English UK member Celtic English Academy (CEA) is the first private sector and SME organisation in Wales to be awarded a Gold Standard FairPlay Employer Award for equality in the workplace.

The award is from the inclusive working charity and consultancy, Chwarae Teg, which evaluates a workplace's approach to inclusion by recognising everyone's contribution and ensuring everyone has the chance to succeed.

There is some positive news that travel to the UK will be easier from some countries in Europe and the Middle East. And rules for travellers from France are back in line with the rest of the EU.

We are losing two members of the English UK team this month – and by an amazing coincidence, both are going to train as secondary history teachers.

Tom Weatherley and Tim Barker have both spent their professional lives in ELT, Tom starting as a graduate English teacher and Tim taking his first steps as a teen in his mother's Devon language school. Now with over 30 years' experience between them, both are well-known in ELT and to members, with Tom our conference producer and Tim business development director.

From 2 August, vaccinated adults and under 18s arriving from the EU and the US will no longer need to quarantine on arrival.

This affects many of the main UK ELT markets in Europe and is a positive move for our industry. We know from speaking to member schools and agents that there is pent-up demand from students. We look forward to seeing more students in our classrooms in the coming months.

Representatives from member centres as far away as York, Hull, Bournemouth, and Margate braved the heatwave to join us in Westminster on Monday 19 July to protest at the lack of effective government support for the sector.