MEMBERS UPDATE 13th DECEMBER 2024 - Scottish Craft Butchers

Bovaer in Cattle Feed

Bovaer in Cattle Feed may get some traction in the media on the run up to Christmas, below is the background information link and the statement from Food Standards Scotland. Should any of your customers ask about it.
Bovaer cow feed additive explained – Food Standards Agency

A spokesperson for Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said: “Milk from cows given Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone rigorous safety assessments and is approved for use in Great Britain.”

NHASCO Update – Working Minds: December 2024

HSE's latest statistics for work-related ill-health and injury show that around half of reported ill-health is related to stress, depression or anxiety.
That's an estimated 776,000 cases with each case taking an average of 21.1 days off work. How would your team and business be impacted by this absence?
Start the year off right
No matter where you work, the law requires all employers to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health in the workplace. That means including stress in risk assessments and acting on it.
• download the Working Minds campaign calendar 2025
• put time in the diary to get started or review what's in place
• download a risk assessment template and see examples
• complete the free online learning
Top tips from one business to another
Throughout December we are sharing practical ideas that businesses have implemented in real-life with the help of the Working Minds campaign materials.
Here are just a handful of examples of how employers have started to make a difference:
• “It's a work in progress in our office – we've made some structural changes to manage people's time better and reduce stress”
• “I've developed a training plan to roll out to all line managers and senior managers and included the tools provided which is being well received”
• “It's an agenda item for our 1 to 1s – we use personal development plans to identify stressors with an action plan to address the issues”
• “We completed a comprehensive survey of all our workforce, then produced a board report and action plan detailing the results in respect of stress and fatigue experienced”
Learn how to prevent stress in 5 steps
The free online learning will guide you step-by-step and provides all the tools, templates and information you need to get proactive on preventing stress and supporting good mental health at work.
• Reach out and have conversations – see the Talking Toolkit for help.
• Recognise the signs and causes of stress – the Stress Indicator Tool could be useful
• Respond to any risks you've identified
• Reflect on actions you've agreed and taken
• and make it Routine – how can you make this part of your every day?