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Plan B Coronavirus Restrictions
plus funded online courses update from Vic Annells, Chief Executive
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| By now many of you will have begun to have conversations with your staff about the latest government guidance to be announced with Plan B.
In efforts to slow the spread of Omicron, face coverings will be required in more public spaces, the NHS Covid Pass will be required for larger unseated venues and from Monday 13 December, those that are able to work from home, should do so.
Whilst public health and protection of the NHS is of course a priority, and we are supportive of measures to this effect, we are disappointed not to see these further restrictions preceded by a plan for financial support for businesses in the event that they cannot operate economically due to the change in behaviours that these new measures will illicit. |
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In an interview with BBC Look East today I have stressed the importance of renewed government support for business during this time, in the form of an effective financial support programme for anyone who will not be able to operate normally under these restrictions, including those that have an indirect impact, including our hospitality industry who will see fewer customers whilst working from home rules apply.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, said “the government must once again stand shoulder to shoulder with business and provide a package of support to ensure that we get through a challenging winter without serious damage to our economic recovery.”
The move towards requiring vaccine passports for larger unseated venues signals the importance of the vaccination and booster programme in the government’s plan for tackling the pandemic. However, there are concerns that this will result in considerable burden for venues in terms of implementation and enforcement and may put employees at increased risk of harassment. It remains to be confirmed whether the legal responsibility for compliance will lie with the individual, as is the case with the use of face coverings, or with the businesses themselves.
Lastly, we are relieved to see efforts to avoid a recurrence of the ‘Pingdemic’ seen earlier this year, as we shift from requiring contacts of confirmed Omicron cases to self-isolate, in favour of daily lateral flow testing, and the need to isolate mitigated by a negative test result.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE “this will give businesses providing critical services a chance to maintain staff levels at a time when these are already strained by labour shortages.”
CPCA-Funded Online Courses
Cambridge Regional College (CRC) have secured funding from the Combined Authority to support businesses to train their staff via a suite of online qualifications, ranging from digital skills to leadership and management and everything in between. These free courses are fully accredited by either NCFE or TQUK and upon successful completion of the course the learner will be awarded a formal qualification. Apply online today and one of their training talent team will be in touch to help you get started.
Skills Bootcamp in Digital
Government-funded bootcamps in digital skills are also available to those living in the East of England. Free digital skills short courses delivered online by CRC are designed to increase your digital skills and enhance your career potential. Skills Bootcamps offer a range of delivery options giving you the opportunity to build specialist skills in website production and analytics, advanced database design with excel and digital marketing. Funding is available for those both employed and unemployed, 19+, living in the East of England with the right to work in the UK. To find out more and to apply click here >
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION LINKS ON ALL ASPECTS:
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