<h3>Q. What is IR35?</h3>
IR35 or &ldquo;off payroll&rdquo; legislation is the legislation that helps determine whether an individual would be deemed an employee for tax and NI purposes if they weren&rsquo;t being paid via their personal services company (PSC). The legislation itself has been around since 2000 and at its core, hasn&rsquo;t changed significantly since then. It has always been the responsibility of the contractor to do their own assessment, and declare to the HMRC their tax status.
<h3>Q. What changed and why? </h3>
From April 2021, medium and large-sized organisations outside the public sector became responsible for deciding the employment status of contractors for tax purposes. Previously, contractors themselves were responsible for making this decision in these sectors. This ensures consistency with the public sector, where these arrangements have been in place since April 2017.
<h3>Q. Who does this affect? </h3>
You are affected by the changes to the off-payroll working rules (IR35) if: You are a contractor who works through an intermediary, e.g. you own limited company, often know as a personal service company (PSC), and you provide your services to public sector organisations or medium or large-sized organisations outside of the public sector. A medium or large-sized organisation will have a turnover of more than &pound;10.2 million, a balance sheet total of &pound;5.1m and/or more than 50 employees.
<h3> Q. What does this mean for a PSC or limited contractor? </h3>
If a contractor is engaged on an assignment and the assignment is deemed as in scope, or where the client cannot satisfactorily determine that the contractor is out of scope, the agency will be responsible for deducting relevant Tax and NI from the total payment made to the contractor.
<h3>Q. When did these changes come into effect? </h3>
The legislation applies to all&nbsp;payments made for services provided on or after April 2021. Payments will be made in accordance with the agreed payroll cycle between both parties.
<h3> Q. How do I know if I&rsquo;m inside or outside of IR35? </h3>
As the contractor and as part of your current responsibilities, you are legally required to complete regular assessments to see if you are inside or outside of IR35, and therefore to correctly assess your tax contributions. If you haven&rsquo;t done this already, we strongly recommend that you do this as soon as possible with your accountant or tax advisor. This can be done using the&nbsp;HMRC CEST tool, which has been specially created for this purpose.
<h3> </h3>
<h3>Q. My role has been found to be inside of IR35, what are my options?&nbsp;</h3>
If you continue to work through your limited company, you don&rsquo;t need to do anything. We may need to deduct employers NI from your gross pay rate, as that is currently passed on to you in your limited company rate. In addition to this, we will make deductions prior to payment to account for tax and NI, which will be detailed in your remittance. As the benefits of working through your own limited company have decreased, you may decide to look at consider the benefits of being paid as an employee of Blue Arrow. Ask your Blue Arrow consultant&nbsp;if you wish to understand more about what this means, and what the benefit may be.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Q. What are the features to PAYE terms?</h3>
Pay As You Earn is the standard form of worker taxation in the UK and offers a number of advantages over Ltd Company Terms in the form of additional benefits and conditions; Any PAYE workers on assignment with the same client for 12 weeks or more becomes eligible for &ldquo;Parity Terms&rdquo; in both pay and conditions with the end client&rsquo;s permanent workers doing the same job. This means that all former Ltd Company Drivers (with more than 12 weeks on assignment at the same client) will be remunerated at the same rate at the permanent Drivers, in many cases the provides a significant pay increase. All PAYE workers accrue a minimum of 28 days paid holiday per year in addition to their hourly salary (more where working to parity terms). All PAYE workers accrue 3% Employer Pension Contribution in addition to their hourly salary. All PAYE workers have their National Insurance contributions paid ensuring they are eligible for a full state pension upon retirement. All PAYE workers have SSP entitlement.
<h3> Q. What will my gross pay rate be if I my role is found to be in scope of IR35?&nbsp; </h3>
Ultimately, this will depend on how you wish to be paid going forward. Currently, your limited rate includes the employed pay rate for your role, plus the associated costs that would usually be picked up by an employer, including but not limited to, employers NI, holiday pay, pension costs and apprenticeship levy. Depending on the arrangement you choose, it is possible that a third party will become responsible for paying some if not all of these employer costs. Therefore, they will no longer be passed to you in your gross rate.&nbsp;
<h3> Q. What happens if I don&rsquo;t agree with the client&rsquo;s assessment? </h3>
In the event that the client finds your role in scope for IR35 and you think this is incorrect, you have the right to challenge this by following the client&rsquo;s dispute resolution process. Under the legislation, the client has up to 45 days to respond to your query. During this time, we are obliged to deduct PAYE and NI from any payments made until such time that the client informs us they&rsquo;ve changed their determination. If you wish to wait until the dispute process has been finalised in order for payments to be made, please advise your Blue Arrow consultant, and ensure that you do not submit any timesheets during this time. This document does not constitute tax or legal advice.

IR35 FAQs for Workers

As essential workers in factories, offices, supermarkets, schools and hospitals, often unseen, cleaners are the unsung heroes of the workforce. Cleaner jobs involve a lot of physical activity, so it is important to make your own wellbeing a priority. We offer some tips and advice to give you the know-how and confidence to identify and report potential workplace hazards.
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant many people in Cleaner jobs have experienced changes in their work environment. This could be new work practices with increased hygiene measures, or a change of workplace, such as from office to domestic, as more people switched to working from home. It is important that those in the cleaning industry understand their rights, whatever industry their Cleaner job is in.
<h3>Your Rights </h3>
All workers have rights, and they are the same for Cleaner jobs as they are for jobs in any other industry, regardless of whether you are in a temporary or permanent role.
As an employee there are certain things you are entitled to receive from your employer. This <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/communities/warehouse/temporary-and-permanent-workers-know-your-rights">warehouse blog</a> gives more details on your rights, which are the same for any job role. You should also be aware that there are things an employer must not do:
<ul>
<li>Pay less than the agreed amount. </li>
<li>Fail to pay for extra hours.</li>
<li>Force you to work against your will.</li>
<li>Make unfair or excessive deductions from pay, not previously agreed, for transport or uniforms. </li>
<li>Discriminate against you.</li>
<li>Allow you to be threatened, harassed or bullied.</li>
<li>Dismiss you unfairly.</li>
<li>Treat you less favourably for being in a trade union.</li>
<li>Victimise you for raising a concern on the subject of poor treatment.</li>
</ul>
Your employer also has a responsibility to ensure your health and safety at work. This requires them carrying out a risk assessment to determine what could cause harm to people. This involves considering the type and scale of any risks in the workplace and taking reasonable steps to prevent anything happening. &nbsp;
Your employer must ensure the following:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>You are not at risk of injury or ill-health through your work.</li>
<li>You have safe and healthy working conditions.</li>
<li>You are listened to you when raising a concern.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Physical wellbeing: looking after yourself </h3>
To take care of your physical wellbeing it is necessary to have the right training for your cleaning job. Even if you have worked as a Cleaner before, it is important to be trained for the specific environment you are working in.
Manual Handling
Lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing and pulling are inherent tasks for all Cleaner jobs. Though not always practical, employers should strive to avoid manual handling processes where possible. Regulations require that employers train all workers to be competent in carrying out manual handling tasks in as safe a manner as possible to reduce the risk of injury.
Lone Working
Working alone or without direct supervision means it is essential that risks to your health and safety are identified and managed. You should be made aware of these specific hazards and your employer should let you know the steps in place to control them.
Infection control 
For Cleaner jobs in a healthcare, food or animal environment, infection control and prevention have always been high priority. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 this has been the case for the majority of work environments where you are in close contact with people. It is important to understand how infections are transmitted and you should be fully trained in infection prevention procedures such as, hand washing, cleaning equipment and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is now commonplace in many work environments and public places. It includes face masks, visors, gloves, aprons and overalls. As a Cleaner, you should be fully trained in the correct use of PPE as needed for your job role and workplace. You need to know the steps to take before putting on PPE and how to safely dispose of it, as well as having an understanding of its importance and limitations.
Chemicals
As a Cleaner you will be working with various cleaning products, some of which may be classified as &lsquo;hazardous&rsquo;. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations,&nbsp;your employer must protect you from any risks associated with the use of products by assessing them according to the supplied <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/datasheets.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Safety Data Sheet</a>.&nbsp;You should be fully trained on how to use and store the product safely, so that any danger is minimised.
Accidents can happen in any job, but you always need to be aware of potential dangers. Whether it is something you identify as a hazard, or the need for training on a particular procedure. There are 4 routes you can take to report an issue:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Your supervisor.</li>
<li>Your health and safety representative.</li>
<li>Your union representative.</li>
<li>Through the hazard reporting procedures as provided by your employer.</li>
</ul>
It is important that you take control and consider your physical wellbeing a priority in your job.
<h3>How to report physical challenges or ailments that impact your role </h3>
You have the right to keep your medical information confidential and private. However, if there is a health condition that could impact your safety and that of those around you at work, it is strongly advised that you speak to your employer. This doesn&rsquo;t have to be your direct supervisor, you may be more comfortable speaking to the Human Resources department, for example.
How much information you give is your personal decision. You can focus on just the issues that may affect your job without going into detail. You may find it easier to request a note from your doctor to help explain the situation. You should not have any concerns about discrimination as you are protected against unlawful disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Learn more about your rights in our <a href="http://blue-arrow.sites.sourceflow.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">diversity and inclusion blog</a><a href="http://blue-arrow.sites.sourceflow.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a>
You and your employer will need to consider any adjustments that might help you manage your work better. The adjustments you can request include:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Changes to your working area.</li>
<li>Changes to your hours.</li>
<li>Taking time off work for medical appointments.</li>
<li>Temporarily re-allocating tasks. </li>
<li>Mentoring or training duties.</li>
</ul>
The adjustments should be reasonable for your employer to make, which may depend on the circumstances of each case. They will need to consider if the requested change is practicable and will enable you to continue to carry out your job. It can also depend on the size of the company and whether finances, internal resources or outside assistance are available to make the necessary changes.
In order to make appropriate accommodation for your health situation in the workplace, your employer can, if needed and with your consent, request access to relevant medical reports from your doctor.
Knowing how to approach your employer will help you feel more confident in your ability to identify and report anything you consider a hazard in your workplace. 
<h3>Your impact as a cleaner </h3>
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of cleaning and the need for Cleaners in many different environments. In early 2020, an employment shift was seen as over 400 Cleaner jobs opened up at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/find-staff/case-studies/nightingale-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NHS Nightingale Hospital in Manchester.</a> Positions were filled by workers from other professions as they found they were unable to work during the pandemic. This has given many people a renewed appreciation of Cleaners and the amazing job they have done and continue to do, keeping workplaces clean and meeting the necessary hygiene standards.
For further help regarding your rights as a flexible worker, the following resources can offer advice and support: 
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="www.tuc.org.uk/workingintheuk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Working in the UK</a> - a guide to your rights&nbsp;from the TUC.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.acas.org.uk/advice" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Employment advice</a>&nbsp;from Acas. Phone: 0300 123 1100 </li>
<li><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Workers' health and safety</a>&nbsp;information from HSE.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Equality and human rights</a>&nbsp;advice from EASS. Phone: 0808 800 0082</li>
<li>General questions answered at <a href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/">Citizens Advice.</a> Phone: 03444 111 444 </li>
</ul>
References
<ol style="margin-top: 0cm;">
<li>Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - COSHH. 2021. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - COSHH. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/. [Accessed March 2021].</li>
<li>GOV.UK. 2021. Equality Act 2010: guidance - GOV.UK . [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance. [Accessed March 2021].</li>
</ol>
<div><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"></div>

