Chancellor Announces Postfurlough Job Support Scheme

The construction industry will welcome that the Government has announced post-furlough support. As part of the Winter Economy Plan package of measures, the Chancellor outlined a new Job Support Scheme (JSS). It replaces the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which closes on 31 October 2020.

From 1 November 2020, the JSS aims to protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to COVID-19.

Key features of the JSS are:

• It will run for six months and is open to all employers with a UK bank account and a UK PAYE scheme.
• All Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be eligible.
• Large businesses will be required to demonstrate that their business has been adversely affected by COVID-19 by meeting a financial assessment test. Therefore, the JSS will only be available to those whose turnover is lower than before experiencing difficulties. The Government expects that large employers will not be making capital