The EIS has made a direct plea to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, urging her to do more to make schools safe from the risk of COVID-19.
In an unusual step, the EIS has written directly to the First Minister pointing out clear inconsistencies in COVID safety policy outwith and within schools, and urging the Scottish Government to do more to protect pupils, staff and school communities from the risk of COVID infection.
In the letter, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan says, “Standing alongside you at Monday’s daily briefing, (National Clinical Director) Jason Leitch stated that there were concerns around people meeting outside schools in large groups.
“He went on to say, ‘This includes parents gathering at school gates; young people meeting friends without following the guidance on physical distances.’ He concluded, ‘To remind you, the maximum permitted is eight people from three households, including your own, indoors, and 15 people from five households outdoors.’
‘Crucially, everyone 12 and over must physically distance from everyone outside their own household. People are running the risk of spreading the virus to each other, their families and their loved ones.’ May I ask, then, why the Scottish Government thinks that it is acceptable that inside schools these rules don’t apply, where up to 33 pupils may be in a closed confined area, i.e. a classroom, with as many different households as there are people?”
The letter continues, “We need the Scottish Government to fund the hiring of the 3,500 teachers identified by the GTCS as willing to aid Education recovery, so that we can reduce class sizes and make possible physical distancing.
“We also need stronger advice on face coverings, where physical distancing is not possible. You cannot visit a museum without one but again schools are different?”
Mr Flanagan adds, “EIS members supported the decision to reopen schools as we understand the importance of Education to our young people – that does not mean the very real concerns of teachers about school safety should be set aside. I urge you and your Government to do more.”
New research by Community Finance Solutions (CFS) at the University of Salford and Carnegie UK Trust has highlighted the impact that COVID-19 is having on affordable credit providers across England, Scotland and Wales.
More than 60 Credit Unions and Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) in England, Scotland and Wales took part in the study, which asked about the impact of Covid-19 on demand; lending volume; income; liquidity; viability, and confidence.
They reported a decline in the number of people seeking loans and a reduction in the size of loans being sought; a rise in the number of customers seeking payment holidays on their loans; and an increase in saving deposits.
Providers have furloughed staff and closed branches to help them deal with the impact of the pandemic. Some have adapted their business models, increasing the use of digital tools and introducing new products.
Those providers with the smallest average loan amounts (under £1,000) appear to have been most adversely affected by Covid-19, with a higher likelihood of furloughing staff, closing branches and of using government support schemes.
They are also less confident and more likely to forecast breaches of regulatory ratios or covenants and inability to meet short-term costs. These providers are the most likely to serve the most vulnerable and financially excluded.
There are likely to be a range of complex reasons behind the drop in the demand for credit. Positively, it may be because people have had support through other channels set up in response to the pandemic, such as the Job Retention Scheme or an interest free overdraft.
There have also been fewer opportunities for consumption during the crisis. Alternatively, some people may have not sought a loan from an affordable credit provider because their financial position has worsened and they may have to take other action, such as borrowing from family and friends or going without an important purchase.
There is concern that household finances will come under severe pressure as financial support interventions introduced in response to COVID-19 taper off and unemployment rises.
Affordable credit providers have a crucial role to play in supporting families through these difficult times, but this new research by the Trust and CFS shows that these providers are themselves vulnerable to the pandemic.
It will be essential that the affordable credit sector is supported to sustain and scale during this challenging period, so that it is able to support families and communities in the months ahead.
Pål Vik, Director, Community Finance Solutions said: “This research report finds that the short-term effects of Covid-19 are more acutely felt by those lenders targeting low-income consumers.
“The findings underline the needs for ongoing research and data collection to inform interventions to preserve the access to affordable credit for those that need it the most.”
Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive, Carnegie UK Trust said: “Affordable credit providers have a vital role to play in helping disadvantaged communities cope with Covid-19 and rebuild resilience afterwards.
