Recently, the UK government formally withdrew its plan to grant employees protection from unfair dismissal from their first day of employment under the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). Instead, ministers confirmed a new qualifying period — workers will only gain the right to challenge unfair dismissal after six months of service. Under current law, an employee generally must have worked for at least two years before being eligible to claim “ordinary” unfair dismissal at a tribunal, though exceptions apply (for automatically unfair dismissals such as those involving discrimination, whistle‑blowing or other protected reasons). The decision to adopt a six‑month qualifying period follows parliamentary…
Author: sme-admin
New research from Shepherds Friendly suggests the UK’s workforce is at much greater risk of suffering a loss of income due to illness or injury than most employees realise. A survey of 2,000 people carried out for the friendly society in October found that just 14% of UK adults who are working full time have IP. Those aged 25-34 are most likely to have cover at 20%, closely followed by 35-44-year-olds at 18%. Some 14% of 18-24-year-olds have IP, but this falls to 10% in the 45-54 age group. Just 7% of those aged 55-64 have a policy in place.…
Following the Budget last Wednesday, Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley, looks at how it will be impacting business owners and the self-employed. This was a defining Budget for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. After months of briefings and speculation, Ms Reeves arrived at the dispatch box under the glare of intense scrutiny – from political opponents, “working people”, high-net-worth individuals, and bond investors. But the group she arguably needed to tread most carefully around was business owners. On the campaign trail in 2023, Rachel Reeves said Labour would be the most business-friendly government ever. And that if she were chancellor,…
Manmohan Singh Bhachu, Partner at Oury Clark Chartered Accountants talks through the risks that businesses face when unqualified staff are responsible for their financial records, such as financial errors, missed tax-saving opportunities, and poor cashflow oversight. Put simply, a bookkeeper’s job is to manage the day-to-day financial records of a business. Yet in practice, a bookkeeper is a business’ ticket to increased productivity and profits. Small businesses are often dissuaded from hiring a bookkeeper, wrongly believing that their PA or admin assistant is the better person for the job. This article will explain, however, that whilst this decision may save…
What Are the Minimum Wage Rates from 1 April 2026? Aoife McGrath, a solicitor in leading law firm Blandy & Blandy’s Employment Law team, explains… Increases to the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) from 1 April 2026 were announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. The figures are based on recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC), an independent body that advises the government about the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. Baroness Philippa Stroud, Chair of the LPC, said: “The recommendations published today are a product of diligent study of…
Ahead of Christmas, Nicholas Lane, Director at Merchandise Branding, is sharing timely insight on how businesses can approach staff gifting in a meaningful yet budget-friendly way this festive season. As companies reflect on a year of loyalty, performance and resilience, the festive period offers a natural opportunity for leaders to show appreciation—yet ongoing economic uncertainty means corporate gifting in 2025 looks very different from the luxury hampers and high-value perks of the past. Still, thoughtful gifting shouldn’t be dismissed. Even a small, well-considered gesture can have a genuine impact on morale, motivation and retention. Below, Nicolas outlines key considerations for…
Many employees living with emerging or undiagnosed hearing loss don’t realise the extent of their difficulties. They learn to cope. They listen harder, concentrate longer, position themselves in specific seats, or avoid noisy situations altogether. These subtle coping strategies work for a while—until they don’t. Eventually, the effort becomes exhausting, mistakes creep in, confidence drops, and both wellbeing and performance suffer. This article helps HR professionals, line managers, Occupational Health teams and business leaders recognise the early signs of hearing-related challenges in the workplace. It blends practical guidance, real-life scenarios, and human insight to help you identify when a supportive…
An industry specialist has shared advice for employers facing a rising talent retention issue known as ‘job hugging’. In today’s unpredictable job market, new data shows that 55% of workers, rising to 65% among 18–34-year-olds, now prioritise job security over career progression1, with professionals holding onto reliable roles they may have outgrown. Fuelled by rising living costs, economic uncertainty, and the rapid pace of AI advancements, this new phenomenon can have serious implications for businesses. Teams can stagnate, internal mobility stalls, and opportunities for innovation and fresh thinking dry up. According to Claudia Cohen, Director of the Academy at tech talent specialist La Fosse, addressing job hugging head-on is crucial for keeping teams dynamic and companies…
AI is no longer a futuristic concept: it’s here, and it’s transforming how businesses operate. For SMEs, the question isn’t if AI will impact your business, but when. Marketing leaders are uniquely positioned to champion AI adoption, creating competitive advantage and driving growth. “The pace of change is accelerating,” said Lucy Hogarth, founder of The Marketing Centre, one of the UK’s leading providers of fractional CMOs. “What feels fast now will seem slow compared to what’s coming. SMEs that fail to embrace AI risk falling behind competitors who leverage it to improve efficiency, customer engagement, and profitability.” Marketing teams already work with data, customer insights,…
The new ‘Market-Wide Half-Hour Settlement’ (MHHS) scheme is expected to bring in benefits of up to £4.5 billion for UK consumers in the next 20 years – but why is it so important that businesses reap the rewards too? With the deadline to implement smart meters for the new MHHS scheme now passed (22nd October), business energy experts at Utility Bidder have given their advice on what businesses should do if they have missed it and the consequences they may face. Mark Gamble, Head of Supplier Relations at Utility Bidder, has commented on the MHHS scheme and given key advice to UK businesses on…