‘REAPING REWARDS’
Transition “didn’t seem like a big jump” for an Edinburgh company, now reaping rewards of advance preparations while making progress within the new EU relationship.
When 25 year-old Alison
Wood and Mhairi Cochrane, 23, last year launched sustainable hygiene brand Lilypads they knew they had to prepare “pretty quickly” for change.
As well as taking on board professional advice, Alison said: “I used the Brexit checker on the gov.uk website that was really good for pinpointing some of the things we hadn’t thought about.’’ Although there was initial additional admin to take care
of, Alison wasn’t daunted by it. Their reusable period pads are manufactured in Lithuania, and the business is truly international, donating 10 per cent of revenue to subsidise period products in Kenya while exporting to Spain, Holland and Denmark.
And, now Lilypads have their processes in place, operations have progressed smoothly posttransition with the business anticipating further growth.
Ministers have been urged to extend the eligibility criteria for financial support for people told to self-isolate in a bid to improve compliance and prevent another lockdown.
Labour say the £500 payment, which can be claimed by those who cannot work from home but need to isolate, should be available to everyone without access to workplace sick pay.
The Test and Trace Support Payment applies to both employed and self-employed people in England, but there is concern that some people who need it are unable to access it.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said just three in 10 people who should be self-isolating are doing so, – arguing that expanding the support system would improve compliance.
Under Labour's proposal, the payment would be available to anyone who does not have access to occupational sick pay, while low-income parents of self-isolating children would also be eligible.
Ms Dodds said: "Anyone whoneedssupporttoself-isolate should be able to access it – no matter where they live or when they develop symptoms.
"That is the only way we can keep the virus under control when restrictions are lifted, avoid the devastating economic damage of another lockdown and help the vaccine programme succeed.
"However, under the current system just three in 10 people who should be selfisolating are doing so.
"The Government must expand the Test and Trace Support Payment to those who don't have a workplace sick pay scheme and fix the broken system of Statutory Sick Pay.
"This will help prevent another lockdown."