Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Retailers associations welcome 'Living with Covid' plan but call for absolute clarity

Retailers associations welcome 'Living with Covid' plan but call for absolute clarity
Passengers disembark a train at Waterloo Station on February 21, 2022 in London, England. The prime minister said the country's vaccination programme has put it in a "strong position to consider lifting the remain legal restrictions", including the requirement for Covid-positive people to self-isolate. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Leading retailers association has called on the UK's new plans of living with Covid but has called on for absolute clarity on things like face coverings and isolation rules after prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday (21) announced plans to end free testing for the general public from April 1, saying it was time for people to “get our confidence back”.

People who test positive for Covid will no longer have to be isolated by law from this Thursday – and from April will not even be advised to stay at home if infected, the prime minister said.


Johnson admitted that while the pandemic is not over, vaccines have made it possible for the country to start moving towards normality.

Reacting to Johnson’s announcement, theBritish Independent Retailers Association (Bira)CEO Andrew Goodacre welcomed the further reduction in restrictions but also called for absolute clarity.

With consumer confidence being so fragile (due to the financial squeeze) to gain the maximum positive impact from 'living with Covid' reduced we must have the following:

  • Clear messages on the behaviours expected and absolute clarity on things like face coverings. I doubt that shops will remove the perspex screens just yet because they are largely unobtrusive and may be needed in the future.
  • Clear messages on the isolation rules, especially for retail workers. We also know that free testing will no longer be available from April 1st, which we are also concerned about. Employers have a duty of care and need to know if they are required to provide testing facilities to employees - if yes then the kits should be free to employers.
  • Reassurance that we can look forward with positivity, whilst accepting that Covid has not gone away.

"By doing this there is a better chance that consumer confidence in high streets will return and make 2022 the real year of revival for retail. Let’s not forget that 75% of all retail sales still occur in shops and this could go even higher with the right support," Goodacre said.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said,the lifting of the legal requirement to self-isolate may further speed the return to a more normal experience for customers, employees and businesses. Retailers will be looking closely at the details of the plans.

"However, we all have a personal responsibility towards the safety of those around us and we ask customers to be considerate of those around them and avoid retail settings if they are showing Covid symptoms.”

Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) too is asking for more clarity to help retailers as the Scottish government prepares to unveil its refreshed Covid framework.

More for you

Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less