“This research highlights the need to continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on affordable credit providers, and for the sector to receive the support that it needs to sustain and scale, ensuring that it can support those who are financially vulnerable.”
Sasha Romanovich, CEO, Fair4All Finance said: “Many more people in the UK will find themselves in vulnerable circumstances and the need for fair and affordable credit is likely to grow significantly over the coming months, not least as some high cost providers fail or withdraw from the UK market place.
“Fair4All Finance have a role as a catalyst to create a thriving and sustainable affordable credit sector, and we welcome this research.”
Michael Sheen, actor and social activist said: “It is vital that affordable lenders come through the current stage of the crisis to be able to support financially vulnerable consumers in the medium to long term.
“We need all those people with a voice – councils, housing associations, the third sector and the media – to highlight to those borrowers that often need access to small sums of money that fair credit is out there, at a fair price. ”
The Carnegie UK Trust has also recently published The 10% solution: How to make affordable credit more available to those who need it most as a short and full report.
This research examines the levels of high cost credit use and the provision of affordable credit across seven Scottish local authorities, reveals the gap between demand and appropriate supply, and puts forward a range of interventions available to local authorities that can support affordable credit providers and make a significant difference to the lives of low income individuals in their areas.
Increasing the market penetration of affordable credit providers in these seven areas to 10% of demand could save low income households nearly £5m a year.
While the research fieldwork for this report took place before the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrates the need for affordable credit, and the importance of supporting a resilient sector which can provide for financially vulnerable consumers in the years ahead.
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House on Thursday 18th August:
Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us again today. As usual I will start with giving you the national COVID-19 statistics for Scotland.
I can confirm that an additional 49 positive cases were confirmed yesterday.
Which represents 1% of the people who were newly tested yesterday, and takes the total number of cases in Scotland to 19,407.
A full health board breakdown will be available later, but my provisional information I have is that 7 of the 49 new cases are in the Grampian health board area.
Twelve are in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, six in Lanarkshire and sixteen in Tayside.
We are dealing with known clusters in each of these health board areas and I’ll come back to those shortly.
I can also confirm that a total of 254 patients are currently in hospital with confirmed COVID. That is six more than yesterday.
And three people are in intensive care, which is the same as yesterday.
I’m also pleased to report that yet again in the past 24 hours, no deaths were registered of patients who first tested positive over the previous 28 days. The number of deaths under that measurement therefore remains 2,491.
We should remember that the weekly National Records of Scotland figures – which include confirmed and presumed COVID deaths – showed last week that five people had died in the preceding seven days who were presumed to have had COVID or whose test was more than 28 days prior to death occurring.
This week’s more comprehensive figure will be published by NRS tomorrow.
That of course a stark reminder of the impact of this virus, it is still potentially very dangerous and of course my condolences again go to everyone who has suffered loss.
And as always, I want to thank everyone who is working hard still to help our country through this pandemic in whatever capacity you are doing so, you have our appreciation.
Now, I’m hoping that – circumstances permitting – we may shortly move to having these updates slightly less frequently, perhaps three days a week rather than five.
However, I think it is important this week, that I give regular updates on the variety of different clusters and outbreaks that are currently being tackled across the country.
I will start with Aberdeen, and given that and indeed the Grampian area more generally, have been responsible for a very significant proportion of all new cases we have seen in recent weeks.
I mentioned earlier that seven of today’s 49 new cases were in the Grampian area.
And I can report today that according to the latest figures we have a total of 386 cases have been now been identified in Grampian since the 26th of July.
220 of these are associated with the cluster linked to Aberdeen pubs, and 1125 contacts have now been identified from those 220 cases.
I can confirm today that 13 cases which had previously been identified but not allocated to the cluster have now following further investigation been added because they are considered to be associated with that cluster.
Now, the slightly more positive news is that in recent days we have seen a decline in new cases across the Grampian area.
Ten days ago, for example, we reported 39 new cases in one day. Today, we have reported seven.
The seven day average for cases has also fallen.
