What is a Private Limited Company? (A Guide!)
A Private Limited Company in the UK is a specific business entity that offers its owners limited liability. This means that the financial responsibility of the company’s members is limited to the value of the shares they hold that have not been paid for. This structure is designed to protect the shareholders’ personal assets, limiting […]
Understanding Insolvency Rules 2016 (A Guide!)
The insolvency Rules 2016, formally known as The Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, came into effect on 6 April 2017 and represented a significant overhaul of the UK’s insolvency legislation. These rules consolidated and updated the procedural framework governing insolvency processes in England and Wales, replacing the Insolvency Rules 1986 and their numerous amendments. […]
Employment Tribunal Compensation Limits Increasing
Individuals bringing employment tribunal claims in the UK will see a notable increase in the maximum compensation they can be awarded. Under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024, the following limits will apply from 6 April 2024: Maximum compensatory award The maximum compensatory award rises from £105,707 to £115,115, allowing individuals to potentially […]
TUPE Transfer Guide 2024
The TUPE (‘Transfer of Undertakings’) regulations protect the rights of employees if the organisation they work for changes ownership through, for example, a merger or sale. TUPE also applies if an outsourced service, such as office cleaning, catering or security, is due to be taken over by a new contractor. Under the TUPE regulations, where […]
Child Maintenance Service Application Fee to be Waived
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to scrap the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) application fee from 26 February 2024. Anyone with children under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education) can use the government’s CMS to arrange child maintenance payments if a financial arrangement cannot be made by the […]
New Ban on Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK, under new laws proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but the government said disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming […]
Sponsor Licence Renewals Abolished from April 2024
The requirement for UK sponsors to renew their sponsor licence every four years is being abolished from April 2024, under new Home Office rules. In light of the changes, UK sponsor licences expiring on or after 6 April 2024 are now being automatically extended by 10 years. Licences that are automatically extended will not end […]
GDPR Checklist (and How to Comply!)
If you are responsible for collecting and handling personal data you will need to understand how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to you, and how to remain compliant with the new law. The following GDPR checklist provides essential guidance on how to comply. GDPR Checklist The GDPR is based on the […]
The Role of the Designated Premises Supervisor
What is a Designated Premises Supervisor? Under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, with the exception of certain community premises, every premises licence that authorises the sale of alcohol must specify a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). A Designated Premises Supervisor is usually the person who has been given day-to-day responsibility for the running […]
Licence Holders & the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 the police or local authority have the power to close premises quickly, including licensed premises, which are being used, or are likely to be used, to commit nuisance or disorder. Moreover, if there is a risk of recurrence, the court has the power to grant an […]
What is a Personal Alcohol Licence?
A personal alcohol licence is required by anyone authorising the sale of alcohol from licensed premises. The following guide looks at who can apply for a personal alcohol licence, how long it lasts, how much it costs and how, in some cases, your licence can be suspended, revoked or surrendered. What is a personal […]
What is the BIIAB Award for Personal Licence Holders?
BIIAB is the awarding body of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the professional body for the licensed retail industry. It specialises in work-based learning, providing a range of commercial vocational qualifications, including the BIIAB Level 2 award for Personal Licence Holders. What is the BIIAB Level 2 award for Personal Licence Holders? […]
Company Law Reform: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act Now In Force
After passing through parliament, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has now become law. The Act aims to enhance measures against economic crime and increase transparency of corporate entities. It follows the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, which enabled the government to impose sanctions more rapidly, established a register of overseas entities […]
ACAS Opens Consultation on Predictable Working
ACAS has launched a public consultation on its draft code of practice for responding to requests for a predictable work schedule. The draft statutory code outlines the procedures that employers must follow when responding to requests for more consistent working schedules or hours. These procedures include the practical considerations employers should take into account when […]
Immigration Health Surcharge to Increase No Earlier Than 16 January 2024
Following publication of the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023, it has been confirmed that the UK’s Immigration Health Surcharge will increase no earlier than 16 January 2024. The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 is the draft legislation that will implement the fee changes. According to the draft, the increases will take effect between 16 January 2024 and […]
Licence to Occupy or Lease?
A licence to occupy can provide a property owner with a quick, easy and flexible way of letting out commercial premises, or even a room in their own home, avoiding the formalities and legalities of a commercial lease or residential tenancy. However, it is important to know how licences work, legally speaking, and when these […]
Care Workers Permitted to Pursue Unfair Dismissal Claim for Refusing Covid Jab
Three care workers who refused to have the Covid-19 vaccine have been given permission to continue their claims for unfair dismissal. Ms Dimitrova, Ms Chadwick and Ms Hussain were employed by UK care home provider Barchester Healthcare, which implemented a ‘no jab, no job’ policy within the organisation in 2021. The policy was in effect […]
New Smoking Law to Create Smoke-Free Generation
The UK government will create a “smoke-free generation” by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to introduce a new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. In a statement on […]
MAC Recommends Reforms of UK Shortage Occupation List
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its latest review of the UK’s Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The review was originally commissioned in August 2022 and covers information from the MAC’s own research as well as input from wider stakeholder engagement through its Call for Evidence. In the report, published on 3 October 2023, the MAC […]
ICO Issues New Guidance on Workforce Monitoring
The UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has issued new guidance for employers on monitoring workers and how this interacts with data protection. The guidance, “Employment practices and data protection − Monitoring workers“, highlights the imperative for employers to balance their legal obligations and their workers’ rights when implementing workforce monitoring. The new […]