Newsletter Issue 20 – November 2022
Welcome to the November issue of the Fast Forward Newsletter. In this month’s issue:
Fast Forward news and launches!
- New website dashboards launch for SEPs, Brands and Auditors!
- New self-paced modules for Core Standards and Beyond Compliance launched!
- FF Webinar 5 – 8th December 10-11am – Managing your Margin in 2023 – BOOK NOW!
- SEP Supplier Forum – 8th December 11-12pm – BOOK NOW! (Suppliers only)
Industry and legislative news:
- UK 2023 Minimum Wage Rates announced
- National Insurance 1.25% increase reversed
- Global supply chains at risk of increasing modern slavery exposure
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 NEWS
Website dashboards have now launched!
A new dashboard has been launched for all users of the Fast Forward website, for easy navigation to all of your resources and benefits. Simply log-in and watch the video for a tour.
Self-paced Core Standards and
Beyond Compliance learning modules launched!
SEP subscribers and Member Brands now have access to the new self-paced learning modules on the Fast Forward Core Standards, to support businesses to access guidance at convenient times, and Beyond Compliance guidelines to support businesses on their improvement journey from Developing to Performing to Leading status. Log-in to the new Dashboard and head to the tab ‘Core Standards’ to explore.

Webinar 4 – Managing your Margin in 2023
8th December 10-11am
Join Fast Forward 10am Thursday 8th December to hear key updates on confirmed UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2023 and an update of what this means for direct labour costings to start planning now for conversations between suppliers and buyers. FF suppliers, brands and auditors are all welcome to attend this. Questions from webinar participants will be answered during the live Q&A chat.
SEP Supplier Forum – 8th December 11-12pm
Reserve your free space today!
Straight after the webinar, we have our next Supplier Forum – which is an exclusive event for suppliers only.
This is an opportunity for you to hear about the latest developments in the Fast Forward Programme and share your challenges and examples of good practice.
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
UK 2023 Minimum Wage Rates announced
On the 17th of November the UK Government announced the National Living Wage (NLW) will rise to £10.42 from 1 April 2023, an increase of 92 pence or 9.7 per cent. Join us on the FF webinar mentioned above on the 8th December to learn more.

National Insurance increase reversed – GOV.UK
From the 6th of November, the additional 1.25% in both employee and employer National Insurance (NI) rates which were introduced back in April, are going to be reversed.
Almost 28 million people will keep an extra £330 of their money on average next year, whilst 920,000 businesses are set to save almost £10,000 on average next year. Some businesses have made the choice to also pass this on to their employees to support with cost of living rises.
Global supply chains at risk of increasing
modern slavery exposure
According to the latest Modern Slavery Index (MSI) published by Verisk Maplecroft, poverty and climate change are driving an increase in forced labour and trafficking, with 80% of the global population living in areas classed as high or extreme risk for modern slavery violations. The MSI assesses the risk to businesses of association with or exposure to modern slavery in supply chains. It measures the frequency and severity of modern slavery incidents, the strength of the applicable legal frameworks and the capacity to enforce those laws.
Just Good Work

Just Good Work is a free, interactive mobile app giving jobseekers and workers from the UK or abroad critical information and advice on recruitment and employment. The Fast Forward audit requires businesses to display the Just Good Work poster.
Posters are available to download for free in nine languages from the Fast Forward website: Albanian, Bulgarian, English, Croatian, Gujarati, Polish, Romanian, Serbian and Ukrainian.
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