Welcome to the January issue of the Fast Forward Newsletter. This month’s news and signposts to helpful guidance are on:

• ‘How to be an employer of choice’ – 25th January – Book your free place!
• USA: Fashion Act requires fashion brands to disclose environmental and social due diligence
• Fashion Technology Academy launches in Leicester
• UK Government – Changes in Right to Work checks from 6th April

We’d also like to get your feedback whether you’re a brand, supplier, factory, warehouse or other organisation. Please do get in touch.

The Fast Forward Team

Fast Forward webinar
‘How to be an Employer of Choice’
Tuesday 25th – 10-11am

Businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of ensuring employees feel respected and valued to support a productive, engaged workforce.  

If you are a Fast Forward SEP subscriber or Member Brand join FREE for practical suggestions on how to create a positive working environment, attract and retain staff in a context of labour shortages, and improve employee morale and reputation amongst clients. 

BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE HERE

Supplier Engagement Programme

If you are a supply chain business in the UK and would like access to the above webinar, SEP forum and a range of benefits including training, webinars, practical guidance and template resources to support and help strengthen your business, you can find out more on the link below.

IN THE NEWS

USA: Fashion Act requires fashion brands to disclose
environmental and social due diligence

The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, if approved, would apply to apparel companies with more than $100 million in annual worldwide revenues that do business in New York. It requires apparel companies to map at least 50% of their suppliers by volume, identify adverse social and environmental impacts, and make plans to reduce them. The companies would have to disclose the wages paid by their suppliers and the comparison to local minimum wages and living wages. It has been criticised due to lack of accountability, as it does not impose liability if the company fails to comply. The bill was introduced in October and referred to a legislative committee on January 5th, 2022. Read the Bill.

Fashion technology academy
launched in Leicester

Congratulations to The Fashion Technology Academy, which officially launched its Leicester Campus on 30 November, offering apprenticeships and training for people who want to work in the textiles industry and for those who already hold jobs in the sector.

The FTA is the first apparel manufacturing training academy in the country to operate alongside a live Factory and Fashion Studio ensuring exposure to manufacturing whilst training for their accredited qualifications.

Visit the FTA website to find out more.

Digital right-to-work checks
are to be made permanent

The government has announced that from 6 April 2022, digital identity document validation technology (IDVT) will be introduced permanently to support employers and landlords with right to work checks following the feature being introduced temporarily in response to COVID-19.

Other changes to Right to Work Checks

The Government has announced that from 6 April 2022, holders of Biometric Residence Cards (BRC), Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) and Frontier Worker Permits (FWP) will evidence their right to work using the Home Office online service only. Presenting a physical document will no longer be acceptable.

Employers do not need to retrospectively check the status of BRC or BRP holders who were employed up to and including 5 April 2022. Employers will maintain a statutory excuse against any civil penalty if the initial checks were undertaken in line with the guidance that applied at the time the check was made.

Just Good Work

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