HLAS

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could assist in detecting and analysing foodborne illness outbreaks. UKHSA experts recently conducted a study assessing different AI models to determine their ability to analyse online restaurant reviews and identify signs of foodborne gastrointestinal illnesses. The goal is to explore whether AI could eventually help detect and, if necessary, investigate outbreaks. How effective was the study? The study revealed several challenges that currently limit the reliability and effectiveness of using AI for this purpose. These barriers would need to be overcome before AI could be used as a [...]

The government has just announced that thousands of government credit cards will be cancelled as part of a crackdown on wasteful spending. With spending on these cards reportedly increasing fourfold over the last four years, it serves as a reminder of how important it is to keep a close eye on expenses. While your business is likely far more cost-conscious than a government department—where inefficiencies can sometimes go unchecked—this is still a great opportunity to review your own spending and identify any areas where you might be able to cut waste. Are you spending more than necessary?Even in a profit-driven [...]

The government has announced plans to lay legislation that will end the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). The PSR currently looks after payment systems such as Faster Payments and Mastercard. However, its role will be consolidated into the Financial Conduct Authority. Payment systems firms currently have to deal with three different regulators, which can make these systems unnecessarily complicated. Abolishing the PSR will simplify this. Nothing is changing immediately. The PSR will continue to look after its work until Parliament has passed the necessary legislation. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-axed-as-red-tape-is-slashed-to-boost-growth

The Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) will be using their latest round of funding totalling £1.6 million to help support 58 UK artists to tour the world. The funding will help small and medium sized music companies with their marketing and promotion campaigns for their artists touring abroad. The aim is to attract new fans, overseas touring opportunities and revenue. MEGS has been operating since 2014 and has given out around £7.9 million in grants to support UK musical acts in touring abroad and finding an international audience. Some acts, such as Ezra Collective and Fat Dog have benefited from [...]

In their latest blog, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) revealed some insights from their latest helpline and early conciliation data. Increased demand for services They report that the demand for their services continues to trend up. Their helpline service handled around 158,500 calls in the final quarter of 2024, which is an increase of 11% on the previous quarter. Web traffic has also increased significantly: up by nearly 20% on the previous year. Employers proactively seeking information They can see that employers and employees are being proactive about finding information when the law changes. There were 46,000 web sessions, [...]

Following a confirmed case of foot and mouth disease at a cattle farm in Hungary’s north-west, new import bans have been announced. The commercial import from Hungary and Slovakia of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non-domestic ruminants and porcines such as deer and their untreated products, such as fresh meat and dairy, are now banned. Since 8 March, travellers are also no longer able to bring meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants, or hay or straw from Hungary or Slovakia. This case follows an outbreak of foot [...]

The Health and Safety Executive are reminding employers about their responsibilities to protect workers from the health risks that come from working with display screen equipment (DSE), including PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations apply to any worker that uses DSE on a daily basis for continuous periods of an hour or more. For these workers, the Regulations mean that employers need to do a DSE workstation assessment and reduce risks such as by making sure breaks are taken. The law applies not only to workers at a fixed workstation but also mobile [...]

New technology continues to progress at a fast rate. It can be difficult to keep up or see the opportunities for your business. Some new bite-sized introductions have been published by the Government Office for Science that may help. The topics discussed include: Neurotechnology Metamaterials The future of computing Carbon management technologies Fusion energy Robotics Humanoids The introductions briefly set out the latest evidence and some expert insight on recent developments in the technology. They also show some potential applications and opportunities for the technology. Could one of these introductions spark the next idea for your business? See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-bite-sized-technology-guides-published

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have plans to use a callers voice as their password in an effort to speed up phone calls. In systems that are being used by banks, a customer’s voice recording is turned into encrypted biometric data, which is then used when they call to clear security checks. HMRC are planning to trial a system like this. HMRC has come under heavy fire for the poor handling of its customer service phone lines. According to statistics, for January through November last year, the phone line went dead on almost 44,000 callers who had been waiting 70 [...]

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced to Parliament last week. The legislation is being heralded as bringing transformative reforms to the UK building sector that will boost homebuilding and remove obstacles to needed infrastructure. Here is an outline of some of the measures introduced by the legislation. Planning committees A national scheme of delegation will specify which types of applications are to be determined by officers and which by planning committees. There will be limits on the size of planning committees and planning committee members will have mandatory training. Councils will also be able to set their own planning [...]