Author: Jackie.McCabe

VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards 2022 launch

March 28, 2022

Businesses in Scotland of all sizes and sectors are urged to enter the accredited environmental awards scheme VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.

The VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards are a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.

Since its inception in 1999, the VIBES Scottish Business Awards, have recognised and rewarded businesses that have championed sustainability by identifying ways to tackle the impact on the planet by reducing consumption on its resources.

The 2022 categories are:

  • Leadership Scotland 
  • Innovating Scotland
  • Product Scotland
  • Service Scotland
  • Hydro Nation Scotland
  • Circular Scotland
  • Moving Scotland
  • Adapting Scotland
  • Engaging Scotland
  • Partnership Scotland
  • Small Business Scotland.

Entries are free. All applicants will receive tailored feedback, guidance, and will be signposted to free help from Scottish Government agencies in relation to further environmental improvement where appropriate, Winners receive an attractive trophy with case studies shared online.

To obtain an application form please contact vibes@sepa.org.uk. Businesses have until 5pm on 29 April 2022 to submit their free application.

Finalists will be announced in June 2022.

For more informant on VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards, please visit www.vibes.org.uk.

Update on COVID regulations

March 20, 2022

Legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will continue until at least early April given the current spike in Covid case numbers.

Remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers to collect customer details for contact tracing, and to have regard to and take reasonable measures set out in Covid guidance, will end as planned on Monday 21 March.

The First Minister also confirmed that people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests tests from 18 April. The change forms part of the Test and Protect Transition Plan, which sets out how testing will become more targeted, with the aim of reducing serious harm from COVID-19. 

The changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:

  • most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
  • free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice, but will continue to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospitals
  • until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
  • vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April. From that date, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test. The public health advice for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.

The First Minister thanked the frontline Test and Protect workforce for their efforts throughout the pandemic. Work is on-going to support staff to explore other opportunities in the public and private sector.