That suggests that the restrictions we put in place two weeks ago are having an impact – as are the efforts of our health protection teams.
However it is worth highlighting that over the past week new cases in Grampian are still higher than in other parts of the country.
We will have to take that fact into account, when we announce tomorrow whether or not there will be any change to the restrictions currently in place in Aberdeen.
The situation there does appear to be improving – but it is important to stress we can’t yet say that that outbreak is completely over.
I also mentioned yesterday about the cluster in Coupar Angus which is linked to a 2 Sisters food processing plant.
So far, I can report that this outbreak has nine confirmed cases associated with it – but I will be surprised, albeit pleasantly, if we don’t see that number rise in the days ahead.
Seven of the cases identified so far are employees of the factory, and two are people in the wider community. Contact tracing is ongoing for all of these cases.
The factory – which employs approximately 900 people in total – so it is a big workplace – closed down yesterday. A mobile testing unit is due on site today, so that the whole workforce can be tested.
This is a complex and potentially significant cluster.
In addition to the overriding public health concern relating to the outbreak, the closure of the plant potentially of course has an economic impact.
We also need to consider possible animal welfare issues – the animals which would have been sent to the factory in the next few days cannot currently be sent there.
For all of those reasons, we are monitoring all aspects of this situation very carefully and closely, and will provide further information in due course as and when it becomes available.
There are also some cases and clusters that have been identified in the last couple of days involving school pupils
For example, there are individual cases involving school students who go to primary schools in Blairgowrie, Perth and Paisley.
The health protection teams are dealing with these cases and have written to the parents and careers of the infected children’s classmates, to advise them where necessary that their own children should be isolating.
I also mentioned yesterday community clusters in Lanarkshire and North East Glasgow, which include secondary school students – and which appear to be linked to each other.
Now, it is important to stress that these are considered at this stage to be community clusters with an impact on schools, rather than school based clusters. That is an important distinction, it is not thought that the virus has transmitted within the schools
In Lanarkshire, the number of confirmed cases is eight, which includes five people from three different schools. The risk of infection at all three schools is considered low.
The cluster in Baillieston, North East Glasgow currently has 14 identified cases, some of which are students at one school.
Contact tracing is taking place for this cluster.
In addition – and this is of course relevant for both of those outbreaks I have just mentioned – there are mobile testing units at the Time Capsule car park in Coatbridge and at Ravenscraig, in addition to the testing centre at Glasgow airport.
Let me repeat a point I made earlier because I think it is really important for people to understand this. These are community based clusters. And there does appears to be a link with indoor social events.
And the evidence we have at this stage seems to suggest, not surprisingly given how infectious we know COVID is, that if the virus is present at say, a house party, everyone attending the party is at considerable risk of infection – and then of course, the risk is that they spread the infection more widely.
All of that underlines the vital importance right now of abiding by the restrictions on household gatherings.
If I can remind you of what those are, no more than eight people, from a maximum of three different households should be gathering indoors. And two metre distance should be maintained between people from different households.
These rules are not easy – I really do understand that. But not sticking to them is presenting perhaps one of our biggest risks of outbreaks occurring at this time.
So I can’t stress enough how important it is that we all do abide by and comply with these rules.
For all of the outbreaks I have mentioned, Test and Protect teams are working hard to identify individuals who need to self-isolate and get tested.
But as always, anybody who has symptoms – in these areas or indeed anywhere across Scotland – should book a test immediately.
The symptoms are a new cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change in your sense of taste and smell. Tests can be booked through the NHS inform website.
And I would appeal to you again, don’t hesitate, don’t delay, don’t wait, even a few hours to see if you feel better. If you experience any of these symptoms, time is of the essence, book a test as quickly as you possibly can.
Before I conclude and move on to questions and the Chief Medical Officer is with me today who will assist me in answering the questions. I just want to come to the issue of schools and say a final few words. Firstly to stress again that all of the cases we have seen so far which have involved school students, suggest that transmission has taken place outside of the school not in the schools.
