Legislation

Shorter and more flexible apprenticeships help government boost growth

Giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements will enable up to 10,000 more apprentices to qualify per year, says the government.

In employment bill ‘Nobody wins unless everybody wins’ says REC’s Mellor

The chair of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has called for “a [UK] labour market that works for everyone together” as efforts to polish and refine the new Employment Rights Bill pick up steam in Parliament.

10 February 2025

Will contractors be back in control of their IR35 status?

Incoming changes to company size thresholds will put thousands of contractors back in charge of determining IR35 status.

10 February 2025

Chancellor highlights job creation projects to drive economy

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered a major speech this morning [29 January 2025] focused on driving economic growth in the UK.

Government launches independent Loan Charge review

A new independent review into the Loan Charge was launched on Thursday [23 January 2025] by the exchequer secretary to the treasury James Murray.

HR, Accounting/Finance 24 January 2025

Agency made unlawful deductions of £36k under new IR35 rules, rules tribunal

Employment business Tripod Partners, which provided social workers to the Home Office, may face mounting claims from contractors who had taxes unlawfully deducted.

HR 15 January 2025

Digital hiring hasn’t reduced unemployment issues for disable people

Disabled people are still at a disadvantage in the workplace, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modernising Employment heard this week.

4 December 2024

Government issues guidance for recruiters using umbrella firms to pay workers

The government has this week published guidance for recruitment agencies using umbrella companies to pay temporary or contract workers.

4 December 2024

Hospitality recruiters prompted that temps should get tips

Hospitality recruiters are reminded that temporary agency staff must be included in the sharing of tips among all workers under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act.

IT/Telecoms, HR 20 November 2024

Streeting’s proposals will ban NHS trusts from using agencies for entry-level staff

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting will tomorrow [13 November 2024] outline plans for significant financial reforms within the NHS.

Public sector, Social care 12 November 2024

‘Failure to prevent fraud’ offence may affect large recruitment firms from September 2025

A new corporate criminal offence of ‘failure to prevent fraud’ will go into force in September 2025, which will affect large recruitment organisations.

Legal 7 November 2024

Prime Minister Starmer announces recruitment drive to boost border security

The prime minister has announced the recruitment of 300 staff for the new Border Security Command.

Public sector, IT/Telecoms 4 November 2024

Director of tax avoidance scheme firm Peak PAYE disqualified until 2034

A director who promoted a tax avoidance scheme that deprived HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) of more than £2.5m in unpaid tax has been disqualified, the Insolvency Service has revealed.

HR 4 November 2024

Jobs at heart of government’s Industrial Strategy

Jobs will be “at the heart” of the UK’s new Industrial Strategy.

Oil & gas/Energy, Life sciences 15 October 2024

Recruitment industry reacts to Employment Rights Bill reforms

‘Wait and see’ has been the resounding reaction to the government’s newly launched Employment Rights Bill, with most reforms not expected to come into force until 2026.

Legal, HR 11 October 2024

Government to create Fair Work Agency in new Employment Rights Bill

The government plans to create a new ‘single authority’ agency to enforce workers’ rights.

10 October 2024

Chancellor Reeves appoints MP Murray to chair of HMRC

For the first time, a government minister has been appointed chair of HM Revenue & Customs’ board.

HR, Accounting/Finance 26 September 2024

Changes to CGT – Should you stay or should you go?

No business owner can have escaped the widespread political and media coverage regarding changes to the UK’s Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime.

24 September 2024

Payments community calls for government to create national payments plan

Payments community The Payments Association is urging the UK government to take action leading to the production of a national payments plan (NPP).

24 September 2024

Union wins ‘fire and rehire’ case against Tesco

A shop workers’ union has won a Supreme Court battle against Tesco today [12 September 2024] over so-called ‘fire and rehire’ plans put forward by the supermarket giant.

Retail, Legal 12 September 2024

UK recruitment bodies sign joint letter to protect temp agency work

The UK’s four leading recruitment bodies have come together to urge the government to protect the UK’s temporary agency work and professional contracting sector amid potential legislative and regulatory changes.

12 September 2024

Research reveals those industries penalised by HMRC for lying about tax

The Global Payroll Association (GPA) has revealed which UK business sectors have been hit the worst for defaulting on tax.

Retail, Oil & gas/Energy 13 August 2024

Employment Rights Bill crucial in helping BME inequality in workplace says TUC

Labour’s Employment Rights Bill is vital to lifting living standards for Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers, according to the Trades Union Congress.

Hospitality/Leisure 13 August 2024

Recruiters have duty of care for contractors and staff in the heat

After a dreary start to the UK summer, record-breaking temperatures have erupted in many parts of the country, creating challenging working conditions for some.

Ghost Payroll schemes threaten recruitment industry

Workforce compliance firms and providers of payroll services have issued a critical warning to the recruitment industry regarding so-called Ghost Payroll schemes.

HR, Accounting/Finance 8 August 2024
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