In response to the events of thuggery, violence and abuse which unfolded over the weekend, retailers' association Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) announced today (6) that it is working to help members who are affected.
In an email sent out to Fed members on Monday (5) evening, Mo Razzaq, National President-Federation of Independent Retailers stated, "We are collating member experiences to raise awareness of issues faced by independent retailers and make requests to the government.
"We also offer practical recommendations on what to do next with regards to making an insurance claim, legal advice and seeking support from the NFRN Charitable Funds. If your shop has suffered any damage, Retail Mutual advises contacting your insurance provider as soon as possible so that you can reinstate your damaged shop and continue trading quickly," he wrote.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP, the Fed’s legal helpline provider, advises retailers to:
· Check your insurance policies to see whether they have cover in place to cover damage for any loss.
· In the event of a shop closure, check if your insurance covers loss of salaries/loss of trade.
· Carry out appropriate risk assessments for staff to ensure as much as possible their health and safety is prioritised.
· Check any lease of premises and see who is responsible for damage in these scenarios i.e. landlord/tenant
Other avenues of support available to members include:
· NewstrAid’s Retailer Support Scheme for emotional and financial support outside the business: https://www.newstraid.org.uk/retailer-support-scheme
· GroceryAid for emotional, practical and financial support for grocery people: https://www.groceryaid.org.uk
The Fed is in contact with the other business bodies and the government. We will update members if any other support becomes available.
The message continues, "If you are concerned about similar events happening near your store in the following days, please take heed of the advice above. For now, if your shop or business was impacted, please call the Fed (0207 017 8880 or email contactus@nfrn.org,uk). You can also send me a DM on X.com (formerly Twitter) @TheFedNP."
Brian McLister