That emphasises again the importance of keeping transmission rates as low as possible in the community, continuing to do everything we can to drive these transmission rates down as close to elimination levels as we can. That’s good for our overall health and wellbeing and the overall fight against this virus but it is also the action that will allow us to keep schools safely open. And let’s not forget the importance of that objective.
It is overwhelmingly in the best interests of young people, particularly after 4 or 5 months where they have been out of school, to be in full time education. The harm to them of losing out on that are considerable.
But we will, I think inevitably see more cases which involve school students in the weeks and months ahead.
In those cases – as has happened in the ones I’ve mentioned today – contact tracers will identify if any other students or staff at the school need to isolate, and will let them and their parents know.
More generally, the Test and Protect system so far has worked well for each outbreak we have faced to date.
And for every cluster, incident management teams in the local area are considering the latest evidence, and assessing what further follow up actions need to take place. I once again want to thank everyone involved in those efforts.
So when I give updates like today’s – providing details of cases and clusters in different parts of the country, and particular when some cases involving schools – I don’t do that to alarm you. Partly, I do it to try to reassure that the appropriate steps are being taken and appropriate interventions are in place. But although I don’t want to alarm anybody, I do want people to take notice, in fact I need people to take notice.
These clusters show us that this virus continues to pose a serious risk. It is present in our communities, and that’s why I keep saying where ever you are, assume it is right next to you and capable, if you don’t do the right things, of being transmitted to you, and perhaps from you to somebody else.
We know, and the evidence coming from recent clusters is underlining this point, this is a highly infectious virus, and once it takes hold, it can spread rapidly. And the effort that is needed then through our Test and Protect teams to stop it spreading is considerable and remember, Test and Protect is our second line of defence, we are all the first line of defence.
So for all of these reasons, the Scottish Government may well again take a fairly cautious approach on Thursday, when I will announce in the Scottish Parliament the outcome of our review of the Phase 3 lockdown restrictions.
But for all of us, these clusters should remind us of the need to be ultra-careful right now.
They demonstrate in particular how quickly and easily COVID spreads in indoor environments – which is why I am asking you to be particularly careful about socialising indoors.
And remember that the limits I mentioned earlier – a maximum of eight people from no more than three different households – apply to groups in pubs and restaurants together, just as they do in people’s homes.
And finally before we move to questions, all of us must continue not to just remember FACTS but in everything we do, abide by the rules that are encapsulated in that FACTS campaign.
These are the five basic rules that will help all of us to contribute to stopping this virus spreading and getting out of control. So those five rules are; · Face coverings in enclosed spaces · Avoid crowded places indoors or outdoors · Clean your hands regularly and remember to clean hard surfaces that you might be touching. · Two metre distancing remains the overall rule. Even perhaps especially if you are mixing with other households indoors, in your own home or elsewhere and lastly · Self-isolate, and book a test, if you have any of the symptoms of COVID that I mentioned earlier. A cough, a temperature, or a loss of, or change in your sense of taste or smell.
If we all do these things, we undoubtedly will continue to see clusters and outbreaks, but all of that will help us keep these contained and stop this virus taking a greater grip of us in terms of wider community transmission.
So, my thanks again to everybody for listening today and for continuing to do the right thing. And please, my usual plea at the end is, please spread this message to as many people as you can, so as many people as possible are following all of this vital health advice.
Paper proposes way forward to create stronger,self-sustaining communities
The Jimmy Reid Foundation has released a new report called ‘Building stronger communities’ (LINK FOR PAPER HERE) by Dave Watson.
Building upon his earlier papers for the Jimmy Reid Foundation, in this new paper he argues the pandemic has highlighted the importance of strong communities for supporting each other despite communities of place having been undermined by recent austerity.
The pandemic has also highlighted that political opportunities are opening up for society to be organised in new and quite different ways from before. In this context, he puts forward a set of proposals to create stronger, self-sustaining communities.
