wash their hands when they get to work and throughout the day, facilitating and maintaining social distancing and providing PPE.
- Safer Work Practices – this includes; avoiding non-essential travel, considering staggering start, finish and break times for employees and ensuring the workplace is thoroughly and regularly cleaned.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing – this includes; employers and line managers to be alert to mood or behavioural changes in employees and talk to them compassionately about problems.
Managing your staff during COVID-19
As small businesses transition back to work, our new normal brings new ways of doing business. We answer your questions about managing your employees after furlough, supporting employee wellbeing and staying safe in the workplace.
Key resources
What is the redundancy process during COVID-19? Guidance and advice for small businesses
Losing employees is difficult for any small business. Our guide walks you through the redundancy process and how you can ensure it’s carried out in a compassionate, legal way.
How to bring an employee back from furlough leave
Shops are beginning to open, or considering opening. We look at how to recall your staff from furlough leave.
Back to work: What should I do as an employer?
With more businesses in England set to reopen in July, we answer your questions about managing your employees, looking after their wellbeing and managing health and safety in the workplace.
What if I can’t reopen yet?
We’re here to support you every step of the way. If your business can’t yet open due to restrictions, our financial guides explain what national grants and schemes are available to small businesses and the self-employed across the UK to support them during this period. In addition to national funding there are also sources of local funding and support which can be accessed via local councils.
FSB members can also log into their dashboard to find details of local FSB contacts and online events offering help and support across the UK.
Download the PDF guide for your home nation to get started.
Key resources
How is the furlough scheme changing from July 2020?
From 1 July 2020 the furlough scheme is changing, find out how with our guide.
How to effectively manage working capital
Discover how you can keep track of your small business’ cash flow with our tips for effectively managing your finances.
What is the redundancy process during COVID-19? Guidance and advice for small businesses
Losing employees is difficult for any small business. Our guide walks you through the redundancy process and how you can ensure it’s carried out in a compassionate, legal way.
Health and wellbeing: Boosting productivity and resilience in your business
The current pandemic has forced many small businesses to focus on business survival above anything else. Wellbeing may not seem like an important topic at the moment but being actively engaged in improving the health and wellbeing of your staff can help you build a strong, resilient workforce ready to face the challenges of the current climate.
Physical activity, exercise and movement are vital elements of workplace wellbeing
Research from Sport England has shown 62% of adults currently consider exercise to be more important than ever and 65% of people believe exercise is helping with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK's Chief Medical Officer has continually stressed the value of physical activity: “Anything that can be done to encourage and to allow people to take exercise is clearly a good thingâ€.
Individuals who sit less and move more live longer, healthier lives.
Taking steps to include daily physical activity and movement while reducing the sitting time of yourself and your employees contributes to a longer healthier life.
Adults spending eight hours a day sat at a desk are up to 60% more likely to die early from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. This risk is reduced with regular, moderate physical activity
An active workforce leads to a more agile, productive and resilient team
Small businesses and sole traders can be hit hard by business interruption through illness and the costs this incurs
2019 research found that if the recommended physical activity guidelines were met globally, it could make employees up to 5 days more productive each year and boost the world economy by an estimated $100bn a year.
Only 6 in 10 adults currently achieves the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
24.6% of adults in England are currently classed as inactive, this means over 11 million people are currently doing less than an average of 30 minutes activity a week.
Government Guidelines state that being active reduces your chances of Type II diabetes by 40%, cardiovascular disease by 35%, joint and back pain by 25%, colon and breast cancers by 20% and can reduce the risk of mental illness by 30%.
Focusing on employee health and wellbeing creates an attractive workplace culture.
Research by CBRE showed that 80% of employees agree that a company’s culture will be crucial in recruiting and retaining them within the next 10 years.
Developing a wellness based culture doesn't need to be complex and expensive, simple solutions to encourage healthy behaviours such as boosting activity levels can positively impact on how your current and future employees perceive your organisation.
Sources: Sport England covid-19 Physical activity tracker | Government press briefing 15th April | The Lancet, July 2016 – physical activity series | Fitter bodies, fitter economies – Vitality and RAND, 2019. | Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey November 2018/19 Report, published April 2020 | Wellness in the workplace: Unlocking Future Performance – CBRE – occupier survey 2015 –2016
Key resources
Boost your productivity with an active working day
Keeping moving through a working day is vital to the wellbeing of individuals.
How to hold a moving meeting
Moving meetings held via phone allow you to catch up while talking a walk
Health and wellbeing: Boosting productivity and resilience in your business
Explore how health and wellbeing can boost the level of your firm’s productivity with our on demand webinar.
Looking after your mental health
During the coronavirus pandemic many people are struggling with their mental health. Small business owners are under pressure to find ways to pivot to new ways of working while others deal with isolation and worries over health of loved ones. We've collated resources to guide you to support and help available across the internet explore more below or visit our list of resources which can help here.
Key resources
How to support employee wellbeing during COVID-19
As we slowly start return to work, looking after the wellbeing and safety of your employees will be essential. Learn how you can best support your team.
Resources to support your mental health during COVID-19
Resource to help support the mental health of yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic
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