HLAS

Have you ever purchased something on Amazon believing it had glowing 5-star reviews, only to receive a sub-standard product? Or perhaps you noticed that the reviews didn’t even relate to the item you were buying? Thanks to new commitments made by Amazon to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), these kinds of misleading experiences may soon become a thing of the past. Cracking Down on Fake Reviews and Catalogue Manipulation Under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), fake reviews are now explicitly banned. But there’s another issue that’s gaining attention: ‘catalogue abuse’. Catalogue abuse occurs when a [...]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have released their latest figures on the take-up of Tax-Free Childcare. For the 2024-25 tax year, almost 826,000 families saved up to £2,000 per child. During March 2025, 579,560 UK families used the scheme, a 16% increase on the number using the scheme in March 2024. What is Tax-Free Childcare? The Tax-Free Childcare scheme allows parents to deposit money in a Tax-Free Childcare account, where the government provides a 25% top-up up to a maximum of £2,000 per child (or £4,000 if the child is disabled). For example, if parents deposit £8, the government provides [...]

New figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that UK businesses are continuing to ease off on recruitment, with job vacancies declining by 63,000 between March and May. While this doesn’t point to a full-blown jobs crisis, it’s a clear indication that the labour market is cooling. The unemployment rate has risen to 4.6% (up from 4.5%), marking the highest level seen in nearly four years. What’s Behind the Shift? Rising employment costs are a major contributor. From April, employers have been required to pay higher National Insurance contributions, and the national minimum wage has also increased. The data [...]

Last week, the Chancellor unveiled her Spending Review setting out how government departments will allocate money over the coming years. While much of the focus was on large-scale public services like the NHS and schools, there are some important signals here for businesses to take note of - both in terms of opportunity and outlook. Zero-based Review A theme of the review was scrutiny. The Chancellor described the exercise as a “zero-based” review - meaning department budgets were built from scratch, rather than from making changes to what was already in place. The aim, according to the government, was to [...]

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has officially recognised the United Kingdom as having a negligible risk status for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)—the highest classification possible. This milestone represents a significant achievement for the UK’s farming and food industries, following years of stringent animal health and biosecurity practices. Since the BSE crisis of the 1980s, British beef exports have faced prolonged international restrictions, but this latest recognition reflects decades of progress and vigilance. What Does the Status Change Mean? • Expanded export potential: More international markets are expected to open their doors to UK beef and bovine-derived products.• Operational [...]

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced that incoming border checks on fruit and veg imported from the European Union will be scrapped. The recent UK-EU trade deal included a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement that will eliminate routine SPS border checks for food exports and imports between the UK and EU. The agreement has not yet come into effect, however in an early move, the government have decided not to require checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables that would otherwise have come into force this summer. Medium-risk fruit and vegetables include tomatoes, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches, [...]

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released a new set of principles aimed at helping organisations foster a stronger cyber security culture. These principles, developed through extensive research, outline behaviours and attitudes that can enhance protection against cyber threats. Cyber security is the practice of safeguarding computer systems, networks, and data from theft, damage, or unauthorised access. It plays a vital role in protecting personal information, business operations, and online services from cyber attacks. Although the guidance references cyber security teams and may initially appear more relevant to larger organisations, the increasing reliance on digital technology across all sectors [...]

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has scaled back its outlook for UK economic growth in 2025, cutting its forecast from 1.4% to 1.3%. The revision reflects concerns over rising government debt interest payments and increased trade barriers—particularly with the United States. In its assessment, the OECD highlighted that the UK’s public finances allow little room for unexpected challenges. The organisation recommended that Chancellor Rachel Reeves consider a combination of targeted spending reductions and strategic tax reforms to help stabilise the economy. Although early 2025 growth figures have outperformed expectations, the OECD noted a decline in business confidence [...]

The government has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at cutting emissions across the UK hospitality sector. The Zero Carbon Services Hospitality Trial is scheduled to run from May 2025 to March 2026, with £350,000 in funding allocated to support the scheme. The initiative will connect hospitality businesses—such as pubs, cafés, restaurants, and hotels—with experienced energy and sustainability advisers. Is It Worth Exploring? With estimates suggesting that the average pub loses £2,000 each year due to energy inefficiencies, improving energy use could bring significant savings. Enhancing energy performance may lead not only to reduced emissions but also to [...]

In a recent enforcement initiative, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has identified 518 employers who failed to correctly pay their staff the National Minimum or National Living Wage. These employers are now required to repay a combined total of £7.4 million to nearly 60,000 affected workers. In addition to repaying underpaid wages, they also face financial penalties of up to 200% of the shortfall. While HMRC acknowledges that not all breaches are deliberate, the department has made it clear that non-compliance—whether intentional or not—will result in action being taken. To support workers, the government has made tools available for individuals [...]