Summarising the paper:
Watson makes the case for a comprehensive programme to rebuild communities as the building block of a more equal, democratic, healthier and sustainable society. To do this, he deploys the concept of ‘social infrastructure’, namely, the physical conditions that determine whether personal relationships can flourish. When social infrastructure is robust, he argues, it fosters contact, mutual support, and collaboration among friends and neighbours. When degraded, it inhibits social activity, leaving families and individuals to fend for themselves. Watson looks at a wide range of initiatives that can strengthen social infrastructure including housing, libraries, leisure facilities, voluntary organisations, community ownership and the role of planning.
In this context, he argues that it has to be recognised that the governance of public services in Scotland is one of the most centralised in Europe. Consequently, he makes the case for national government to focus on setting frameworks, and leaving the delivery of services to local democratic control. And so, local integrated services should, he argues, be based around community hubs in recognisable communities of place. But this also includes, he suggests, repurposing our town centres in Scotland via community wealth building based on wellbeing and inclusion.
And, given the impact of austerity, Watson also recommends that stronger communities require fair funding for local services. Therefore, in addition to a fairer allocation of grant support, he argues the reform of both the council tax and business rates is long overdue and as are considering local levies for revitalised Common Good funds and the taxation of digital services. He adds that accompanying measures to decentralise powers at the local level are essential to democratise society and economy.
Commenting on his paper, Dave Watson said: ‘The paper argues that stronger communities will not happen by mere accident or as a result of more political rhetoric. Instead of a series of piecemeal initiatives, we need a comprehensive programme of action that covers all the factors that help build stronger communities.
By making communities the building block of our society, we can create a fairer Scotland where we care about each other, where people can pool their resources, demand accountability, build institutions and influence the decisions that affect them. This responds to evidence from polling that people want to be more engaged, but generally don’t feel part of the decision-making process.’
Dave Watson was head of policy and public affairs at UNISON Scotland until retiring in September 2018. He has been a government advisor on public service reform, health and energy policy.
He was an expert advisor to the Christie Commission that set the current framework for public service reform in Scotland. He now works on policy development, human resource and pension consultancy projects and is Secretary of the Socialist Health Association Scotland.
His previous papers for the Jimmy Reid Foundation papers are ‘Public Service Reform’ (2017) and ‘Municipal Socialism for Modern Scotland’ (2018).
Homegrown face mask supplier Screen & Shield has raised more than £7,000 for frontline health and care workers and local communities in its first two months of operations.
The Edinburgh-based firm has followed through on its pledge to give-back a portion of sales to NHS Charities Together and other worthy causes, thanks to the rapid growth of its operation.
Hass Peymani set up his #sasMASK brand from scratch, just 60 days ago – but since then, he’s had tens of thousands of masks produced to keep up with demand.
Hass, 40, who created the business from home while in lockdown with his family, said: “A fundamental aim of the #sasMASK was to raise funds for both charities that support frontline workers and local communities that were struggling in these difficult times.
“It seemed to me that – in a health crisis – anyone who was selling masks should be giving back to the community, and especially to those hardest hit.
“10% of all online sales go to NHS-related charities, but any participating groups / charities / influencers also receive 10% of the sales to support their own causes and communities – as well as their members benefiting from a 10% discount. No one else has offered a scheme to support communities like this.
“£7,000 may seem a relatively small sum given the scale of the problems, but – given our humble beginnings – we’re very proud of this figure and we are looking forward to making substantially more donations as we continue to grow.”
Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, said: “Thank you to Screen and Shield for supporting NHS Charities Together. Every donation will make a difference and will help NHS charities across the UK to support hospitals, community healthcare and social care with the ongoing and long term effects of the virus.”
Unlike many of the masks on the market, the #sasMASK is manufactured in Europe and complies with the latest material and layering guidelines for non-medical-grade face coverings.
The #sasMASK has not only been designed to be washable, comfortable and affordable but also comes in more than 50 designs.