Cleaner Jobs Your rights as a flexible worker

Don't let fear derail your career&nbsp;
Once upon a time, fear led me to not only derail my whole career but also spend a year in&nbsp;
prison. Here is what I learned.&nbsp;
Fear is a really handy survival mechanism that kicks in when your brain senses danger. This helps us to get&nbsp;
our butt into gear and get out of the situation pretty quickly, the problem is, fear often doesn&rsquo;t know when to&nbsp;
stop.&nbsp;
Fear can hang around long after the real danger has passed, lingering at the edges of your consciousness,&nbsp;
polluting even the most everyday tasks. It is this lingering fear that has the potential to paralyse you but&nbsp;
equally it can be the making of you, as it presents creative and interesting ways to survive and develop.&nbsp;
Many moons ago, a traumatic incident left me with a whole heap of people-related, lingering fear. Over&nbsp;
time, this fear made me jumpy, nervous, paranoid, short-tempered and downright bone-tired. It had started&nbsp;
to affect my job and I was at risk of turning away from my hopes and dreams, battening down the hatches&nbsp;
and admitting defeat.&nbsp;
I was tired of living in fear, in order to salvage my career something had to be done, and fast.&nbsp;
I knew that for me to overcome my fears, I would have to do something so big that it would carve a human&nbsp;
sized hole right through the centre of it, a hole that I could walk right on through never looking back.&nbsp;
For this to work I needed to face a very real danger and it had to involve lots and lots of people.&nbsp;
I began wracking my brain trying to think up scenarios that would fit the bill, until one day I picked up the&nbsp;
local paper and the answer was staring me in the face. &ldquo;Prison Officers Wanted &ndash; Apply Today&rdquo;. I didn&rsquo;t even&nbsp;
hesitate; it was the perfect combination of danger and people to make me face my fears.&nbsp;
Throwing caution to the wind I put my career plans on hold, stepped away from my job and enrolled as a&nbsp;
trainee prison officer knowing that it would be a temporary side step, just for a year, a minor detour from my&nbsp;
career path if you will.&nbsp;
I went through the weeks of training, throwing myself into every self-defence and hand-to-hand combat&nbsp;
class I could. I would make copious notes on how to diffuse situations, manage my own fight or flight&nbsp;
responses and how to predict human behaviour. Before I knew it, I had graduated from training and was&nbsp;
proudly walking the landings of an all-male category B prison.&nbsp;
What started out as a tool to help me overcome my fears had become the most interesting and exhilarating&nbsp;
year of my life. I learned so much about myself and how body language can insight and diffuse. I learned the&nbsp;
importance of team work and about what drives people to act the way they do, I gained valuable insight into&nbsp;
lives that are so different from my own. Most importantly, I learned how to understand, control, and&nbsp;
embrace my own fear making me a better officer, colleague, parent and friend.&nbsp;
The thing is, what started as a year out and a way to salvage my career actually became the making of it.&nbsp;
What I learned at the prison feeds what I do every day. Today, I can write with feeling, with humility,&nbsp;
empathy and understanding. I can walk into a room with confidence and know that I am in complete control&nbsp;
of the fear that once paralysed me.&nbsp;
Fear is created for many different reasons and displays in many different ways but the one thing that is&nbsp;
consistent for everyone is the power it can have over you. It doesn&rsquo;t have to be a severe crippling fear, even&nbsp;
an insecurity or an anxiety can have an effect on how you carry yourself, how you work through day-to-day&nbsp;
tasks and how you are perceived by the people around you.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t let fear, insecurity or anxiety derail your career, if it means taking a step off your path for a while then&nbsp;
so be it. Finding a temporary job that challenges you and helps you to gain some perspective like I did could&nbsp;
just be the making of you&nbsp;
However you do it, find a way to seize control. Throw your shoulders back and stand up tall, defy fear and&nbsp;
challenge it to face you in all of your powerful glory. You will find that you have in fact been in control the&nbsp;
whole time and fear be damned if it thinks you are a push over.&nbsp;
Job seekers&nbsp;
Join the Blue Arrow family, click here to see our latest jobs&nbsp;
Salary Checkers&nbsp;
Wondering what your take home pay will be, click here and check out our handy salary calculator tool.&nbsp;
Career builders&nbsp;
Click here to access our free CV templates and our guide to creating a great CV.&nbsp;
Get in touch&nbsp;
You can keep up with my musings by subscribing to my nifty newsletter. If you want to get in touch you&nbsp;
can email me at Caree.R@bluearrow.co.uk or jump over to our Facebook page where you can join the&nbsp;
community discussions or just say Hi!&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Don't let fear derail your career 

What are your first thoughts when you hear &lsquo;apprenticeships&rsquo;? As National Apprenticeship Week 2020 took place during 3rd to 9th February, we thought we would investigate modern apprenticeships in more detail and crush those preconceived ideas some of us may have.
With a bid to have more opportunities for school leavers to stay in some form of education, the new government apprenticeships mean that a lot has changed over recent years. No longer are manual trades such as plumbing and carpentry at the top of the list, now we are seeing customer service, hospitality and catering and business administration making the top ten. The appeal is also not only for school leavers, as more and more new industries offer apprenticeships requiring different levels of expertise. So whether you are looking at warehouse apprenticeships or are looking for a career change, this is an option for you to consider.
Back in the early 20th century an apprentice was legally required to work for their employer for a set number of years. They likely received no pay for this, although they may have been given board and lodgings. On top of that they had to pay their employer a fee to cover the cost of their training as well as buying their own tools.
The modern government apprenticeship in England has undergone a complete transformation since those days, and even since the latter part of the last century. Apprenticeships today are a mutual arrangement. Employers invest in their apprentice and the apprentice earns and learns from their employer whilst being an integral part of their workforce.
As Sue Husband, Director of Apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Service said:
&ldquo;The employers of yesterday, like those of today, recognised the value of apprenticeships in equipping people with the skills businesses required. Today more than 100,000 employers are offering quality apprenticeships, building on the example of pioneering forefathers before them.&rdquo;1
Today an apprenticeship can help you, whatever stage you are at. You could be at the start of your working life, changing career direction or returning to work after a break.
Apprenticeships are available all over England in companies of varying sizes and in a wide range of industries. You could work in a small independently owned business or for a big brand like Ford, Airbus, Barclays, Google IBM and the BBC.
Not everyone finds full-time study the best way to learn so an apprenticeship offers a different form of education, combining practical training in a job with study, leading to an industry recognised standard or qualification. Apprenticeships are designed by the employer so you develop the right skills and knowledge for the industry, whilst working alongside experienced staff. You are also given time to study a subject related to your job role, usually one day a week. Including your training, most apprenticeships require you to work 30 hours or more each week. It can take anywhere from 1 to 6 years to complete your program depending on the sector, the level of the apprenticeship and your previous work experience. At the end you will have earnt a qualification that will help you further your career.
We found out some of the main misconceptions people still have about apprenticeships and below we set about putting them right. 
I don&rsquo;t think apprenticeships apply to me, they&rsquo;re for school leavers aren&rsquo;t they? 
It is true that some apprenticeships are targeted more at school leavers but they are available to anyone. The<a href="https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentice/what-is-an-apprenticeship" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> minimum requirements for government apprenticeships&nbsp;in England are</a>:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Aged over 16, no upper age limit</li>
<li>No longer in full-time education</li>
<li>Living in England</li>
</ul>
Other parts of the UK have their own equivalent government backed apprenticeships.
<ul>
<li>Scotland - <a href="https://www.apprenticeships.scot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Skills Development Scotland&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Wales - <a href="https://careerswales.gov.wales/apprenticeships" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Careers Wales</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Northern Ireland -<a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/apprenticeships" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> NI Direct Government Services</a></li>
</ul>
Apprenticeships are a great option for anyone who has a clear idea of the type of career they want to want to progress in.
My life&rsquo;s too busy with kids/elderly parents to care for. I can&rsquo;t seriously go back to studying.
Apprenticeships are available to anyone, at any age or stage in their life. Study is usually only one day a week, and while you may be among the higher age range in the classroom, the rest of the time you will be at your workplace working with your colleagues. It may require some extra time and commitment to fit the study in around home and work, but the hours in the workplace are usually reduced to allow for this.
I don&rsquo;t know of any apprenticeships that accept you if you only have work experience. I don&rsquo;t have any GCSE&rsquo;s. 
Each apprenticeship has its own specific entry requirements. Most will prefer you to have at least Maths and English GCSEs but if you don&rsquo;t have those, there are courses you can do to get up to speed.
Apprenticeships don&rsquo;t cater for people with loads of experience. 
Apprenticeships are not only for starter levels. There are apprenticeships at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree levels. These are equivalent to the following academic levels:
<ul>
<li>Intermediate Level 2 = 5 GCSE passes</li>
<li>Advanced Level 3 = 2 A level passes</li>
<li>Higher Level 4, 5, 6 or 7 = Diploma or Foundation degree</li>
<li>Degree Level 6 or 7 = Bachelor&rsquo;s or Master&rsquo;s degree</li>
</ul>
If you already have A levels or the equivalent then you might want to think about a Higher or Degree level apprenticeship. These can be in anything from Nursing to Sales and Marketing. The study part usually takes place at a College or University or with a specific training provider, there may even be the opportunity for some online study. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781848/Uni_Appr_guide2019_web2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Complete Guide to Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships </a>from the National Apprenticeship Service will provide&nbsp;you more information on this.
Businesses take on Higher and Degree level apprentices because they need to have a highly-skilled workforce. When you finish your apprenticeship you will have a diploma or degree and can then work your way further up the career ladder of your chosen industry. 30% of the senior UK managers at Rolls Royce started out in the company as apprentices.2 
Apprenticeships are a way of paying people less money aren&rsquo;t they? 
An apprenticeship is essentially a real job, so you are considered an employee with a contract of employment, earning a salary just like everyone else. You get paid for all of your working hours as well as for all of your training time. As an employee, you are also entitled to at least 20 days paid holiday per year, plus Bank Holidays.
The legal requirement is that apprentices must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, or the Apprentice Rate when applicable. However, many apprentices get paid more than this, especially for higher level apprenticeships.
<ul>
<li>Apprentice Rate for those aged under 19 or in the first year of your apprenticeship </li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px;">
<li>&pound;3.90 per hour (&pound;4.10 per hour from April 2020)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>National Minimum Wage for apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship </li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px;">
<li>Age 19- 20: &pound;6.15 per hour (&pound;6.45 per hour from April 2020)</li>
<li>Age 21 &ndash; 24: &pound;7.70 per hour (&pound;8.20 per hour from April 2020)</li>
<li>Age 25 and over: &pound;8.21 per hour (&pound;8.72 per hour from April 2020)</li>
</ul>
The apprenticeships I&rsquo;ve seen cover really basic jobs and skills that I already have. 
The Government backed apprenticeship scheme has between 12,000 and 20,000 apprenticeships available at any one time across England. With all the different apprenticeships across many sectors and at various levels, it will require some time and research to find the right one, but there is bound to be something that will help you move on in your current career or perhaps enable you to make a career change.
There are lots of resources available to help you on your quest to find an apprenticeship. The best place to start is on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gov.uk website</a>.&nbsp;It is a good idea to register so you can set up email and text alerts about new opportunities that might interest you.
Other places for more information are the <a href="https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/real-stories/apprentice" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apprenticeships, Apprentice Hub website</a> and <a href="https://amazingapprenticeships.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazing Apprenticeships</a>.
If there is a particular company that you would like to work in then you can always contact them directly or check their websites to find out about any available apprenticeships.
<h3>Top 5 reasons to do an apprenticeship</h3>
<ul>
<li>Earn a real wage</li>
<li>Hands-on experience working whilst you learn</li>
<li>Training paid for by your employer and the Government so no tuition fees or student loans</li>
<li>Be trained in the right skills for your chosen occupation</li>
<li>Set up your future career path</li>
</ul>
Other parts of the UK have their own apprenticeship schemes, similar to England. Skills Development Scotland has designed Modern Apprenticeships to help with filling the skills gaps in the workforce. The Modern Apprenticeship is a way for existing employees to upskill and new employees to learn, combining on-the-job experience with study for a qualification so that employers can develop their own workforce and fill the skills gaps they have.
As a Warehouse Operative you could search warehouse apprenticeships as a means to upskill, increasing your knowledge and expertise working in various parts of the warehouse and gaining a relevant qualification at the same time. This can be a step up the ladder of your career, leading you into Warehouse Management or perhaps onto a related industry such as Transport or Logistics.
If you need more inspiration about your next career move, read our blog, <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/future-of-work---top-10-job-roles-of-the-future">Future of Work &ndash; Top 10 Job Roles of the Future</a>.
References
1 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commemorating-100-years-of-apprenticeships" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Commemorating 100 years of apprenticeships</a> (2014)&nbsp;(Accessed February 2020)
2 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781848/Uni_Appr_guide2019_web2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Complete Guide to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships</a> (2019)&nbsp;(Accessed February 2020)

