Members Update – 13 January 2023

Energy Bill Relief Scheme Update

Update from our energy advisor Mark Livingston

I will try and shed some light on the government proposals regarding non-domestic energy users in the commercial market.

New Energy Bill discount scheme.

As of the 1st of April, this year until March 2024 the government has announced the following support.

• From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, all eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see a unit discount of up to £6.97/MWh automatically applied to their gas bill and a unit discount of up to £19.61/MWh applied to their electricity bill.
• This will be subject to a wholesale price threshold, set with reference to the support provided for domestic consumers, of £107/MWh for gas and £302/MWh for electricity. This means that businesses experiencing energy costs below this level will not receive support.
• Customers do not need to apply for their discount. As with the current scheme, suppliers will automatically apply reductions to the bills of all eligible non-domestic customers.
What this basically means is if the wholesale futures market goes below this cut off price you will not get help with your energy bill. The market has seen a dramatic price crash in recent weeks, for the last 2 weeks in December it came down 12pkw. As of the start of this week it's down another 4pkwh.

If this trajectory continues (And I really hope it does!) then by March/April, we should be back to where the UK SME energy market needs to be (anything from 15pkwh to 20pkwh). But if it does rise again in the coming months, it's good to know there is something in place to combat the price hikes.

The government have also released the Energy Trade Intensive Industry Scheme

• These businesses will receive a discount reflecting the difference between a price threshold and the relevant wholesale price.
• The price threshold for the scheme will be £99/MWh for gas and £185/MWh for electricity.
• This discount will only apply to 70% of energy volumes and will be subject to a 'maximum discount' of £40.0/MWh for gas and £89.1/MWh for electricity.
All butchers would need to apply for this scheme as it's a higher level of support, but details on eligibility and the application process will be published in due course, which is unfortunate because most businesses will want to know ASAP on how to apply?

What I can provide is the SIC code butchers will need to apply for ETII (Energy Trade Intensive Industry) scheme.

SIC code 10.11 Processing and Preserving Meat

SIC code 10.12 Processing and Preserving Poultry

When more information comes out on how to apply, I will send a walkthrough for all butchers.

Hopefully, this helps.

But if there are butchers out there that need some energy advice, please give them my details.

Mark Livingston
Energy & Utilities Consultant
Office 11, Arran House Business Centre, Arran Road, Perth, PH1 3DZ

01738 270592
07762945281
[email protected]
www.direct-energy.net

The government unveils new “Energy Bills Discount Scheme” for businesses

A new energy scheme for businesses, charities, and the public sector was confirmed yesterday (9th January), ahead of the current scheme ending in March. The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024. This will help businesses locked into contracts signed before recent substantial falls in the wholesale price manage their costs and provide others with reassurance against the risk of prices rising again.

Guidance for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme includes:
• Eligibility for Energy Bills Discount Scheme
• The amount your bills will be reduced
• How it works
• EBRS legislation, rules and guidance
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme factsheet includes:
• What is the Energy Bill Relief Scheme?
• How does this scheme differ?
• What about energy and trade intensive businesses?
• Case studies
• Further facts and background
The Government recognises that those in energy and trade intensive industries (ETIIs) are less able to pass higher costs through to their customers, due to international competition. Therefore, a higher level of support will be provided to businesses in sectors identified as being the most energy and trade intensive – a long-standing category primarily including manufacturing businesses. For a full list of sectors in scope, please click here.

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Appointment of Members to the Board of Quality Meat Scotland (x3)

Scottish Ministers are looking to make three appointments of Members to the Board of Quality Meat Scotland.

Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of having people with different experience and points of view on Boards and they are keen that people from all walks of life apply for public appointments. Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from women, disabled people, LGBTI+ people, people from ethnic minority communities and people aged under 50.

Information about Quality Meat Scotland

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) mission is to deliver a range of activities to support the development of a sustainable, professional, profitable and resilient Scottish red meat industry. QMS will promote and protect the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specifically Selected pork brands through clear, effective communication to ensure consumers fully understand what sets our brands apart – the Scotch Difference.

Its vision is to be recognised as the leadership organisation for the Scottish red meat sector by the industry and Government. To achieve supply chain profitability, QMS works collaboratively with farmers, processors, auction marts, livestock hauliers, feed merchants, food service providers, butchers, retailers, research institutes and learning providers to build supply chain efficiency, brand integrity and consumer confidence.
Skills/Experience Required
Skills

The details of the particular requirements of the role can be found in the Applicant Information Pack (link below).

Remuneration and allowances

Members of the Board receive £187.36 per day. Expenses incurred as a result of carrying out the duties of the appointment, including reasonable travel and subsistence costs and dependant carer and childcare expenses, will be reimbursed.

Length of appointment

The term of appointments will be for four years. Three new Members will be appointed from April 2023. There is the possibility of reappointment subject to evidence of effective performance and having regard to the skills, knowledge, understanding and experience required by the Board at the time. Any appointments and subsequent reappointments will not extend beyond a maximum of eight years.

