London Registrars

  In late February, the UK government set out its four-step “roadmap” for easing its most recent lockdown restrictions. In the process, it revealed that guidance to staff to work from home where possible would not be altered until 21 June at the earliest. A week prior to that date, a review will be published to inform any update the government makes to its advice on working from home. Until then, the guidance for normally office-based workers is still to continue largely working from home where feasible. Any change in guidance for such staff therefore looks set to coincide with the lifting of all legal restrictions on contact with others, and large closed venues such as nightclubs being permitted to open their doors once more. What does the government’s roadmap document state? The government’s document released alongside the announcement of the “roadmap” – COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021 – states: “Social distancing is difficult and damaging for businesses an...

To say that the coronavirus situation has profoundly impacted on the UK retail sector would be something of an understatement. The obvious immediate enforced changes or temporary closures during periods of lockdown have  in many cases transformed into permanent closures as brands look to reduce costs. Meanwhile, many familiar retail names have opted to shift their operations either partly or fully online. Some of these developments may seem to represent an acceleration of trends already evident long before the pandemic. After all, retail businesses were generally well aware, even prior to COVID-19, of the ever-heightening importance of being active on social media, showing brand transparency, and espousing sustainability. These are all trends that have long exerted their influence on how British retailers continually reinterpret and evolve their online presence. So, what has been especially notable about how brands have responded to the previously unheard-of conditions the pand...