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TRAINING - Facing mass unemployment with large job losses being announced daily, the government is announcing large scale funding to help people retrain.

The Prime Minister will today set out plans to transform the training and skills system, making it fit for the 21st century economy, and helping the country build back better from coronavirus.

Adults without an A-Level or equivalent qualification will be offered a free, fully-funded college course – providing them with skills valued by employers, and the opportunity to study at a time and location that suits them.

This offer will be available from April in England, and will be paid for through the National Skills Fund. A full list of available courses will be set out shortly.

Higher education loans will also be made more flexible, allowing adults and young people to space out their study across their lifetimes, take more high-quality vocational courses in further education colleges and universities, and to support people to retrain for jobs of the future.

These reforms will be backed by continued investment in college buildings and facilities – including over £1.5 billion in capital funding. More details will be set out in a further education white paper later this year.

The coronavirus pandemic and changing economy is why the Prime Minister is developing a long-term plan to ensure that, as work changes, people can retrain, upskill and find new well-paid jobs.

In a speech on Tuesday, the Prime Minister is expected to announce a new Lifetime Skill Guarantee. He will say:

As the Chancellor has said, we cannot, alas, save every job. What we can do is give people the skills to find and create new and better jobs.

So my message today is that at every stage of your life, this government will help you get the skills you need.

He will add:

We’re transforming the foundations of the skills system so that everyone has the chance to train and retrain.

Apprenticeship opportunities will also be increased, with more funding for SMEs taking on apprentices, and greater flexibility in how their training is structured – especially in sectors such as construction and creative industries where there are more varied employment patterns.

In 2000, over 100,000 people were doing Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, but that has reduced to fewer than 35,000 now. Those doing foundation degrees has declined from 81,000 to 30,000.

As a result, only 10% of adults hold a Higher Technical Qualification as their highest qualification, compared to 20% in Germany and 34% in Canada.

This is despite the fact that five years after completion, the average Higher Technical Apprentice earns more than the average graduate.

That is why the government is committed to making higher education more flexible to facilitate lifelong learning, and to make it easy for adults and young people to break up their study into segments, transfer credits between colleges and universities, and enable more part-time study.

This new arrangement will provide finance for shorter term studies, rather than having to study in one three or four year block.

The government is also committing £8 million for digital skills boot camps; expanding successful pilots in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands and introducing programmes in four new locations.

From next year, boot camps will be extended to sectors like construction and engineering, helping the country build back better and support our refreshed Industrial Strategy.

Earlier this year the government launched its free online Skills Toolkit, helping people train in digital and numeracy skills. This is being expanded today to include 62 additional courses.

£2.5 billion is also being made available through the National Skills Fund to help get people working again after COVID, as well as giving those in work the chance to train for higher-skilled, better-paid jobs.

ABC Note: The UK workforce currently totals around 33.0 million, of which …

… around 16.7% (5.5 million) work in the public sector, of which …

… only around 1.4% (459 thousand - around 8.3% of public servants) are in the civil service.

The number employed by the civil service is now 11% higher than its minimum in 2016, but still 20% down on its most recent peak in 2005. 

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech on adult learning and skills, Professor Julia Buckingham, the President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, said it could benefit millions of adults:

“We have long campaigned for changes to student funding to better support flexible, part-time and adult learning. Today's announcement is an initial step in the right direction. There is a strong economic imperative to improve flexible learning, and we are pleased that the government has recognised the role that universities can play in addressing skills shortages and upskilling existing employees.

“There has been a marked decline in adult learning in recent years, and as the nation looks to recover and rebuild from the impact of Covid-19, now more than ever we need fresh thinking and policy change to help people of all ages and backgrounds to reskill and retrain.

“Many universities are ready to scale up alternatives to the traditional three-year degree, and give more people chances to study elements of a course in a ‘bitesize’ learning model. This would allow people to develop skills in areas such as digital, entrepreneurship, business and public sector management, which will all be likely to benefit the UK’s recovery and boost local economies. It would also help those out of work in certain sectors – such as construction, engineering, and aviation – which have been hit hard by the pandemic.”

ABC Note: “According to the Prince’s Trust, at least one in three young people have abandoned their job aspirations for the year ahead due to the COVID-19 crisis. More than a third of 16 to 25-year-olds also feel they will ‘never succeed in life,’ the research shows.”

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STATE PENSIONS - The age you can get your state pension in the UK is set to rise from October 6^th, you will need to be 66 to claim your pension. That means anyone born after 5 October 1954 will have a state pension age of at least 66 - for some women that is six years after the date they were originally told they could claim.

The younger generations will have to wait longer to 67 and 68 in the future. People are living longer and to make state pensions more affordable these changes are being brought on.

The good news is that the triple lock on pensions is set to remain. Rishi Sunak was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 13 February 2020 and the Chancellor was making strong hints that in his view pensions needed to be frozen in order to pay for Covid-19 borrowing. With no autumn budget the threat has subsided for now at least. 