National Apprenticeship Week_Why do an apprenticeship

Modern slavery is closer to you today than you might think. The number of victims of modern slavery has been rising every year and in 2019, over 10,000 identified victims were referred to authorities.1
In quarter 1 of 2020, 2,871 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the National Referral Mechanism2; a 33% increase from the same quarter in 2019.&nbsp;
The real number of people trapped in slavery is estimated to be much higher than those currently reported. Ongoing campaigns, led by organisations such as <a href="https://www.antislavery.org/">Anti-Slavery</a> and <a href="https://www.unseenuk.org/">Unseen</a>&nbsp;are working hard to not only abolish modern slavery but raise awareness and help people spot the signs.&nbsp;
The 18th October 2020 is Anti-Slavery Day, an awareness day created by Act of Parliament as an opportunity to raise awareness of modern slavery and to eliminate it.
<h2>What is modern slavery?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Being forced to work through mental or physical threat.</li>
<li>Being owned or controlled by an 'employer', usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse.</li>
<li>Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as &lsquo;property&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Being physically constrained or having restrictions placed on freedoms.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What are the types of slavery?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Sexual exploitation.</li>
<li>Human trafficking.</li>
<li>Debt bondage.</li>
<li>Forced labour.</li>
<li>Criminal exploitation.</li>
<li>Domestic servitude.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to stop modern day slavery</h2>
Poverty, limited opportunities at home, lack of education, unstable social and political conditions and economic imbalances are just some of the key drivers that contribute to someone&rsquo;s vulnerability in becoming a victim of modern slavery.
Identifying the root causes behind slavery helps us to make changes that will prevent vulnerable people from being targeted and exploited, while outreach programs and support systems provide victims of slavery with an opportunity to escape their situation and build a sustainable future.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced by Theresa May [former UK Prime Minister] brought existing offences into one law and created new duties and powers to protect victims and prosecute offenders of modern slavery.
Victims of slavery and trafficking who have been forced to break the law were protected under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and law courts were granted the power to hand down a maximum life sentence for offenders or to place restrictions on people they believe may commit a human trafficking or slavery offence.
Businesses with an annual turnover of at least &pound;36 million were also required to publish an annual statement setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery within their supply chains. This can include information about modern slavery policies and due diligence processes which includes slavery, forced labour and human trafficking.
Since the new law was introduced there has been a considerable increase in tackling modern slavery offences at every stage; the police are referring more cases to be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service is making more decisions to charge and overall, there are more convictions.3
Referrals to the UK's system for identifying and supporting victims of trafficking, the National Referral Mechanism, has increased year-on-year since it was created in 2009. In 2018 6,993 potential victims were referred into the system, increasing from 5,142 in 2017, and 3,804 in 2016.
<h2>What else is being done to support victims of modern slavery?&nbsp;</h2>
The collaboration of charitable organisations, service providers, law enforcement agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, trade unions, lawyers, businesses and government authorities, volunteers and supporters means that tens of thousands of adults and children affected by slavery every year get to gain and keep their freedom, while the systems that trap them are actively changed.
Safehouses
Safehouses for women, men and children provide a refuge and a space where survivors can recover, build confidence and gain independence.&nbsp;
Safehouses also provide access to a range of services including:
<ul>
<li>Medical care and treatment.</li>
<li>Counselling.</li>
<li>Legal advice and assistance.</li>
<li>Holistic therapy sessions.</li>
<li>Education.</li>
<li>Financial assistance.</li>
<li>Immigration advice.</li>
<li>Assistance to return home or to reside in the UK.</li>
</ul>
Outreach projects
Outreach projects usually encompass resettlement, re-integration and outreach for survivors of modern slavery, working to provide ongoing support, practical and emotional assistance while providing access to many services including:
<ul>
<li>Immigration and asylum assistance.</li>
<li>Legal assistance.</li>
<li>Emotional, mental and physical health services.</li>
<li>Housing and benefit practical support.</li>
<li>Budgeting and money management.</li>
<li>Education services.</li>
<li>Training and volunteering services.</li>
</ul>
Anti-slavery Partnerships
Anti-slavery partnerships (ASP&rsquo;s) such as that between the Unseen charity, Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council, work in three main activity areas to support and enable the discovery of and response to incidents of human trafficking, slavery and exploitation:
<ul>
<li>Assist frontline staff to recognise victims of trafficking and modern slavery.</li>
<li>Increase intelligence gathering so more victims can be identified and helped, and perpetrators bought to justice.</li>
<li>Train and educate frontline staff, local communities, other geographic areas or sectors about trafficking and slavery, with the signs to spot and where to get help.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Modern slavery helplines</h2>
In 2016 the Modern Slavery Helpline, an independent, free to call and confidential telephone line, was launched as a means for victims, the public, statutory agencies and businesses to report concerns and get help and advice, on a 24/7 basis.&nbsp;Potential victims are able to speak to fully trained call handlers who can help them access relevant services, including Government-funded support through the National Referral Mechanism.
Statutory agencies are able to call the helpline to gain support in dealing with potential victims and receive guidance in accessing all the information and tools available through the associated resource centre.
Businesses and members of the public and those delivering services on the front-line are able to call for information, advice and also to report any concerns they have about individuals, premises or locations.
<h2>How can you help to abolish modern slavery?</h2>
If you are concerned for the welfare of a person or group of people, or if you suspect that modern slavery is happening near you, you can report it in many ways:
<ul>
<li>In emergency situations &ndash; always contact the police.</li>
<li>In the UK you can contact the Modern Slavery helpline anonymously and free of charge from landlines and most mobiles. 0800 0121 700.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report">Report your suspicions online</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Do not attempt to let the victim know that you have or are going to report your suspicions and do not confront anyone involved to ensure your own safety and that of the suspected victim.&nbsp;
References
1 Home Office. National Referral Mechanism Statistics UK, Quarter 1 2020 &ndash; January to March [Internet] April 2020 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/889969/national-referral-mechanism-statistics-uk-quarter-1-2020-january-to-march.pdf
2 National Referral Mechanism [Internet] September 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-trafficking-victims-referral-and-assessment-forms/guidance-on-the-national-referral-mechanism-for-potential-adult-victims-of-modern-slavery-england-and-wales]
3 National Crime Agency [Internet] December 2018 https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/nearly-7-000-potential-victims-of-slavery-and-trafficking-reported-in-2018

