Business Minister Paul Scully has unveiled new support measures to encourage retailers to follow the new rules agreed as part of the UK’s free trade agreement with the EU.

Nisa said it has recruited more than 620 stores in the last 12 months, delivering a significant uplift on the previous year, when the corresponding figure stood at 500.

Retail sales volume decreased by 1.9 per cent in 2020 from the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates, the largest year-on-year fall since records began in 1997.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Tuesday urged the government to extend its furlough jobs support scheme and taxation holidays to help coronavirus-plagued firms.