Sirius News Bulletin - 12th April 2021

Sirius News Bulletin - 12th April 2021

This bulletin provides a summary of topical news, announcements and policy developments affecting business across the UK.

 

Retail
Retail prices fall
Retail prices fell by 2.4% in March 2021, the same rate as in February 2021. Non-food prices fell by 4%, compared with 3.9% in February, according to the BRC-Nielson shop price index. The fall has been attributed to non-food retailers, especially clothing, heavily discounting their products.
Read more about the fall at: https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/03/shop-prices-fall-in-march-as-non-food-retail-struggles/

 

Increase in retail vacancies
Retailers are beginning to recruit staff at near pre-Covid levels as non-essential shops in England and Wales reopen. Retail vacancies have increased to within 14% of their pre-pandemic levels, according to job site Indeed.
Read more about the increase at: https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/04/retail-employers-hiring-at-close-to-pre-covid-pace-as-lockdown-exit-nears/


Manufacturing
Increase in manufacturing orders
The HIS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index has revealed that new manufacturing orders are rising at the second-fastest pace for more than three years. This is due to manufactures preparing for lockdown restrictions being lifted.
Read more about the increaser at: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-pmi-idUKKBN2BO4QZ


New fund to grow UK life sciences manufacturing
UK Life science companies can now apply for funding to support the manufacture of medicines, diagnostics and MedTech. The £20million Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund will help increase life sciences manufacturing, creating economic opportunities and highly skilled jobs across the UK.
Read more about the fund at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-20-million-fund-to-grow-uk-life-sciences-manufacturing-opens-for-applications


Food
Fisheries and Seafood Scheme opens for applications
A new scheme has been launched to provide £6 million over the next 12 months to support England’s seafood sector, coastal communities and marine environment. The fisheries and Seafood Scheme will help business adapt to working outside the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and recover from the impacts of Covid-19. It will also fund a wide range of projects, such as providing professional advice to local businesses and encouraging local sales.
Read more about the scheme at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/61-million-fisheries-and-seafood-scheme-opens-for-applications


Construction
New figures show increase in energy efficient homes
The majority of new homes in England are in the most energy efficient bands, according to figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. In Q1 2021, 84% of new homes in England were given an energy rating A or B, compared to 79% in the previous quarter.
Read more about the figures at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-figures-show-increase-in-energy-efficient-homes


Car Ownership
Multi-car owners consider reducing the number of vehicles
Research by DS Automobiles has found over a third of UK households with two or more cars say the pandemic has caused them to consider reducing the number of vehicles they have. According to the Department for Transport, 35% of all households in the UK own two or more cars or vans.
Read more about the research at: https://www.alphabet.com/en-gb/auto-digest/ds-automobiles-reveals-more-third-uk-multi-car-households-are-thinking-about-downsizing


Tech
New regulator to boost online competition
A new UK regulator has been established to help ensure tech companies such as Facebook and google cannot exploit their market dominance to crowd out competition and stifle innovation online. The Digital Markets Unit (DMU) will oversee plans to give consumers more choice and control over their data, promote online competition and crack down on unfair practices.
Read more about the DMU at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-watchdog-to-boost-online-competition-launches—3


Recruitment and skills
Increase in permanent placements
Research from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KMPG has revealed that in March 2021 permanent placements across all industries increased at the highest rate for almost six years. Temporary placements also increased.
Read more about the increase at: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/recruitment-increases-lockdown-eases-study-230100646.html


NICs relief for employers who hire veterans
A National Insurance contributions (NICs) holiday for businesses that employ armed forces veterans came into force on 6 April 2021. Employers can claim NICs relief for veterans hired during their first year of civilian employment after leaving the armed forces.
Read more about the relief at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-cut-for-employers-of-veterans-brought-in


Hundreds of free qualifications to boost skills and jobs
Almost 400 free qualifications are now available to complete online as part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. The qualifications range from engineering to social care to conservation and are available to any adult who has not already achieved a qualification at level 3 (equivalent to A-levels).
Read more about the qualifications at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-free-qualifications-on-offer-to-boost-skills-and-jobs


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