30th September 2022
Chancellor announces tax-cutting mini-budget
The Chancellor has unveiled a series of measures aimed at improving growth while supporting businesses & households with rising energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis. The package of tax cuts will be largely funded by a rise in UK Government borrowing.
Through a Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all UK businesses, from 1st October. Prices will be fixed at 21.1p per kilowatt hours (kWh) for electricity and 7.5p per kWh for gas. The savings will begin to appear in November's bills (backdated to October) and will be applied automatically. A review will be published in three months' time to identify "vulnerable" organisations that will need further support after March 2023.
VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors is also to be introduced, as part of the UK's drive to "modernise" and simplify its Tax Code. Meanwhile, the proposed rise in corporation tax which was due to increase from 19% to 25% in April 2023 has been cancelled.
The planned increases in duty rates for beer, cider, wine, and spirits will all be cancelled. The Chancellor announced an 18-month transitional measure for wine duty and an extension to draught relief to cover smaller kegs of 20 litres and above, "to help smaller breweries".
Annual Licensing Fees must be paid by 1st October 2022
As SGF has indicated previously, annual fees have to be paid by 1st October every year or you run the risk of having the premises licence revoked.
Please check with your premises licence licensing board if you haven’t received an invoice letter or email. The duty is on premises licence holders to pay the annual fee not on the licensing board to send the invoice.
SGF survey findings on the Energy Cost Crisis
Many businesses are struggling to cope with rising energy bills and the possibility of energy prices significantly increasing over the coming months may mean producers and retailers will have to pass those costs on to customers. Over the course of the past four weeks SGF has run a short two-minute survey to assess the impact on our members.
Our findings show that:
Several respondents told us that they would have to close their business if the proposed price rises go ahead at any time in the future.
Retailers are experiencing a wide spectrum of energy cost increases, ranging from 50% to as high as 800%.
All respondents are concerned about the increases, with 78% worried that it could put their business at risk.
Some have said it may affect the produce they stock, meaning fewer chilled and frozen items available in store, and their capacity to employ an adequate number of staff.
Sold-Out! SGF Annual Conference returns to Glasgow next week, 6th & 7th Oct
The theme for this year’s ‘sold out’ conference is ‘The Future is Now!’. The event will have industry experts across both days covering issues such as what lies ahead for the convenience sector, the outlook for tobacco and nicotine in Scotland, and how data and technology can help develop businesses in the sector. Delegates will benefit from the highly regarded business breakout sessions and will have the opportunity to take advantage of the excellent trade exhibition.
A conference first, the event will also have both UK and Scottish Government Ministerial representation with Lord Offord of Garvald, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office addressing delegates on day one and Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth at the Scottish Government providing the keynote address on day two.
SGF host a table at the Holyrood Garden Party & Political Awards 2022
SGF colleagues Graham Watson, Pete Cheema & Luke McGarty joined an eager crowd of political representatives, staff, political journalists, and members of the business community at the Holyrood Garden Party & Political Awards 2022, on 28th Sept.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to Holyrood Magazine for hosting the splendid event.
Retailers Against Crime Glasgow Conference 2022
Connecting retailers, crime partnerships, expert speakers and suppliers together, the RAC Glasgow conference will be held on Thursday 27th October 2022 in the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow. Please see the invitation attached and follow the link to reserve your free place: Register here
Celebrating 25 years of partnership working the event will feature the latest issues impacting upon retail and offering practical advice from expert speakers. Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit exhibitors, promoting and demonstrating some of the latest innovative products to assist in preventing crime. If you are interested in exhibiting at the conference, please contact RAC by emailing: info@retailersagainstcrime.org
Official Guidance for retailers on Fireworks & Bonfire Night
Importantly, this year will see a change in the law regarding the legal purchasing of fireworks. It is now illegal to buy or give fireworks to anyone under the age of 18. This is in addition to last year’s changes making it illegal to set fireworks off before 6pm.
The Scottish Government plan to issue further guidance and campaign materials in due course, and SGF will keep you up to date as we receive them. In the meantime, more information can be viewed at: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/
Free Guide: An Introduction to Cyber Security
The Scottish Business Resilience Centre’s Ethical Hacking team have developed a new cyber guide for CyberScotland titled ‘An Introduction to Cyber Security’.
This guide provides non-technical employees with an overview of cyber security best practices and how to spot common cyber threats. It also provides instructions on developing secure passwords and protecting accounts. This helpful guide can also be added to induction packs for new employees to help organisations comply with the ICO’s requirements and make people more aware of what cyber threats exist.
Download the guide here.
