COVID-19 Updates

Latest COVID-19 news

Government’s “Plan B” for Covid comes into force

Due to the rising cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Prime Minster Boris Johnson has announced on 8th December 2021 that “Plan B” has come into force.

New Covid rules include:

– Working from home from Monday 13th December where possible.

– Covid passports or negative lat flow for nightclubs and crowded settings from 15th December.

– Face coverings in most public venues from this Friday.

Click here to read more.

Face coverings a legal requirement in shops and on public transport

From 30th November 2021, face coverings are again a legal requirement in shops, close-contact businesses and on public transport.

These temporary measures will be reviewed in 3 weeks’ time.

Click here to read more, and click here for new guidance for employees and business owners in these sectors.

Autumn Budget 2021 highlights at a glance:

– Exemption from business rates on plant and machinery used onsite for renewable energy

– 50% business rates discount for retail, hospitality, & leisure sectors for 1 year

– £3.8 billion to develop skills and Multiply’ maths programme for adults

– Global Talent Network to recruit from outside the UK and new scale-up visa

– £20bn in R&D by 2024/25

– Over £5bn for local roads maintenance, over £5bn for buses, cycling and walking

– Levelling Up Fund – £1.7bn allocated in the infrastructure of everyday life in over 100 local areas.

– A rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50

– Universal Credit Taper Rate from 63p to 55p

– Planned rise in fuel duty cancelled

Click here to read more