Anti-Slavery Day Modern slavery in the UK today

Within our last three articles we have summarised the latest employment news and the future of work, in particular the government&rsquo;s new Plan for Jobs scheme.&nbsp;
We have explored, investigated and found the essential information you need for everything from claiming Universal Credit through to claiming Statutory Sick Pay for Coronavirus (COVID-19) related absences.
The first article in the series &lsquo;Employment News - what does the new Plan for Jobs mean for you?&rsquo;, provided an overview of the Plan for Jobs scheme.&nbsp;
Our second article in the series &lsquo;Future of work - finding work and gaining the skills you need - A Plan for Jobs&rsquo; article provided detailed information on how the government is supporting jobs under the Plan for Jobs scheme along with an in depth review of the new Kickstart scheme.
The third article in our Plan for Jobs employment news series, &lsquo;UK Jobs &ndash; what support is there for individuals?&rsquo; delved deeper into the &lsquo;Supporting Individuals&rsquo; section of the initiative with key information regarding claiming Universal Credit, the Hardship Fund and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.&nbsp;
This, the fourth and final article in the Plan for Jobs series serves to combine all of the key actions you can take ensure the Plan for Jobs scheme works for you.
<h2>What is the Plan for Jobs scheme?&nbsp;</h2>
Plan for Jobs is the second phase of the governments staged recovery from Coronavirus (COVID-19) plan with a strong focus on strengthening existing employment and skills help individuals find work and gain the skills they need:
<ul>
<li>Support people in finding jobs.</li>
<li>Enable them to gain the skills they need to get jobs.</li>
<li>Provide targeted help for young people to get into work.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What key actions can I take from the Plan for Jobs scheme?</h2>
<h3>Action 1: Kickstart your career with the Kickstart Scheme</h3>
Employers will be creating new 6-month job placements for young people aged 18-24 who are currently claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment under the Kickstart Scheme.&nbsp;
Kickstart jobs are designed to build your skills in the workplace and help you to gain experience. With experience and applicable skills, you will find that your chances of finding long term work are greatly improved.&nbsp;
Take Action: Jobcentre staff will be looking out for people at risk of long-term unemployment and will be referring them directly to the scheme, but you can reach out to your work coach and ask to be referred to the scheme. For more information about the Kickstart Scheme click here.
<h3>Action 2: Boost your work search and build your skills with the National Careers Service</h3>
The National Careers Service offers support with:
<ul>
<li>Identifying key strengths and skills.</li>
<li>Searching and applying for jobs.</li>
<li>CV writing and completing application forms.</li>
<li>Understanding the job market.</li>
<li>Interview techniques.</li>
<li>Searching for courses and training schemes.</li>
<li>Finding funding to support learning.</li>
<li>Finding out about volunteering opportunities to develop work skills.</li>
<li>Exploring career options.</li>
<li>Choosing training routes.</li>
<li>Developing a plan for career goals.</li>
</ul>
As the National Careers Service is publicly funded, all services are offered free of charge and can be accessed online, by telephone and face-to-face.&nbsp;
Take Action: Immerse yourself in as many knowledge gaining exercises as possible. Take part in the National Careers Services courses and training schemes. Continue to update your CV and improve your job hunting techniques while you are searching for work.&nbsp;
Call 0800 100 900 to speak to an advisor. Lines are open from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Calls are free from landlines and most mobile numbers.&nbsp;
For more information about the National Careers Service click here.
<h3>Action 3: Get work-based skills and experience with a Traineeship</h3>
If you are aged between 16 and 24 you can get up to 90 hours of unpaid work experience as well as classroom-based lessons in Maths, English and CV writing.
Take Action: Find an enrol on a Traineeship through Jobcentre Plus, HMRC, or your local college:
<ul>
<li>Search for a Traineeship on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship">HMRC find a Traineeship page</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/search.php">Speak to your Jobcentre Plus advisor</a> if you&rsquo;re in receipt of benefits.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Ask your local college or training provider if they have any opportunities.</li>
</ul>
For more information on Traineeships click here.
<h3>Action 4: Claim Universal Credit &amp; make the most of other support available to you</h3>
When you are claiming Universal Credit, you now get an increased standard allowance and access to other discounts including:
<ul>
<li>Advance payments upfront without the requirement to attend a jobcentre.</li>
<li>Housing support &ndash; Increased housing support.</li>
<li>50% off public transport.</li>
<li>Flexible Support Fund Grant.</li>
<li>Help with childcare costs.</li>
<li>Help to Save Scheme.</li>
<li>Sure Start Maternity Grants.</li>
<li>Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA).</li>
<li>Budgeting Advance.</li>
<li>Access to Council Tax Hardship Funds.</li>
</ul>
For more information about the changes to Universal Credit and the various support listed above and discounts you can access click here.
Take Action: If you are not yet claiming Universal Credit or if you are unsure if you are eligible for help you can contact the Universal Credit hotline on 0800 328 5644.&nbsp;For more information about claiming Universal Credit <a href="http://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk">visit the Universal Credit website</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>Action 5: Search for vacancies and apply for jobs</h3>
Take action: All of our latest temporary and permanent vacancies for industries including warehouse, driving office and hospitality are posted on our website here.
For more information about getting a job through Blue arrow click here.
Take action: Jobcentre Pus also has a website for <a href="https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/latest-jobs/">people looking for work with over 58,200 vacancies</a> listed, with information on job fairs and skills training opportunities by geographical area.&nbsp;
<h3>Action 6: Access job seeker support from Blue Arrow</h3>
<ul>
<li>Perfect your online job search technique.</li>
<li>Is temping the right choice for you?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/career-advice/cv-templates/cv-writing-tips/">Get CV writing tips</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/career-advice/cv-templates/">Find CV templates</a>.</li>
<li>Find out how to write a personal statement.</li>
<li>Find out how to succeed in an interview.</li>
<li>Find out what you shouldn&rsquo;t say in an interview.</li>
<li>Find out how to retrain for a new job.</li>
<li>Use our career guides to find the perfect job&nbsp;for you.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Handy phone numbers and websites</h3>
<ul>
<li>National Careers Service 0800 100 900.</li>
<li>Jobcentre Plus, <a href="https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/search.php">find your nearest Jobcentre Plus here</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/latest-jobs/">Jobcentre Plus Job Help site</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/local-support/">Jobcentre Plus find jobfairs here</a>.</li>
<li>Universal Credit hotline 0800 328 5644.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship">HMRC Traineeships</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job">HMRC Find a Job Service</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-accessing-food-and-essential-supplies">Food Support Services</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help.aspx">StepChange Debt Charity &ndash; Free impartial financial advice and support</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/jobs/">Blue Arrow latest vacancies job search</a>.</li>
<li>Download our handy infographic;&nbsp;a key takeaway guide&nbsp;summarising all of the information from this blog.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Future of work what you need to know about the Plan For Jobs Scheme

Getting a good cross section of warehouse experience is really important if you want to be in with a chance of landing a great position, especially when the competition is so fierce.
If you want to stand out from the other people working alongside you when it comes time to apply for a permanent position you need to start thinking about your long-term game plan and start deploying a bit of strategy into the mix. While everyone else is thinking about working their way up through a role, you need to be thinking about working your way around a role instead.
Taking a side step throughout the various warehouse environments available could be one of the best strategic moves you could make for your career. Additional training, new specialisms, increased rates of pay, new skills, networking and varying opportunities are just a handful of reasons to consider strategically switching locations.
Warehouses come in all shapes and sizes and each tends to fulfil a specific purpose depending on the industry they serve. Whether you work in a Distribution Centre or a Temperature Controlled Warehouse, a Fulfilment Centre or at an Automated Site, each one provides opportunities to learn something new and add an extra element of experience to your CV.
<h2 style="background: white;">Distribution Centres</h2>
Generally, these warehouses serve the retail industry, shipping out goods to replenish the stock in stores. They can feature a few different environments depending on the type of goods they are storing such as ambient, chilled or frozen.
These centres are busy and fast moving with an emphasis on getting the goods out of the warehouse and in to stores fast.
Distribution centres are an excellent place to be if you want to gain valuable experience in a busy environment where targets are everything and the area you work can change day to day. If you have your sights set on moving into logistics and distribution, perhaps <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-become-a-reach-forklift-truck-driver">getting a forklift license</a> or an <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-become-a-lgv-driver">LGV/HGV Truck Driving license</a> should be your next goal which means a distribution centre is the place to be.
<h2 style="background: white;">Fulfilment Centres</h2>
These warehouses ship goods direct to consumers on a supply and demand basis. A good example would be an Amazon Warehouse: you place your order on the website, that then goes directly to the warehouse for the staff to pick, pack and ship the item straight out to you.
Fulfilment Centres are a great way to bolster your knowledge in picking systems, processes and efficiency but can also really hone your attention to detail skills as you work your way around the racks selecting items for shipping. Picking the item quickly and accurately is the name of the game.
<h2 style="background: white;">Automated Warehouses</h2>
While many warehouses are embracing technology to automate some of their processes, the warehouses that handle a fast moving consistent flow of goods in and out have been much quicker off the mark with introducing technology than others.
A great example of an automation in a warehouse environment would be a DHL warehouse that processes and ships parcels so quickly that they don&rsquo;t spend any time on racks; they move in cages, trolleys and on conveyor belts throughout the warehouse, in and out in one swift process.
The goods that pass through a mostly automated warehouse require very little human contact as the machines do the bulk of the heavy lifting but, that doesn&rsquo;t mean that human workers are not needed. It is quite the opposite, an automated machine allows a human workers role to change, it doesn&rsquo;t take it away.
Warehouses like these are work experience gold for anyone wanting to add machine maintenance, systems, safety and operation to their CV.
<h2>Climate Controlled Warehouses</h2>
Goods such as pharmaceuticals, botanicals, fine arts and paintings, fabrics, papers, and electronics need to be kept in very specific environments to keep them in tip top condition, so when it comes to storage, not just any warehouse will do. Items like these need a specialist warehouse that is set up to control the temperature, moisture and overall humidity of the internal environment.
As a warehouse operative in a specialist climate-controlled warehouse, you will be in an excellent position to learn how to understand and monitor the internal environment to ensure it doesn&rsquo;t move away from the specific parameters required. Being able to show experience in a climate-controlled warehouse on your CV opens up many more opportunities for you to work in some of the most diverse and interesting warehouse environments out there.&nbsp;
As you can see, each type of warehouse can provide a different career path or specialism. So, try them all! Career progression isn&rsquo;t always about promotions and pay rises, sometimes it is about strategic side steps that add a breadth and depth of skills to your CV.
Moving between working environments helps you to build up the experience section of your CV, show that you can learn quickly, adapt to change and absorb knowledge so that when you have decided on where you want to be or what you want to achieve, you will stand out, head and shoulders above the crowd.

How to get good warehouse experience?

