The UK Government want to hear organisations' views on the roles that are being filled by migrant workers, the salaries they are paid and implications of potential changes. In March 2020, the UK Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to compile a UK shortage occupation list (SOL), which will primarily focus on occupations at RQF Level 3-5 (medium skill). This is to be reported in September 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak has placed businesses in...
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published the following guidance, which your business may find useful: RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19 working from home driver welfare facilities regulation of chemicals during the outbreak the manufacture and supply of hand sanitisers For all the latest information and advice please visit the HSE website. Please visit the Business Wales Coronavirus advice for businesses pages for information for your business on dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak.
A new online service ‘The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme’ will launch 26 May 2020 for small and medium sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to current or former employees. Employers can claim for periods of sickness starting on or after: 13 March 2020 - if employees had coronavirus or the symptoms or is self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms 16 April 2020 - if employees...
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published guidance covering how employers should handle data if they decide to test employees for Covid-19. The guidance includes: Which lawful basis can I use for testing employees? How can I show that our approach to testing is compliant with data protection law? Can I keep lists of employees who either have symptoms or have been tested as positive? Although similar, there are variations in approach taken by the...
Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing and commercially viable innovative or disruptive ideas. All proposals must be business focused. Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as but not exclusively: the arts, design and media creative industries science or engineering...
KTN uses deep sector expertise to make powerful connections across sectors, geographies and skill-sets to drive change through innovation and have established a Covid-19 hub containing information about: funding online events initiatives and resources signposting for businesses guidance (including regulatory) product specifications for equipment such as ventilators, PPE and testing kits Please visit the KTN Covid-19 hub for further information. Please visit the Business Wales Coronavirus advice for businesses pages for information for your business...
Businesses will be able to benefit from larger loans under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS). The maximum loan size available under the scheme will be increased from £50 million to £200 million to help ensure those large firms which do not qualify for the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) have enough finance to meet cashflow needs during the outbreak. The expanded loans, which have been introduced following discussions with...
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have a coronavirus information hub to help individuals and organisations navigate data protection. New and relevant information will be added to the hub as the pandemic continues. If you cannot find the answer to your query on the hub you can contact the ICO by telephone on 0303 123 1113. For further information please visit the ICO website.
The UK Government has announced key decisions it has taken for the design of the Plastic Packaging Tax in light of stakeholder responses to the previous consultation in 2019. The rate of the plastic packaging tax will be £200 per tonne of plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic and there will be a 10-tonne annual de-minimis under which businesses will not be required to pay the tax, to ensure the smallest businesses...
The Future Fund will provide government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors. These convertible loans may be a suitable option for businesses that rely on equity investment and are unable to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The fund will be delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank. You’re eligible if your business: is based in the UK can...