Legislation

Beaverbrooks welcomes mandatory face coverings

Beaverbrooks has embraced the latest government announcement that requires all customers to wear face masks in jewellers from 24 July.  While the requirement for shoppers in Wales and Northern Ireland is kept under review, the jewellers said the move was a “really positive step”. The requirement was announced the week…

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Usdaw ‘disappointed’ PM fails to back shop worker protection law

Retail trade union Usdaw has criticised the prime minister for failing to back a new law to protect shop workers from violence. The trade union has called for a firm commitment from the government to take all available actions to tackle the issue. The news comes as Usdaw revealed one…

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Employers given 30 days to ‘confess’ to furlough abuses

Legislation is currently being fast-tracked to allow HMRC to reclaim any furlough money overpaid to employers, or not spent on wages as intended. Although we do not have the final version of the legislation, employers should start addressing their minds to the claims they have made to date as soon…

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Bira opposed to proposed relaxation of Sunday trading laws

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has expressed concern for proposed relaxation of Sunday trading laws. Under plans being suggested by the government, England could suspend Sunday trading laws for a year in a bid to boost the economy. However, Bira, who has added its support to the ‘Keep Sunday…

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Usdaw welcomes scrutiny of the Protection of Workers as it calls for the bill to progress

Shop workers trade union Usdaw has welcomed further scrutiny of the Protection of Workers (retail and age-restricted goods and services) (Scotland) Bill (Scotland) at the economy, energy and fair work committee meeting.  Usdaw calls for the bill to complete stage one and progress to stage two of the legislative process,…

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Business rates revaluation postponed until 2022

A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 in line with the government’s latest efforts to “reduce uncertainty” for firms affected by the ongoing pandemic.   Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed that legislation has now been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by…

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Revaluation of business rates postponed following pressure from Bira

A government plan to bring forward the next revaluation of business rates to April 1, 2021, has been shelved following pressure from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Bira joined other heads of the retail sector in demanding that Chancellor Rishi Sunak withdraw ‘disastrous’ legislation, which was due to be…

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Bira calls on chancellor to bin rates reform Bill

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is urging the government to scrap plans to bring forward the next revaluation of business rates to April 1, 2021. Bira has joined other heads of the retail sector in calling Chancellor Rishi Sunak to withdraw ‘disastrous’ legislation, due to be discussed today (Wednesday,…

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Government introduces new measures to protect high street

The business secretary has announced a new set of measures that will be introduced to protect high street businesses “under strain” from the ongoing pandemic.  High street shops, and other companies facing financial difficulties, will now be protected from “aggressive” rent collection and asked to pay what they can as…

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Companies House suspends strike-offs amid Covid-19 crisis

Companies House has announced it has temporarily paused its strike off process to prevent companies being dissolved amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The government announced changes to Companies House enforcement last week (16 April), which gives businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak the time they need to update their records and…

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