Barclays Economic Update: Flash UK Composite Output Index Decreased to 57.7 in Nov’21

According to data published by HIS Markit/CIPS, the seasonally adjusted flash UK composite output index decreased marginally to 57.7 in nov’21 from a final index of 57.8 in oct’21. The report indicates that while UK private sector firms registered an increase in overall customer demand in nov’21, the average costs for firms also increased due to higher wages and input price inflation.

The seasonally adjusted flash UK manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) increased to 58.2 in nov’21 from a final index of 57.8 in oct’21. The index stood at the highest for three months from sep’21 to nov’21, driven by an increase in output, new orders and employment during the period. the report indicates that export sales decreased slightly in nov’21 compared to oct’21, with long lead times and Brexit trade frictions impacting sales to customers in the European Union (EU).

The seasonally adjusted flash UK services PMI business activity index decreased to 58.6 in nov’21 from a final index of 59.1 in oct’21. Despite recovery in sales volumes with an increase in domestic as well as export demand in nov’21, the sector recorded margin pressures due to an increase in input costs and a slower increase in prices charged to clients.

Covid 19 Update Government Announcement: The Prime Minister has announced new rules to help us all protect ourselves and others from a new variant of COVID-19 called Omicron.

The Omicron variant has extensive mutations from previous versions of the virus so we need to take urgent measures to protect ourselves from it.

UK scientists are working hard to find out more about the new variant. In the meantime, we must all follow new guidelines to help slow its spread:

Face coverings

New COVID-19 rules on wearing face coverings in England will go ahead from tomorrow, 30 November.

Face coverings must be worn in shops and other similar businesses such as banks, post offices and personal care venues like hairdressers, as well as on public transport. This is enforceable by law and people face fines if they do not follow the rules.

People with certain medical conditions are exempt.

Travel

The Government is also bringing in measures to prevent new cases from abroad.

All travellers arriving into the country from 4am on Tuesday 30 November will be required to take a PCR test on day 2 and self isolate until they have received a negative test result. These PCR tests can be purchased from private providers.

A number of countries have been added to the red list. UK residents arriving from these countries must isolate in a government-approved facility for 10 days. During their stay, they will be required to take a coronavirus test on day 2 and day 8.

Isolation rules

If you come into contact with someone who tests positive with a suspected case of Omicron you will also have to self-isolate for ten days, even if fully vaccinated.

The new measures on our borders, self-isolation and face coverings will be reviewed in three weeks.

Vaccines

We have good reasons for believing booster vaccines will provide some protection from the new variant so it is important that everyone who is eligible for vaccines or a booster jab get them as soon as possible.

You can book online and join the 17 million people who have already had a booster or third jab.

By practising key safer behaviours and actions, we can continue to protect ourselves and others and help reduce the virus spreading.

Please encourage people in your community to follow these behaviours and actions that include: Wash your hands regularly; Test regularly; Stay at home when you feel unwell; Download and use the COVID-19 NHS App.

Ensuring these protections are a part of our everyday behaviours will control transmission of the virus.

The details of the Prime Minister’s announcement are online. There is also a version of his announcement on YouTube with BSL. Please share these links with your networks.

Get in touch with us if you need more information, with questions or comments, via cv19-externalaffairs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

FDF Update: As you may have seen in our communications last week, there will be a Westminster Hall Debate on the contribution of food and drink to the UK economy on Wednesday 1 December. This will be led by John Stevenson MP, Chair of the APPG on Food and Drink. The FDF is briefing MPs, but we would also encourage you to ask your site MPs to participate in the debate. This is a great opportunity not only to showcase the sector, but to raise challenges faced by your business and any concerns about upcoming regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Julie.

Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021
On 23 November, Peers held a debate on the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021. The Regulations concern the introduction of restrictions on promotions of less healthy products by volume price and location for retailers in England with 50 or more employees. Location restrictions will apply to store entrances, the ends of aisles, checkouts and their online equivalents—for example, home pages and payment pages. Volume price restrictions will prohibit retailers from offering promotions such as buy one, get one free or three-for-two offers on less healthy products. The motion was agreed to.

