Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Covid-19

Don't worry, it won't last a second longer than it's needed, then we'll all pat ourselves on the back, and the only queues we'll see will be at the foodbank......

I don't know the reality of the furlough scheme for UK companies, all I can do is relate my experience up to now of the similar scheme in France. I wouldn't call it subsidy as such.

My company and I on average generate around €350 000 pa for the French state. I've been paying in shed-loads for the whole of of the 32 years I've lived here.

To date, since we were closed down with 4 hours notice, and my EX VAT turnover went from an average of about €90 000/month to nothing, I've received about €17000 in cash from the government, and have been excused about €8000 in social charges. In the meantime; I've burned through about €80000 of the company's reserves. the relief has all been in respect of employees pay; I'm personally entitled to no handouts as I'm considered too rich so have had no remuneration since 14th March.

I can borrow up to €250 000 interest free (which I haven't done yet, as I'm fairly debt-averse, but will do when the cash-flow runs out).

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the help. But with all I've paid in over the years, it's a drop in the ocean.

WHO Situation report 127

There are a number of estimates as to how much the UK scheme will cost, but there are suggestions that it will cost £100bn for the duration of the scheme. None of this money has to be repaid, so it does represent a subsidy as opposed to a loan that has to be repaid.

As far as I can tell the UK scheme is one of the most generous that has been introduced anywhere and I appreciate the support we have been given, but of course the amount we have received is an insignificant proportion of what we have paid into the state over the last 25 years.

It is at times like this that the difference between a smaller privately owned company is in massive contrast to the large plc's. I think it is usual for small company owners to be the last to be paid once all other employees are looked after and of course we have to use our own funds as the shareholder to support the business. This is just not the case for the large UK plc's.

Good luck and I hope you come through it all OK without needing to borrow.

Emily Maitlis absolutely nails the Cummings saga
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/emily-maitlis-dominic-cummings-091252980.html

It followed on from this put down earlier in the saga

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...c-inequality-boris-johnson-a9456696.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52732818

Coronavirus: Serco apologises for sharing contact tracers' email addresses


Outsourcing firm Serco has apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 contact tracers.
The company is training staff to trace cases of Covid-19 for the UK government.
It made the error when it emailed new trainees to tell them about training
Serco said it had apologised and would review its processes "to make sure that this does not happen again".
Contact tracing is a system used to slow the spread of infectious diseases like coronavirus. It is already being used in other countries including Singapore and Germany.
In the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said 21,000 contact tracers have been hired, some of whom are healthcare professionals.
They will gather contacts from Covid-19 patients and trace those people by phone or email to slow the spread of the disease in the community.
Serco is one of the companies hiring, training and operating the 15,000 contact tracers who do not have clinical training.

#rant mode off.
#despondent mode on.

I am not certain what confuses me more.
You are developing an application to manage contact tracking.
You write the application so have control over the activities.
If someone is considerate enough to download and use the app then they have a self interest in complying.

You then need 21,000 contact tracers to do the job manually ? Really.

Does the App not just flash up big red lights and say - you have been in contact with a suspected COVID19 contact - go for a test now. If I got that I would be in the queue in moments. If I was really clever I would link it to the appointment booking system to optimse health service time and resources.

Why do I need 21,000 people to do the job? I do get the fact that some people are more like Donkeys and as stubborn as mules but do I need 21,000 people to call them and if so are they really more likely to respond to a call from someone they know about as well as a car accident claims hotline?

I wonder who retired into this job at SERCO. Surname Cummings, was last week the interview at a certain Castle.....

Serco are a customer of mine, I’ve set up quite a few of their contact centres and they have many government department contracts particularly with DWP and I’ve always been impressed by their training and the quality of their leadership staff

DC 's action considered a 'minor offence' and no further action by Durham police , thank goodness he didn't heed the baying calls by the media ! Lets all move on and 'get things done ' !

[quote=tmg513][/quote
Brilliant