When it comes to finding work and gaining the skills you need, the governments new Plan for Jobs scheme announced in recent employment news, could be just what you need.&nbsp;
Following on from our recent &lsquo;<a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/future-of-work-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-plan-for-jobs-scheme/">What does the new Plan for Jobs mean for you</a>&rsquo; article, this time we will be delving deeper into the supporting jobs section of the Plan for Jobs initiative.&nbsp;
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits has soared from 22 thousand to 2.6 million this June, but Government figures now show that young people in particular absorbed the worst of the unemployment shockwaves. 10% of 18-24 year olds have reported joblessness and a record 538,000 under-25s claimed Universal Credit in lockdown.2&nbsp;
In some respects, this is no surprise. Young people aged 18-25 predominantly occupy the hardest-hit job sectors, including leisure, travel, hospitality, and retail, leaving many out of work or furloughed. Meanwhile, thousands of graduates simultaneously began their job hunt this summer, too.
As we emerge from lockdown, we are seeing many employers embracing new remote ways of working but for young people without the equipment, space or experience needed to work from home, finding work could be harder than ever before.&nbsp;
Plan for Jobs is the second phase of the governments staged recovery from Coronavirus (COVID-19) plan and is tailor made specifically to help individuals find work and gain the skills they need. The Supporting Jobs section of the Plan for Jobs scheme looks to provide four key provisions, mainly with a view to assist those in the 18 to 24 year age bracket:
Job Retention Bonus
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has so far supported over one million employers to protect over 9 million jobs. The scheme has been open since March, and will wind down flexibly and gradually, supporting businesses until October.&nbsp;
Kickstart Scheme
Kickstart Scheme &ndash; A &pound;2 billion fund has been earmarked to create hundreds of thousands 6-month work placements for those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.&nbsp;
Boosting work search, skills and apprenticeships
New funding for National Careers Service &ndash; The government will provide an additional &pound;32 million funding over the next 2 years for the National Careers Service so that 269,000 more people in England can receive personalised advice on training and work.&nbsp;
High quality traineeships for young people
An additional &pound;111 million this year for traineeships in England, to fund high quality work placements and training for 16-24 year olds.&nbsp;
<h2>Kickstart scheme</h2>
A &pound;2 billion fund has been earmarked to create hundreds of thousands 6-month work placements for those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.&nbsp;
<h3>What is the Kickstart scheme?&nbsp;</h3>
Kickstart is not an apprenticeship. Employers can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.&nbsp;
The government will fund 100% of wages based on 25 hours per week at National Minimum Wage plus NI and pensions. Employers can also claim &pound;1,500 per job placement to cover setup costs, support and training.
The scheme opened to employer applicants on 2nd September 2020 and will run until at least December 2021 spanning the entire UK.
The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs. They must not:
<ul>
<li>replace existing or planned vacancies.</li>
<li>cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment.</li>
</ul>
The roles employers are creating under the scheme must be:
<ul>
<li>a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months.</li>
<li>paying at least the National Minimum Wage for the age group.</li>
<li>should not require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement.</li>
</ul>
When completing an application to join the kickstart scheme the employer needs to detail how they will help you to develop your skills and experience, including:
<ul>
<li>Supporting you with looking for long-term work, including providing career advice and assistance with setting goals.</li>
<li>Supporting you with developing your CV and helping with interview preparations.</li>
<li>Supporting you with learning basic skills, such as attendance, timekeeping and teamwork.</li>
</ul>
The job placements are on 6 month terms, but new candidates can fill the position once the previous term has come to an end. Participants may move on to an apprenticeship at any time during, or after their job placement has ended.
<h3>What does the Kickstart scheme mean for me?&nbsp;</h3>
Kickstart jobs are designed to build your skills in the workplace and help you to gain experience to improve your chances of finding long-term work.&nbsp;
Employers who are providing more than 30 jobs can apply to the scheme directly with a relatively simple process, these are likely to be large organisations. Any business offering under between 1 and 30 jobs will have to team up with other similar businesses to reach 30+ positions and qualify for the scheme as a group.&nbsp;
Jobcentre staff will be looking out for people at risk of long-term unemployment and will refer them to the scheme. Then Jobcentre work coaches will support candidates before and after their placement.
Ideally, the business will continue to employ you following the designated six-months, provided that the economy is in a more stable position. However, even if they do not, the idea is that you will come out with high-quality training and relevant experience to facilitate career progression and long-term employment.
The Government aims to have the first Kickstart placements on offer from November.
<h3>Will the Kickstart scheme work?&nbsp;</h3>
We may gain insight into how successful the Kickstarter scheme will be by looking back to employment trends and other previous initiatives. A similar back-to-work type scheme, called the <a href="http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05352/SN05352.pdf">Future Jobs Fund (FJF)</a>&nbsp;was introduced by the former prime minister Gordon Brown following the economic collapse of 2008.&nbsp;
The Future Jobs Fund (FJF) was introduced in October 2009 to support the creation of 170,000 subsidised jobs for unemployed young people who were at a disadvantage on the job market.&nbsp;
The programme was primarily aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds in receipt of Jobseeker&rsquo;s Allowance (JSA), with a smaller number of places available to JSA claimants aged over 24 in unemployment hotspots. Official Statistics indicated that between October 2009 and March 2011, just over 105,000 jobs were created under the FJF.3&nbsp;
The programme cost approximately &pound;680 million, in comparison, the Kickstarter scheme has a budget of 2 billion pounds.&nbsp;
A Department for Work and Pensions study concluded that it was successful in preparing participants for work and had some positive long-lasting effects. However, it also noted that some participants did not receive focus on how to get a job after they had completed the FJF so the key to ensuring success from this new Kickstart scheme will fall with you, the employee. To maximise your learning, to draw as much as you possibly can from the experience and to use it to benefit your future work prospects.&nbsp;
<h3>How do I apply for a Kickstart job?</h3>
For those seeking employment and on Universal Credit, the Jobcentre is the place to be. Jobcentre staff will be looking out for people at risk of long-term unemployment and will be referring them to the scheme.&nbsp;
You can &lsquo;kickstart&rsquo; this by reaching out to your work coach and asking to be referred to the scheme. You will be supported by your work coach throughout and after your placement ends.&nbsp;
<h3>What if I can&rsquo;t get a Kickstart job?</h3>
Even if you are not eligible or put forward to take part in the Kickstart scheme you can still develop your own skills in your own time and give your job seeking efforts a boost. There is a wealth of job seeker resources on our Blue Arrow website, many of which fit under the Kickstart job criteria sections:
1. Supporting you with looking for long-term work, including providing career advice and assistance with setting goals.
<ul>
<li>How to maximise my efforts when applying for work online.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/should-you-get-a-temporary-seasonal-job/">Is temping a good choice?</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/how-to-get-a-job-through-blue-arrow/">How to get a job through Blue Arrow</a>.</li>
<li>What skills do I need for the type of work I am interested in?</li>
<li>What career goals can I set?</li>
<li>Training, promotion, strategic placement selection.</li>
</ul>
2. Supporting you with developing your CV and helping with interview preparations.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/career-advice/cv-templates/cv-writing-tips/">How to write a CV</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-cv-templates-to-apply-for-a-job/">How to use CV templates to create a CV</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/personal-statement/">How to write a personal statement</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Create your own personal brand.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/how-to-ace-an-interview/">How to succeed in an interview</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/what-not-to-say-in-an-interview/">What not to say in an interview</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
3. Supporting you with learning basic skills, such as attendance, timekeeping and teamwork.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/life-lessons----becoming-your-own-mentor/">Become your own mentor</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/how-can-i-retrain-for-new-uk-jobs/">How to retrain for new UK jobs</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Boosting work search, skills and apprenticeships</h2>
New funding for National Careers Service &ndash; The government will provide an additional &pound;32 million funding over the next 2 years for the National Careers Service so that 269,000 more people in England can receive personalised advice on training and work.&nbsp;
<h3>What is the National Careers Service?</h3>
<a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/">The National Careers Service</a> is a publicly funded careers service for adults and young people aged 13 or over. The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance on learning, training, career choice, career development and job hunting delivered by qualified, impartial careers advisers.&nbsp;
<h3>How can the National Careers Service help me?</h3>
The National Careers Service offers support with:
<ul>
<li>Identifying key strengths and skills.</li>
<li>Searching and applying for jobs.</li>
<li>CV writing and completing application forms.</li>
<li>Understanding the job market.</li>
<li>Interview techniques.</li>
<li>Searching for courses and training schemes.</li>
<li>Finding funding to support learning.</li>
<li>Finding out about volunteering opportunities to develop work skills.</li>
<li>Exploring career options.</li>
<li>Choosing training routes.</li>
<li>Developing a plan for career goals.</li>
</ul>
The new funding under the Plan for Jobs scheme is not intended to create any major shifts in how the National Careers Service works, more it is intended to recruit additional Career Advisors and provide bespoke advice and career guidance for over a quarter of a million more people.&nbsp;
The new policy has identified priority groups that include:
<ul>
<li>Those aged 19 or over, or 18 and out of education, employment or training and living or working in England.</li>
<li>Low-skilled adults without a level 2 qualification.</li>
<li>Adults who have been unemployed for more than 12 months.</li>
<li>Single parents with at least one dependent child living in the same household.</li>
<li>Adults with special educational needs and/or disabilities.</li>
<li>Adults aged 50 years and over who are unemployed or at demonstrable risk of unemployment.</li>
</ul>
As the National Careers Service is publicly funded, all services are offered free of charge and can be accessed online, by telephone and face-to-face.&nbsp;
<h3>How to contact National Career Service</h3>
Text&nbsp;
Text your name and the word ADVICE to 07766 413219. An adviser will call you back for free.
Face to Face&nbsp;
Call 0800 100 900 to find out if you're eligible for a face-to-face appointment with an adviser.
Phone
Call 0800 100 900 to speak to an adviser. Lines are open from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Calls are free from landlines and most mobile numbers.
Webchat
<a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/webchat/chat/">Contact an adviser using webchat</a>. This service is open from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
<h2>High quality traineeships for young people</h2>
An additional &pound;111 million has been earmarked for traineeships in England, to fund high quality work placements and training for 16-24 year olds from September 2020.&nbsp;
The number of people starting traineeships has been declining gradually, from a high of 24,100 in 2015-16 down to 14,900 in 2018, according to figures from the Department for Education.1 Under the &pound;111m scheme, firms in England will be given &pound;1,000 for each new work experience place they offer. This new funding could re-ignite the traineeship offering and encourage more employers to offer ongoing traineeship placements improving the future of work prospects for all young adults coming out of education.
<h3>What is a traineeship?</h3>
Traineeships provide classroom-based lessons in maths, English and CV writing, as well as up to 90 hours of unpaid work experience. Traineeships are aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds and can last from six weeks up to six months.&nbsp;
A traineeship work placement aims to provide you with the following:
<ul>
<li>Safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience.</li>
<li>60-90 hours work experience.</li>
<li>Constructive feedback and advice.</li>
<li>An interview for an apprenticeship or job at the end of the traineeship if one is available.</li>
<li>An exit interview at the end of the traineeship with meaningful written feedback if no job is available.</li>
</ul>
A traineeship is a training programme not a job. Employers are not required to pay you for the work placement, but they can support you with expenses such as transport and meals.
You may also get:
<ul>
<li>financial support for travel, childcare or a disability from your training provider.</li>
<li>support from your local Jobcentre Plus if you are eligible for work benefits.</li>
<li>you can maintain your entitlement to benefits whilst on a traineeship.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>How is a traineeship different to an apprenticeship?&nbsp;</h3>
Employers are not required to pay trainees for a work placement, unlike apprenticeships where the minimum wage rate is &pound;4.15 per hour. On an apprenticeship, a person is employed to do work while studying for a formal qualification, usually for one day a week, either at a college or training centre over a number of years.
If you already have some work experience, you may be ready for an apprenticeship.
<h3>How do I find a Traineeship?</h3>
You can find a Traineeship:
<ul>
<li>on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship">HMRC find a traineeship page</a>.</li>
<li>by speaking to your Jobcentre Plus adviser if you&rsquo;re in receipt of benefits.</li>
<li>by asking your local college or training provider if they have opportunities.</li>
<li>by speaking to your school careers advisers if you&rsquo;re 16 to 18 years old.</li>
</ul>
Many training providers and colleges advertise their own Traineeship programmes but do not always advertise the employer led work placement vacancies which are <a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship">found on the gov.uk site</a>. They do this because they like to be led by the young person&rsquo;s preferences before securing the employer placement ensuring the programme is tailored to their needs.&nbsp;
For more information on Traineeships call 0800 0150 400.
References
1 HMRC [Internet] 16 July 2020&nbsp; https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships#apprenticeship-and-traineeships-annual-data
2 House of Commons Library [Internet] 11 August 2020 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05871/
3 UK Parliament [Internet] https://old.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05352.pdf

