HLAS

The Post Office has announced plans to transfer its last 108 company-run branches to franchise partners, completing its move to a fully franchised network. The change, due by autumn (subject to government funding), affects around 1,000 staff, who will be offered roles with new owners or voluntary redundancy. Post Office chairman Nigel Railton has said that the 108 branches will stay in place or relocate nearby. New franchisees may include Tesco, Ryman, and independent sub-postmasters, which may bring Post Office counters into new retail settings. Concerns and Reactions The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has criticised the plan as ‘privatisation by [...]

Running a business comes with financial risks, and sometimes, companies struggle to stay afloat. While facing insolvency is undoubtedly stressful, seeking professional help early can prevent serious legal consequences. A recent case involving a Cheshire builder highlights the risks of mishandling insolvency and why business owners should act responsibly when financial difficulties arise. A Cautionary Tale: Builder Faces Sentence for Misconduct Gary Roberts, a builder from Cheshire, was recently sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after fraudulent behaviour while his company, GR Developments 1 Ltd, was in financial trouble. In 2021, he took £17,000 from a [...]

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 came into force on 6 April 2025. This law provides a new leave and pay entitlement for parents with a baby in neonatal care. Depending on how long their baby is in neonatal care, parents will now have the right to have up to 12 weeks leave and pay. This right is in addition to other time off and pay. Who is the leave and pay available to? The time off is available to the birth parent, father or partner, spouse, civil partner or adoptive parent. When can the leave be taken? [...]

During April, the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign is inviting employers to follow five simple steps that can help to prevent and reduce workplace stress. The Working Minds campaign involves 5 Rs: Reach out and have conversations. Recognised the signs and causes of stress. Respond to any risks you have identified. Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken. Make it Employers are being encouraged to focus on one R for each week of the month. The Working Minds campaign is designed to help employers meet their legal duty to prevent work related stress and support good mental [...]

From 8 April 2025, Companies House has launched a new identity verification system as part of changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. If you’re a director, person with significant control (PSC), or someone who files on behalf of a company, this applies to you. What’s Changing Everyone involved in setting up or running a UK company will soon need to verify their identity, either: Through their GOV.UK One Login, or Via a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) - like us. ACSPs have been able to register since 18 March 2025 with individuals being able to [...]

The US tariff saga continues to rumble on, and global markets have been tumbling. Retaliations - repeated in some cases - between certain countries and the US give more force to a growing global trade dispute. Even though the UK’s main rate is a relatively low 10% (25% on British cars) - and you might not trade with the US at all - there is growing concern about what this means for global supply chains, pricing and business confidence. What could this all mean for your business? Read on as we look at 7 areas of concern and what you [...]

New rules on how recycling and waste should be sorted in workplaces came into force in England on 31 March 2025. The rules are designed to simplify recycling procedures while reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill or for incineration. Under the new rules, workplaces with 10 or more employees need to arrange for collection of: Dry recyclable materials – this would include plastic, metal, glass, paper and card. Food waste. Residual (non-recyclable) waste. Depending on their waste collector, workplaces may need to separate paper and card from other dry recyclable materials. The Environment Agency is the regulator for [...]

Pub companies often use a tenancy at will or short agreement to allow a tenant to begin running a pub while a longer-term agreement is negotiated. This can be a valuable opportunity for both parties to assess the business relationship and can serve as a stepping stone for new operators entering the trade. However, for this arrangement to be successful, it is essential that the operator gets off to the right start. To support tenants on short agreements, pub companies regulated under the Pubs Code have collaborated with the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) to establish a consistent set of minimum [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined 10 car manufacturers and two trade bodies a total of £77.7 million after uncovering illegal agreements that distorted competition in the UK market. The investigation revealed two major breaches of competition law: restricting advertising claims about vehicle recyclability and colluding on the cost of recycling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Here are some key findings from the investigation Restricting Sustainability Advertising Car manufacturers are legally required to provide information about the recyclability of their vehicles. However, the CMA found that: Manufacturers agreed not to advertise if their vehicles exceeded the minimum recyclability requirement of [...]

From 7 April 2025, families receiving Child Benefit will see an increase in their payments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that the weekly rate will rise to £26.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for each additional child. This means an annual payment of £1,354.60 for the first child and £897 for each subsequent child. These payments, usually made every four weeks, are automatically into claimants’ bank accounts. One way parents can manage their Child Benefit is via the HMRC app, which allows them to make and adjust claims and update their details. What This Means [...]