Thursday newspaper round-up: High street premises, job vacancies, Clarks

Six arrests have been made over alleged fraud in two government support schemes designed to help businesses hit by Covid-19. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said three men had been arrested on suspicion of fraud linked to the "eat out to help out” discount scheme, introduced in August by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak. HMRC officers arrested the men, aged 43, 48 and 37, on Tuesday at their London addresses on suspicion of cheating the public revenue and fraud by false representation. - Guardian

Another 18,000 high street premises could be left empty in 2020, almost double the number in 2019, as the coronavirus pandemic hammers retailers, restaurants and leisure businesses. AsEngland prepares to enter a month-long second high street lockdown from Thursday, analysts at the Local Data Company warned “vast numbers” of leisure and hospitality businesses could close up for good. - Guardian

Job vacancies are drying up as businesses cut back hiring in the face of tougher Covid restrictions and the upcoming lockdown. Demand for workers had begun to recover in September, according to recruiters, but faded again last month. Permanent staff placements fell in October, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation found, although firms increased advertising for temporary positions. - Telegraph

A plot to end tax-free shopping after the Brexit transition period will cost cash-strapped airports £300m every year, a new study claims. As Heathrow prepares to take legal action over the tax change, a survey of the 20 biggest members at the Airport Operators Association (AOA) suggested they will lose an average of £15m annually from the scrapping of duty-free shopping on goods such as perfumes, electronics, clothes and chocolate. - Telegraph

Clarks has been rescued in a £100 million deal that will bring to an end almost 200 years of family ownership of the British shoemaker. If successful in a vote next month, Lionrock Capital, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm, will acquire a majority stake in the company, with the Clark family to remain invested in the business. - The Times