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COVID-19 Update 20th October 2021

Kickstart Guidance Updated

The Guidance on the Kickstart scheme has been updated and consolidated to make it easier for businesses to navigate their way around the scheme.

It is important for businesses to remember that the scheme will be closing on 17 December 2021. From this date, businesses will not be able to:

    • apply for a new Kickstart Scheme grant
    • add more jobs to an existing grant agreement

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-your-kickstart-scheme-vacancies

 

Compassionate Exemption From Quarantine

DHSC has published guidance on exemptions from quarantine on compassionate grounds.  This is a very limited exemption that can only be applied for if a person needs to visit to a severely ill or dying, relative or household member and application must be accompanied by evidence such as a letter from the hospice or medical facility where the relative or household member is staying.

People granted compassionate exemption must:

    • quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days (the day you arrive in England is day 0), or longer if you test positive for COVID-19
    • provide the names of household members at the address where you intend to quarantine – everyone in the household in which you are quarantining must also isolate for the full quarantine period
    • take a day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 test

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exemptions-from-managed-quarantine-for-compassionate-reasons

 

Updated Guidance On Medical Exemptions

As well as the guidance on Compassionate Exemptions, the Government has updated the guidance on medical exemptions from quarantine. The updated guidance contains new information on

    • the evidence that must be supplied as part of an application for an exemption
    • the process for asking for a review of an application that is declined
    • the evidence need as part of the review

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exemptions-from-managed-quarantine-for-medical-and-compassionate-reasons

 

Apprenticeship Guidance Updated

The guidance to businesses with apprentices has been updated to

    • remove the apprentices on furlough section now that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has ended.
    • Reflect Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education extending end-point assessment discretions and flexibilities.
    • Remove the following temporary flexibilities:
      • permitting email confirmation as evidence of achievement of qualifications where awarding organisations were unable to issue certificates
      • enabling apprentices to spend more than 50% of their working hours outside England where they were unable to return to England to work
      • permitting end-point assessment prior to FSQ achievement

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response/providing-apprenticeships-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

 AOA Decarbonisation Report

I have attached a copy of a new AOA report on decarbonisation that was launched as part of it’s annual conference which was held today. The headline figure is that UK airports halved their carbon emission between 2010 and 2019. The Report sets out the further actions airports are taking to reduce their energy use, invest in sustainable energy and heat generation and work with third parties to reduce the emissions by airlines, groundhandling companies, passengers and people working at the airport that occur at and near to airports. These include:

  • Investing in renewable energy generation, including solar farms near or on airport land
  • Investing in zero-emission vehicles used by the airport
  • Improving the energy efficiency of equipment and buildings
  • Scoping options to invest in using or generating renewable heat at airports
  • Upgrading airspace to make the most of the capabilities of modern aircraft and reduce noise impacts and emissions
  • Encouraging staff and passengers to use sustainable transport to the airport, including working with local, devolved and UK governments to invest in sustainable surface access
  • Working with airlines, universities and aerospace manufacturers to develop zero-emission aircraft, including researching what is necessary to prepare airport infrastructure for electric or hydrogen aircraft propulsion
  • Working with groundhandling companies to reduce or eliminate emissions from vehicles operating at the airport

 

Government’s Net Zero Strategy

While we are on the subject of Climate Chance, the big new item today was the Government launching it’s Net Zero Strategy. While a lot of the headlines were associated with domestic heat pumps there were two funding announcements that are of particular relevance to the UK domestic and international tourism sectors. There are:

    • Another £620 million for targeted electric vehicle grants and infrastructure, particularly local on-street residential charge points
    • £180 million to support the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel plants

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

 

agto@agto.co.uk
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