You can check your state pension, click here:

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TAXES - Donald Trump paid just $750 (£580) in federal income tax both in 2016, the year he ran for the US presidency, and in his first year in the White House, the New York Times says.

The newspaper - which says it obtained tax records for Mr Trump and his companies over two decades - also says that he paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years.

The records reveal "chronic losses and years of tax avoidance", it says.

Mr Trump called the report "fake news". 

Image: Mandy Rice-Davies.

ABC Note: "Well he would say that, wouldn't he' is the often misquoted line from Mandy Rice Davis. Mandy Rice-Davies, was a Welsh-born model and showgirl best known for her association with Christine Keeler and her role in the Profumo affair, which discredited the Conservative government of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963.

So how much does the average UK worker pay in tax? 

An average worker pays £11,000 a year in tax to the Government - around £30 a day. Indirect taxes, which include VAT, council tax and other duties, account for nearly £5,000 of this, equating to 56p an hour.

You can use this excellent salary calculator. PLEASE click on the link below:

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FOOD WASTE - On 19 December, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), recognizing that the observance of an IDAFLW would contribute significantly to raising awareness of the importance of the problem and its possible solutions at all levels and to promote global efforts and collective action towards meeting SDG target 12.3. 

FAO and UN Environment will collaborate in facilitating the observance of the Day.

The European Food Banks Association are running an on-line event. The full program is here, just click on the link and register:

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PARAQUAY - In an original collaboration, the British Embassy in Asuncion and local craft brewery “The Hop” joined to create the beer “El Embajador” (The Ambassador). The Hop will donate the proceeds from the sales of “El Embajador” throughout the months of September and October to the soup kitchens “Kuña Guapa” in the city of Luque, and “El bosque restaurador” in the city of Limpio.

José Duarte, owner of The Hop, raised the proposal to collaborate with the British Embassy, creating a new variety of craft beer in order to raise funds and support those who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The launch of the idea took place on 13 August, with the participation of then Ambassador Hedges and the staff of the British Embassy in Asuncion. Through a live broadcast on Instagram on The Hop page, the Ambassador announced that proceeds from the non-profit sales would be given to the two soup kitchens.

Jose Duarte of The Hop said:

This idea represents an act of solidarity in trying times. When there is a willingness from the involved parties to try to help, these things come together.

“El Embajador” will be available for sale at The Hop bar in 500ml bottles and also available for refill of growlers (glass jugs) also for sale at The Hop. The beer will remain on the brewery’s menu after the fundraising campaign is over.

“El Embajador”: a tribute

Image: The Hop beer.

The idea of the collaborative beer coincided with the announcement of the end of the mission of former Ambassador Matthew Hedges. In response to the news, The Hop proposed that the recipe for the new beer be a tribute to the outgoing diplomat.

Thus “El Embajador”, whose name was the most voted in a Twitter poll, was born. The brand design uses the colours and the dragon of the Welsh flag, as the Ambassador’s home nation. The beer, a session IPA, is a mix of traditional British styles with a modern touch, bitter but low in alcohol content. The use of English and American hops gives it a soft aroma of herbs and fruits.

The then Ambassador Hedges closed the launch with an invitation:

I invite you all to collaborate with this project, and to try this delicious beer. Cheers!

If you would like to donate directly to the two soup kitchens, then they can be contacted on the following numbers:

Elvio Monzon, El Bosque Restaurador: +595 (0) 972 431 036

Mirna Ezquivel, Kuna Guapa: +595 (0) 994 317 365

ABC Note: Asunción is the capital city of Paraguay, bordered by the Paraguay River. It’s known for its grand López Palace, the seat of government housing the president’s offices. Nearby, the National Pantheon of Heroes has a mausoleum and plaques commemorating Paraguayan historical figures. The Independence House Museum is marked by its colonial architecture and features artifacts documenting emancipation from Spanish rule.

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SCHOOL DINNERS - The Welsh Government will ensure all pupils entitled to free school meals will continue to receive provisions if they are shielding or have to self-isolate thanks to £420,000 of funding confirmed by Education Minister Kirsty Williams.

Speaking on a video released today on her Twitter channel, the Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed at least £420,000 would be made available immediately to support local authorities deliver this service.

ABC Note: As long as a parent is eligible to claim free school meals, the child can get them. A child could potentially have four parents; two foster parents and two natural parents. If any one of these four parents meets the criteria, then their child is eligible for free school meals.

Image Courtesy Wales Online: Welsh School Dinners. 

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LEGAL- Each year, the London Legal Walk, organised by London Legal Support Trust, brings the legal community together to raise much-needed funds for frontline free legal advice agencies. These agencies help people in great need who are dealing with issues in areas like housing, benefits, employment, debt, and more. 

