New assets for UK businesses recruiting internationally
25th February 2021
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Freedom of movement with the EU has ended and the UK has introduced a points-based immigration system.
You now need to register as a licensed sponsor to hire most people living outside the UK and must check that they meet certain job, salary and language requirements.
This does not apply when hiring Irish citizens, or EU citizens already living in the UK by 31st December 2020. They and their family members are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30th June 2021 to make an application.
As a transition measure for the period up to 30th June 2021, employers should continue to accept the valid passports and national identity cards of all EU citizens as evidence of their right to work.
Association of Labour Providers (ALP)
The ALP have published a new guide (click here) - Workforce Recruitment and Labour Supply from 2021
The guide, a copy of which is attached has been produced together by the Association of Labour Providers and the Home Office.
The new UK immigration system from January 2021 has changed the way that employers and labour providers recruit into the UK food supply chain.
The guide supports recruiters, HR professionals and employers to adapt to this change and to:
-
Understand the new immigration routes to work
-
Ensure compliance with right to work legislation
-
Determine what actions to take to help secure continuity of labour supply
UK Visas and Immigration
UK Vias and Immigration have published The Right to Work leaflet Click Here which employers can share to clarify requirements to EU employees.
The leaflet provides information for individuals on their rights and obligations depending on when they arrived in the UK.
Become a licensed visa sponsor
If you’re not already a licensed sponsor and you think you’ll want to sponsor workers, for instance, through the Skilled Worker route, you should apply now: Click Here
Fees apply and you should allow around 8 weeks for your licence to be processed, however for an additional fee, businesses can be fast-tracked to receive a decision within 10 days.
Some immigration routes, such as Global Talent, are ‘unsponsored’. You don’t need a licence to hire employees with an unsponsored visa.
Further information on the points-based immigration system and the available routes is available in the employer immigration guide at GOV.UK: Click Here
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Food Safety Forum
Friday 12th March 2021 10:30 to 11:45
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
AIMS Supplier Member Holchem Kersia will be holding a 75minute on-line Food Safety Forum on Friday 12th March 2021 10:30 to 11:45.
The event, which is free and open to all AIMS members to attend.
The topic of the forum is training.
Agenda (further details click here)
-
Nicola Bellamy, Training Manager Holchem - Training and Learning & Development in the Food Industry
-
Louise Cairns, CEO for The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink - Apprenticeships - A whole new world
-
Sara Poulson, Industry Skills Manager Nottingham Trent University - Hygiene Specialist Apprenticeship Standard
-
Q&A - Your questions answered by the 3 speakers Forum Joining Instructions
Please follow the link to book your place on the Food Safety Forum. https://foodsafetyforum-mar2021.eventbrite.co.uk
Once you book your place you will receive an email from Eventbrite with the link that you will use on the day to join the event.
If you have any queries, please contact foodsafetyforum@kersia-group.com
Rules of Origin
The team at DEFRA have asked us to circulate the following update and attachments to members
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Rules of Origins Materials
DEFRA are getting in touch to share updated Rules of Origin Guidance. These updated guidance documents supersede previous versions.
DEFRA are particularly grateful for the feedback that was provided during their and after their recent on-line sessions and hope that this round of guidance will answer most of the outstanding questions or queries.
Click here for documents and we have included:
-
Updated central Defra guidance products. The slides provide more of an overview and introduction to Rules of Origin and the more detailed Defra guidance has some further examples, explanations and an annotated Product Specific Rules table. Both of these products are general to all sectors.
-
Sector specific summary guidance documents. These have also been updated from earlier versions in response to feedback received. These only cover some of the most relevant articles in Rules of Origin and are there to provide a summary as well as relatable industry specific examples.
-
HMRC slide deck. This includes details of the interaction between Rules of Origin (requirements for claiming preferential tariffs) and wider customs procedures, such as RGR (Returned Goods Relief), rules for transit, and inward/outward processing relief.
-
Tariff implications for the movement of Goods from GB to NI. This covers interaction between Rules of Origin and 'at risk' register.
DEFRA have also produced a recorded webinar and FAQ document. We hope that the FAQ will answer most of the outstanding questions from earlier sessions.
These are also on the Dropbox Paper page here: https://paper.dropbox.com/doc/Food-and-drink-businesses-working-with-the-EU-okwtTBZi3i836jcXnIrE0
The webinar is also on gov.uk here:
or via https://youtu.be/NNfFjtBvn1o
These updated guidance documents supersede previous versions.
The text of the agreement can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948119/EU-UK_Trade_and_Cooperation_Agreement_24.12.2020.pdf (Rules of Origin General Provisions pg.27-41 and Product Specific Rules pg.423-429)
Details on claiming preferential treatment here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claiming-preferential-rates-of-duty-between-the-uk-and-eu
DEFRA also plan to re-run the industry sessions for those businesses who were not able to make earlier sessions or require further clarity on the rules for their products. Have copied the schedule for these sessions below, including the contact details for those running the sessions.
They will also be sending out MS Teams invites to these.
Latest AHDB Abattoir & Meat Processor News here
Reporting deadweight cattle prices: Guidance for Abattoirs here
Livestock Information Programme
AIMS are one of several organisations that are part of the Traceability Design User Group (TDUG) within the Livestock Information Programme.
The key objective of the programme is to implement a robust...