Business leaders have raised concerns over the exit route map as the country moves into phase one of the Scottish Government's four-step plan for easing lockdown.

From Friday, people will be able to meet one other household at a time outdoors - though they should continue to socially distance when meeting and the maximum number in the group should be eight.

Some non-contact outdoor leisure activities such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing will be allowed to restart from Friday.

On the same date, people will be allowed to sit and sunbathe in local parks and travel to somewhere local for recreation, though they are advised not to travel further than around five miles for this purpose.

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Garden centres and drive-through food outlets can reopen from Friday.
Recycling centres will be allowed to open once again from Monday.

Most outdoor work can resume from Friday, while construction sites can at that point start to prepare for a resumption of work.

However, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has said clearer timelines should be set for more businesses to reopen.

Workplaces to resume with physical distancing measures in place once guidance is agreed include horticulture, landscaping and garden centres, forestry and environmental management.

Associated cafes should not reopen at this stage except for take-away and physical distancing measures should be followed.

The construction sector is expected to be able to implement the first phase in its restart plan and move to phase two of the construction sector’s plan will follow consultation with government to ensure it is safe to do so in line with public health advice.

Also from tomorrow, food outlets, restaurants and cafes are able to provide delivery, take-away and drive-through food options in line with guidance and complying and safe physical distancing measures.

Teachers and other staff will be allowed to re-enter schools from Monday to prepare for the proposed return of schools on August 11.

Childminders and fully outdoor nurseries can start to reopen from Wednesday June 3, though there will be limits on the number of children that can be cared for. Further guidance for childminders will be issued on Monday.

Also during phase one, some key public services such as respite care, children's hearings and vital health programmes will begin to restart their work. The Scottish Government said further announcements on timing will be made in due course.

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "Entering phase one of the easing of restrictions will be welcome for many but the clock for businesses is ticking.

"The need for firmer timelines is an increasingly urgent matter for companies across all sectors who still face significant risk if they are not able to open urgently.

"Preparing for a safe return to the workplace is the utmost priority for businesses and should be too for government.”

Debenhams is set to cut hundreds of head office jobs as it plans to reopen following lockdown, the department store has confirmed.

The retailer, which is in administration for the second time in a year, plans to open doors again to customers from June 15 with 90 stores growing to 120 over the summer.

It plans to reopen with a slimmed down head office, which employs around 3,000 people, as staff leave from mechandising, buying, design and HR departments, according to initial reports by Reuters.

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Debenhams was already struggling before the lockdown, having fallen into administration on April 9 in a protective measure against creditors demanding their money.

Since the coronavirus pandemic shut all non-food retailers, the department store has announced the permanent closure of 12 stores, with thousands of job losses.

A spokesman said: "In the context of a retail industry undergoing profound change, the management team is working on the future shape of the group, with a view to seeking an exit from administration as a going concern.

"With a leaner and more flexible operating model, Debenhams will have the ability to adapt to what are likely to be fundamental shifts in the future trading environment."

The company did not confirm exactly how many positions would go, beyond saying in the "hundreds".

Five of the stores to close were in Hammerson shopping centres, a business with its own financial difficulties, after failing to reach terms on rent, including Glasgow Silverburn.

A Highland hotel has provided nearly 700 reduced rate bed nights for NHS and emergency workers so far during the pandemic.

The Glen Mhor Hotel and Apartments in Inverness opted not to shut completely, staying open to cater for key workers.

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Since the first day of lockdown, the hotel has provided 695 bed nights for essential staff.

During that time, beds and room service have been made available to NHS workers, firefighters, police and maintenance workers as well as the staff on-site during the establishment of Inverness’  Coronavirus Test Centre.

In order to cater for the essential workforce, hotel employees have put in place strict infection control measures which are likely to have to become the norm in future as the hotel sector tries to find a way out of lockdown.

All touch points in public areas have been persistently kept clean, hand sanitiser is available to both residents and staff at all times and breakfasts have been staggered to enable two metre social distancing.

Self check-ins and payment systems have been fully integrated, all hotel staff have the appropriate PPE and special isolation rooms have been set up should anyone require virus testing.

It said with residents ordering room service online from rooms, contact has been minimised and the hotel’s professional approach has led to praise from key workers using it as a base when working in the highlands.

“Not all essential workers in Inverness are permanently based here. Some have had to travel here and they would have been stuck in a difficult situation had there been no hotel accommodation available,” said Glen Mhor Hotel General Manager, Emmanuel Moine.

“The highlands is not the type of place you can travel back home from at night so, from day one, we decided to maintain a service for key workers because of the jobs they are doing for the country at this time.

“Businesses are having to take tough decisions everywhere, but at the moment it is about adapting your service for the new normal, supporting the people doing essential work and doing your bit to ensure the country begins to emerge safely from Coronavirus restrictions.

“We will continue to support essential workers.”