COVID-19 Update 26th January 2021
- Changes to Kickstart Scheme
As you will know, the Kickstart Scheme is one whereby employers can claim up to 25 hour a week for employing someone aged 16-24 who is on Universal Credit for a six month period. This scheme is open to businesses of all sizes but those aiming to employ less than 30 people under the scheme were required to use a Gateway service to co-ordinate with DWP regarding placements.
However, the government has announced that it is amending the scheme so that, from 3 February 2021, it is removing the 30 employee threshold and businesses including sole traders can apply directly to the Kickstart scheme for any number of job placements. You can still choose to apply for employees through a Kickstart Gateway provider but new applications to be a Kickstart Gateway provider are ending on the 28th January as it is considered that the existing 600 gateway providers is sufficient for the number of businesses that may still want to use this route.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-29-or-less-job-placements
- Press Release Supporting Tourism Businesses
Working with a number of members we have sent out the attached press release today which highlights the fact that important sectors of the UK tourism industry such as tour and coach operator, language schools and Event organisers have again been deemed to be ineligible for the latest grants aimed at supporting tourism and leisure businesses during for the lockdown period even though they are effectively closed as a result of travel restrictions.
- ONS Personal and Economic Wellbeing Data
ONS has just publish a lot of data that has tracked people’s personal and economic wellbeing through the Coronavirus outbreak.
The data includes
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by sex, across time
Sex split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time for Great Britain, according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN).
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by tenure, across time
Tenure split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by parental status, across time
Parental split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by age group, across time
Age group split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by country, across time
Country split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by those with and without a disability, across time
Those with and without a disability split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by employment status, across time
Employee and self-employed split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
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- Personal and economic well-being estimates by income group, across time
Income group split estimates on personal and economic well-being across time according to the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
While this data doesn’t hold too many surprises, it could be useful as businesses look to develop marketing strategies when businesses start reopening, I’ve attached the highlighted age group analysis as an example – it contains information such as furloughed workers by age group, impacts on personal finances, expectations of when life will return to normal, anxiety levels and ability to save in the current circumstances.
- Self Catering Survey
PASC UK are working with the ASSC (Association of Scotland’s Self -Caterers) to research and prepare a National Self-Catering survey. The aim is to produce the most substantive assessment of the size and value of this sector ever undertaken. It will cover the whole UK and provide information on a country, region or county level. If you have members that are in this sector, could you please forward the following survey link to them to complete. I will distribute to final report to everyone when it is available.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/pascasscoperators.
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