2013 will be a year of huge legislative and regulatory change for companies in the timber and joinery sector. As they said in Rome, "Praemonitus praemunitus" – Forewarned is forearmed, so here is a list of some of the key dates and events which are set to affect woodworking and joinery businesses in 2013.
28 January – Green Deal finance launches. This effectively kicks off the Green Deal for businesses, as Green Deal finance will now be available for participants. A first-come, first-served offer which will enable householders to claim cashback on products such as energy saving windows and front doors.
Log in and read our easy guide to the Green Deal
www.bwf.org.uk/publications/general-business-support
1 February – Compensatory award pay increases. The maximum amount of week's pay used to calculate statutory redundancy payment increases to £450 per week. The limit on the amount of statutory guarantee pay per day (important in the case of lay-off and short-time working), increases up to £24.20, and the limit on the amount of the compensatory award for unfair dismissal is raised to £74,200.
3 March – EU Timber regulation comes into force. The EUTR prohibits the initial placing of illegally harvested timber products on the EU market of and requires ‘first placers’ to exercise ‘due diligence’. The supply chain is obligated to keep records of their suppliers and customers.
Log in and read our easy guide to the EU timber Regulation
www.bwf.org.uk/publications/general-business-support
8 March – Right to unpaid parental leave increases from 13 weeks to 18 weeks
20 March – 2013 Budget Announcement takes place
See the BWF's recommendations to the Chancellor ahead of the 2012 Autumn Statement
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/bwf-members-give-george-osborne-the-raw-materials-for-joinery-sector-growth
April – Part L changes laid before parliament. The proposed changes to part L of the Building regulations, with areas of interest including maximum U-values/energy ratings for replacement windows and design limits for whole window U-values in new build projects, should be laid before parliament in April.
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/clg-meeting-on-building-regulations
April – Employers legally required to report PAYE in real time. Information about all PAYE payments must be submitted to HMRC online each time a payment is made as part of the payroll process.
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/are-you-ready-for-the-april-2013-paye-changes
April – New Health & Safety inspection rules. Inspections will be focused on higher risk areas such as construction, or companies with incidents or a track record of poor performance. Joinery businesses need to be on high alert as they are liable to pay HSE a £124/hour ‘fee for intervention’, if, during an HSE inspection or investigation, a material breach of Health & Safety law is discovered.
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/hses-controversial-124/hour-cost-recovery-scheme-now-in-force
6 April – Part K alterations. Changes in the 2013 edition will take effect on 6 April 2013 for building work carried out in England and for excepted energy buildings in Wales. The current 2006 edition will continue to apply to building work started before 6 April 2013 or subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before 6 April 2013.
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/approved-document-k-2013-now-published
6 April – Changes to registration regime for company changes. A single UK-wide scheme streamlining the registration process will apply to all companies and LLPs, becoming relevant to all company directors, company secretaries, and partners of LLPs.
6 April – Statutory pay increases. The standard rate of statutory sick pay increases from £85.85 to £86.70 per week, with the standard rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increasing from £135.45 to £136.78 per week.
25 April – BWF Woodworking Conference 2013 (Members’ Day) at Holywell Park, Loughborough University, Leicestershire. This year’s event is an unmissable opportunity to get the advice needed to comply with the regulations and get your business on the fast-track track to growth. The day is preceded by an informal networking dinner the night before which delegates can also attend.
Each BWF member company receives one free ticket to the main event, but must register in advance.
www.bwf.org.uk/news/events/bwf-woodworking-conference-2013
1 July – CE Marking. Under the Construction Products Regulation 20111 (CPR), it will become mandatory for manufacturers to apply CE marking to any of their products which are covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN) or European Technical Assessment (ETA). CE marking will affect manufacturers of external windows and doorsets from July.
See the dedicated CE marking section of our website and download our FPC manual:
www.bwf.org.uk/ce%20marking
Summer – Young people required to continue in education or training. From summer 2013, all young people in England will be required to continue in education or training (at least part time) until at least the end of the academic year in which they turn 17.
Summer – Charges for employment tribunal claimants. Level 1 claims (for example unlawful deductions from wages, holiday pay, and redundancy payment), have an issue fee of £160 and a hearing fee of £230. Level 2 claims (for example discrimination, equal pay and unfair dismissal claims), have an issue fee of £250 and a hearing fee is £950. This comes a one of a number of adjustments to the employment tribunals procedure under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.
31 July – 1st year Woodworking CPD Submissions. The BWF’s Woodworking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme will complete its first CPD year (2012/13) at the end of July. With 6 months still to run for the CPD year, why not get involved?
More info at:
www.bwf.org.uk/cpd
September – New Bench Joinery Qualifications in Colleges (Diplomas). The new qualifications (those delivered in colleges either as the ‘technical certificate’ part of an apprenticeship or as a stand-alone qualification) will come into effect for the next academic year through CSkills Awards training providers.
September – New Wood Product Manufacture Qualifications (S/NVQ). BWF is working with ProSkills to develop fresh qualifications that will aim to better serve the full range of joinery manufacturers in the UK, from the large volume manufacturer to the micro bespoke firm.
October – Approved Document L changes come into force. Changes to part L of the Building regulations, covering new build standards and performance standards for works to existing buildings, will be in force in October, according to CLG’s preferred timetable. Areas of interest include maximum U-values/energy ratings for replacement windows and design limits for whole window U-values in new build projects.
Get U-values for windows and doors at:
www.bwf.org.uk/total-support-services
1 October – National Minimum Wage changes. The NMW (including development and apprentice rates), is likely to change again on 1 October 2013, subject to the prevailing economic conditions and the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.
November – BWF Annual Dinner and Awards 2013. Celebrating achievement by the rising stars of the industry and technical innovation, this year’s event will again be a night to remember.
Read about last years award winners here:
www.bwf.org.uk/news/latest-news/icklesham-joinery-scoops-bwf-technical-award-for-outstanding-renovation-of-georgian-gem
2013 is also likely to see a number of changes relating to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. This will include adjustments to the employment tribunal system and rules permitting employers to have a "protected conversation" with an employee on the subject of the termination of their employment. The Government is also hoping to introduce a new type of employment contract, under which employees will be given shares in exchange for waiving certain employment rights (such as the right to statutory redundancy pay, flexible working or training requests), including the right to claim unfair dismissal (except for reasons that are automatically unfair).
Also in the pipeline are new flexible working allowances and rules from HSE to make it easier for businesses to comply with RIDDOR.
All this might seem like a lot to keep track of, so don’t forget your holiday dates. Unlike in 2011 and 2012, there are no additional public or bank holidays, so this year’s remaining bank holiday dates for England* are listed below.
29 March – Friday – Good Friday
1 April – Monday- Easter Monday
6 May – Monday – Early May bank holiday
27 May – Monday – Spring bank holiday
26 August – Monday – Summer bank holiday
25 December – Wednesday – Christmas Day
26 December – Thursday – Boxing Day
*Northern Ireland has additional bank holidays on Monday 18th March and Friday 12th July. Scotland has no bank holidays on 1st April or 26th August but has additional bank holidays on Monday 5th August and Monday 2nd December.
