CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 4th SEPTEMBER 2020

Re focus on covid 19 Risk Assessments

We are reminding our members that they must ensure a covid 19 risk assessment for your premises must has been carried out.
We sent out the risk assessment toolkit a few weeks ago and we expect local authorities will now look for this to be in place. If you need us to send you another copy, please get in touch.
The covid risk assessment is there to protect your business as well as your staff and customers.
However, this is not something you complete once and then forget about.
There is a need to revisit this regularly to ensure this is up to date with the changing situation.
It is this document that you will need to provide to an incident management team should there be a cluster connected to your business!
The scale of the clusters at Coupar Angus and Grantown on Spey has again brought the red meat sector's own control measures in sharp focus. Furthermore as the Scottish Government has now empowered local authorises to issue closure notices, the risk that your own business may be closed if a cluster is found in your workforce is likely to be high if you are observed not to be applying all proportionate and practical steps to combat the potential for virus transmission to occur on site.
The findings at the recent clusters suggest the following actions should be incorporated into your Risk Assessment if not already being covered: –
• The advance submission of completed health questionnaire for all visitors.

• The provision of training to all staff to embed observance of the 2-metre rule and personal hygiene requirements, including the mandatory use of face coverings, throughout the premises (i.e. inside and out)
• Customers should be reminded of the need to wear a face covering whilst purchasing or collecting food within the premises. Wearing of face coverings is mandatory for all staff and customers in food retail premises when the shop is open. However, there is an exemption for staff where 2 metre physical distancing can be maintained, or Perspex screens are in place to separate contact with customers. There are further exceptions for staff undertaking food handling tasks, where it has been identified that face coverings could cause a risk to the hygiene or safety of food.

• If non-UK nationals are not fluent in English the provision of advisory staff notices in all native languages (as required) throughout the premises, including entry points, parking & changing areas, the staff room and in smoke shelters.

• Install hand sanitisation gel and/or hand cleaning points before all high touch areas. Make sure those high contact touch points are cleaned regularly and that this is recorded in your cleaning schedule.

• All managers and shift leaders etc to be instructed to proactively monitor Covid 19 compliance throughout the day.”

Kickstart Scheme

The UK Government has introduced the new “Kickstart Scheme” across Great Britain. It is a £2 billion fund to create 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment. The funding available for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer's minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 to cover set-up costs.
To apply for the scheme the organization must create a minimum of 30 job placements. However, it is possible for us as a trade body to partner up with several employers to apply for the scheme on your behalf.
Further guidance for businesses on how the scheme works is available here
Please get in touch if this is of interest to your business.

Videos for use in shops to show local supply chains.

In partnership with industry stakeholders, we have developed a series of short videos which are suitable to display on video screens in shops.

This is aimed at promoting the local supply chains that independent butchers use. This is also aimed at focussing the customers mind that by supporting local businesses they also support the families of those who are in the supply chain. The videos are available on our members only website and can be downloaded to use.
Please see the link below: –

Video Link

We will be adding more to the website as we receive them.

Scottish Craft Butchers face coverings

Our current stock of face coverings is now sold out.
However, due to demand we have ordered more which will be available for purchase.
We expect delivery on 11th September. They have the Scottish Craft Butcher logo on the right-hand side.

Cost to members if £4.20 each plus VAT
If you would like to order, then please e-mail Bruce. They will be supplied on a first come first served basis. [email protected]

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is now closed following government guidelines.
We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.
Our contact details are below
Gordon King: – [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922