This is the fourteenth of a series of bulletins produced by ISE to update members on key data and policy on Covid-19. This bulletin just covers the period 18/06/2020-24/06/2020.

You can access all of the Covid-19 bulletins on the ISE website.

The week in Covid-19

Data taken from Wikipedia and from the government’s Number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and risk in the UK webpage.

The UK currently has reported a total of 306,210 cases and 42,927 deaths. The following chart shows how the seven day average has changed since last week.

Despite the loosening of lockdown we are still in the first wave of Covid-19.

Ending lockdown

• The government has made substantial changes to relax lockdown. Some scientists argue that the easing of lockdown is moving too quickly.
• Student recruitment and the end of lockdown (ISE webinar).

Politics and policy

• Various organisations are calling on the government to invest in skills and support employers. These include the Association of Colleges who are calling for £3.6 billion investment, The Guardian are calling for a range of interventions to support young people, the Institute of Employment Studies who are calling for a cut in National Insurance Contributions and McKinsey who are calling for support for small businesses.
• The Labour Party are also pressuring the government to invest in infrastructure and do something to prevent mass unemployment.

Education

• The government is planning for schools to return to normal from September and promises to fund private tutors to help pupils make up for lost time.
• The Office for Students produce a summary of how universities are supporting graduates to find employment during Covid-19.
• Keeping skills in the curriculum (ISE webinar).

 Economy

• The government announces a new ‘Bounce back’ plan for agriculture and the food and drink industry.

The student labour market

• How long will it take for the graduate market to recover? (ISE podcast)
• UK graduate labour market update from Charlie Ball.

Recruiting and developing talent during Covid-19

• New models are emerging for forms of virtual work experience.