14 June 2022
Latest NHBF update – 14 June 2022
This week's update covers:
- The National Apprenticeship Awards
- Metric or imperial (or both)?
- Cyber security webinars
- Skills campaign video
- Guidance on pregnant workers and new mothers
- More business leaders to benefit from Help to Grow: Management scheme
The National Apprenticeship Awards
Calling all apprentices, employers, ambassadors and individuals who champion apprenticeships... the National Apprenticeship Awards 2022 are now open for applications!
Back for their 19th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the apprentices, employers and champions who have gone above and beyond.
Entries to the awards are open from 6th June to 1st July 2022. It is free to enter the awards, and all entries must be made through this application website.
Cyber security webinars
The National Cyber Security Centre is holding a free webinar for sole traders and micro-businesses on how to improve their cybersecurity on Thursday 16 June.
A small business's average mean cost of a cyber security breach in 2019 was £11,000. This amount takes into account direct expenditures like ransom payments and hardware replacements, as well as indirect costs like business interruption.
Metric or imperial (or both)?
The Government is seeking views from a range of stakeholders, including salons and barbershops, about whether the current system of weights and measures for consumer transactions should be changed to allow imperial measures to be used by themselves, without the need for metric to be included alongside them. You can respond online here.
Skills campaign videos
The Department for Education has produced a number of videos on the benefits for employers of apprenticeships, traineeships, T Levels and HTQs as part of the Join the Skills Revolution campaign. There are also a webinar this week on How do industry placements contribute to workforce development and what are the practical steps you need to take? (16 Jun).
The session will explore:
- What industry placements are
- The resources and staff that that you’ll need to offer industry placements
- What’s involved in hosting the placement - roles, responsibilities and actions
- Ideas, solutions and practice from employers like you
- Tools and support available to help you, including how to access further 1-2-1 free support from our specialist team
Guidance on pregnant workers and new mothers
The Health and Safety Executive has updated its guidance on protecting pregnant workers and new mothers, which can be found here.
Employers are responsible for providing a safe working environment while effectively managing risks to the health and safety of all workers, including women of a childbearing age.
You must carry out an individual risk assessment for pregnant workers and new mothers. This applies to workers who:
- are pregnant
- have given birth in the last 6 months, or
- are currently breastfeeding
Not sure what to do when a member of staff tells you they are pregnant? This guide free for NHBF Members providesyou with information on organising maternity leave, maternity pay, KIT days, the laws on breastfeeding, returning to work and flexible working. As well as paternity, shared parental leave and adoption leave.
More business leaders to benefit from Help to Grow: Management scheme
A ground-breaking government scheme to boost the productivity and future growth of the country's business community will benefit even more entrepreneurs from today (Tuesday 14 June).
The Help to Grow: Management scheme offers business leaders 50 hours of leadership and management training across 12 weeks, backed by £220 million of government funding, which covers 90% of the costs involved.
It means for as little as £750 business leaders can benefit from one-to-one support from a business mentor, access to a network of like-minded business leaders, and a bespoke growth plan to help the business reach its full potential.
The scheme offers development opportunities for leaders and their staff, boosting productivity and growing their companies which can lead to more high-skill, high-wage jobs. This is part of the government's commitment to grow the economy to address the cost of living and level up opportunity across the UK, alongside standing behind businesses by cutting fuel duty and raising the Employment Allowance.
Up until today, eligible businesses could only have one participant on the scheme. From today, businesses with 10 or more employees will be eligible to have up to 2 participants join the scheme. Additionally, previous participants on the Small Business Leadership Programme will now be eligible to join the scheme.
Find out more about the Help to Grow schemes on the dedicated website.