Good morning and welcome to the Friday Brief for this week.
With the Coronavirus lockdown conditions set to be eased on Monday, the pick-up in economic activity is expected to gather pace. Later today, we will have an announcement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak about the future of the Job Retention, or furlough, Scheme. You can read more detailed speculation in the story below but, we think it is likely that, as of the beginning of August, the scheme will require a 20% contribution from employers, get an element of flexibility for part timers, and be closed to new participants. Look out for updates early next week.
Members who operate laboratory or research facilities may be interested in a free Government webinar on Monday, on how to operate safely at the this time, details below.
One of the things that has been positive about the last few months is the way in which engineering firms have stepped up to meet the challenges posed by the Covid crisis. We at the MTA are supporting a campaign, started by some of the engineering trade media, to get firms the recognition they deserve. You can find out in the story below or through #EngineeringHeroes on social media. We’ve also got a look at what MTA member company MSP has been doing during the Covid 19 crisis.
CECIMO is proposing an ambitious Manufacturing Recovery Plan that aims to restore production and investment levels, the flows of good, capital and people combined with EU investment funds to put industry back on track. You can download the Plan in the story below.
Staying in Brussels, MTA President Marcus Burton, who also Chairs CECIMO’s Economics Committee, will be taking part in a webinar on the new UK/EU relationship on the 4th of June – you can find out how to watch it in the story below.
That’s all for this week, enjoy the sunshine.
