Measures businesses are taking to keep customers safe

The Duke of Wellington, a village pub and restaurant, in Hatfield Peverel, is taking the following measures to help create a safe environment for customers and staff:

• Reviewing their risk assessments regularly and training their staff on safe working practices
• Using signage and floor stickers to help customers keep their distance
• Asking customers to use an App to order and pay
• Cleaning surfaces regularly and thoroughly

There are protective screens to manage transmission and sanitisers to keep hands clean. They are also asking customers not to enter the pub if they are not feeling well. These safety measures are part of the Greene King’s five Pub Safe promises.

The government guidance for pubs and restaurants can be found here.

If you would like to share what your business is doing to create a safe environment for customers, email it through to [email protected] and we will share it via our social media channels.

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Free COVID-19 stickers and posters

We have free “Keep your distance” floor stickers, “Please wear a face covering” window stickers and “Please follow these rules in our venue” posters available for businesses to use in their premises.

If interested, businesses should email [email protected] to arrange quantities and delivery.

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Designated businesses required to display NHS QR code posters

The NHS COVID-19 app has launched to help control COVID-19 transmission alongside national and local contact tracing.

Certain businesses are now required by law to display NHS Test and Trace QR codes so customers with the NHS COVID-19 app can use them to check-in. QR codes will help businesses meet their legal requirement to log contact details and allow public health leads to send alerts based on whether people have checked in at venues.

The NHS Test and Trace guidance has been updated to include this new information.

► Please find a list of some common questions here and a video which introduces the QR posters.

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Preparations for the end of the EU Transition Period

There are under 100 days to go until the United Kingdom leaves the Single Market and the Customs Union and businesses, citizens and Government need to prepare.

On Wednesday 23 September, The Chancellor of the Duchy Lancaster made a statement to the House of Commons on preparations for the end of the Transition Period. As part of these preparations the Government has published the Reasonable Worst Case Scenario for potential disruption to freight travelling between Great Britain and the European Union at the end of the transition period.

Help is available to support businesses prepare. There is a user-friendly checker tool at gov.uk/transition which details exactly what businesses need to do and upcoming business support webinars are detailed below:

Business Support Webinars – Register Today

Check, Change, Go – Prepare your business for the end of the transition period

The UK has left the EU and is leaving the EU single market and customs union. The end of the transition period means businesses should take action now to prepare for guaranteed changes and new rules from January 2021. To support business preparations the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take.

See the full schedule and sign up to for live sessions here.

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► Help and support if your business trades with the EU

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Straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers ban: rules for businesses

The government has announced that from here on in businesses must not supply or sell single-use plastic. This includes:

• straws and cotton buds to end-users in England (you can continue to supply single-use plastic straws and cotton buds to other businesses)
• drink stirrers to end-users and businesses in England

The ban applies to all businesses that supply these products, including manufacturers and retailers. If you do not stop selling or supplying these items, you could be fined.

If you bought them before 1 October 2020, you can continue to supply or sell leftover supplies of single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers until 1 April 2021.

Read the news story here.

► Straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers ban: rules for businesses

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New package to support and enforce self-isolation

People across England are now required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. New fines for those breaching self-isolation rules will start at £1,000 but could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and for the most egregious breaches, including for those preventing others from self-isolating.

Those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will also be eligible for a new £500 payment. You can read the full story here.

The guidance for households with possible infection and guidance on if you have been in close contact with, but do not live with a person who has tested positive has been updated to reflect the new law.

What this means for employers?

The regulations state that it is an offence for an employer to knowingly permit a worker (including an agency worker) to attend any place other than where the individual is self-isolating. This includes individuals who are required to self-isolate because they live with someone who has tested positive.

If the person can work from home, that is permitted. This offence is liable to a fine, starting at £1,000 and rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders. There is also an obligation on the worker to tell their employer that they are self-isolating as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event, before they are next due to start work.

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Getting help for your business

You can call the government’s helpline on FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098 for free, impartial advice and business support.

You can find free support, advice and sources of finance through your local growth hub or speak to an advisor on webchat about support for your business.

This useful financial tool can also help you find the right support for your business.

We will continue to bring you the most up-to-date advice via these emails, our website and on social media. You can also contact us on [email protected] for help, advice and support.

Please join our closed Braintree District Businesses Facebook group to find support from other businesses in our district.

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