Features - Page 152

Enabling schools in Britain to return full-time for the new academic year has taken a capital effort from all involved, and it has not come without disputes between worried parents, teachers unions and the government, who have been keen for schools to be made Covid secure to allow pupils to return.

London based online market research agency FlyResearch has been issuing weekly polls to its research panel of over 3000 people throughout the coronavirus lockdown in the UK, in order to project how the outbreak and the implementing of social distancing has been impacting the daily life of UK citizens. This week, managing partner Greg Ward discusses the findings from the 24th wave of the Covid-19 tracker survey with the Leaders Council, published on September 10 and sourced from data collected on September 4.

Paul Newsham, partner at RfM Accountants, argues that there should be an extension to the £1,000 reward the government is paying companies per each employee they return from furlough.

Rivertrace Ltd has announced the launch of a new, web-based calibration portal developed in conjunction with development partner Intellore.

For anybody who shared prime minister Boris Johnson’s hopes for a large return to normality from the Covid-19 pandemic by Christmas, a significant setback was dealt this week as the government announced new restrictions banning social gatherings of more than six people.

International trade secretary Liz Truss hailed it a “historic moment” as the UK secured its first major post-Brexit trade deal, coming to an agreement with Japan that will look to boost trade between both nations by around £15 billion.

Boris Johnson has suggested that for many large families, Christmas this year may in effect be cancelled. Meanwhile, Ryan Ward has spoken about his commitment to his staff.

While this week’s news has largely been dominated by division over the government’s plans to override elements of the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the EU in 2019, for many business leaders, there remains a desire for clear and robust leadership through the Covid-19 crisis after the announcement of new restrictions on social gatherings and details of a “moonshot” plan for testing came to light in recent days.

Boris Johnson is facing a barrage of critiques over his new ‘moonshot’ testing plan. He has also suggested that for many large families, Christmas this year may in effect be cancelled. Meanwhile, Richard Raymond has some sage advice for business leaders.

Peterborough-based Spirotech Group, specialist engineers who provide manufacturing solutions for a range of industries, have been officially recognised by Cambridgeshire County Council for their work during the Covid pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing disruption forced the closures of schools across the United Kingdom in 2020, meaning that pupils were unable to sit GCSE, A-Level and other exams, which would be key to determining their futures. One of the pupil’s affected was Jordan Payne, who turned 18 on July 8 this year.

Details of the government’s plans for regulating trade between different parts of the UK were revealed on Wednesday with the publication of the Internal Markets Bill.

The well-documented Covid-19 pandemic has been a testing time for businesses and organisations across a number of industries, including social care. Abilities Development, a Wembley-based organisation that offers a range of practical and enjoyable activities to young people with disabilities, is one such operator in the sector that has not gone unaffected.

In 2019, the UK became the first G7 nation to set itself the ambitious goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. As part of this wider commitment, the government announced a Green Finance Strategy, confirming in July 2019 that a £5 million fund will be made available to help the financial sector develop green home finance products such as green mortgages.