The 2020 London Legal Walk 10xChallenge will be taking place on 5^th October. This virtual challenge asks participants to join in local to where they are on the 5th of October by completing an activity of their choice based around the numbers 10, 100, 1000, etc. Take on 10k your way, by walking, running, cycling, or swimming. Or, take on another challenge to a multiple of 10, whether that’s baking 10 cakes, 100 minutes of your favourite exercise class (Yoga, Pilates, Zumba), or 1,000 star jumps.

Being creative and thinking outside the box is encouraged when deciding your 10xChallenge!

For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/our-events/london-legal-walk-2020/.

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LABOUR MARKET SURVEY - These are the latest figures:

The British Chamber of Commerce has said:

Commenting on the ONS labour market figures for September 2020, published today, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:

“Despite the slight rise in the unemployment rate, the furlough scheme continues to limit the pandemic’s full impact on headline job figures.

However, the decline in employees on payrolls and the rise in the claimant count in August as the furlough scheme began to taper is a clear warning that the full impact of Coronavirus on the UK labour market is yet to come.

“While there was a rise in the number of job vacancies, this is more likely to reflect a temporary bounce as the economy gradually opened, rather than a meaningful upturn in demand for labour.

“With many firms are still facing waves of cash flow problems, rising costs and an uncertain economic outlook, it is probable that unemployment will escalate sharply as government support winds down.

“To help avoid a damaging cliff edge for jobs more must be done help firms keep staff on through this deeply challenging period. This should include a significant cut in employer National Insurance Contributions and more substantial support for firms placed under local lockdowns.”

The ONS figure for claimant unemployed is 2,737,900, and is up by 73,700 on last month, and the claimant rate is 7.6%.

• The ONS figure for 18-24 claimant unemployed is 526,400 in August, up by 291,300 or 124% on March.
• Vacancies in August have now recovered by 177,000 after falling 470,000 between February and May.
• Unemployment is 1,398,000, up by 60,000 from last month’s published figure (quarterly headline is up by 62,000) and the unemployment rate 4.1%, increased by 0.2 percentage points on last month and rose by 0.2 percentage points on last quarter.
• The number of workless young people (not in employment, full-time education or training) is 1,023,000, down by 3,000 on the quarter, and is 14.9% of the youth population.
• Youth unemployment (including students) is 563,000, up by 36,000 on the quarter.
• The employment rate is 76.5% (has risen by 0.1 percentage points on last month’s published figure and rose by 0.1 percentage points in the preferred quarterly measure).

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WORK DATA - The ASHE is a UK wide survey that provides data on hourly, weekly, and annual earnings by gender, work patterns, industry, and occupation, including public versus private sector pay comparisons.

Latest results published 29 October 2019

The key points from the Northern Ireland ASHE 2019 show that:

Weekly earnings increased over the year to April 2019 in nominal (3.3%) and real terms (1.2%) to £535

In the UK, weekly earnings were £585, an increase of 2.9% from 2018 (£568). Real UK weekly earnings increased by 0.9% over the year

Private sector weekly earnings increased by 3.4% over the year, while public sector weekly earnings increased by 0.7%. Public sector weekly earnings (£625) were 31% higher than private sector earnings (£479)

Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) for full-time females (£13.13) was 2.9% greater than those for full-time males (£12.76). NI remains the only region in the UK where full-time females earn more per hour on average than full-time males

ABC Note: All a bit irrelevant since COVID-19.

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PENSIONS - Two women affected by controversial changes to the state pension age have lost their Court of Appeal challenge.

Campaign groups such as "WASPI" and "BackTo60" emerged to challenge the government's decisions to challenge the moving of the retirement age for women to age 66. 

Julie Delve, 62, and Karen Glynn, 63, from BackTo60 brought a challenge over the changes after losing a landmark High Court fight against the Department for Work and Pensions last year. 

On Tuesday 15th September 2020, senior judges unanimously dismissed that appeal.

They said introducing the same state pension age for men and women did not amount to unlawful discrimination.

In October 2019 the High Court ruled on a claim for judicial review brought by the Back to 60 campaign, led by women born in the 1950s.

They claimed the mechanisms chosen to implement the increases in the pension age discriminated on grounds of age and/or sex and they challenged the government’s alleged failure to inform them of the changes.

Whilst the government's decision to change the retirement age without much notice does seem unjust, it did not amount to discrimination. 

Women have campaigned vigorously for equal rights and from this matter maybe learning that being a man is not so advantageous as they may have previously thought!! Taxpayers would have had to have found a huge amount of money to refund women's pensions back to age 60 and although this matter was badly handled by the government women are only in the same position men are. 

ABC Note: The change to the pension will inconvenience some, but if women want to be treated equally, the change must be accepted as progress and seen as such. Little has been heard from women who want to carry on working who have benefitted from the change. Although women can complain as much as they wish, they must ultimately accept the situation. It is unfair, but life is unfair. Women generally live longer than men and all of us are living longer. Thus the pension age in the developed world is being increased in general. 

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