NEWS
Businesses are encouraged to register for the first in-person event on Aycliffe
Business Park since before the pandemic outbreak . Picture shows a pre-Covid event at the Xcel Centre .
ADVICE
Local businesses are invited to attend a ‘ Freedom Day ’ networking event to celebrate the end of social restrictions at the end of the summer .
Aycliffe Business Park Community ( ABPC ) is organising the get-together on October 1 in what will be one of the first in-person networking events in the region since the Covid outbreak .
ABPC has been organising networking events and seminars for nearly 10 years on Aycliffe Business Park – the largest business park in the North-East , which is home to around 400 companies .
As with all events , their networking sessions have been delivered online and have been well attended .
The Zoom events have included interviewstyle features with business leaders from around the park , as well as shared news and information , signposted help and support , and have enabled delegates to network .
ABPC is now organising an event at the Xcel Centre on October 1 ( from 11.30am ) which will include a social element to it , with food and drinks on offer from local suppliers . Kerina Clark , chair of ABPC , said : “ It has
BACK IN BUSINESS
Aycliffe businesses encouraged to register for ‘ Freedom Day ’ event been nearly 18 months since we were last able to hold one of our regular news and networking meetings ‘ in person ’.
“ We ’ ve been working hard to maintain connection with our residents , hosting virtual events over the last year and we ’ d like to thank everyone who has joined us to help make these a success .
“ Of course , virtual isn ’ t the same as meeting in person and we ’ re keen to move forward and once again meet together .
“ So we ’ re naturally very excited at the prospect of hosting our first ‘ in person ’ event for 18 months !
“ It will be fantastic to see lots of faces – whether you ’ re a regular to our events or have never been before – to celebrate the end of lockdown for businesses .”
At the October 1 event , local hospitality providers will be on hand to provide refreshments , with lunch part-subsidised by ABPC .
Tickets , which cost £ 5pp for Aycliffe Business Park residents and £ 10pp nonresidents , are aavailable by emailing hello @ aycliffebusinesspark . co . uk for more details .
CROSS-PARTY COUNCILLORS TEAM UP WITH KFC ON LITTER PICK
team of cross-party councillors teamed
A up with local KFC staff to pick up bags of litter left strewn around the service station near Aycliffe Business Park .
Team members at KFC Newton Aycliffe took to the streets and the local areas surrounding the restaurant to do a litter pick , to mark both the launch of the Great British Spring Clean and KFC ’ s newest commitments to tackling litter .
Team members were joined by Durham County Labour councillors Jim Atkinson and Eddy Adam and Lib Dem councillor Nev Jones on the pick as they also discussed the range of initiatives that KFC will be
Cross-party councillors joined KFC staff to pick up litter at the Forrest Park services .
implementing .
This includes the launch of a new consultation with local councils - initially in five regions across England - to roll out targeted , pilot programmes around alternative solutions to tackling litter and increasing local investment in addressing the problem .
CHANGING TIMES FOR EMPLOYERS
As staff return to the workplace and the furlough scheme draws to a close , employers are likely to face decisions on changing terms and conditions , whether triggered by business needs or employee requests . This can be a tricky area as while some variations may be authorised by express terms , significant changes will require consent and unilateral changes risk breach of contract , potentially even constructive dismissal claims .
Case law has established that employers have an implied duty to exercise variation clauses reasonably .
As a result , even where the contract may permit a change , it makes sense to consult with affected staff and seek their agreement .
For some changes it may be a matter of give and take . Context will also be important as with vulnerable staff there is a greater risk of damaging trust and confidence . On the other hand , employees are more likely to agree to changes where these avoid a redundancy situation .
In terms of staff requests , employees ( but not workers ) with six months ’ service have a statutory right to apply once a year to their employer to change how , when and / or where they work .
Employers may only refuse such applications on certain specified grounds and there is a time limit for handling flexible working requests .
Following a flexible working policy reduces the risk of decisions being challenged . However , as the law protects employees from detriment or dismissal for requesting flexible working , we could see a rise in the number of these claims in the coming months .
Paul Clark Partner and head of employment , Jacksons Law Firm
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 9