To support businesses and the self-employed to continue to work safely during the pandemic as the country moves to Step 4, BEIS 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. After the end of July, we would encourage you to direct your employees to pharmacy collect and online ordering to continue accessing rapid lateral flow tests. As we continue returning to normal, twice-weekly testing remains key and we recommend people continue to test.
The Prime Minister confirms Step 4 of the Roadmap out of COVID-19 in England will go ahead on Monday 19 July.
On 19 July, most 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 our 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.
Calling the next generation of trade association leaders to join the TAF Board of Directors
The Trade Association Forum (TAF) is “the trade association of trade associations”. It exists to drive up professionalism and standards within UK trade associations, promote the sharing of best practice and supporting BEIS in gaining a deeper insight to all business sectors and therefore helping support those sectors who need greater representation at Government level.
In particular, TAF supports BEIS’ agenda on UK SME Growth, Net Zero, and Diversity, and is moving to strengthen member engagement around such themes.
TAF is a membership body, offering opportunities to:
- Benchmark and compare metrics with other similar associations
- Access best practice in all aspects of running a trade association
- Network with trade association contacts in other sectors
- Participate in the respected TAF Awards
Calling New Directors
The TAF Board now has a number of vacancies for new directors to join; this is a huge opportunity to bring together truly diverse representatives from the next generation of trade association leaders, who are committed to the aims of TAF.
If you are a leader within a UK trade association, and are willing to commit your time, creativity, focus and relationship-building skills to taking TAF into the future, please register your interest by emailing support@taforum.org in the first instance.
‘Your business journey to Net Zero’, is a series of virtual regional events, designed to help small businesses who want to play their part in climate change, but don’t know where is best to start. The events will deliver tools, solutions and ideas to help small businesses map their best next steps.
The next event is on the 6th July with a focus on the South-West of England. Not only can attendees to learn about practical solutions for small businesses wishing to embark on their own Net Zero journey; they can also consider the business opportunities stemming from the transition to a low carbon economy.
Highlights include:
- Addresses from Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, and the Government’s UK Net Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP.
- Presentations and Q&A with leaders on this subject.
- A virtual exhibition hall showcasing the Local Enterprise Partnerships and services on how to lower carbon emissions
To register, click here. The agenda will available to view shortly
* All sessions will be recorded to catch up if you aren’t able to attend live on the day.
On the 24th of June, TAF was pleased to present an opportunity to hear from Quality Assured National Warranties – QANW. The webinar covered:
– Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) and Deposit Protection Insurance (DPI) for the home improvement and construction markets
– How they can design bespoke insurance products specifically for your members’ needs
– How the products benefit both the members of your trade association and their customers – How IBGs can create a new revenue stream for your organisation
– Q&A
To view the slides, click here.
To view the recording of this session, please click here.
On the 17th of June, in response to the recent Pulse Survey, TAF was pleased to present an opportunity to hear from TAF’s supporting Government Department, BEIS.
The webinar covered:
- BEIS’s plans for economic recovery from the pandemic and the role of trade associations;
- An overview of BEIS’s priorities;
- Q&A.
To view the recording of this session, please click here.
The Together for Our Planet ‘Business Climate Leaders’ campaign encourages small and micro businesses to commit to cutting their emissions in half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050 or sooner through the new UK Business Climate Hub. Small businesses can use the hub to find practical tools, resources and advice to understand their emissions and develop a plan to tackle them, as well as providing ideas for steps they can take. You can help support the campaign by sharing information from the stakeholder toolkit with the SMEs you work with.
Customer protection is an important issue, and Deposit Protection Insurance (DPI) and Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) give consumers complete peace of mind when they choose to have work done on their properties.
QANW offers insurance protection for the home improvement and construction market. As one of the largest insurance backed guarantee (IBG) and deposit protection insurance (DPI) providers in the UK, they work with membership bodies and trade associations to deliver quality, consumer protection focused insurance products at the most competitive rates, tailored to the needs of the target market – both contractor and consumer.
On the ‘TAF Presents: Designing insurance Products for your Business’ webinar on 24th June, Gemma Swankie from QANW will cover IBGs and DPI for the home improvement and construction markets, how insurance products can be designed to suit your members’ needs and how the insurance products benefit you members and their customers, as well as providing a new revenue stream for your organisation. To register for the event click here.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that step 4 will be delayed, free asymptomatic work place testing has been extended for a month until the end of July. The new final date to order workplace tests is 19 July. The 30-person limit is also being lifted for weddings and wakes from 21 June. Venues must adhere to COVID secure guidance, maintain social distancing and provide table service. Further information can be found in the guidance.
The prime minister is determined the remaining coronavirus restrictions in England will be lifted on 19 July, No 10 says, despite concern that a rise in deaths could force a change of plan.
“When we set out on our roadmap to freedom a few months ago, we were determined to make progress that was cautious but irreversible. And step by step – thanks to the enormous efforts of the British people and the spectacular vaccine roll-out we now have one of the most open economies and societies in this part of the world.”
“And as we have always known and as the February roadmap explicitly predicted – this opening up has inevitably been accompanied by more infection and more hospitalisation. Because we must be clear that we cannot simply eliminate Covid – we must learn to live with it. And with every day that goes by we are better protected by the vaccines and we are better able to live with the disease.”
For the full speech click here.