A CALL has been made for targeted government support as thousands of hospitality businesses across Scotland continue to haemorrhage money and staff as a result of the coronavirus crisis. While some businesses are managing to sustain around 90% of their pre-Covid turnover, others are facing ruin even if they are in the lowest levels where pandemic restrictions are less strict, according to people in the trade. Many of the worst affected are in city centres and in normal trading times provide a significant boost to the country’s economy. Gavin Stevenson, whose Inverness venue Gellions promotes the trad music scene, said even level 1 was “horrific” for businesses like his.
Thousands of hospitality workers have lost their jobs during the pandemic UNION bosses have issued a warning over the “cataclysmic” impact the pandemic is having on hospitality workers – amid claims companies are “misusing” the furlough scheme in order to reduce their costs. Analysis suggests that more than 50,000 works in pubs, restaurants and hotels have already lost their jobs as the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis takes its toll. Unite the union has also blamed the UK Government’s dithering over extending the furlough scheme and insisting small businesses which “absolutely can’t afford it” to contribute to the job retention scheme is responsible for thousands of Scottish workers losing their jobs.
EXTENDING pub opening hours and allowing the sale of alcohol under controlled conditions could secure 1800 hospitality firms, an economic study claims. Work by Biggar Economics suggests increasing opening hours by two and a half hours and resuming alcohol sales under “strictly controlled conditions” in areas graded at levels one-three could protect more than 32,000 jobs, increasing turnover for the hospitality sector from £419 million to £1.1 billion. The study was commissioned by spirits firm Diageo and the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, Scottish Licensed Trade Association and UKHospitality Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to “urgently implement the changes to save businesses and jobs”.