The Voice Winter 2007 >

Newsletter of the Vale of Evesham Commerce and Tourism Association (VECTA)

A NEW YEAR – A NEW BEGINNING

New Holiday Entitlement Regulations

The Government has published new regulations to boost the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year to 24 days from October 2007, and to 28 days from April 2009. Jim Fitzpatrick, DTI Employment Relations Minister said: "This extra time off will make a real difference in the lives of hard-working people - a proper rest from work and more time to spend with their families and friends.
Businesses will benefit too - from reduced absenteeism and a workforce who are more motivated and productive. We have listened to all parties responding in the latest consultation, and we have agreed a number of changes in the way the new holidays will be brought in."

• As a transitional measure, companies will be allowed to continue to buy out the additional leave entitlement (the four extra days) introduced from October 2007 until 1st April 2009.
• After 1st April 2009 the buyout of any of the additional leave entitlement will cease.
• All part-time workers will be entitled to the extra holidays pro-rata.
• The DTI will set up an online calculator to make it simpler for everybody to work out their new holiday entitlement.

There was an Early Implementation Incentive. This meant that businesses which offered their full time workers, by 1st October 2007, at least 28 days leave or more, who allowed buy out of leave only in excess of 28 days, (if at all), and allowed carry over leave of between 20 and 28 days (only to the following year), would not be bound by the new legislation, so long as they continued to meet these standards of leave provision. (These arrangements will operate pro-rata for part timers).

I hope that the festive season brought its good cheer to your business, and that 2008 will deliver greater success, health & happiness to all. Certainly the last twelve months have been difficult for everyone, not least because of the July floods. However, the determination of our retail & commercial sectors has shown that recovery can be effective, and I am pleased to see so many businesses reopened, or on the point of reopening, so quickly after such a devastating blow.

It is not always easy to be positive about the future, given the recent past, but VECTA are very positive about the challenges that face us in the next twelve months. We now have an opportunity to build upon past achievements and take a serious look at how we can best help you to build and develop a successful venture. Of course it is not solely VECTA’s responsibility to build success in business. It involves Government at all levels, particularly the planners, and certainly businesses themselves. Success depends on partnerships, and it is VECTA’s aim to form the appropriate links that will facilitate debate and representation at the highest level. For this reason, we are currently developing links with The Federation of Small Businesses, The British Shops & Stores Association, Business Link, and District & County Councils.

To further develop links with our membership and the wider business community, VECTA is holding an open forum event on 31 January, entitled “New Beginnings”, at The Vale Golf Club. You should by now have received your invitation. The tear off slip on the invite should be returned to: Gerry O’Donnell, 4 St Pauls Close, Evesham, Worcs. WR1 12EY. or e-mail your response to Gerry (see below) If for some reason you have not received an invite,(or mislaid it,) then please contact Gerry at gerry.gerry@virgin.net or Lew Hammond lewis.Hammond@wychavon.gov.uk

Further details of the event appear on Page 6 of this newsletter.