Hass Peymani set up Screen & Shield from scratch after becoming alarmed at the poor quality and unavailability of face masks for his family as he faced lockdown with a pregnant wife and his dad in a high-risk category.
As well as sales to individuals, Screen & Shield have increasingly set up relationships with many businesses, community groups and organisations to supply masks to their networks.
British Embassy Warsaw is taking part in a campaign aimed at informing about the risks of becoming a victim of modern slavery:
British Embassy Warsaw, together with local partners in Poland (Ministry of Interior and Administration, Police, Border Guard and other NGOs), as well as with the support of some of the biggest local job advertising sites, has prepared a campaign aimed at informing about the risks of becoming the victim of modern slavery.
The campaign is focused on the issue of forced labour.
With the increasing uncertainty of the labour market, caused by the current pandemic, and with potentially more people seeking quick employment, there is a risk that this situation will be taken advantage of by criminal groups recruiting people for forced labour.
This risk is particularly relevant in the situation of those seeking employment abroad.
Our campaign informs how to safely look for employment, how to avoid being taken advantage of, and who to contact if you need help.
DETERMINED fundraisers across Scotland’s capital are set to unite against cancer by taking part in a special Race for Life weekend this September.
Organisers Cancer Research UK cancelled all 400 mass participation events in 2020 to protect the country’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. This included the Race for Life 5K and 10K at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh on June 21 and the Pretty Muddy obstacle race scheduled for September 12 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, as well as earlier May events at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry.
The charity is expecting a staggering £160 million drop in income in the year ahead with a £44 million cut to life-saving research funding already in 2020.
Now to help tackle the devastating loss, undeterred women and men are vowing to raise funds by completing their own Race for Life 5K in their nearest green space on Saturday September 26th. They plan to take part outdoors either alone or in small, socially distanced groups – but all on the same day – to help people with cancer.
Supporters can visit raceforlife.org and sign up free for a “Very 2020 Race for Life”.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “COVID-19 has made the fight against cancer even harder.
“With around 32,200 people diagnosed with the disease every year in Scotland,* we will never stop striving to create better treatments and to ensure people affected by cancer get the support they need. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need people to join us for a Very 2020 Race for Life.
“Vital cancer research has been delayed this year. Even though we have to Race for Life differently in 2020, nothing’s going to stop us running, walking and jogging to raise money and help beat cancer.
“Whatever the hurdle, we’ll keep going and we’d urge as many people as possible across Edinburgh to join in on September 26th. People can set off from their home to complete 5k their way that day. Things haven’t gone to plan for any of us in 2020. This is going to be a very 2020 Race for Life but together we will still beat cancer.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Thanks to the generosity of people across the city, participants in Edinburgh last year raised £339,694 to support vital research to develop gentler and more effective treatments for cancer – a disease that will affect one in two people in the UK at some stage in their lives.
A live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook page at 9.30am on Saturday September 26th will include an energiser from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer.
Participants are then invited to set off on their own Race for Life. Organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag, #Very2020RaceForLife.
Cancer Research UK’s work in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been at the heart of progress that has seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years. The charity currently funds around 50 per cent of all publicly funded cancer research in the UK. However, as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, promising projects which could have the big answers to cancer are being held up.
Lisa Adams said: “Cancer is still happening right now and we won’t let 2020 stop us.Whether people are taking part in Race for Life this September in their local park or even in their back garden, they’ll be united by a determination to beat cancer together.
“At a time when we’re having to keep apart from each other, there is still a way to unite. We’re urging everyone who has got behind Race for Life in the past to please continue supporting us. Sadly, cancer touches almost every family at some time and we want to do everything we can to help give people more tomorrows with their loved ones.”
Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The charity was able to spend over £8 million in Edinburgh and over £42 million in Scotland last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
Visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770. Join in and share with #Very2020RaceForLife
New research shows there is broad employer support for further increases to the minimum wage, but that government must help businesses to adapt to a higher wage floor.
