Business News Round Up (20/03/2020)
Scottish tourism industry declares only cash aid can save thousands of jobs
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has called for the Scottish Government to support the tourism and hospitality sector to preserve jobs amid the recent coronavirus crisis. It comes as increasing numbers of hotels, bars and restaurants are taking the decision to temporarily suspend trading following government advice for people to avoid all non-essential travel and growing concern that support packages offered by the UK and Scottish Governments are not enough to save businesses or coming into effect quickly enough.
Manchester City Council to delay business rates to support struggling businesses
Manchester City Council have announced plans to delay business rates to support struggling companies affected by Covid-19. The authority confirmed that business rates payments will be delayed for Manchester business in April and direct debits would not be taken. To support businesses that may be struggling at this time, the council has agreed the following actions around Business Rates: it will not submit a claim to banks for any direct debits that are due in April until the 100% Retail Relief has been applied, it will reprofile payment arrangements over the remaining 11 months where appropriate, it would urge all businesses to pay what they can and seek advice where possible from their bank or other business support, it has suspended all bailiff action to recover business rates that are overdue until the end of June.
Arup to assess potential use of hydrogen with Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has chosen engineering consultancy firm Arup to assess the potential use of hydrogen within the Scottish energy system. Scottish Government, working alongside Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, has outlined plans to assess the future use of hydrogen in the Scottish economy and develop a hydrogen action plan and hydrogen policy statement. Arup, and project partner E4Tech, will carry out an assessment of the country’s strengths, assets and factors that will shape hydrogen development and potentially help Scotland achieve net-zero energy by 2045.
https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/energy-news/use-of-hydrogen/73585/
Construction firms scramble to keep sites open
Construction trade body Build UK have urged the Government to do what it can to keep construction sites open as ‘infrastructure is key to recovery of the UK economy’. Construction firms across the region are doing their best to keep sites open and putting special measures in place to keep staff safe while drawing up contingency plans for if work does have to halt.
https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/construction-firms-scramble-to-keep-sites-open/