INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

New High Sheriff of Hertfordshire to promote youth empowerment

An Aeronautical Engineer has been royally appointed to be this year’s High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.

Lionel Wallace DL has been appointed as Hertfordshire’s new High Sheriff at a declaration ceremony held at St Albans Cathedral on 5 April. He succeeds Henry Holland-Hibbert in the ceremonial role.

The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political royal appointment made by the Queen. While the role dates back to Saxon times, it has evolved to include a mix of ceremonial, charitable and community functions and is voluntary and unfunded. Lionel was born and brought up in Hertfordshire and he has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire for over 12 years. He plans to use his year in office to highlight and encourage opportunities for young people to advance, be confident, committed and community minded. Lionel said, “One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the freedom to explore opportunities and be involved in community and leadership activities from an early age. I did not appreciate its value fully at the time, but I do now. It is for this reason I am convinced that strong and consistent investment in developing the leadership and civic responsibility attributes of young people will transform both their lives and our entire society’s cohesion.” High Sheriffs are responsible for supporting visits to their counties by members of the Royal Family and High Court judges. They also encourage engagement with crime prevention agencies, the emergency services and the voluntary sector. At his declaration ceremony the new High Sheriff launched his Youth in Herts Programme which has 3 core pillars: The Young Leaders Award, ‘Be Your Own Boss – Hertfordshire’ project and 30’ Under 30 project: • The Young Leaders Award is a school-based programme empowering young people to practice key leadership skills and character virtues, involving them in transforming communities through social action. • ‘Be Your Own Boss’ project aims to increase employment opportunities for young people by supporting budding young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. • 30’ Under 30 will seek to promote, attract and support the appointment of more young magistrates to the bench by the Local Advisory Committee. The High Sheriff also introduced his themes for the High Sheriff Awards, which complement the work of the High Sheriff. These are:

1. Empowering Young People to become today’s leaders 2. Supporting Young People to serve in unique or new areas of community life. 3. Promoting Youth engagement in the Magistracy

The awards will seek to recognise Hertfordshire voluntary groups and charities supporting these activities. Nominations are to be submitted on the 12th August 2021 (International Youth Day) online or in person at the High Sheriff’s Youth in Herts Fun Day taking place at the St. Albans Cathedral. Successful applicants will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in March next year. I am convinced that strong and consistent investment in developing the leadership and civic responsibility attributes of young people will transform both their lives and our entire society’s cohesion.

How can testing in Hertfordshire help your business reopen and trade safely?

One of the most challenging things about coronavirus is the uncertainty, not knowing who has the infection or when it’s safe to return to normal life. Good quality testing can help provide us with certainty. It’s a big part of how we’re going to defeat this disease - and workplaces play an instrumental role in the fight.

The government’s goal is that anyone who needs a test should have one.

A range of testing schemes are currently being rolled out in Hertfordshire, from workplace testing to community collection of home-testing kits, and we really need employers to support the programme in a way that works for them to ensure that it is a success.

For more information about testing in Hertfordshire, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtest

Hertfordshire County Council Public Health and Better Business for All are hosting a series of webinars, in conjunction with Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, aimed at helping Hertfordshire businesses to reopen with peace of mind and with the knowledge to operate safely:

• Trade Safely, Trade Confidently:

Preparing your Business for reopening - Step 3

13 May 2021, 15:00-16:00

• Staff Safety and Wellbeing

20 May 2021, 11:00-12:00 Previous events are available to watch on the Chamber website.

https://www.hertschamber.com/past-events-presentations

If you decided not to run a workplace-based testing scheme in your business, but still want to make sure you are operating as safely as possible as things start to reopen, you can register to give out home-testing kits to your employees instead. If you have 10 or more employees, now you can order testing kits for your employees to collect from their workplace and use at home twice a week.

Register to order free rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests for your employees (www.gov.uk) Your employees can still book a free rapid test at one of our countywide rapid test centres if they prefer: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtest

How can Hertfordshire councils help businesses reopen and trade safely?

Hertfordshire’s Better Business for All (BBfA) partnership has created a suite of resources to support businesses to reopen and trade safely during the pandemic. The toolkit of guides, checklists and templates is updated regularly in line with government guidance.

https://www.hertfordshirelep. com/what-we-do/priorities/ business-support/betterbusiness-for-all/covid-19advice-and-support/

The BBfA partnership, which includes the county’s 10 local councils and the County Council, strives to simplify the delivery of business regulation. The toolkit was produced in response to feedback from Hertfordshire businesses requesting clearer guidance and resources on how to become COVID-secure and further clarity on complex subjects such as PPE and the new coronavirus regulations.

Some of the topics covered include: • FAQs on reopening safely • FAQs on risk assessments • Checklists for reopening and trading safely • Guidance on use of outdoor space • Diversifying products or services • Trading online for the first time • Buying and providing hand sanitiser for your staff and customers • PPE and face-coverings • Cancellations and returns

Prior to reopening, you must conduct a risk assessment specific to your business and complete the ‘COVID-secure’ checklist. If you have five or more employees, you must also ensure it is recorded.

For more advice, businesses can contact their local council regulatory teams: • Your local Environmental Health Service: contact details are available via your district/borough council website and • Hertfordshire Trading Standards: Business Advice Line on 01707 281401 - open

Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, or email trading.standards@hertfordshire.gov.uk