5 October 2021
Latest NHBF update – 5 October 2021
This update covers:
- Help to Grow: Digital
- Polymer £20 & £50 notes to replace paper notes in 2022
- Children under 18 banned from getting botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers
- Apprenticeship incentives further extended by the Welsh Government
- VTCT and NCFE win T Level contract for Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics
- COVID-19 guidance
Help to Grow: Digital
The Department of Business, Energy and Industry Strategy (BEIS) is interested in talking to SMEs looking for new software or technologies to support their business growth. The Department is looking for participants to participate in user research over the coming month to help inform the design of the Help to Grow: Digital scheme to be launched this Autumn. The research session will take approx. 30 – 40 minutes and will be conducted via video conference (Teams or similar).
If you are interested in taking part in the research, please contact, becky.dempsey@beis.gov.uk
Help to Grow: Digital is free impartial advice on how back-office business technology can boost your performance, delivered through a new online platform launching this Autumn.
Eligible businesses can also claim a discount of up to 50% on the costs of approved software, worth up to £5,000.
You can register your interest in Help To Grow: Digital here
Polymer £20 & £50 notes to replace paper notes in 2022
The Bank of England will be withdrawing the legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 notes after 30 September 2022.
There are approximately £9 billion worth of paper £20 and £15 billion worth of paper £50 notes still in circulation. As they are returned to the Bank of England, these are being replaced with the new polymer £20 notes featuring J.M.W. Turner, and polymer £50 notes featuring Alan Turing. After 30 September 2022, the new polymer notes will be the only ones with legal tender status.
The Bank encourages anyone who has these at home to spend or deposit them at their bank or Post Office well ahead of next September. Nevertheless, businesses should expect to receive paper £20 and £50 notes right up to the final date, so make sure any employees handling cash stay trained on how to check these.
After 30 September 2022, the Bank of England will continue to exchange all withdrawn notes. For more information on this, please see their website.
Children under 18 banned from getting botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers
The 'Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act', which came into force on 1 October 2021 in England, has made it illegal to provide either procedure to under-18s for cosmetic reasons.
The policy restricts access to botulinum toxin (aka ‘Botox©’) and cosmetic fillers (commonly known as dermal fillers) for persons under the age of 18 years old, except in certain circumstances when a doctor approves the treatments, then administered by a doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist.
Read full story
Apprenticeship incentives further extended by the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government is further extending incentives to support businesses in recruiting apprentices in Wales until February 2022.
The Apprenticeship Employer Incentive Scheme is a key part of the Welsh Government's Covid Commitment to support businesses and workers in recovering from the impacts of coronavirus.
Under the scheme, businesses can claim up to £4,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25.
The £4,000 incentive will be available to businesses that are employing a young apprentice for at least 30 hours per week.
Welsh businesses could also receive £2,000 for each new under 25-year-old apprentice they employ for less than 30 hours a week.
For workers aged 25 and over, businesses can access £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire on a 30 hour or more contract and a £1,000 incentive for apprentices working less than 30 hours.
Read for further details
VTCT and NCFE win T Level contract for Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics
VTCT will support NCFE as its specialist partner to design and develop the T Level Technical Qualification in Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics. The T Level contract was awarded to NCFE by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute).
The announcement made by the Institute and the Department for Education (DfE) is part of the fourth wave of implementation for the new programme of T Levels. Development on these qualifications will begin immediately and delivery of the Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics T Level is scheduled to commence across England in 2023.
To find out more about T Levels, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels
https://www.vtct.org.uk/t-levels
COVID-19 guidance
Members can call our membership team, Monday-Friday, 9-5, on 01234 831965. Please be patient due to the extremely high level of calls we are currently getting.
For legal advice, Members can login to get our 24/7 legal helpline number. Again, please be patient. The legal team is also dealing with a considerable number of calls.