HLAS

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising businesses to think about how they need to adapt to warmer working conditions for their staff. After last month’s record-breaking temperatures and with more hot weather this month, HSE is asking employers to ensure extreme heat becomes part of their long-term planning. With temperatures reaching 40oC in some parts of the UK in July, adapting to climate change is something all businesses will need to consider as warmer weather becomes more frequent. Employers have a legal obligation under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to assess risks to the health [...]

Many employers are currently facing challenges in recruiting the people they need to help their businesses survive and prosper. It has never been more important for those employers to keep and develop the people they already have. It’s therefore crucial that businesses have the tools they need to prevent long-term absence and avoidable job loss because of ill health or disability. The UK Government is testing a new online service for employers, which provides advice and guidance on managing health and disability in the workplace and also explains your legal obligations and good practice. This may be particularly helpful for smaller [...]

For limited companies, when it comes to making decisions, company law states that shareholders who own more than 50% can pass a motion at a company meeting regardless of the views of other shareholders. If a shareholder(s) owns more than 75% of the shares, they control the company outright and can veto the decisions of all other shareholders. This may not suit all business situations, especially where you have two or more founders holding equal share capital or a group of owners with varying amounts of capital, some of whom are directors and some who are not, but who are [...]

The Great British Businesswoman Awards brings together the whole Great British Businesswoman Series community to celebrate the women who are changing the face of business across the United Kingdom. The awards showcase the business role models, advocates and mentors, as well as the inspirational women leading businesses and those ascending to new heights! More than just an awards ceremony, the Great British Businesswoman Awards is a year-round programme of engagement, delivering touch points throughout the year to support and champion. The awards focus on community and collaboration by bringing together those who make it their business to inspire female business [...]

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £3 million in collaborative innovation projects, including partnerships with: The National Physical Laboratory The National Measurement Laboratory The National Engineering Laboratory The Science and Technology Facilities Council National Institute for Biological Standards and Control National Gear Metrology Lab Newton Gateway to Mathematics Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies This competition is split into two strands. These are: A4I round 8 - main strand (for projects with total costs of £15,000 to £120,000) A4I round 8 - mini projects (for projects with total costs of up to £50,000) To be [...]

Do you know how to address drug and alcohol misuse at work? Employers have a legal duty to protect employees’ health, safety and welfare. Understanding the signs of drug and alcohol misuse (or abuse) will help you manage health and safety risks in your workplace. The HSE website has step-by-step guidance to help you manage drug and alcohol misuse at work. This includes advice on how to develop a drugs and alcohol policy and what you can do to support your employees.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to take advantage of the warm weather and keep serving customers al fresco. Temporary changes brought in during COVID-19, which made it quicker, easier and cheaper for businesses to get a licence to serve food and drink on pavements and pedestrianised roads, have been extended. The extension will continue until the changes are made permanent in the spring. The change was first introduced to help businesses keep operating during the pandemic and was widely welcomed by the public, café owners and pub landlords. The government will make these changes permanent in the Levelling [...]

At the end of July, the government finally got around to publishing its response to the 2018 consultation on employment status. The consultation took place as the result of government concerns over false self-employment, particularly in the “Gig” economy. Employers and professional bodies have heavily criticised the updated guidance as it still lacks clarity. There is even separate guidance to employers and engagers dealing with employment rights and tax status: Employment status and rights: checklist for employers and other engagers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Check employment status for tax - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Part of the problem is the lack of detail [...]

Households need to brace for a prolonged period of high inflation and further interest rate rises. The Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned that he will take forceful action to tackle inflation, already running at 9.4% and forecast to hit double figures later this year. He defended the decision last week to raise interest rates, saying there is a "real risk" of soaring prices becoming "embedded". Interest rates rose to 1.75% - the biggest rise in 27 years - with inflation now set to hit more than 13%. The UK is forecast to fall into recession [...]

With ever-increasing supplier prices, a rise in interest rates and a looming recession, managing your business's cash and understanding the flow are now vital tools in maintaining resilience and being able to adopt flexible strategies for success. Cash flows are a reflection of all the cash that is flowing in and out of a business. Owners can look at the direction of the cash flows for insights into the health of specific products or services and overall market patterns. Some types of businesses are more likely to run into cash flow problems, while other types appear to be more resilient. [...]