INSIDER SEP 2018

INSIDER SEP 2018

September 2018

NEW STS FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS Safeguard your customers and your reputation UPCOMING EMPLOYMENT LAW CHANGES

What are the legislation changes this October? FIRST AID TRAINING

Check out our upcoming Emergency First Aid at Work classroom courses!

NEW STS FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

All Food Version

STS’ food safety certifications for food suppliers are well established and widely recognised nationally as reputable, independent third-party certifications for food safety.   September 1st saw the launch of the new STS food safety standard for food suppliers and distributors. We have created 3 versions of this food safety standard in order to suit the needs of different food supply organisations:

Suitable for food manufacturers who either produce and distribute food via their own vehicles, or...

Food manufacturers who have arrangements in place for 3rd party distribution

Storage & Distribution

Suitable for suppliers who do not manufacture their own products but have their own distribution vehicles

Buyers & Brokers

Suitable for companies, agent and procurement agencies who purely provide a buying service and do not manufacture or distribute foods (or related products)

Ultimately meeting the STS food safety standard will help you safeguard your consumers as well as your reputation. The STS Food Safety Standard for Food Suppliers and Distributors supersedes the previous ‘Public Sector Code of Practice’ however it retains all the key elements such as the control of listeria. It also has been expanded to include distribution, requirements such as TACCP and additional product authenticity controls.   Fiona Sinclair, STS Director, comments  ‘we are pleased to support the food supply chain industry in respect of food safety, quality and legality with our new  STS Food Safety Standard. This provides a technical standard which is tailored, streamlined, current and robust. In addition to the STS code of practice, STS also offer a food safety certification for small and regional suppliers and are UKAS accredited to undertake BRC audits.

The food safety standards set out within the new standard are robust and comprehensive, yet clear and straightforward and covers all activities which may affect food safety, quality and legality of products.

Gaining STS certification will bring many benefits to your business:

Helps you - the supplier - demonstrate to your customers that you have robust food safety standards in place and often is a pre-requisite to supply Provides positive recognition for you and your teams for the commitment and resource they apply to food safety.   A valuable opportunity for you to receive clear feedback on what you are doing well and where to strengthen your business.  

For more information on certification for your business please contact our food safety team on 0845 862 8030.

OCTOBER 2018 EMPLOYMENT LAW CHANGES We’re fast approaching October’s employment law changes but you can breathe a sigh of relief, there is only once legislative change that is coming into force throughout the remainder of the year; the upcoming changes to the childcare voucher scheme.

Looking ahead at 2019’s employment law legislative changes, the one we need to keep our eye on at the moment is the executive pay gap reporting.

Changes to childcare vouchers

From October, salary sacrifice childcare vouchers will no longer be available to new applicants. This was due to cease in April 2018 however the Government extended the deadline until October 4th 2018. That means as of October 4th employers can no longer offer the scheme to anyone that is not already taking part. Unless your payroll runs early in the month you will have to make sure that childcare vouchers are applied to the September 2018 salary payment. For example, if your pay date is October 30th then that will be too late for an employee to apply for the salary sacrifice as it is past the October 4th deadline. They employee needs to have their application in place for the September 30th pay date. Replacing the salary sacrifice scheme is the Tax- Free Child Care initiative which runs directly between the Government and the parent. This is good news for employers as it means that the employer is no longer involved in the payment or administration of child care vouchers (apart from those already on the previous scheme). 

Executive pay gap reporting

Although not relating to gender pay reporting, the theme of transparency will continue as of January 1st 2019 when the new Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018 come into force. The regulations will require companies with an average of more than 250 staff to report on pay between employees and executives. The actual calculations, much like gender pay gap reporting, may be tricky in terms of having to include bonus and share incentive payments so it will be important for companies to seek advice on what will be necessary, particularly given mandatory reports will need to be published by 2020. We’re here to help. For more information on either of these employment law changes you can get in touch with us on 08450 50 40 60 or can email us at [email protected].

UPCOMING FIRST AID TRAINING COURSES

As an employer it’s your responsibility to ensure that if an employee falls ill or suffers an injury that they receive immediate first aid. The consequences of failing to provide first aid can be devastating. Additionally, the HSE can prosecute in cases where there is a significant risk, a disregard of established standards, or persistent poor compliance with the Health & Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. It doesn’t matter if you’re self-employed,  have 3 employees or 3000 it’s your responsibility to ensure that your business has qualified first aiders. Our Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (L3 EFAW) training course is the perfect way to ensure you comply with your legal and moral responsibilities.

We have a variety of L3 EFAW courses running up and down the country throughout next couple of months. As always, if there isn’t a date or location that suits your schedule you can get in touch with our training team who will be able to source an alternative. As well as open courses, we are also able to provide bespoke L3 EFAW training for your company at your own premises!

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work:

10th October - £59pp Charles House, Eccles, Manchester M30 0PW

16th October - £84pp The Malone Lodge, Belfast, BT9 6DY

Topics covered include: - Responsibilities and reporting - Dealing with an unresponsive casualty - Basic hygiene in first aid - Resuscitation and AED awareness - Bleeding control - Burns - Choking

23rd October - £84pp Corby

25th October - £109pp Premier Meetings London, Clapham SW8 3JW

6th November - £59pp Charles House, Eccles, Manchester M30 0PW

8th November - £84pp Newcastle Premier Inn, Quayside, NE1 3AE

For more information on our L3 EFAW training courses or to book your place on any of the above please get in touch with our training team on 08450 50 40 60 or email [email protected]

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T: 08450 50 40 60 E: [email protected] W: www.elas.uk.com