• restricted within the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 but is not eligible for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS)

• is within the supply chain of businesses restricted by the Regulations and as a result has been significantly impacted
• is operating in Northern Ireland and was trading immediately prior to 16 October 2020
• is not included in the scope of funding already allocated to Executive Departments to respond to COVID restrictions

Support for the self-employed has been increased for the period from 1 November 2020 until 31 January 2021. The government will provide a taxable grant covering 40 per cent of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months' worth of profits, and capped at £3,750 in total. The second grant will cover a three-month period from 1 February 2021 until 30 April 2021. The government will review the level of the second grant and set this in due course.

In the JSS Open the employee will need to work a minimum of 20% of their usual hours and the employer will continue to pay them as normal for the hours worked. Alongside this, the employee will receive 66.67% of their normal pay for the hours not worked - this will be made up of contributions from the employer and from the government. The employer will pay 5% of reference salary for the hours not worked, up to a maximum of £125 per month, with the discretion to pay more than this if they wish. The government will pay the remainder of 61.67%, of reference salary for the hours not worked, up to a maximum of £1,541.75 per month. This will ensure employees continue to receive at least 73% of their normal wages, where they earn £3,125 a month or less.

Employers who are legally required to close their premises (JSS Closed)
Some employers have been legally required to close their premises as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions. JSS Closed will help them through the period that they are directly affected by these restrictions by supporting the wage costs of employees who have been instructed to cease work in eligible (closed) premises.

Each employee who cannot work due to these restrictions will receive two-thirds of their normal pay, paid by their employer and fully funded by the government, to a maximum of £2,083.33 per month, although their employer has the discretion to pay more than this if they wish.

The following guide to the Job Support Scheme may also be of interest.

This scheme is now open and will provide advisory support to tourism businesses to develop their recovery plans including:

• a health check and financial plan
• review of business model
• identify funding shortfalls and/or debt restructuring

Tourism NI’s latest Consumer Sentiment Survey for September 2020 gives in depth analysis on consumer confidence, propensity to travel and consumer concerns.