HLAS

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has announced plans to share more detailed information on business rates valuations, making the system more transparent for ratepayers across England. Starting in 2026, businesses will have access to tailored information about their properties, and by 2029, they will be able to see specific valuation details and evidence. Carolyn Bartlett, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at the VOA, noted that while ratepayers generally desire more transparency, some have concerns about data confidentiality. “We’ve balanced the desire for greater transparency from some with the concerns of others about the confidentiality of their data,” Bartlett explained. Having [...]

Next month, councils across England will be given new powers to transform high streets by tackling long-term empty shops. Starting from 2 December, High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) powers will allow local authorities to auction leases for persistently vacant commercial properties, a move that is hoped will bring new businesses and community groups back to once-busy centres. Through HSRAs, councils can take action if a property remains empty for more than 365 days within a two-year period. By auctioning leases for up to five years, this policy aims to prevent disengaged landlords from sitting on empty properties, which contribute to [...]

Since coming into power, the Labour government has made its Make Work Pay plan a centrepiece of their policies. As a result, we have already seen a number of changes being proposed and implemented. This includes the new Employment Rights Bill which is currently making its way through Parliamentary processes. The government’s Make Work Pay policy paper makes interesting reading on what it intends to do. The paper outlines how the UK has seen a productivity slowdown in recent years that is more pronounced than other advanced economies. They attribute much of this to issues with the labour market, both [...]

Last week was Stress Awareness Week 2024. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) used the occasion to remind employers of their need to carry out their legal duty to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health at work. According to HSE figures, 17.1 million working days were lost to work-related stress in 2022/23. An average employee suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety takes an average of 19.6 days off work a year, almost the equivalent of a working month. Clearly, it is in an employer’s interest to do what it can to reduce and minimise stress in the [...]

As use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help with employee recruitment increases, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published guidance on key data protection considerations. While AI tools can help you improve efficiency in the hiring, there is need for caution. AI tools can unfairly exclude jobseekers from roles or compromise their privacy. ICO recently audited a number of providers and uncovered several areas where improvement is required leading to almost 300 recommendations being made. ICO plans to continue working with these businesses over coming months. The ICO is also encouraging any organisation that is planning to use an [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have provisionally concluded that with certain commitments the proposed merger of Vodafone and Three would not be a competition concern. Vodafone and Three first proposed merging in June last year, however the CMA have been investigating the proposed deal because of concerns that the merger would lead to higher prices for customers as well as harming mobile virtual network operators. The CMA have identified remedies including a commitment to upgrading the merged company’s network across the UK, including 5G rollout, and short-term customer protections that would solve competition concerns and allow the merger to [...]

The UK government has allocated £1.2 million in funding to small businesses for projects aimed at improving transport links in rural areas. Through the Rural Transport Accelerator Fund, eight small businesses have each been awarded £150,000 to develop digital tools and other innovations that will enhance connectivity for rural communities. By collaborating with local authorities, these projects will help support rural jobs, community wellbeing, and local economies, with trials set to begin in locations ranging from Norfolk to Scotland. Among the successful projects are digital solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural residents. For example, You.Smart.Thing will trial a [...]

Immediately following the US election results and Donald Trump’s win, the dollar made gains against other currencies. The FTSE 100 index also went up on Wednesday afternoon by 1%. The positive moves appear to be based on Trump’s plan to cut taxes and raise tariffs, as these will cause inflation to increase and reduce the speed at which interest rates are cut. US interest rates staying higher for longer will mean that investors get a better rate of return on savings and investments they hold in dollars. However, there are concerns that the UK economy could be detrimentally affected by [...]

A new corporate criminal offence of "failure to prevent fraud" is set to come into effect on 1 September 2025, following its introduction in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. This law holds large organisations criminally liable if they benefit from fraudulent acts carried out by an employee, agent, subsidiary, or other associated person on their behalf. A “large organisation” is defined in the legislation as meeting two out of the following three criteria: More than 250 employees More than £36 million turnover More than £18 million in total assets These criteria, along with the obligation to prevent fraud, [...]

The second UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Summit took place in London last week. Organised by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, the summit brought together government officials from both the UK and the Caribbean, along with senior investors, to explore business partnerships and funding opportunities for projects across the Caribbean. In the year leading up to April 2024, UK exports to the Caribbean countries involved in CARIFORUM reached £2.7 billion, marking an impressive 36% increase compared to the previous year. The forum showcased the vast potential for trade and investment between the UK and the rapidly growing [...]