Firstly we would like to send our very best to you and you loved ones at this time.

A new lockdown came into force in England on 6th January, which sadly comes with separate implications for us all.

This means close contact services are required to close.

Here is some important information that practitioners may find useful.

Close contact services include beauty and makeup, spas and wellness businesses, sports and massage therapy, well-being and holistic locations.

Those who provide close contact services from a mobile setting including their own home, in other people’s homes and in retail environments (such as a concession in a larger, separate business) must also stop operating.

All of Wales is currently also in lockdown (alert level 4), meaning close contact services here must also not operate. However, this does not include treatments or services providing medical treatments for illness or injury, and therapists who are working alongside or in conjunction with a statutory regulated health professional.

Mainland Scotland is also in a temporary lockdown with new guidance to stay at home except for essential purposes. Premises which provide a close contact service and mobile close contact services must close except where they are ancillary to medical, health, or social care services.

Additional restrictions are in place in Northern Ireland, requiring people to stay at home. Close contact services are not permitted to operate, with exceptions including sport massage therapy and services ancillary to medical, health and social care services.

Healthcare and medical services are able to continue and it is our understanding this includes podiatry and chiropody.

Unfortunately it is not entirely clear whether practitioners of Foot Care would also be exempt from restrictions, so we would strongly advise our graduates to contact their insurers to check if they are able to practise under the current restrictions and if so, ensure they are covered to do so.

Any practitioners who are exempt from restrictions and able to practise must follow all safety precautions including PPE where applicable and strictly adhere to all other relevant guidelines in place to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.

As the COVID-19 virus is primarily spread through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, it is vitally important all precautions are taken when carrying out any essential close contact services.

You can stay up to date with the latest information at:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus (England)

https://gov.wales/coronavirus (Wales)

https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ (Scotland)

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19 (Northern Ireland)

As we approach the festive season we want to send you our best wishes after what has been an unsettling and challenging year for us all.

We are pleased that many of our students have found comfort and fulfilment in home study – whether they have been studying with us for a while or recently decided to learn something new. We would like to congratulate all of our students on their successes and achievements in these difficult circumstances. We are looking ahead to 2021 and helping new and existing students achieve their goals.

We have strived to do our utmost to support you with as little disruption as possible and we will continue to do so as we all move into the New Year.

Please note, we are closed from 12pm on Christmas Eve, December 24, reopening at 9am on Monday, January 4. If you enrol with us over the Christmas period, we will despatch course materials on our return on January 4.

We would like to wish all the very best for the holiday season and for the New Year.

From us all at BSY

We wanted to provide you with an update on our plans in light of the government’s announcement to introduce a second lockdown in England from Thursday 5th November in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

 We are continuing to operate as close to normal as possible within all Government guidelines – with many of our staff continuing to work from home.

As before, we hope we have implemented all of the right measures to ensure a seamless service for you, and one which ensures safety for all involved and we continue to accept new enrolments onto courses and welcome back past students.

We receive postal assignments daily, but please remember you can also submit your assignments by email to assignments@bsygroup.co.uk, this will be marked and returned to you as soon as possible.

In line with the latest developments, Practical Training at BSY is postponed until further notice. We are aware that the situation will be fluid following the lockdown and we will provide updates on any changes to this as soon as we have them.

We consider learning to be a great source of comfort and fulfilment and home-study is a great way to make positive use of any free time you may have. We are here to support you and your self-development in any way we can.

We will continue to communicate any updates and we wish you and your loved ones all the very best during this period.

From us all at BSY.

Remember, you can stay up to date with the latest public health information at:

• https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus (from here you can also access help and advice for businesses and the self-employed)
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

*As public health is devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Government guidance should be considered alongside local public health and safety requirements and legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For advice to businesses in other parts of the UK please refer to guidance set by the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government.