International Business Management

The hospitality industry is going through “carnage” and needs more government help.

The chancellor’s grants for closed businesses fall way short of covering their costs, an online “round table” event was told.

Philippa Goodwin, finance director of the Hoburne Group of holiday parks – with a site at Bashley in the New Forest – said income from food, beverages and entertainments had “really suffered”, but was “slightly subsidised” by areas such as holiday home sales.

“In terms of the government support it’s somewhat lacking at the moment. The grants that we’ve been able to claim this time round are pathetic,” she said.

“Our costs are still high. Furlough has been great but we’ve got probably about 800 people across our business and it’s quite complicated in terms of weekly variable pay. The furlough claim is hugely complex but it certainly has helped us keep people employed.”

Mark Cribb, owner of … Read the rest

Rune Sovndahl, Founding Partner of leading service provider Fantastic Services, is petitioning to clean up the home service industry.

Sovndahl polans to do this through a “Swedish style” scheme that will remove cash in hand payments through government subsidised home services – enabling tax rebates for customers and reducing VAT for registered home service companies – in a campaign that aims to stimulate the jobs market.

Rune, who Co-Founded Fantastic Services in 2009, believes the initiative would have a positive effect in creating more domestic cleaning and home services jobs in an industry worth £6 billion per year in the United Kingdom.

He says, “the UK government is losing millions of pounds each year in under the table payments made to unregulated cleaners, plumbers, gardeners, handymen, builders and electricians; and I call upon the government to implement tax rebates that can be used to move people away from low quality … Read the rest

Reed the UK’s leading job site, is working with NHS Jobs to promote over 1,200 COVID-19 critical roles that need to be filled.

Roles range from nurses and practitioners to radiographers, housekeepers and paramedics, as well as vital roles within the national vaccination programme.

The increase in roles coincides with the rollout of the vaccine across the UK and demonstrates the NHS’s continued need for support in the fight against Coronavirus.

Jobseekers have shown a keen interest in supporting the health service through the pandemic, with a 2,544% increase in COVID-19 related searches on reed.co.uk in the first two weeks of January compared with the first two weeks of December. Terms such as “vaccinator” and “COVID Tester” were some of the most searched terms relating to the pandemic response during the first two weeks of January.

Healthcare assistants, nursing and occupational therapy positions are currently in the highest demand, followed … Read the rest

The City regulator has asked banks to reconsider branch closures during the coronavirus lockdown as these could have “significant consequences” for vulnerable customers.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that banks should consider the impact of the coronavirus restrictions on their ability to comply with regulatory guidance on closing branches, which include treating customers fairly and consulting vulnerable and hard-to-reach customers.

In September, the City watchdog introduced a new requirement on banks to assess customer needs carefully and consider the availability and provision of alternative arrangements, such as online banking, where closures or conversions are planned.

Under the guidance, the FCA expects banks to ensure vulnerable and hard-to-reach customers are aware of the proposals and are able to contact banks. The regulator also called on banks to engage with customers, where appropriate, to understand their needs and consider how they will be affected by branch closures.

The regulator said that … Read the rest

We all stand to benefit from a carbon free future – which will mean cleaner air, a more sustainable planet, and thriving businesses and communities.

So the Government’s ambitious new commitment to cut carbon emissions faster than any other major economy in the next decade is certainly welcome.

Will Richardson, Founder and CEO, Compare Your Footprint explains that businesses will be critical in helping to achieve this aim – and all SMEs need to be equipped with the right information and tools to play their part. Wherever businesses are on their carbon journey, we must ensure that no company is left behind.

With carbon targets high on the agenda for many policymakers, businesses, consumers, and employees alike, the time is now for all SMEs to ensure they really understand their role – and how to do more.

Boris Johnson recently announced the new UK target of at least a 68% … Read the rest