Time Commitment

The Board meets six to eight times each year with Members of the Board committed to 20 days per year. By the nature of a non-executive member role, the time commitment will vary from week to week. It involves a mix of activities including preparing for and attending Board meetings and undertaking other duties and responsibilities such as engaging with stakeholders and occasionally attending events.

To Apply: In order for your application to be considered you must complete a two stage process. For stage one, please click on the Apply for this job online link at the top right hand side of this advert to complete contact details, monitoring information and the declaration of interest. For stage two, please download and complete the Application Form – Quality Meat Scotland – Members – Application Form

Please return your completed form to [email protected] by 5.00 pm on Friday, 27 January 2023.

For full information on the appointments, please read the Applicant Information Pack – Quality Meat Scotland – Members – Applicant Pack

An application pack and full details on this and other public appointments can be found at www.appointed-for-scotland.org/. If you experience any difficulties accessing the website, please contact by telephone on 0300 244 1898 or
email [email protected].

Accessibility to public appointments is a fundamental requirement and the public appointments process promotes, demonstrates and upholds equality of opportunity for all applicants. The Scottish Government will always give consideration to disability-related reasonable adjustments that an applicant might request to enable them to demonstrate their merit and participate fully in the selection process. If you require any of the application pack documentation in an alternative format, please Telephone 0300 244 1898 or
[email protected] .

Applicants for public appointments must be legally entitled to work in the UK. Please see the applicants' pack for further information.

Further information about the online application process is attached Public Appointments – Frequently Asked Questions. General information about public appointments and guidance to help you improve your applications is attached www.gov.scot/collections/public-appointments .

Membership Fees 2023

Going forward, as the country tries to recover from economic difficulties we are conscious of the challenging trading conditions that our members are experiencing.
It is our intention to hold the trade fair on Sunday 14th May 2023 at the Dewar's Ice rink, this is provisionally booked. We will hold the Butcher's Wars competition as well as a revamped “World Haggis Championship”. The Pork Sausage Championship will also be held in Perth on that day. We will also hold “Make it with Haggis” and “Speciality Burger” evaluations on 5th April 2023, announcing the results on the day of the trade fair.

Our operating costs with the Trade Fair are likely to see an increase since it was last held in 2019 it is also clear that if we intend to continue to offer the same level of services then we require to keep a close eye on income and expenditure until we see how the recovery pans out and we will play our part in that on behalf of our members.

However, energy costs, travel costs and operating costs are, like every business, increasing going forward into the new financial year.

We believe that an increase in membership fees at this time would not be beneficial to the members. The Annual General Meeting past the motion not to increase fees from the current level in 2023.

We will continue to explore all possible opportunities to grow the membership and corporate membership and that we try and cut costs where possible.

The finance committee are of the opinion that £340 per year for member shops and £105 per branch shop represents good value and works out at less than £1.00 per day which, given the amount of information and guidance issued to all our members over the last 12 months, is a small price to pay for this level of service to be maintained throughout the changing months and years ahead.

There is no proposal to increase the corporate membership fee. The corporate members always fully support us in our evaluations and events such as the trade fair, Butcher Wars and other competitions.

World Charcuterie Awards 2023

Entry is Live for the inaugural World Charcuterie Awards with judging on March 15-17 in Leadenhall Market.

Scottish Craft Butchers are the Sponsors of the Best Product from Scotland.

They are offering an early-bird entry offer open to all Scottish Craft Butcher members, valid for a few weeks only prior to general entry.

ENTERING THE WORLD CHARCUTERIE AWARDS

As sponsors of the Best Product from Scotland in the inaugural World Charcuterie Awards, Scottish Craft Butchers are getting in touch to encourage you to enter the Awards.

They promise to be a new and exciting opportunity for you to promote your Charcuterie products, benefit from the extensive marketing based around these inaugural Awards, have your products assessed and receive valuable feedback from the expert judges and receive a discounted entry into the World Charcuterie Awards Directory. For further information, visit www.worldcharcuterieawards.com

To ensure all products entered can be fairly assessed and judged, The World Charcuterie Awards is capping the number of products entered for this year. Only producers who are pre-registered will be guaranteed entry into this year's Awards.
ESSENTIAL DATES

Registration is Open Now. Please Register here. Link to Register

ENTERING GOES LIVE FOR EARLY BIRD ENTRIES – Monday 28th November
Only Producers/Importers who have pre-registered will be able enter the Awards for this initial period.
All pre-registered businesses will also benefit from the EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTED FEE of £50 per product.
A link to the online entry form will be sent to all pre-registered businesses at 1 am on Monday 28th November 2022. Once the online payment is received, entry is confirmed and their place guaranteed.

MAIN ENTRY goes live – Monday 12th December 2022
Entry is now open to all comers. From 1 am on Monday 12th December a link to the online entry form will be available online.
From now onwards please note, whilst every effort will be made, we cannot guarantee entries will be accepted.

PRICE INCREASE – Monday 2nd January 2023
Entry is increased to £60.00 per product. This price increase applies regardless of whether a producer has pre-registered or not.
ENTRIES CLOSE – Sunday 30th January 2023