Future of work finding work and gaining the skills you need

The subject of driverless trucks, truck automation and autonomous truck technology has evolved from a distant dream to a serious prospect in what feels like no time at all. According to JD Power, in no more than a decade we could be seeing complete fleets of fully autonomous vehicles.1&nbsp;
Although this doesn&rsquo;t seem like very long, the autonomous truck technology required to create fully autonomous vehicles is more complicated than it first appears, with safety, legislation, security and logistics to consider, achieving a fully automated logistics industry will require a substantial amount of work.&nbsp;
<h2>What is autonomous truck technology?</h2>
Truck automation to most of us means futuristic driverless cars that zip around of their own accord carrying out their own tasks. In a broad sense this is almost true - A fully autonomous truck is a self-driving truck requiring no driver at all.&nbsp;
There is however a spectrum with regards to autonomous truck technology, it is not as simple as a truck with a driver and a truck without. Each level on the automation spectrum denotes a varying degree of driver and autonomous operation ranging from no truck automation to full truck automation:
Level 1 - Driver assistance
One function is controlled automatically i.e. Cruise control with the driver in overall control of the vehicle.
Level 2 - Partial Automation
Automated control over steering and acceleration or deceleration with the driver in overall control.
Level 3 - Conditional Automation
All tasks are automated in some situations i.e. motorway driving but the driver is present to take over for smaller routes, some traffic conditions and unforeseen events.
Level 4 - High Automation
All tasks automated in most environments with driver present to take over where absolutely necessary.
Level 5 - Full automation
Automation controls all roadway conditions and environments without a driver present.
Level 5 - Full automation may seem far-fetched right now but two companies &ndash; Einride and Volvo &ndash; are in fact testing Level 5 technology in controlled, low speed, short distance environments.
The autonomous trucks currently being tested are eventually intended to operate without humans; to begin with they will be trained on mapped routes, but the overall goal is to have the vehicle autonomously navigate traffic and other events on the roads. The vehicle will need to effectively process information from a wide array of sensors, high-quality cameras, LIDAR (measuring distances by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor) and radar (radio waves) determine the range, angle, or velocity of an object.
<a href="https://www.tusimple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TuSimple uses Navistar trucks </a>kitted out with their own self-driving technology that utilises nine cameras and a pair of LIDAR sensors. Although the LIDAR sensors are there, TuSimple are in fact working towards developing a solely vision-based autonomous system, similar to what Tesla uses in its cars.
<h2>Which companies are working on self-driving trucks?</h2>
Many companies are openly investing heavily to make automated logistics a reality across the board and the race is officially on to be the one crossing the finish line in poll position. The following nine companies are making the most noise about working on truck automation for a range of industries and applications from home delivery services through to long haul logistics:
<ul>
<li>Tesla</li>
<li>Uber</li>
<li>Peloton</li>
<li>Waymo</li>
<li>TuSimple</li>
<li>Aurora</li>
<li>Daimler</li>
<li>Volvo</li>
<li>Embark Trucks</li>
<li>Scania</li>
</ul>
Companies like Scania and Volvo have already taken some major first steps towards self-driving fleets. In 2016, a fleet of semi-autonomous Scania trucks completed a journey from Sweden to the Netherlands using a technique called platooning, in which a driver pilots the leading vehicle while the other trucks in the convoy follow along automatically.
<h2>Is autonomous truck technology safe?</h2>
How self-driving trucks will navigate on-the-road situations typically handled by humans is one of the biggest hurdles to achieving fully automated fleets. Many companies intend to have a driver in the truck as a backup just in case something goes wrong.&nbsp;
<h2>Do employers believe that truck automation will do away with drivers?</h2>
While there are some concerns and reservations throughout the driving community that as truck technology matures, more and more drivers will be replaced by robots.&nbsp;
Overall, it is believed that the increased efficiency as a whole will in fact increase demand and require a more significant number of drivers, especially at the start and end of complex long haul routes. Humans will also still be needed for other trucking-related tasks, such as customer service, loading and unloading.&nbsp;
Self-driving trucks will certainly for the foreseeable future, still require backup drivers for safety purposes. We are quite a way off the level 5 full automation discussed earlier in this article and even then, unless every vehicle is fully automated, and we can entirely remove unpredictable human behaviours from our roads we will be relying on back up drivers to step in and take control when needed.
On the whole, autonomous truck technology is intended to complement the efforts of drivers and ultimately reduce the strain they endure as part of the day-to-day work, not to replace them and so truck automation shouldn&rsquo;t be seen as a risk to drivers&rsquo; livelihoods, nor as a solution to driver shortages.&nbsp;
<h3>Pros of truck automation</h3>
<ul>
<li>Increasing levels of automation bring new possibilities for safety and efficiency because it removes the most variable element of heavy-duty truck driving&mdash;human error.</li>
<li>Truck automation focuses on increasing aerodynamics, saving fuel, and locating ideal speeds for efficiency such as software that allows drivers to locate more fuel-efficient routes.</li>
<li>Optimised operating functions such as speed and braking can make automation as good as, if not better than, the most efficient driver.</li>
<li>Fully automated trucks could include abilities to improve stability (preventing skidding or rollovers) or faster reaction times and stopping features than most humans can achieve.</li>
<li>Increased efficiency of transportation and supply chains because shipping and production schedules will be tied less to the availability of truck drivers, meaning improved delivery lead times and reduced operational costs</li>
<li>Eliminates off-hours as a fully automated truck won&rsquo;t have to take breaks, can work nights and will not be limited by driver hours.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons of truck automation</h3>
Current liability regulation is based on the premise that vehicles are operated by drivers who can be held responsible in the case of accidents. That, of course, isn&rsquo;t the case with self-driving trucks and before we can proceed with full truck automation on our roads we need assurance that the responsible party will be held to account when things go wrong.
<h2>Are automated deliveries in our future?&nbsp;</h2>
Back in 2016 a report by McKinsey and Company titled &lsquo;Parcel Delivery, the future of last mile&rsquo;2, predicted that three delivery models were likely to dominate the last mile in the future - autonomous goods vehicles with parcel lockers, drones, and bike couriers.&nbsp;
Their predictions included that autonomous vehicles including drones will deliver 80 percent of all items while traditional delivery will only account for the remaining 20%.&nbsp;
What we didn&rsquo;t see coming was how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic would fast track our need for automated deliveries. The pandemic has put a strain on global supply chains from everything from household goods to medical supplies and PPE creating an immediate opportunity for unmanned delivery vehicles to assist in addressing this demand and help to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
A number of providers, have throughout the lockdown and quarantine launched the use of automated vehicles to fulfil contactless automated deliveries distributing groceries and medical supplies.
Over in the USA, Reuters, the US Postal Service joined forces with self-driving truck company TuSimple to test self-driving trucks on a bulk-mail route between Phoenix and Dallas in May 2019. The truck, with a safety driver and an engineer on board, made the 2,000-mile round trip a total of five times. The trip usually takes team drivers 45 hours to complete and with traditional trucking methods, paying one driver to drive while the other sleeps is not the most economical solution.
Taking things one step further, <a href="https://nuro.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nuro the autonomous delivery van manufacturer</a> have been granted permission to test the first self-driving vehicle designed without any basic human controls such as steering wheels, pedals or side view mirrors on US roads.
Nuro's vehicles are designed to operate without a driver or passengers in them at all, not even a back-up driver. The latest model, the R2 vehicle uses radar, thermal imaging and 360-degree cameras to direct its movement. With two temperature-controlled compartments for goods, the doors raise up to reveal the items once a code has been entered by the recipient.
Nuro has announced that the R2 will be delivering pizza for Domino's Pizza, groceries from supermarket chain Kroger and goods from Walmart during its Houston trial. You can <a href="https://medium.com/nuro/serving-americas-food-deserts-a7442e922053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read more about Nuro&rsquo;s R2 Huston plans here</a>.
<h2>What about delivery drones?</h2>
Currently four different cargo drone uses have been identified, each aims to automate the transportation of goods while offering faster, more flexible, less expensive and more environmentally friendly service than the alternative:
<ul>
<li>Automation of intralogistics - managing the logistical flow of goods in factories and warehouses.</li>
<li>Parcel delivery.</li>
<li>Supply of medical goods, normally to hard-to-reach places.</li>
</ul>
Whilst drones are now accessible to private individuals and have escaped any significant regulation so far, their potential as delivery vehicles has yet to be fully realised. Companies such as Amazon are reported to be pouring funds into finding a way to harness drone technology.
In December 2016 Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos confirmed the first PrimeAIR Drone delivery had taken place in a tweet. The delivery of a bag of popcorn and an Amazon Fire stick was made to an address in Cambridge just 13 minutes after the order was placed.&nbsp;
<h3>Pros and cons of automated delivery services</h3>
Faster delivery times, access to hard to reach places and a lower carbon footprint are definite plus points to automated deliveries.&nbsp;
Achieving the hardware aspect of automated deliveries is probably the easiest part to put in place, the bigger issue could be geographical. If a delivery vehicle can travel up to 60 miles and a drone&rsquo;s range is just 20 miles, then customers need to be within that radius from a warehouse or other stock holding facility. While many warehouses and depots are in major towns and cities and on good access routes, are they close enough to customers to make fully automated deliveries possible? Amazon recently registered a patent for a beehive-like structure designed to be sited in urban areas to act as a &lsquo;multi-level fulfilment centre&rsquo;, could solving this issue be what they have in mind?
The idea of automated deliveries becoming commonplace raises plenty more questions than just geographical concerns:
<ul>
<li>Can they be regulated?</li>
<li>Will there be so many drones in flight that we won&rsquo;t be able to see the sky?</li>
<li>How secure will the parcels be?</li>
<li>Will they get delivered to the intended recipient?</li>
<li>How will deliveries to multi-floor buildings be possible?</li>
<li>Can the drones and vehicles be hacked and re-directed?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
For now, even with the likes of Nuro stampeding ahead with driverless delivery vehicles, until these questions can be answered and the public re-assured, the traditional parcel courier system looks secure.
Overall, the general attitude toward autonomous trucks remains in flux but it is clear that autonomous vehicles of ever-increasing capabilities will play a significant role in the future of the driving industry as we seek continually an increase in both efficiency and sustainability.
References
1 JD Power [Internet] July 2019 https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-q2-mobility-confidence-index-study-fueled-surveymonkey-audience&nbsp;&nbsp;
2 McKinsey &amp; Company [Internet] September 2016 https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/travel%20transport%20and%20logistics/
our%20insights/how%20customer%20demands%20are%20reshaping%20last%20mile%20delivery/
parcel_delivery_the_future_of_last_mile.ashx

Future of work Truck Automation

Parenting might just be the best preparation for any career, you just need to know how to use those natural parenting skills to your advantage.&nbsp;
So, you had kids, and stayed home for a while to give them the very best of your love and attention in those early days but now you are thinking about going back to work.
Scary isn&rsquo;t it! On the one hand you love your little ones, you treasure the time you have together and blimey don&rsquo;t they grow up fast!&nbsp; On the flip side, an adult conversation might be nice once in a while and perhaps the opportunity to pee uninterrupted isn&rsquo;t too much to ask, not to mention the glimmer of independence that some extra income would provide.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s such a difficult decision, to work or not to work, especially when it feels as though you have been away from a job for a lifetime; What if you don&rsquo;t have any of the skills they need? What if all of the other people, who are interviewing for the position, don&rsquo;t have kids? Will a boss really choose someone who has a potentially poorly and unpredictably grouchy child at home distracting them from work over a free-spirited single pringle?
What job would you even do? What job could you do to be more precise?&nbsp;Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls I am here to tell you that you are perfectly qualified for a whole heap of jobs, and you are actually the ideal candidate for many roles because you are a parent!
Really, I mean it, if you can balance a toddler on your hip, cook dinner, answer the phone, and remember to let the dog out, while ordering the food shopping and making a cup of tea then what job could there possibly be that you can&rsquo;t do?&nbsp;
I know you are worrying just a little bit about being brave enough to put yourself out there, but all I can say is that if you can handle a 3-year-old who is jacked-up on sugar and 3 years of sleep deprivation I would like to bet you could handle just about anyone so don&rsquo;t sell yourself short.
You are already working in the most stressful, undervalued and underpaid position out there but while doing it, and without even knowing it you have found within yourself some valuable skills that are absolutely applicable to work, all you need to know is how to deliver them.
Let&rsquo;s take a look at a few of the day-to-day things you do that are taken for granted and how we can flip them into personal attributes.
<ul>
<li>Six consecutive weeks of sleepless nights and night feeds = Perseverance and Stamina </li>
<li>Pacifying screaming child who cannot fathom out why playing with the toilet water is not okay = Strong leadership skills </li>
<li>Singing &ldquo;baby shark&rdquo; 54 times in a row to distract child from the boring car journey to the supermarket = fun and outgoing </li>
<li>Agree to disagree with co-parent on the necessity of a football kit for a new born baby girl = flexible </li>
<li>Always having a bag of chocolate buttons and a pack of baby wipes handy = Organised and forward-thinking </li>
<li>Walking round the block for the 10th time to get the baby to sleep = self-motivated </li>
<li>Bringing new life form into existence = team player</li>
</ul>
That was easy right! Now let&rsquo;s take all of the above and summarise it into a personal statement.
You are a fun and outgoing individual who thrives in a busy atmosphere. You approach your work with perseverance and stamina going above and beyond to see a job done well. You are flexible, organised and a real forward-thinker who is self-motivated but also happy to work as part of a team, taking the lead when a task calls for it.
See what I mean, damn I would hire you, you sound awesome!
If you take a look at the key attributes on the job descriptions that are out there you will see most, if not all of these traits are listed as desirable, this means, just like that and without even trying you are a great fit for so many more jobs than you thought you were, all you have to do now is choose the one that is the best fit for you.&nbsp;
To give you one last little boost and push in the right direction, here is a little insider info from someone in the know, if you are thinking about returning to work<a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/find-a-job"> click here</a> to go through my &lsquo;secret people in the know portal&rsquo; to see all the available opportunities.

