Compliance & Resources
COVID-19 Compliance
We’ve created a set of documents to ensure you are trading compliantly during the Coronavirus outbreak
Explore COVID-19 Compliance Documents
EXCLUSIVE TO NCASS MEMBERS
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Keep your staff & customers safe and prove you’re working to best practice by being part of the NCASS Covid-19 Certification Scheme.
Find out moreYour Business & COVID-19
Street food markets start to reopen across the country
A host of street food venues have welcomed back traders this week following the Government’s decision to allow indoor markets and non-essential shops to reopen.
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Westminster council outlines plans for al fresco dining
Westminster City Council is considering temporary road closures, widened pavements and fast-tracked applications for outside seating among the measures to help hospitality reopen.
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Webinar 010 alcohol licensing your questions answered
Join us next Tuesday at 3pm via Facebook or YouTube for Episode #010 of our webinar: Alcohol Licensing – Your Questions Answered.
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Cheese Bar founder launches campaign to support Britain’s dairy industry
The Cheese Bar and The Cheese Truck founder Matthew Carver has launched a crowdfund campaign to help purchase and redistribute dairy products that would otherwise end up going to waste.
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BioPak Do’s and Don’ts of Delivery and Takeaway
BioPak’s vision is a world without waste, that’s why we design packaging for the circular economy.
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Street Food goes Click & Collect
Last weekend saw the formal launch of Digbeth Diner Click and Collect service; a concept developed with NCASS to enable food businesses to trade safely during Covid-19.
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The Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) looks forward to the 2021 season
With the news mostly a bit bleak on the festival scene, The Association of Festival Organisers’ team decided to start early in promoting its member festivals for what is hoped to be a bumper season in 2021.
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Let’s talk loneliness
A couple of weeks ago, we wrote this article on the many ways we can seek to nurture our mental wellbeing at this difficult time.
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Covid-19 Training
Adhering to strict food and hygiene standards has never been more crucial.
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From street to sofa: The food businesses driving demand for deliveries
At the end of last week (7th May 2020) we published a new guidance document for NCASS members thinking about changing their business model and pivoting towards delivery and /or takeaway services.
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Initial plans drawn up to ease lockdown restrictions & re-open businesses
Seven government documents were drawn up by cabinet office minister Michael Gove and business secretary Alok Sharma this week revealing guidance on how businesses could gradually re-open in the coming weeks and return people to work.
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High street to be protected from aggressive rent
Shops and other companies under strain asked to pay what they can as they continue to struggle amidst coronavirus
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Silver linings
We don’t need to tell any of you what an incredibly difficult time this has been for our industry.
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Mental Health & Coronavirus
Last summer we wrote on article on managing mental health in your business; needless to say, the landscape of the industry today is quite different to what it was in July 2019.
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Online Ordering Systems
What you need to know about using an online
ordering service
Pilot scheme from Giles Insurance could provide delivery solution
Mobile caterers looking to pivot their business to a delivery model could now receive further insurance protection if using their own car or van to drop off food or goods to customers.
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Coronavirus Job Retention scheme – FAQ
Is a temporary scheme open to all UK employers for at least three months starting from 1st March 2020.
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Street Trading During Covid 19 Licensing
We have been asked to provide evidence that mobile businesses are not able to continue trading as takeaways – as restaurants are, because of street trading regulations. Or that the regulations are not currently suitable for those with licences or without.
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Self Employed Income Support Scheme – FAQ
Here we’ve put together a list of our most Frequently Asked Questions since the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced his Income Support Scheme for the self-employed yesterday, 26th March.
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Updates to JRS see more benefit from scheme.
Employees can now be furloughed by their employer if they were employed and on the PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020.
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Survival Strategy
You have to adapt, we’re confident you can do it.
This article discusses things to consider…
Mind the gap
According to analysis by the Resolution Foundation, more than nine million workers are expected to be furloughed under the government’s job retention scheme (JRS), with “50% of companies putting most of their staff into the scheme.”
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NCASS Opening Hours
In light of the current situation, we are taking the safety of our staff seriously and will be implementing a work from home strategy by 22nd March 2020.
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Pitch Fees & Cancellations
The mobile catering sector, so reliant on the summer season, has been understandably concerned about money already invested and the prospects for the year.
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Insurance Advice
With regards to insurance, a caterer’s liability insurance does not cover event cancellation
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Can I Run a Food Delivery Service?
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23/3/2020 that much of the UK adhere to self-isolation protocols as a matter of law, many have been left wondering whether they can continue to operate their businesses.
