At Sapphire, we endeavour to help our local communities as much as possible and we’re proud to have taken part in the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box project this year. In support of Samaritan’s Purse, a charity focused on being ‘a good Samaritan’, we wanted to help in any way we can to ensure every […]

Temporary VAT Cut The Government announced a temporary reduction in the standard rate of VAT in certain sectors for a 6-month period. From 15 July 2020 to 12 January 2021, a reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and similar premises across the […]

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Extended Rather than operating with the recently announced Job Support Scheme (JSS), the Chancellor has announced to extend the furlough scheme, also known as Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to March 2021. The Job Support Scheme (JSS) has been postponed and the Government will now pay 80% of an employee’s wages […]

Job Support Scheme (JSS) Rather than continue with The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Chancellor has announced an entirely new scheme to subsidise employees continuing to work part of their normal hours: The Job Support Scheme (JSS). This scheme will operate for six months from 1 November to 30 April 2021. Who is eligible? […]

Job Retention Scheme Bonus Over 9 million employees across 1.1 million businesses have been furloughed and grants claimed via HMRC. The Government confirmed that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) would not be extended beyond 31 October 2020. Instead of extending the CJRS, employers will be paid a bonus of £1,000 for every employee who […]