Call for Government to extend furlough scheme for arts and entertainment industry

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) said workers have returned relatively quickly in areas such as hospitality, including accommodation and food services.

Construction and retail have also seen large numbers of workers return from furlough in recent months with 70 per cent estimated to be back at work, said the report.

But arts, entertainment and recreation are continuing to struggle, with only 29 per cent of workers having returned from furlough, according to the study.

This includes venues such as theatres, cinemas and nightclubs, as well as gyms and leisure centres, many of which are yet to reopen, let alone benefit from support equivalent to the Chancellor’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme, said the RSA.

Fabian Wallace-Stephens, senior researcher at the RSA, said: “The return to work is encouraging news for the millions of workers in sectors like hospitality and construction.

"However, for some sectors such as the arts and entertainment, the numbers are worryingly low and may prove to be the warning signs of significant redundancies.

"The Government needs to give continued, focused support for these sectors of the economy, linked to a clear recovery strategy.”