HLAS

Last week, a so-called Tech Prosperity Deal was signed between the UK government and several US tech giants as part of Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, confirmed a £5bn investment in UK artificial intelligence (AI) over the next two years. In addition, Microsoft confirmed it is investing £22bn, with Nvidia also investing up to £11bn in the UK. The investments will be directed towards AI infrastructure and advanced scientific research. During the week, the Chancellor opened a new £735m data centre in Hertfordshire as part of Google’s investment, and Microsoft is confirmed as now [...]

A new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection campaign has found serious failings in how workplaces manage hearing protection, raising concerns about the safety of employees in noisy environments. One in four workplaces inspected had noise levels making mandatory hearing protection legally required. But despite this, inspections uncovered widespread shortcomings in both employee training and equipment management. Key findings Over 75% of workers in high-noise workplaces lacked basic knowledge on storing, checking, or reporting issues with hearing protection equipment. 63% had not received guidance on how hearing protection must be worn continuously during exposure to harmful noise levels. 80% received [...]

Companies House has recently been awarded the highest-level accreditation from Investors in People for its commitment to staff wellbeing. Its Platinum award recognises the organisation’s efforts to support employees’ social, physical and psychological wellbeing. The achievement followed detailed assessments, including staff surveys, interviews, and reviews of workplace culture. What can other businesses learn from this success? Even if you don’t have the same resources as Companies House, there are practical, low-cost steps you can take to improve staff wellbeing. 1. Listen to staff feedback Employees who feel listened to are more likely to feel valued. For a smaller business, this [...]

Small businesses planning to expand their premises could soon find the process easier, following new government commitments to make business rates fairer. An interim report from the Treasury states that the Chancellor will examine options to address the “cliff edges” in the system – the sudden increases in rates that often discourage investment. At present, when a small business opens a second property, it immediately loses all entitlement to Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR). The government has now confirmed that it will review how SBRR can better support business growth. Permanent tax cuts for retail, hospitality, and leisure The report [...]

The government’s Employment Rights Bill has returned to the House of Commons, marking another step forward on its journey to becoming law. During its review, the House of Lords proposed a series of amendments. These include changes viewed as diluting day-one protection from unfair dismissal and narrowing the group of workers who would benefit from the ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts. It is anticipated that such amendments will be overturned as the Bill makes its way back through the House of Commons. Once the House of Commons has considered the amendments, the Bill’s next stage will be Royal Assent. We’ll [...]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed last week that the annual inflation rate for August 2025 stood at 3.8%, the same level recorded in July. Although airfare costs rose at a slower pace over the year, food prices continued to climb, reaching 5.1% in August. This persistent increase is placing added strain on households as well as hospitality businesses. UK inflation remains higher than Europe The ONS highlighted that inflation in the UK appears to be “significantly higher” than in France (0.8%) and Germany (2.1%).One contributing factor is the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, which many businesses have [...]

From April, people drawing the state pension may see an increase of more than £500 a year, thanks to the government’s triple lock guarantee. The policy means the pension rises each year by whichever is higher: 2.5%, inflation, or average wage growth. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the average earnings growth of 4.7% will be the measure used. For those on the new state pension (anyone reaching state pension age after April 2016), the weekly amount for a full entitlement is expected to increase to £241.05, or £12,534.60 a year. That’s a rise of [...]

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ‘Risk-reduction through design’ awards, which highlight UK employers that have taken practical steps to reduce musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks in the workplace. The awards, jointly sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), recognise both large and small businesses that have introduced design improvements to ease the strain of lifting, pushing, pulling, awkward postures or other manual handling tasks. Previous winners have included organisations from sectors such as food production and construction, all with a shared commitment to creating safer, healthier workplaces. Why enter? [...]

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled proposals that could see the current £100 cap on contactless card payments increased – or potentially removed altogether. If approved, this would mean shoppers could soon pay for larger supermarket shops or restaurant bills with a simple tap, without needing to enter their PIN. Why now? When contactless payments were first introduced in 2007, the limit was just £10. It has risen gradually over the years, most recently reaching £100 in October 2021. According to the FCA, the new proposal reflects both rising living costs and changes in how people choose to pay. [...]

From October 2025, businesses that fall under the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme will receive their first invoices, covering the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. These invoices, called Notices of Liability, will be based on the packaging data you submitted for 2024. What to expect Invoices will be issued through the Report Packaging Data (RPD) system, which only registered users can access. PackUK will notify Primary Contacts and Approved Users of the invoice and how to access it. However, if your finance team will need access, it would be worth making sure they [...]