Latest News
Apprenticeships
Business secretary Vince Cable has outlined new measures to ensure “more young people benefit from an apprenticeship”, including a cash incentive for small businesses who do not currently employ an apprentice and a stronger emphasis on English and maths skills. An incentive payment of up to £1,500 will be offered to companies with less ...
New Work Capability Assessment
Statistics released yesterday by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that only 7% of incapacity claimants are unfit to work under new tougher assessments. The figures show that 39% of those who claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) were actually fit to work while 17% were found capable of undertaking some form of ...
Flexible working
A new report argues that employers need to recognise demographic changes in the UK workforce – such as the UK’s ageing population, more women in the workplace and a shift from manufacturing to service-based industries – by introducing more opportunities for flexible working. The report, entitled ‘Reinventing the workplace’, is based on a survey ...
Tesco law
Personal injury lawyers, Plexus Law, are reportedly in talks to sell a stake in the firm to private investors. It would make them the first firm of solicitors to be backed by anyone other than qualified members of the legal profession. The Legal Services Act 2007 will allow solicitors to team up with non-lawyers ...
Guidance for employers during 2012 Olympics
The employment relations service advises employers to start talking to employees now and reminding them about flexible working and holiday requests. Acas Chief Executive John Taylor said: “Big sporting occasions can present a number of dilemmas for firms who might be worried about the impact of less productive employees or the after effects ...
Intellectual property reforms
The Government last week announced plans to support economic growth by modernising UK intellectual property laws. Ministers have accepted all ten recommendations made in an independent review which estimate a potential benefit to the UK economy of up to £7.9 billion. The recommendations were made in May 2011 by Professor Ian Hargreaves in his ...
Agency Workers Regulations 2010
The introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 this October could lead to a rise in unemployment, employers’ groups have warned. From October 1, agency workers will be entitled to the same pay and working conditions as permanent employees after just 12 weeks in a job. They will also get the same holiday pay ...
Changes to OPG fees
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which deals with the registration of lasting and enduring powers of attorney, has published changes to its fees which will come into force from the 1 October. This follows a consultation that was launched on 28 February and ran until 21 May 2011. The changes are ...
Company formation
In addition, there are a number of acceptable name endings for: -Public companies; -LLPs; -Private limited companies; -Community Interest Companies (public and private).
Wife not entitled on divorce to wealth inherited by husband
A High Court Judge has ruled that a wife is not entitled to a £7 million share of her husband’s £24 million fortune because he inherited it from his father. Mr Justice Moylan said the wealth was not “ the product of their endeavours”, so the “sharing principle” should not be applied. The ...
