Pub group welcomes Chancellor's measures to safeguard jobs in hospitality trade

The Inn Collection Group, which operates seven venues across the region in Northumberland, Sunderland and Durham, says the support will help it to safeguard jobs through the coming winter.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a plan to help firms, particularly pubs and restaurants, who have seen their trade drop as a result of the social restrictions in the “high” Covid-19 category.

They include two changes to the short-time work scheme to make it easier for those businesses to keep staff on rather than make them redundant.

Under the original Job Support Scheme employees had to work for 33% of their normal hours. It will now be only 20% of those hours.

The employer contribution for the hours not worked will be reduced to 5%, not be 33% as originally planned, or 20% as in the furlough scheme.

Inn Collection Group managing director Sean Donkin said: “The changes to the Job Support Scheme announced by the Chancellor today come as welcome news to businesses including those in the hospitality trade, whose operations have been significantly impacted by low footfall following weeks of curfews and severe restrictions.

“Inns like ourselves are the backbone of communities. As well as providing covid-secure places for people to eat, drink and stay with important service amenities for visitors and locals alike, they provide vital employment and trading opportunities with a wide-range of suppliers in the areas they operate.

“The Chancellor’s announcement will help to safeguard jobs and businesses across the hospitality sector and connected industries.

"While it is a significant step forward it is important the Government continues to listen and give the hospitality trade the support the UK’s third-largest employer deserves.”

The Inn Collection Group includes five Northumberland inns: The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses, The Lindisfarne Inn near Holy Island, The Hog’s Head Inn in Alnwick, The Commissioner’s Quay Inn at Blyth and The Amble Inn in Amble.

The group’s estate also includes The Kingslodge Inn in Durham City and The Seaton Lane Inn near Sunderland, while a new hotel is under construction in Seaburn. It also has venues in the Lake District.

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