Page 5 - BOSS Today Issue 48

INTRODUCTION BOSS Today #48

ith non-essential retail as accessible as businesses as a COVID-Secure business. being since the beginning of
Wand large parts of the would like. Over one third I really urge members to take April and 87 of these being
hospitality sector opening of responding companies advantage of this support. emergency care packages. The
the country is surely moving to the April survey have We’ve launched our COVID- Charity has received heartfelt
out of lockdown and the applied to the CBILS: just over Secure Product Portal to ‘thank you’s explaining that
Government is walking a one quarter (26%) of those connect those members, who the money will enable people
tightrope of balancing the companies that had applied are making PPE and other to pay their rent and bills
chance of a second wave with for a business interruption products, which will enable and to buy food. It’s clear
the negative impacts on the loan had been successful in businesses to return to work the message is reaching the
economy of maintaining full their application at the time safely to those in the industry right people but please do
lockdown. of responding to the survey; who are looking to purchase continue to share and if you
Throughout this period, just over one fifth (21%) had them. are able to you can donate
we’ve been working to not been successful and over It was brilliant to welcome here: www.justgiving.com/
amplify the industry’s voice half (53%) were still waiting almost 100 members to our bossbusinesssupplies
to Government. Since our to find out the result of their first virtual BOSS Members’
last BOSS Today we’ve application. Indeed, most Day at the beginning of June. Thank you!
conducted another Business aspects of the loan schemes Our keynote speaker Dr Eliza
Impact Survey and hosted a application processes were Filby was insightful on the
roundtable with members and rated negatively, particularly Future of Work, and you can
the Department for Business, the time taken for approval. watch a recording of her
Energy & Industrial Strategy I’ve been so proud of the session here. We’ll be creating
(BEIS). We received a response BOSS team over the last 3 many more chances to come
to our letter to the Secretary months. Our HR team have together virtually over the
of State from Lord Callanan, been interpreting the schemes coming months, so keep
thanking the industry for released by the Government an eye on our website for
its offer of support and and passing this knowledge on future dates.
reiterating that businesses to our members. They’ve been Finally, since the
should remain open. creating guidance documents, beginning of 2020
Our second Business Impact not only on the schemes, but the BOSS Business
Survey really demonstrated also on working remotely Supplies Charity has
what a lifeline the Job from home, safeguarding paid out approx. £54k
Retention Scheme has been employees’ mental health in grants year to date,
for the majority of those and also key employment law with £27k of these
responding, almost three considerations. They can help
quarters of companies support any business that is
have been able to access looking at restructuring and
the portal and complete considering its options.
their application. 74% of Our H&S team have been
respondents wanted the helping members understand
scheme to be extended, with exactly which measures they
over 55% asking for the ability need to take to be COVID-
to roll people in and out of Secure. They have created
furlough, so we gratefully a simple eight step road
received the announcement map to walk companies
in June of its extension and logically through the whole
increased flexibility. process, including how to
However, with the exception assess vulnerable employees,
of the more recently- implement social distancing
introduced Bounce Back Loan effectively and undertake
Scheme, the Government risk assessments, ultimately
loan schemes have not been leading to their certification

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