Key Updates From DCMS Museums and Galleries Sector Coronavirus bulletin 13 July
NEW Plan for jobs: 08/07 and Press release
The Chancellor announced a series of measures to support, protect and create jobs, including:
- Temporary VAT cut for accommodation and attractions
- From 15 July to 12 January 2021 the reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of accommodation and admission to attractions across the UK, including museums.
- Job Retention Bonus
- £1,000 one-off payment to employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021. Details by end of the month.
- £2 billion Kickstart Scheme
- £2 billion fund to create high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.
- Funding will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus employer NI contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
- Payments for employers who hire new apprentices
- £2,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice hired aged under 25, and £1,500 for each new apprentice aged 25 and over, from 1st August 2020 to 31st January 2021.
- Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
- £1 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme that will offer grants to public sector bodies to fund both energy efficiency and low carbon heat upgrades.
- Temporary VAT cut for food and non-alcoholic drinks
- The reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and similar premises from 15 July to 12 January 2021
- Further guidance on the scope of this relief will be published by HMRC in the coming days.
- Eat Out to Help Out ●
- Every diner entitled to a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, at any participating restaurant, café, pub or other eligible food service establishment.
- The discount can be used unlimited times and will be valid Monday to Wednesday on any eat-in meal (including on non-alcoholic drinks) for all of August 2020 across the UK.
- Participating establishments will be fully reimbursed for the 50% discount.
NEW Get more information about the Eat Out to Help Out scheme: 09/07, Register your establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme: updated 13/07, Eat Out to Help Out scheme: promotional materials: 13/07
- You can register if your establishment:
- sells food for immediate consumption on the premises
- provides its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meal
- was registered as a food business with relevant local authority on or before 7 July
- This includes restaurants and cafes within tourist attractions and leisure facilities.
NEW National Lottery Project Grants is returning
- Opens 22 July for applications, with a budget of £59.8 million available until April 2021.
- ACE are prioritising reopening this programme to help fund independent organisations, creative practitioners and freelancers as quickly as possible.
- ACE will publish updated guidance for the programme by mid-July.
NEW Performing Arts given green light to resume outdoors on July 11: 09/07, Performing Arts guidance: 09/07
- Outdoor performances with social distancing can resume from July 11.
NEW New planning rules to protect our cultural heritage: 12/07
- Councils will now need to take the temporary impact of coronavirus into account when considering permission for change of use, redevelopment or demolition of a theatre, concert hall or live music performance venue.
Reopening museums
National guidance on reopening museums post-lockdown is being prepared and should be available mid-June 2020. Visit our dedicated web page here
Business Support
Business Support website
The UK Government is supporting businesses and their employees through a package of measures during this period of unprecedented disruption. The Business Support website helps businesses find the right support, advice and information to help with the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Coronavirus advice for employers and employees has been updated and can be viewed here
They are also hosting Coronavirus advisory webinars for employers. These free webinars will provide practical advice for employers to help manage the impact of Coronavirus in the workplace. View more details and register your place here.
Sector Information and Support
Arts Council England (ACE)
The latest advice, guidance and emergency funding measures the Arts Council, government and several external organisations have put in place to address the Covid-19/coronavirus crisis can be found here
Association of Independent Museums (Aim)
Aim has a web page which covers a range of advice and guidance and is regularly updated. Visit the web page here
They also have a range of support exclusively for AIM members which includes:
- Aim Hallmarks at Home
- ‘The HR Dept’ HR helpline for members, plus advice for staff
- Online Advice Surgeries
If you are an independent museum and Aim member we strongly encourage you to access the support available.
Museums Association
National Archives
The National Archives has issued guidance for archive services which can be found here.
NCVO
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has produced a summary page of advice and guidance on its web pages and can be found here
They have also made their member-only resources free to everyone because of the current situation and can be accessed here
Amongst these resources you can find further information and support on Risk Management including Zurich’s full guidance on pandemic planning, along with a checklist that can be used to plan for a pandemic and minimise its impact. Read more here
Key coronavirus legal issues for charities explained – a recent webinar with the experts from Bates Wells solicitors providing advice on contracts, finances and the new furlough scheme. You can watch on demand here.
Data Protection and Coronavirus – If your staff are working remotely, you may need to create new procedures and consider how extra care may be taken to secure information. Hope & May has put together some guidance for organisations and can be read in full here
Roots HR
Roots HR Community Interest Company is the UK’s specialist consultancy for human resources and health and safety services for social sector. They provide 1 hour FREE Human Resources consultancy services to leaders and managers working in social sector. View their voucher and contact details here
Their consultants have put together some simple and free tools to support employers with home working which include:
- a form of words for formalising the change in contractual terms with your employees
- a Display Screen Checklist for employees
Key Information Sources
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response – Sign up for email alerts
- COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses
- Public Health England
- NHS guidance
- FCO Travel advice
- Government Action Plan
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