Back to Work

The driving sector has been a hot topic in recent weeks and months, particularly as the cumulative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit brings the Driver shortage to a critical point. If nothing else, it has highlighted how important the driving sector is to the UK economy and that Drivers are a necessary part of supply chains.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>What current trends are we seeing in the driving sector? </h3>
Even in the years before the pandemic and Brexit there was a Driver shortage in the UK as demand increased, whilst the number of British Drivers didn&rsquo;t. However, there was an increase in EU Drivers, which the UK industry became somewhat reliant on.
In 2020 the pandemic led to changes in many industries, driving being no exception. ONS data1 estimates that the total number of LGV (large goods vehicle, formerly HGV, heavy goods vehicle) Drivers fell from 304,000 in Quarter 1 of 2020 to 253,000 in Quarter 1 of 2021. Of these, there was a loss of about 39,000 UK Drivers and 12,000 EU Drivers. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) estimates a current shortage of around 60,000 Drivers.
There are many reasons which could be attributed to this lack of Drivers. The drop in EU Drivers can certainly be, in part, because of Brexit and changes to immigration, but also some Drivers returned to their home countries during the pandemic and have not returned.
The reduction in British Drivers may be due to concerns about things such as hours, pay, and the lack of facilities. However, there are opportunities for flexible hours and some driving jobs can be family friendly.&nbsp;To find out more about Driver facilities and the best service stations in the UK, read our blog about <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/the-best-truck-driver-rest-stops-as-chosen-by-drivers/">truck Driver rest stops.</a>&nbsp;There are some excellent <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/drivingjobs/driving-career-prospects/">career prospects for Drivers,</a>&nbsp;and with experience you can expect an average salary of up to &pound;28,000, even more if you have specialist driving skills.&nbsp;
HGV Drivers have an average age of 55, meaning retirement is a valid reason that many are leaving the profession. This means that more younger Drivers need to be encouraged into these driving roles. Due to the closure of testing facilities during the pandemic, the backlog of HGV tests has also contributed to the slower entry of new Drivers into the industry. Some driving roles also require specialist skills, such as training in petroleum logistics. The lack of trained and qualified Drivers became apparent in the fuel crisis in September 2021.&nbsp;
This shortage in HGV Drivers means the driving industry is suffering, which has a knock-on effect for many other industries, from manufacturing to retail and ultimately, the general public. There is concern that this will become a particular problem at peak times, such as the lead up to the festive season.
Whilst the numbers of HGV Drivers decreased, the increase in home shopping during the height of the pandemic saw a much-increased need for home Delivery Drivers, opening up more opportunities for Drivers without the requirements for advanced driving qualifications. Even as things have returned to a more normal state, people are continuing to shop online, meaning Delivery Drivers have become recognised as an even more important part of the workforce.
<h3>How are these trends impacting Drivers and driving jobs? </h3>
Whilst hearing about the lack of Drivers in the UK is negative news, it is important to recognise the positives, and the training and job opportunities that have arisen as a result.
Challenge &ndash; need for more new, younger Drivers.
Opportunity &ndash; new government measures to help people become HGV Drivers.
In September 2021 it was announced that the Department for Education (DfE) will be investing in skills bootcamps to train people to become HGV Drivers. These free intensive courses enable new Drivers to gain a Category C or Category C&amp;E licence. You can find out more about how to train as an HGV Driver <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/drivingjobs/hgv-driver-training/">here.</a>
Additionally, the Department for Transport (DfT) is working to ensure that tests are available as quickly as possible for those who have completed their training courses. The government will also provide funding for these licences for those who complete the HGV driving qualification in the academic year 2021/22.&nbsp;
Challenge &ndash; need for Drivers to return to the industry.
Opportunity &ndash; more opportunities for flexible working, incentive payments and bonuses.
The DfT is encouraging the return of HGV Drivers who have left the industry. In addition, some companies are offering payment incentives for qualified Drivers to sign up, bonuses on top of wages, and some are paying for Drivers to upgrade their licences. Trends are showing that average wages for Drivers are increasing as businesses work to encourage new employees. Find out what the highest paid driving jobs are <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/blog/what-are-the-highest-paid-driving-jobs/">here</a>.
It is also possible to find driving jobs with more flexible working hours; they don&rsquo;t all require long hours and days away from home. There are also opportunities for temporary jobs, especially in peak times, for those who don&rsquo;t want to return to the industry long term.
Challenge &ndash; need for the return of non-UK Drivers.
Opportunity &ndash; new short-term visas.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are processing and issuing short-term visas for HGV Drivers to return to work in the UK from October to December 2021, to help ease the supply chain in the run up to Christmas. However, this is only a temporary measure, and the intention is that the government will continue to support the improvement of the driving industry to encourage more UK Drivers into or back to this profession.
Challenge &ndash; increased need for Delivery Drivers.
Opportunity &ndash; more local jobs available.
Local van driving jobs are a good way for anyone to enter the driving industry and the increase in online shopping means there are many more job opportunities in this sector. You can be a Delivery Driver with just a full UK driving licence for Category B vehicles and a minimum of one year&rsquo;s driving experience. Learn more about being a Final Mile Delivery Driver <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/drivingjobs/final-mile-delivery-driver-job-description/">here.</a>
You can find out more about government plans for support for the driving industry <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-to-help-people-to-become-hgv-drivers-among-package-of-government-measures-to-ease-risk-of-shortages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
In addition to the jobs challenge, the driving sector has also seen changes to the work environment as a result of the pandemic, particularly with regards to hygiene and safety. You can read more about this <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/drivingjobs/hygiene-facilities-in-driving-jobs/">here.</a>&nbsp;As someone in a driving role, or considering this as a new career, you should also be aware of the <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/drivingjobs/physical-wellbeing-in-driving-jobs-your-rights/">physical aspects of the job</a>.
Long term, the government continues to support the industry in solving the driver shortage issue through improved testing and hiring, with better pay, working conditions and diversity. This is a good time to take advantage of these opportunities and get into or return to the driving industry.&nbsp;
References:
<ol>
<li>ONS.2021.Office for National Statistics.[Online].[October 2021].</li>
</ol>

Sector in focus driving

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<h2>Blue Arrow ranked in the top 2% of organisations by Investors in People</h2>
Blue Arrow has yet again been awarded&nbsp;the prestigious Platinum Investors in People (IiP) status for the third time in June 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;The recruitment company will have held the highest level of the &lsquo;We invest in people&rsquo; award for 9 years at the end of this current award.
Blue Arrow, was assessed against nine indicators; from leading and inspiring people to rewarding high performance and creating sustainable success; and achieved the highest &lsquo;high performing&rsquo; rating across all of them.
Not only did Blue Arrow improve on their 2019 score, but with a score of 790 out of 900, the company scored 8.7% higher&nbsp;than the average IiP benchmark.&nbsp;It is now ranked in the top 2% of organisations assessed by IiP in similar sized organisations.
Of the One Blue Family employees interviewed:
<ul>
<li>98% felt trusted to make decisions</li>
<li>97% think Blue Arrow has clear values and 96% share them</li>
<li>91% think it&rsquo;s a great place to work.</li>
</ul>
Investors In People found that Blue Arrow&rsquo;s leadership approach is motivating people to deliver and outperform against the organisation&rsquo;s clear strategy and objectives.
Andy Hart, Managing Director of Blue Arrow said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted that we have once again been accredited as a Platinum Investors in People employer. Our Recruitment Superheroes set us apart from the rest and make Blue Arrow what it is today. We are absolutely committed to continue leading our business upholding these standards and continuing to invest in supporting the wellbeing, engagement and success of our people.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&rsquo;m excited to see all that we will continue to accomplish together as we embark on the future.&rdquo;
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Blue Arrow Awarded Platinum Investor in People for 3rd Time

The Carer's Leave Act of 2023 will bring significant changes for both employees and employers. The act now guarantees eligible employees the right to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a loved one. This leave can be taken all at once or in increments of no less than one week at a time. This Bill was passed on the 24 May 2023 and is expected to take effect in 2024.
Employers are now required to provide written notice to employees of their rights under the Carer's Leave Act.
They must also ensure that employees who take advantage of the leave are reinstated to their previous position or an equivalent position upon their return to work.
The act also includes provisions to prevent discrimination against employees who take carer's leave. Employers may not retaliate or take adverse action against an employee who exercises their right to take leave under the act.
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<div class="l-container">Overall, the Carer's Leave Act of 2023 represents a significant step forward in recognising the importance of caregiving and providing support to those who need it. With these new protections in place, employees can feel more secure in taking the time they need to care for their loved ones, while employers can ensure compliance with the law and maintain a positive workplace culture.</div>
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Carers Leave Act 2023 gives new rights to employees

The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill is a crucial piece of legislation that has the potential to significantly impact employees, employers, and the workplace as a whole. The bill aims to provide employees with greater flexibility in their working arrangements, allowing them to better balance their work and personal commitments.&nbsp; 
The Bill was passed on 20 July 2023, however it is not yet known when the Act&rsquo;s key provisions will come into force.&nbsp;
For employees, the bill offers the opportunity to work more flexible hours, which can be particularly beneficial for those with caring responsibilities or other commitments outside of work.
The ability to work from home or to vary their hours can help employees to better manage their time and reduce stress levels. This, in turn, can lead to increased job satisfaction and improved mental health.
Employers can also benefit from the flexible working arrangements provided by the bill. By offering employees more autonomy over their working hours, employers can improve staff retention rates and reduce absenteeism.
They may also find that flexible working arrangements lead to increased productivity and a more positive working environment.
Overall, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill has the potential to create a more equitable and productive workplace for all involved.
By providing employees with greater flexibility in their working arrangements, the bill can improve work-life balance and reduce stress levels, while also benefiting employers through increased staff retention and productivity.&nbsp;

