As we enter the last month of the year, we have another packed edition of the MTA Friday Brief with loads of news and information about a range of topics.
Before we get on to the articles in this week’s edition, we want to let you know that a new edition of MTA Update - our magazine format quarterly newsletter - has been released and was sent to all MTA members earlier this week. If you missed it, you can catch up at https://www.mta.org.uk/mta-update.
We have 3 items this week on the Coronavirus situation with advice on managing annual leave entitlements for staff who are on furlough, where to find the latest travel updates and, hopefully on a slightly lighter note, how to have Christmas celebrations in your company that are both safe and enjoyable!
Leading our Brexit news articles this week is the 3rd edition of the MTA Guide to using the UKCA and CE marks once the transition period has ended - this edition will be especially useful if you trade with Northern Ireland where the rules will be completely different to the rest of the UK.
Also on the Brexit theme this week, we have an update on the regulations around dual use goods, some notes on the help/advice that is available from the Department for International Trade, news of a webinar being run by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and details of how to respond to UK public procurement projects after the end of the transition period on 31st December.
The MTA Business Survey for November is open and there is still time for you to let us have your input via the web-site at www.mta.org.uk/mta-business-survey-nov20.
The main economic news this week was the PMI data for manufacturing which showed an improvement compared to November for the UK and most parts of the world with the exception of the Euro-zone where most countries saw the PMI edge down and France and Spain dipped back into negative territory.
In other economic news, we cover the latest results from the European Commission’s Economic Sentiment Index (this also includes their bi-annual investment outlook) and two sets of data from the UK Office for National Statistics looking at profitability and capital stocks - the latter includes some interesting international comparisons. Finally on this theme, the latest data-set for the Contract Price Adjustment service is now available.
We have news of a webinar from NPL titled “An Introduction to Material Assurance” on Tuesday 15th – please see the article for more information.
Finally this week, two pieces of European news; CECIMO held it General Assembly this week and you can read the communication from that meeting in the article below and we have news from the organisers of EMO that they have extended both the booking and cancellation deadlines - please have a look at the article for more information.
So, until next Friday, when we will be back with more news for our industry, we hope you have a great weekend and, whatever you are doing, keep well and stay safe.