MEMBERS UPDATE 22ND MARCH 2024

National Minimum Wage changes for 2024

The Government have now published the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for 2024. Please note, these do not come into effect until 1 April 2024. The new rates are:
• 21 and over (National Living Wage): £11.44
• 18 to 20: £8.60
• Under 18: £6.40
• Apprentice: £6.40
Members will notice that the 2024 rates do not contain a 21 to 22 category, which is normally included. The government have removed this age category which means from 1 April 2024 all workers aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National Living Wage of £11.44. The increase to NLW amounts to an almost 10% rise, which is the largest increase in the last decade. It has been reported that this measure has been taken as part of the government's manifesto to end low pay for those living on the NLW.
These changed should be implemented from 1 April 2024 onwards.

Wage Survey
The wage survey results are now loaded to the members only website. If you wish to request a copy, please email: [email protected].

National Good Food Nation Consultation

This consultation seeks views on the national Good Food Nation Plan. This Plan is the first of many steps to progress food system transformation in Scotland. This consultation covers the content of the first national Good Food Nation Plan and asks your views on the national Good Food Nation Outcomes; ways of measuring progress; and how different groups envision life in a Good Food Nation.
This first national Good Food Nation Plan represents how the Scottish Government intends to use the powers and levers we do have to work collectively with people, communities, businesses, agencies and organisations to meet our Good Food Nation ambitions.
The national Good Food Nation Plan sets out the following:
• Part One outlines the history of the Good Food Nation in Scotland and highlights how the plan will take effect.
• Part Two proposes a set of six national Good Food Nation Outcomes, and sets out how they were developed and how progress will be measured. We will ask you questions about the Outcomes as well as the measures.
• Part Three highlights how working mechanisms within government will change, and presents some of the key food related policies that are currently under way. It also presents what life would be like for different groups of people under a Good Food Nation. We are particularly interested in understanding if we have captured correctly what life should be like in a Good Food Nation.
As part of this consultation we are also seeking views on specified functions, which will be defined in secondary legislation. Specified functions are very important as it is when Scottish Ministers are exercising these functions that the plan will take effect. Questions on specified functions will be asked after the section on the national Good Food Nation Plan. You can choose to respond to some or all of these questions.
Link to Consultation: National Good Food Nation Plan: consultation – Scottish Government consultations – Citizen Space

Product Evaluation Entry Forms (entries close 11th April)

The product competitions for Beef Links, Black Pudding and Home Cured Bacon are open for entry. Entry forms are included with the newsletter. Attached are copies of the entry forms and can be returned to [email protected] . If you have any questions please let me know.

If you have any questions or queries, please get in touch using the contact details below.

MEMBER SERVICES – Bruce McCall:             [email protected]               01738 637472
CRAFT SKILLS SCOTLAND – Claire Simpson:    [email protected]               01738 637785

Bruce McCall
Scottish Craft Butchers
8-10 Needless Road
Perth PH2 0JW
Tel: 01738 637472
Mobile: 01738 637472
twitter.com/scocraftbutcher
facebook.com/scottishcraftbutchers/
www.craftbutchers.co.uk