Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update
Please follow the news reports and for latest advice regularly visit the Public Health Wales website and the Business Wales website
BULLETIN CONTENTS - ERF Sector Specific Grant and Funding Update; New Bill to manage Senedd election during COVID pandemic introduced; Claiming Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS); CJRS: Publishing information on claims; Digital Strategy for Wales: Digital Skills; Apprenticeship Week 2021; VAT Payments Deferral Scheme – correcting errors; One in ten workers in Wales don't have a good understanding of their workplace rights; Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees; People urged to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme; Transferring personal data from the EU; Welsh Government Consultations; Useful COVID-19 information.
ERF Sector Specific Grant and Funding Update
The Sector Specific Grant application window is still open to support Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure businesses and associated supply chain businesses impacted by the restrictions introduced on 4 December 2020.
The fund will close for application at 12pm tomorrow (Friday 29 January 2021); find out if you’re eligible and apply by using the Eligibility Checker.
In addition to the funding that’s currently available through the ERF Sector Specific Grant and ERF Restrictions Business Fund, Welsh Government will be making a further £200 million available to businesses affected by COVID-19 restrictions to help with operating costs. Further information on this latest package will be provided on Friday, 29 January 2021 and will be available on the Business Wales – COVID-19 Support for Business pages when details have been confirmed.
New Bill to manage Senedd election during COVID pandemic introduced
An emergency bill to ensure the next Senedd election can happen safely, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, has been introduced before the Senedd by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill introduces a range of measures to make it easier for those affected by the pandemic to vote.
While it is the policy of the Welsh Government to hold the election on 6 May 2021 as intended, if the public heath situation allows, it also makes it possible to delay polling day if it is not safe to hold the election at that time. Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
Claiming Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
If you didn’t submit your December furlough claim by the deadline of 14 January, HMRC may still accept it if you have a reasonable excuse for not claiming by the deadline, such as you were self-isolating or had an unexpected stay in hospital that prevented you from completing it.
If you have already submitted your claims for December but need to make a change because you didn’t claim enough, you can do this until today (Thursday 28 January 2021).
You can now submit your claims for periods in January. These must be made by Monday 15 February 2021. For further information please visit the Business Wales website.
CJRS: Publishing information on claims
On 26 January 2021 HMRC published a list of employer names who have claimed CJRS for periods from December onwards, on GOV.UK.
From February, HMRC will publish the names, an indication of the value of claims and Company Registration Numbers (for those who have one) of employers who make CJRS claims for periods starting on or after 1 December 2020.
Details of employers claiming through the scheme will not be published if they can show that publicising these would result in a serious risk of violence or intimidation to individuals, or those living with them. Further details are available on the Business Wales website.
Digital Strategy for Wales: Digital Skills
Welsh Government is developing a new Digital Strategy for Wales and we want you to help us shape it. The last blog is about developing skills for people to thrive in the digital world and in the workplace. For more details, visit Welsh Government’s Digital and Data Blog website.
Apprenticeship Week 2021
Taking place between 8 –14 February 2021, Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, and the value they bring to employers and learners in Wales. Apprenticeships allow businesses to recruit new talent, hungry to learn, to fills skills gaps cost-effectively and enable learners, of any age, to increase their skills levels. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
VAT Payments Deferral Scheme – correcting errors
If you notice an error on a VAT return which relates to a period covered by the VAT Payments Deferral Scheme, you should send a VAT652 form to HMRC as soon as possible. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
One in ten workers in Wales don't have a good understanding of their workplace rights
One in ten workers surveyed in Wales don’t have a good understanding of their workplace rights, reveals recent research conducted by YouGov. Commissioned by the Wales TUC, the survey has highlighted key areas where workers either did not understand, or were concerned about, their rights at work. 41 percent of the workers surveyed revealed concerns about fair pay, 30 percent about health and safety in the workplace and 27 per cent about flexibility offered in the workplace.
To help combat this lack of knowledge the Welsh Government has teamed up with social partners, the Wales TUC, FSB, CBI, Chambers Wales and other key partners, ACAS and Citizens Advice, to deliver a collective campaign to increase awareness of the expert workforce support available for both workers and businesses.
Employers are also being encouraged to seek support and advice by becoming members of a business representative organisation. For further information please visit the Business Wales website.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees
Acas gives employers and employees free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They have produced guidance to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic on a range of topics including the following:
- Working safely
- Furlough and pay
Read more on the Business Wales website.
People urged to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
With less than 6 months to go before the EU Settlement Scheme’s application deadline of 30 June 2021, European citizens are being urged to apply now to secure their rights in UK law. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
Transferring personal data from the EU
The UK and the EU have agreed transitional arrangements to allow personal data to flow freely from the EU to the UK as part of the Brexit trade deal. Read more on the Business Wales website.
Welsh Government Consultations
Please find below the latest consultation. Consultation provides you with the opportunity to have your say on new developments from the Welsh Government.
Visit the consultation area on the Welsh Government website for more information.
Useful COVID-19 information
As each premises is different, businesses should read all guidance. This continues to be updated so please check back regularly for the latest information.
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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