The report – based on a survey of over 1,000 businesses conducted at the outset of the coronavirus crisis – shows that over half (54%) support the UK government’s policy of increasing the national living wage to two-thirds of median income by 2024, with fewer than one in ten (9%) opposing this move.
The report – produced by Learning and Work Institute and Carnegie UK Trust – finds that most employers said that the increase would not have a negative impact on their business, or on wider UK employment. A majority (54%) of businesses said that a higher minimum wage could help boost UK productivity.
The report showed that there was more concern among the employers that would be most impacted by an increase in the minimum wage, and among the sectors hit hardest by coronavirus.
Over half (55%) of employers with higher levels of low pay said the planned increase in the minimum wage would have a negative impact on their business, nearly double the figure for all employers (29%). Employers in hard hit sectors such as hospitality (41%) and retail (38%) were also more likely to fear a negative impact on their business.
While half (50%) of businesses said that they would not need to do anything to respond to a higher minimum wage, some employers said they would have to make changes which could have implications for consumers and workers:
22% of businesses said they would pass the cost on to consumers;
15% would hire fewer members of staff;
10% would increase the use of temporary or flexible contracts;
10% would also reduce staff benefits such as bonuses, breaks and discounts.
Most employers believe additional government support would be necessary to help employers manage an increase in the minimum wage. The most popular measure was additional help to invest in skills and training (supported by 37% of employers) followed by a temporary reduction in national insurance contributions (33%). Just one in six (17%) said government should not provide any support to employers.
Joe Dromey, deputy director for research and development at Learning and Work Institute, said:“Increasing the minimum wage could eradicate low pay, and help to tackle in-work poverty. Our research has shown that not only is a higher minimum wage popular among workers – it is supported by most employers too.
“The government can still deliver on their commitment to increase the minimum wage. But with higher unemployment as a result of the coronavirus crisis, we need to ensure that employers are supported to adapt.”
Douglas White, Head of Advocacy at the Carnegie UK Trust, said: “That most employers support a higher minimum wage is encouraging: even before the onset of the pandemic, there were too many workers struggling on low pay.
“The economic challenges caused by COVID-19 means it is even more important that future decisions around the minimum wage are ambitious in delivering better pay for low paid workers, while recognising the real challenges that many businesses are experiencing and providing them with essential support.
“We hope the ideas put forward in our employers’ survey are a helpful starting point for a dialogue about how the government can pursue its ambition to raise the wage floor without endangering job quality or employment.’
In our next and final report in the Future of the Minimum Wage series, we will set out recommendations for how government can achieve a balance between raising the wage floor, locking in job quality and protecting employment for more workers.
We would be pleased to hear your views on the findings of the report and the future of minimum wage policy in the UK.
You can get in touch with us on Twitter @CarnegieUKTrust, using the hashtag #MinimumWage, or you can let us know your thoughts by emailing Gail Irvine, Senior Policy and Development Officer, on gail@carnegieuk.org.
It is with a heavy heart that we need to inform our dear customers that the Royal McGregor will not be re-opened by the McGregor family who have operated the site for the past 20 years.
With only 18 months left on our current lease the COVID-19 pandemic could not have come at a worse time. Despite our best efforts our landlord would not agree to a lease extension which would have made continuing to trade a viable option.
We have shared so many wonderful memories with our loyal customers, family and amazing staff and will miss you all dearly. Thank you for being part of our success story, we will forever be grateful.
Please share any pictures you have either enjoying our hospitality or working with us. It would be nice to reminisce!
SHE new high school programme Mind, Body & Soul has launched.
SHE providing a blended learning approach with our educational partners.
Our groupwork programme supports young women (S1-S4) to manage stress and anxiety, develop techniques to improve confidence and self esteem and silence their inner critic.
Promoting self healing and improving skills to move forward and embrace life.
For more information please contact shescotland@outlook.com
