On the 7th October, TAF was pleased to present an opportunity to hear from our partners Quest. The webinar covered:
- Returning to Work
- Testing & Vaccinations
- Hybrid Working
- Lone Workers
- Long Covid
- Q&A
To view the recording of this session, please click here.
The UK has launched a package of measures to help it seize the opportunities of data to boost growth, trade and improve its public services.
Having left the EU, the Digital Secretary now holds powers to strike data adequacy partnerships with partners around the world.
The government believes it can unlock more trade and innovation by reducing unnecessary barriers and burdens on international data transfers, thereby opening up global markets to UK businesses. In turn this will help give UK customers faster, cheaper and more reliable products and services from around the world.
International data transfers are vital for everyday activities such as GPS navigation, video calls with family and friends, online banking, powering apps people use on a daily basis, retail, and businesses’ back office delivery.
Data adequacy partnerships, with countries or sectors which have high data protection standards, means organisations do not have to implement costly compliance measures to share personal data internationally.
Securing these arrangements will be a significant step in the UK’s ongoing plans to unlock the power of data to drive UK growth and innovation.
For the full press release click here.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson carried out a reshuffle of his cabinet on Wednesday, removing several key ministers including Gavin Williamson.
This is the second major reshuffle since Mr Johnson became leader of the Conservative party and took over as prime minister from Theresa May in July 2019. The last one took place in February 2020.
Some of the big moves included Liz Truss to foreign secretary, the Tories’ first woman in that role; Nadhim Zahawi moved from leading the vaccine rollout to education – at the expense of Mr Williamson; and Nadine Dorries stepped up from health minister to culture secretary.
Who’s in the other posts? Here’s a guide to the people that make up Mr Johnson’s cabinet, with the latest new faces and who’s changed places.
On the 14th of September, the Prime Minister set out the government’s plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter.
Ventilation is an important and effective mitigation to stop the spread of Covid, and businesses are advised to open windows, air vents and doors to let fresh air in, ensure that mechanical ventilation systems are set to maximise fresh air and minimise air recirculation, and to use outdoor space where practical.
People who have tested positive and their unvaccinated contacts will continue to be legally required to self-isolate. Financial support for those on certain benefits who are required to self-isolate will continue until the end of March.
Businesses should continue to check the safe working guidance for the latest updates.
For the published plans, click here.
This is a final call to participate in the TAF Salary & Benefits Survey 2021 with our partner, Ellwood Atfield.
Ellwood Atfield are specialist recruiters for senior executives for trade associations such as Chief Executives as well as communications and advocacy appointments.
This year’s survey has the same questions as previous years so we can conduct trend analysis but we have included a few Covid-related impact questions too. This survey is a very popular member benefit enabling associations to benchmark. It also provides up-to-date and detailed information to help plan salary and benefit reviews.
This year we are particularly keen that the survey helps members to better understand both the impact of the pandemic and the impact of rising inflation on their staffing costs in order to help planning and budgeting for the future
The report will be free to all TAF members and we aim to publish the results in October but in return we need your help! Please make sure you take part in the survey so that this year’s report is the most accurate and comprehensive we have ever produced.
Take part now!
The survey is being conducted on-line and can be accessed via the following secure link below (if the hyperlink is not clickable, please copy and paste into your browser):
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TAFsalaryandbenefitssurvey2021
You will find it useful to download a PDF of the questions first so you prepare the data you might need for when you access the online survey. You can download a PDF of the survey here but we do need your responses via the online link above please.
Please note that we only require one response per organisation.
All data provided we be treated in strict confidence and will only be reported in aggregated format so no association can be identified from the data provided.
If you have questions, please contact support@taforum.org
Thank you for your support.
Gaynor Pates
Chair
For the remainder of 2021 and beyond, TAF will continue to put together an events calendar on suitable topics to help members run their trade associations and to keep them informed on current issues.
In case you missed any of the online events TAF has hosted so far this year, please find below the links:
QANW – Insurance Backed Guarantees – https://bit.ly/TAFQANW01
BEIS departmental plan – https://bit.ly/TAFBeis
The Pulse Business – How to run a pulse survey – https://bit.ly/TAFPulse
Web.com – How to improve your digital footprint – https://bit.ly/TAFWeb01
Please look out for future events to attend starting early September.
With a bespoke package of insurance protection for consumers, your trade association members can offer great peace of mind to homeowners who are investing in improving their homes.
Bespoke Package
Deposit Protection Insurance (DPI) and Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) give consumers complete peace of mind when they invest in improvements for their properties, and by partnering with QANW, you can offer bespoke insurance for your membership.
Deposit Protection Insurance offers short term cover, to protect any deposit paid by the homeowner and complements the Insurance Backed Guarantee. An IBG offers 10 years cover of the contractor’s guarantee, giving them an extra tool to reassure homeowners, that even if the installation company ceases to trade, through retirement, a career change or any other circumstances, their home improvements are protected.
Insurance products can be designed to perfectly suit the needs of your members and can also create a new revenue stream for your organisation. For more information, visit www.qanw.co.uk.
To support businesses and the self-employed to continue to work safely during the pandemic as we move to Step 4, the Government have published updated Working Safely guidance. The guidance cover a range of different types of work and also includes guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to other people’s homes. You can also find updated guidance on hosting weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and other celebrations in England during step 4 on GOV.UK. The government have also extended NHS Test and Trace’s free workplace testing offer until the end of July, with 19 July as the final date to place orders. Free workplace testing will therefore now end on 31 July.
For further guidance, click here.
On 19 July, legal restrictions will end including the removal of social distancing and social contact restrictions and remaining businesses will be able to reopen. Step 4 will mark a new phase of continued caution, whilst managing the risks of COVID-19, in the response to the pandemic. You can read the Step 4 guidance for more detail on what will change and what you should do to protect yourself and others.
For full guidance, click here.
In the latest release from the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, two-thirds (64%) of adults in Great Britain said they still plan to cover their faces in shops, following the lifting of the legal requirement to wear them in indoor settings in England from today.
The same percentage (64%) plan to wear masks on public transport, while 60% plan to avoid crowded places.
Over half (54%) of adults said they are looking forward to going on holiday abroad when coronavirus rules end.
Meanwhile, more than half (57%) were worried about the plan to lift the restrictions in England.
For the full story click here.