UK Govt sets provisions to review EU Laws regarding UK food standards
The UK Government has published its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022. The purpose of the Bill is to provide all the required provisions that allow for the amendment of retained EU law and remove the special features it has in the UK legal system.
It is yet to be seen how much of the EU legislation will be transferred directly into UK law. However, a significant proportion of retained EU laws involve the safety and standards of the way UK food is produced and sold. Therefore, it is expected that any significant changes to the legislation, as it currently stands, could potentially have an impact on domestic food standards and access to EU markets.
View the UK Govt announcement and the details of the Bill here.
£20 & £50 notes will be removed from legal tender after 30th Sept 2022
As SGF has previously indicated, if you have any paper £20 or £50 notes, the Bank of England encourage you to use them or deposit them with your bank or Post Office before 30th September 2022. As paper notes are returned to the Bank of England, they are being replaced with the new polymer £20 notes featuring JMW Turner, and polymer £50 notes featuring Alan Turing.
After 30th September, only polymer notes will have legal tender status.
Publication of Explanatory Notes for Scottish Coronavirus Acts
On 28 June 2022 the Parliament passed the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022 to help Scotland recover from the pandemic and ensure greater resilience against future public health threats. Please see the news release for the Bill passing.
Prior to the principal commencement date of 1 October, the Explanatory Notes have now been published by the Scottish Government and can be found here.
For further details, please see the Coronavirus legislation webpage.
Update to Scottish Government valuation notices and non-domestic rates regulations
The Scottish Government have notified SGF of a delay in the scheduled laying dates of the following instruments, from 7 to 26 October:
The Valuation (Proposals Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2022
The Valuation Roll And Valuation Notice (Scotland) Order 2022
The Valuation Timetable (Scotland) Order 2022
This is in order that the laying of these instruments can continue to coincide, the same week, with the laying of the remaining draft instruments that were set out in the consultation on Local taxation - Valuation Appeals Committees etc: transfer of functions.
See here for the Scottish Government’s response to the Consultation on reforming the non-domestic rates system: proposals, the draft valuation roll, content of valuation notices, etc. published in July: https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/non-domestic-rates-processes/
The Health and Safety Executive is inspecting manufacturing business where materials that contain silica are used
These include brick and tile manufacturers, foundries and stoneworkers. Employers have a legal duty to put in place suitable arrangements to manage health and safety and ensure they comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
Inspectors will be checking that dutyholders:
know the risks associated with breathing in respirable crystalline silica
have effective controls in place to keep workers safe and protect their respiratory health
Covid 19 guidance
The Find Business Support website has details of support and guidance for businesses affected by the pandemic. Some support incudes:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer businesses and workplaces - Guidance for businesses and workplaces on reducing the risk of COVID-19 and supporting staff and customers. Also you can access the COVID-19 Vaccine Workplace Materials via the Scottish Government Marketing Resource Centre.
The NHS Inform coronavirus webpage – to access he latest health advice and information.
SGF & RetailTRUST supporting your wellbeing
This is a topic that has raised to prominence, however this has led to a bombardment of information, specifically on social media, often making it confusing to know what the right advice is. So, the aim is to cut-through the noise by offering all new, expert-led, content. All content can be found here: Coping with menopause | Retail Trust.
First up is our Everything you need to know about the menopause | Guidance | Retail Trust – an overview of menopause, recommended for ALL to read – not just those experiencing menopause or perimenopause – to give people a good general understanding of what around 50% of the population have to deal with and go through!
See the message below from the Retail Trust:
From 1832 onwards, the Retail Trust has been caring for and protecting the lives of people working in retail.
We believe the health of our colleagues provides them with the foundation to flourish in both work and life, creating a more sustainable and successful future for retail.
Retail Trust supports retail colleagues through all life events, offering emotional wellbeing resources, counselling, personal legal guidance including our free will writing service, financial guidance and debt support, our financial aid and critical incident support.
Our services are completely free of charge and 100% confidential, available for you and the people you live with. Our telephone helpline is available 24/7 and is here to support you. Register today and put ‘SGF’ as your employer to get started.
Where do you find the guidance?
Visit retailtrust.org.uk and register today, completely free of charge to gain access to our wellbeing hub with over 500 pieces of exclusive content.
Or
Call our telephone helpline on 0808 801 0808
You can also now view the Retail Trust’s most recent content here and this includes information on: 1) Well-being calendar 2) Ten healthy habits to start today 3) Good money habits to start right now 4) Eight ways to make good habits stick 5) Three videos to help make healthy habits stick 6) How to take charge of your life – simple steps to being your own main character 7) Toolkit of resources.
SGF will keep members updated.