Business chief’s fears for town’s hospitality sector
It it not yet clear if measures introduced to support the hospitality industry will save jobs and businesses in Paisley, a leading businesswoman in the town has said.
The UK Chancellor revealed plans for a jobs support scheme on Thursday, as well as an extension to the VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The jobs initiative, which will replace the furlough scheme when it expires at the end of October, will see staff, who must work a minimum of 33 per cent of their contracted hours, paid 77 per cent of their wages.
Under the scheme, employers will pay 55 per cent of a person’s wage, with the government paying a further 22 per cent.
Rishi Sunak announced the scheme one day after the UK and Scottish governments ordered bars and restaurants to shut their doors at 10pm.
He insisted the scheme, along with a continuation of the five per cent VAT policy, would help sustain the hospitality industry.
But Colette Cardosi, chairwoman of Paisley First, fears the measures might not be enough to sustain outlets throughout winter.
”While any additional support for businesses is always welcome, it remains to be seen how much the measures announced by the Chancellor will really help businesses in both the short and long term,”she said.
“Businesses in different sectors all have varying needs and, with so much uncertainty ahead, only time will tell if these will be enough to sustain businesses and jobs moving forward.”
The new restrictions on pub opening times came into effect on Friday night.
All hospitality venues are also now required to provide table service, while only permitting groups of six people, from two households, to sit together.
Staff must also wear face coverings at all time, while punters are asked to wear them while walking through the venue.