Defra Labour market survey

The aim of this survey is to collect up-to-date, accurate and representative data on the current state of the labour market in key sectors of the UK economy. To ensure that survey findings remain up-to-date this survey is sent out weekly and we ask that you continue to complete it each week. To make this easier, the survey has been revised this week to make it easier and quicker to fill out. It should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. This week’s survey will run from Friday 26 November (today) until Thursday 2 December.
Your contributions to this survey are highly valued and will directly inform assessments of the supply of labour. Findings will be used to brief senior officials and Ministers. We encourage you to continue flagging any key concerns to support decision making.
Due to the sensitivity of this data this survey is completely anonymous and we will not be sharing the raw data outside of central government. Any presentation or use of the data will only be across government.
We encourage those feeling stressed or anxious by any themes covered in this survey to contact:

The Farming Community
The Samaritans
Their local GP

Certain Products of Animal Origin can continue to be imported from the European Union (EU) from 1 January 2022.

Last week, an updated Border Operating Model was published by the Government.
The Border Operating Model confirmed that the grace period for Prohibitions and Restrictions (P&Rs) on certain Products of Animal Origin (POAO) imports will continue.
From 1 January 2022, businesses can continue to import the following commodities from the EU into Great Britain until 30 June 2022.

chilled minced meat (beef, pork, lamb, mutton and goat)
chilled and frozen minced poultry meat
mechanical separated meat from porcine, poultry and ratite or game birds
ungraded eggs
chilled meat preparations

For further information visit GOV.UK. If you have any questions, please contact: traders@defra.gov.uk

Moving goods to NI and EU

The online Trader Showcase can be accessed by using the links below:

The new Trader Showcase site works with most modern browsers, but is best viewed using Chrome, Firefox, Safari and the latest two versions of Edge.

Points-based Immigration system

On 1 January 2021 the Government introduced the new points-based immigration system, under which EU and non-EU citizens are treated equally.
The Home Office’s communication campaign continues to raise awareness and understanding that there is a new immigration system. The key messages to communicate to businesses are that free movement has now ended and there are new requirements with which audiences must comply. The way UK businesses hire from the EU has changed, and to recruit from outside the UK they will need to be a licensed sponsor.
The Home Office have refreshed their introduction to the points-based system for employers – please see the see the new employer pack here.

UK Food Security Report 2021
DEFRA has announced that the statistics for the UK Food Security Report 2021 will be released on 16 December 2021, 9:30am. The report sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. The report examines past, current, and predicted trends relevant to food security to present the best available understanding of food security. [Source: DEFRA, 24 November

HSE eBulletin

HSE Manufacturing e-Bulletin

Issued: 26 November 2021

Manufacturing is one of five sectors that will be specifically targeted in a new campaign aimed at helping small businesses with easy to implement advice, including simple steps to introduce the principles of the stress management standards.

Working Minds campaign launched

Launched by Sarah Albon, chief executive of HSE, at the HSE Health and Work Conference earlier this month, Working Minds raises awareness about how to recognise and respond to the signs of stress to protect workers and support good mental health to help people to stay well.

Work-related stress is now the number one cause of employee sickness absence, with major factors causing work-related stress including workload pressures – tight timescales, too much responsibility and a lack of managerial support.

We’re calling for a culture change across British manufacturing where recognising and responding to the signs of work-related stress becomes as routine as managing safety.

Our campaign partners

Working with partner organisations including Composites UK, Engineering Contractors Association, Mind, Acas and Mates in Mind, we will provide businesses with relevant information and practical tools.

Operations Manager at Composites UK Dr Sue Halliwell said: “A physically fit and mentally healthy workforce can deliver increased productivity, increased staff retention, and ensure employees are more fully engaged in their work.

“The manufacturing sector has traditionally focused on physical health and safety, but mental health and wellbeing is now rightfully demanding increased attention. Work related stress can be a significant cause of illness leading to absence, staff turnover and other issues such as increased capacity for error; the pandemic has only added to already increasing pressures across all businesses.

“Composites UK is proud to be working with HSE and through the SIMPLC (Safety in manufacturing of plastics and composites) initiative to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health practices at work, ensuring our members have access to the right information and tools to enable them to continue to operate safely and effectively.”

Make it Routine

Working Minds is aimed specifically at supporting small businesses by providing employers and workers with easy to implement advice that directs employers to Make it Routine by Reaching out, Recognising, Responding and Reflecting.

Sharing personal experience is a powerful way of helping others to understand the real-life impacts of these issues. If you have an experience of work-related stress – either personally or managing stress as an employer – we’d love to hear from you. Please email campaigns@hse.gov.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.

Find out more about the Working Minds campaign