HLAS

The Government has unveiled a £725 million package of reforms designed to expand apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people. While the primary focus of the announcement is on addressing youth unemployment, there are potential advantages for small and medium-sized businesses as well. Below is a summary of the key changes and how they could affect your workforce planning in the years ahead. Fully Funded Apprenticeships for Under-25s at SMEs One of the most notable changes is the removal of the 5% co-investment requirement for apprentices under the age of 25 at small and medium-sized employers. As a result, training [...]

A significant legal milestone was reached last week when the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act received Royal Assent. The legislation confirms that certain digital assets — including cryptocurrency tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) — can now be formally recognised as personal property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill, which aims to recognise digital assets as property, is currently moving through the parliamentary process. This development places the UK among the first jurisdictions globally to grant digital assets the same legal status as more traditional forms of property. For businesses and individuals that use [...]

The latest Budget contained a wide range of policy announcements, yet the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggests these measures will do little to shift the UK’s overall growth prospects over the next five years. When compared with the forecast produced in March 2025, the OBR has increased its growth expectation for the current year. However, this is followed by downward revisions in every subsequent year through to 2030. For anyone looking to the Budget for a clear indication of where the economy is heading, the outlook remains uncertain. No Further National Insurance Rise One of the more reassuring aspects [...]

If your business is located in England or Wales, you can now view the future rateable value of your property. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has completed updates to the rateable values of all commercial and non-domestic properties across England and Wales. These new values will come into effect on 1 April 2026. Revaluations are carried out every three years to reflect changes in the property market. Local councils then use these values to calculate business rates bills. It’s important to note that a rateable value is not the same as the amount you will pay, as your bill is [...]

Charity trustees in England and Wales now have new legal powers when considering moral payments: payments made because there is a moral rather than strictly legal obligation to transfer some of a charity’s property. This is the final provision in Charities Act 2022 to come into effect. Few charities encounter situations where a moral payment is relevant. Typically, these arise in cases involving legacies where there is evidence that a person’s will does not reflect their final wishes. Key Changes to Moral Payments The Charity Commission has updated its guidance to help trustees navigate these changes. The main changes, which [...]

The government has recently convened trade unions and business representatives to discuss the Employment Rights Bill. These discussions have resulted in agreements that will help the Bill progress to Royal Assent and enable the proposed changes to take effect as planned. Key Decisions Agreed Unfair dismissal qualifying period reduced: The qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims will be shortened from 24 months to six months. Existing day-one protections against discrimination and automatically unfair dismissals will remain in place. Day-one rights: From April 2026, employees are expected to gain day-one entitlements to sick pay and paternity leave. Fair Work Agency: The [...]

With Christmas on the horizon, many food businesses are preparing for one of their busiest trading periods of the year. As part of its ‘Safer Food Means Better Business’ initiative, the FSA is providing free training, checklists and practical guidance designed to help small and micro businesses maintain strong food safety and hygiene standards. Extra Attention Needed at Christmas The festive period often places additional pressure on food businesses. Increased customer demand, wider menu offerings and the reliance on temporary or seasonal staff can all heighten the chances of errors – particularly in areas such as food handling, allergens and [...]

With just a few weeks remaining until new EU import rules on traceability come into force, businesses involved in the seafood industry are being encouraged to prepare now. The changes come into force on 10 January 2026, and will affect anyone involved in catching, buying, processing and selling fish destined for EU markets. Without the additional information needed for the Fish Export Service (FES), it will not be possible to export fish and seafood products. What’s Changing From 10 January 2026, if you export seafood products that have been caught by a UK vessel and processed in the UK after [...]

The government has announced plans for a new levy – the High-Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) – aimed at owners of residential properties in England worth £2 million or more. This surcharge is scheduled to take effect in April 2028, with a public consultation on the detailed rules set to take place in early 2026. At present, HVCTS will apply only to residential properties in England. It is not yet clear whether the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will introduce similar measures. Not Linked to Existing Council Tax Bands Government information released after the Budget confirms that [...]

The recent Budget confirmed that dividend tax rates will rise from April 2026, with both the ordinary and upper rates increasing by 2%. For many small and medium-sized companies, dividends remain a key method for owners to draw income. With higher tax rates on the way, it’s likely that your approach to pay and profit extraction will need re-evaluating for the 2026/27 tax year. What Exactly Is Changing? From April 2026: The dividend ordinary tax rate will increase from 8.75% to 10.75%. The dividend upper tax rate will rise from 33.75% to 35.75%. The dividend additional rate will stay at [...]