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Social Spotlight
We’ve been really inspired by all the innovative ways our members are handling lockdown, from delivering meals straight to people’s doors, through to obtaining interviews in the press and crowdfunding for those in need.
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We’re Still Pushing For Change
Following the announcement of the Self-Employed Income Support measures on 26th March, we felt both encouraged and disappointed by the regulations introduced.
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Our Latest Statement
Our statement regarding the latest measures for the self employed
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Covid-19 Industry Survey
This is an unprecedented time for our industry. The entire hospitality sector is under serious threat which is why we are working closely with 25 other trade associations to lobby the concerns of those working in the food and events industries before government.
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Statements From Associations
On 9th March, The Events Industry Forum (of which we are members) sent a letter to government requesting a meeting to address the potential impact of COVID-19 on our industry.
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We are determined to do everything possible to enable the independent and mobile food and beverage sector to make it through this unprecedented time and have been working hard to get results for you.
Read full article Support Our Sector: Petition
Extend COVID-19 support to mobile and independent hospitality businesses.
Read full articleGovernment Updates
New Guidance released to support 4th of July sector re-opening
During his address, the PM outlined two key measures to support our sector; that all indoor and outdoor hospitality that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside, including, restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and workplace canteens would be allowed to open in some capacity on the 4th of July, and that the 2 metre distancing rule would be reduced from 2 metres down to 1 meter plus from that date.
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Discretionary grant fund revised
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has updated the guidance and associated FAQ on the Discretionary Fund. The main changes are as follows:
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The Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a Statement in Parliament today to confirm the Covid-19 Alert Level has been reduced from 4 to 3 meaning that lock-down measures can begin to be reduced.
Read full article Government Guidance on working safely during Covid-19;
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has put together new guidance for people who work in or run restaurants offering takeaway or delivery services to help them understand how to work safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Self employed new parents eligible for support grant
The government has announced that self-employed parents whose trading profits took a dip in the year 2018 to 19 because they took time off to have children will be able to claim for a payment under the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS).
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The Prime Minister announced in his daily briefing yesterday (28.05.20) that some lockdown restrictions will be lifted in England on 1st June.
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Prime Minister’s Announcement 10/5/2020
On Sunday 10th May, Boris John addressed the UK, unveiling a “conditional plan” to reopen society.
Read full article New Government bill supports businesses in difficulty
The government have introduced new insolvency legislation, giving companies time to restructure, refinance and keep trading when they might otherwise go out of business because of debts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Vehicle approval test applications open on limited basis
A limited number of specialist vehicle approval tests are now taking place to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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Local businesses set to benefit from new top-up grant
Certain small businesses that fall outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme can now benefit from a discretionary new fund announced by government.
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Financial support for businesses during COVID-19 outbreak
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: the government will cover up to 80% of an employee’s salary (up to a maximum of £2500 a month)
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BEIS introduce series of webinars
Starting next week, The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will host two Coronavirus webinars for business.
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The Government has released further updates on the support you can access for your business if you are self-employed, on progress with grant payments and for those based in Scotland or Wales.
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Full parental leave entitlement for furloughed workers
Furloughed workers needing to take parental or adoption leave will be entitled to pay based on their usual earnings rather than the furloughed pay rate of 80%, the government has announced.
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Chancellor announces ‘bounce back’ loans for small businesses
Today 27th April, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak announced a new micro-loan scheme for businesses.
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The Budget 2020
The latest budget has just been announced – we’ve pulled out the most relevant changes to your business and detailed them below
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Updated guidance on takeaway procedures
Following collective lobbying of government, particularly Defra and BEIS, regarding the importance of the takeaway sector, the government has updated its guidance on takeaway procedures.
Read full article Our Latest Statement 20/03
Our statement regarding today’s update from the Government.
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UK government announces extension to furlough scheme until end of June
Businesses shared a sigh of relief when, on Friday 17th April, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that government had been forced to extend its wage-subsidy programme for British workers.
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Write to your MP
Write to your MP using our template. You can access the template and find out who your MP is here
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Emergency Budget Update
Over £330billion of loans & grants have been announced. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak has pledged to do “whatever it takes” to protect the UK economy from the coronavirus and has announced an unprecedented package of government backed loans & grants worth over £330billion, with more to come.
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New self-employed measures – have you slipped through the net?
Following the Chancellor’s announcement yesterday 26/3/2020 in which he revealed his Self-Employed Income Support Plan, thousands of self-employed people will have breathed a sigh of relief.
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