Employment Relations Flexible Working Bill

Truck driver rest stops and HGV parking are once again a hot topic amongst HGV Drivers. We believe that healthy food options shouldn't come at a premium and that access to clean, hygienic facilities is a basic human right, so how does the UK perform when faced with the question, what are the best truck driver rest stops?&nbsp;
<h2>UK Service Station availability</h2>
There are many service stations in the UK and four major motorway service operators: Moto, Roadchef, Welcome Break and Extra, plus the smaller operators, Westmorland, Stop24 and Euro Garages. The website <a href="https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Motorway_Services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Motorway Services Online</a>&nbsp;provides a handy list of motorway service areas along with their operators and their average satisfaction ratings.
When you're piloting a moving vehicle down a busy motorway at high speeds, needing a comfort break is a distraction that is highly likely to impair your driving skill, but if you add driving hour restrictions and delivery deadlines to that you soon realise how stressful being a HGV Driver can be.&nbsp;
Knowing where the best truck driver rest stops are and familiarising yourself with the distances between them, is a great idea so you can plan your route effectively based on your driving times and avoid having to pull over in a lay-by without access to any facilities.&nbsp;
<h3>Longest distances between service stations on single stretches of UK motorway</h3>
<ul>
<li>M25, Cobham to South Mimms - 43 miles</li>
<li>M4, Reading to Membury - 39 miles</li>
<li>M4, Membury to Chippenham - 36 miles</li>
<li>M1, Oval to Leicester Forest East - 35 miles</li>
<li>M11, Birchanger to Cambridge - 33 miles</li>
<li>M1, Woodall to Woolley Edge - 32 miles</li>
<li>M8, Paisley to Harthill - 31.5 miles</li>
<li>M40, Beaconsfield to Wheatley - 29 miles</li>
<li>M3, Winchester to Fleet - 29 miles</li>
<li>M5, Sedgemoor to Gordano - 29 miles</li>
<li>M6, Corley to Hilton Park - 29 miles</li>
<li>M62, Birch to Hartshead Moor - 28 miles</li>
<li>M6, Tebay to Southwaite - 27 miles</li>
<li>M6, Lymm to Charnock Richard - 24 miles</li>
<li>M20, Maidstone to Hythe - 23 miles</li>
</ul>
While it doesn't constitute a single stretch of motorway, driving the M40 at Warwick to the M54 on the way to Telford would see you racking up a total of 63 service station free miles, so this is one particularly bladder busting route we thought worth mentioning.
<h2>Which UK service stations rank as the best truck driver rest stops?&nbsp;</h2>
In a survey, we asked the Blue Arrow driving community to vote for their favourite rest stops and every year <a href="https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/research-publications/publications/motorway-services-user-survey-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Transport Focus conduct a survey</a> asking customers about their experience at the motorway services in England.&nbsp;
In the 2019 survey, 11,600 customers had their say on facilities such as toilets, staffing, food and drink.&nbsp;Of all the service stations:
<ul>
<li>33 received a satisfaction score of 95% or above</li>
<li>97% of visitors rated the friendliness and helpfulness of staff in service stations as good</li>
<li>89% of visitors were satisfied with the cleanliness of the toilets in service stations</li>
<li>59% of visitors rated the food and drink in service stations as good value for money</li>
</ul>
<h3>Best service stations&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>Norton Canes, M6</li>
<li>Heston Westbound, M4</li>
<li>Gloucester Southbound, M5</li>
<li>Stafford Northbound, M6</li>
<li>South Mimms, M25</li>
</ul>
Overall, motorway service operators across the country performed well with 90% of visitors satisfied (nationally) with the experience offered to them however, with just 59% of visitors rating the food or drink they bought to eat in the services as value for money, this is no doubt a key area for improvement if satisfaction rates are to rise any further.
<h3>Worst service stations</h3>
<ul>
<li>Severn View, M48</li>
<li>Burtonwood, M62</li>
<li>Cullompton, M5</li>
<li>Frankly Southbound, M5</li>
<li>Charnock Richard Southbound, M6</li>
</ul>
The biggest drop in overall satisfaction ratings was amongst HGV Drivers. As the lowest satisfaction rate across all driver groups there was clearly more that needed to be done to provide good facilities for HGV Drivers.&nbsp;
<h2>UK Service Stations - Access to facilities during lockdown and beyond</h2>
If our service stations still continue to fall short of expectations it is more important than ever that distribution centres and delivery points are accommodating of HGV Drivers upon arrival. <a href="https://www.rha.uk.net/policy-campaigning/the-road-haulage-industry/truckers-toilets" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Truckers Toilets UK</a> (TTUK) agree and have campaigned for many years to improve toilet facilities for lorry drivers on the road network and at distribution centres.&nbsp;
After a long-running campaign, HSE guidance for access to facilities was finally amended in 2017 making it a legal requirement for employers in control of non-domestic premises to allow people who are not their employees to use their premises to access toilets and washing facilities.&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made">Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992</a>&nbsp;paragraph 127 states &ldquo;When deliveries and collections are made, loading and unloading areas should have a safe area for drivers to wait that allows them to rest between driving shifts, especially if they may be waiting for several hours, with easy and safe access to toilet, washing and refreshment facilities and shelter in case of bad weather&rdquo;.
After such a long and hard won fight for HGV Driver rights it was a real shame to hear <a href="https://www.rha.uk.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Road Haulage Association</a>, an industry body supporting those in the sector, were inundated with calls from HGV Drivers stating that once again they were being denied their fundamental rights during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) enforced lockdown.&nbsp;
On 23 March, when lockdown was announced, Supermac's, KFC, Wild Bean Cafe and Burger King all announced the closure of their stores and service station operators confirmed that their shops were instead going to be their main food offering.&nbsp;
HGV Drivers began to make their concerns known, reporting that they had already experienced being denied access to toilet and washing facilities at service stations and when making deliveries. <a href="https://unitetheunion.org/">Unite the Union </a>acted in support of HGV Drivers by demanding that <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Department for Transport</a> ensure that lorry drivers are not denied access to commercial toilets and washing facilities.
It is understandable that companies would seek to protect their own employees by limiting their exposure to anyone visiting the site, especially at the beginning on the lockdown period when very little was known about the virus. However, if drivers are unable to access facilities and wash their hands on route and then are being forced to wait in crammed, crowded designated waiting areas at distribution centres it is not only the drivers and the staff who are at risk but also everyone they come into proximity with along the way.&nbsp;
In the last week of April, Moto began a new campaign aimed towards HGV drivers offering free hot meals (from their WHSmith stores) to those who had paid for HGV parking, under the slogan 'Hot Meals Matter'. The free HGV parking allowance was increased, and drivers were offered free coffee from Costa Express. RoadChef soon followed suit with similar offers including a free coffee voucher for HGV Drivers.&nbsp;
By the end of May, most service areas in England had some-sort of food brand open and as throughout July 2020 it is understood that more food and shopping outlets, along with hotels will be re-opening to the public.&nbsp;
With the relaxation of lockdown and clearer government guidance being provided, it is expected that HGV Drivers will find that they are once again being provided open access to facilities but just in case there are remaining issues, Public Health England (PHE) issued a letter that can be carried by HGV Drivers and shown to those who refuse. The letter makes it clear that access to toilets should not be stopped as a result of COVID-19;
"This letter is to confirm that there is no public health reason to deny access to toilet facilities to freight drivers (or others) who do not have symptoms of cough or high temperature. At this time, it is particularly important that everyone increases the frequency of hand washing, so access to toilet facilities is particularly important.
Please facilitate freight drivers and others to continue to access toilet facilities and handwashing facilities.&rdquo;
If you find that you are still refused access to amenities, your employer must contact the company concerned and remind them of their responsibility. If the conversation does not resolve the issue, you are advised to report the matter to the Health &amp; Safety Executive.&nbsp;

Best truck driver rest stops

To be a great Warehouse Manager it takes more than experience, more than an understanding of the industry and much more than a forthright attitude to getting the job done.
As the demand for warehouse space in the UK increases so too does the need for efficient, organised and dedicated Warehouse Operatives to work on the warehouse floor. More operational staff on the warehouse floor calls for more Managers providing outstanding leadership.&nbsp;
It is the Warehouse Manager who is responsible for orchestrating all of the moving parts that go into warehousing and logistics, from shipping and receiving goods to developing the systems and from leading the team to helping each and every team member to achieve their very best.
To be an effective Warehouse Manager your proactive attitude and approach towards working alongside others are probably the two things that will see you either succeed and flourish or flounder and fail. A great warehouse manager leads by example, getting stuck in and hands on when needed, treating colleagues with respect, welcoming and listening to the ideas of others and showing a willingness to adapt to requests or alternative points of view where possible.&nbsp;
It doesn&rsquo;t matter how knowledgeable you are or how long you have spent climbing the career ladder, if you don&rsquo;t know how to be an effective leader your time as a Manager will always be a little more difficult than it needs to be. You will always need the support and respect of your staff to really get the very best out of them so, your interpersonal, teamworking and communication skills should always be your primary focus.&nbsp;
Nailing your leadership skills aside, there are 5 other top skills that a Warehouse Manager needs:
<h3 class="paragraph">Top 5 skills of a warehouse Manager</h3>
<h3 class="paragraph">1. Time Management </h3>
Working to targets, inspiring the team to push through a difficult shift and achieving various business objectives relies upon a good foundational ability to manage time and see what can realistically be achieved within the time available.&nbsp;
<h3 class="paragraph">2. Logic &amp; Problem Solving </h3>
Things don&rsquo;t always run smoothly, especially when you have more to store or move within your warehouse than you first anticipated. Adapting to the quickly changing landscape and reacting decisively shows your team that you are in control of the situation.
<h3 class="paragraph">3. Health &amp; Safety Awareness </h3>
Keeping the warehouse environment and therefore your team safe is of paramount importance. You must lead by example, directing clearly when things are in need of change, educating staff to be ambassadors for a safe environment and ensuring you are working within the legislative guidelines at all times.&nbsp;
<h3 class="paragraph">4. Hands on Skills </h3>
A great Manager knows how to and often gets stuck in to doing a bit of everything. A Manager who can pull their weight on the warehouse floor will be respected more than a Manager who rules from behind a desk with no clue what it really takes to do a job, so take the time to get to know all aspects of the various warehouse roles.
<h3 class="paragraph">5. Continuous Improvement Mindset </h3>
Ensuring that your warehouse is at the forefront of changing legislation, automotive technology, staff training, and computer system analysis tools goes hand in hand with providing exceptional customer service, business development and staff satisfaction. All of which fall under your responsibility as a Warehouse Manager.&nbsp;
If you are serious about taking the next step in your warehouse career be sure to have a look at this page all about <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/warehouse-jobs/warehouse-career-prospects" target="_self">warehouse career prospects.</a>
If you are looking for ways to get you on the right track towards leadership or management then this post all about <a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/communities/warehouse/3-ways-to-upskill-and-boost-your-career-and-pay-packet" target="_self">boosting your warehouse career</a> is where you need to head next.<a href="https://www.bluearrow.co.uk/communities/warehouse/3-ways-to-upskill-and-boost-your-career-and-pay-packet" target="_self">&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;

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