With a third lockdown for England starting January 5th along with similar measures introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the majority of retail businesses have to yet again close their doors as they are classed as ‘non-essential’ retailers. There are differences in the rules by UK nation and information on the current rules and regulations in force for each nation can be accessed via:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Businesses selling, installing and servicing domestic appliances may continue to operate as follows:
- Electrical Retailers can offer a ‘front of store’ collection service, so customers can either call in advance or order online and collect their goods from outside the retail/ warehousing premises.
- Home delivery and installation of appliances that require some technical expertise to install, or, for example, where a householder could not realistically carry a washing machine up a flight of stairs, can continue to be done following the current ‘working in other people’s homes’ guidelines.
- Service personnel can continue to call upon and enter households to carry out repairs to appliances.
- Appliances can continue to be sold within retail premises where those retailers are deemed to be an ‘essential’ retailer, so supermarkets, hardware stores and pharmacy type outlets that sell small electricals.
- Online/ Etail businesses can continue to offer their full range of services.
The BEIS guidance documentation relating to working practices is, largely, unchanged across most areas. Guidance relating to ‘working in other peoples homes’ has not changes from the original guidelines laid out in May. Guidance documents as available for the following: outdoor work; leisure and wellbeing; non-food retail; office work and other non-customer-facing indoor work; factory and industry-based work; and distribution and logistics; pubs and restaurants; non-essential retail; recreation and leisure; places of worship; and aviation.
The Government have launched a number of business support measures covering furlough, business loans, rates deferrals, VAT and Tax deferrals and credit insurance support. These measures are continually being reviewed and updated as the regulations relating to Covid19 business and social restrictions evolve.
We recommend that members check the latest Gov.UK advice on a regular basis and subscribe to the daily/ weekly business communications available from BEIS. In addition, members should contact their AMDEA representative for support with any questions or information access requirements.