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Employers need "access to people", says CBI

Sally Morris
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“Access to people” is as important as a future trade deal with the EU, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The warning came shortly before CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn was due to speak to businesses about...

Low carbon energy sources responsible for 50 per cent of British electricity in 2017

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New research has revealed that exactly half of Britain’s electricity came from low carbon energy sources last year. The latest Electric Insights report from Imperial College London suggests that electricity generated by the likes of biomass, solar,...

Cohabitees at risk due to misguided belief in 'common law marriage' myth

Gurdip Brring
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Cohabiting couples living in the UK are misunderstanding their legal rights and clinging onto an old myth when it comes to their interpretations of the law. According to research from Direct Line Insurance, more than a third of British cohabitees do not...

Employment world awaits Pimlico Plumbers ruling

Sally Morris
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Later today, the Supreme Court will rule on a case that will have “significant ramifications” on employment law across every industry. Pimlico Plumbers, the gig economy firm, is appealing the case of Gary Smith, a self-employed contractor who...

Wind power will be a fierce competitor for grid dominance by 2024, report finds

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Britain will be one of the world’s first countries to see renewable wind power become a fierce competitor for energy grid dominance – but only if the nation is able to take full advantage of its onshore wind potential, a new report suggests. The...

Personal knowledge of a whistleblowing complaint

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In whistleblowing claims, workers are protected if they have suffered a detriment when they make a protected disclosure. The crucial question in any whistleblowing case is to decide whether a protected disclosure had a material influence in the...

Justin Parker notches up a decade in prestigious role

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A solicitor from a leading Worcestershire law firm is celebrating 10 years of service in a rare and prestigious role. Justin Parker, from county firm mfg Solicitors, is one of just 850 notaries in the whole of England and Wales – out of a legal...

Suspended sentence for woman who forged Will

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A woman who forged a Will in an attempt to disinherit her two children and stepson has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Following the death of her partner, Kamarah Graham-York had produced a document which apparently left everything to her. She had...

Are companies accurately reporting their gender pay gap?

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From April 2018, companies with 250 or more employees will be required to publish their gender pay gap. Thousands of companies will be affected and many have already uploaded their data, which you can view online . However, a number of companies, such as a...

Proposed RHI reforms could give "vital boost" to green gas production

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New Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) regulations laid before Parliament in recent days could give a “vital boost” to green gas production in the UK, according to the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association. The comments come after...

Woman who received £90 million divorce settlement fighting for larger pay-out at Court of Appeal

Gurdip Brring
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A UK woman who was granted a £90 million divorce settlement when she split from her property tycoon ex-husband is fighting for a larger pay-out at the Court of Appeal. Ms Camilla Versteegh was married to multi-millionaire property magnate Gerard...

Share the joy: parents urged to take up offer of shared parental leave

Sally Morris
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Since the introduction of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) in 2015, the take-up has been dismally low. Official figures suggest that as many as 285,000 couples qualify for SPL every year, but as few as 2 per cent take up the scheme. Experts also suggest that...

Farm saved from being swallowed in £300,000 tax bill

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A farm in Worcestershire has been saved after tax specialists successfully negotiated tax relief worth up to £300,000. The land was owned by a mother and father but farmed by their son, who was at risk of being forced to sell when his parents both...

Simplified planning permission process welcomed by lawyer

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An expert property lawyer in Shropshire has welcomed a local council’s move to simplify the planning permission process and potentially spare homeowners a steep hike in fees. Telford and Wrekin Council has introduced a Local Development Order (LDO)...

Vast majority of UK households support renewable energy, BEIS survey finds

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A new report published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) suggests that the number of UK households in support of renewable energy has risen by five per cent year-on-year. BEIS’ latest figures reveal that 79 per cent...

Is a worker entitled to a 20 minute continuous rest break?

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Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers are entitled to a rest break when they work more than 6 hours. The length of the rest break is an uninterrupted period of not less than 20 minutes. The case of Crawford v Network Rail recently looked...

Councils reminded of their obligations under the Care Act

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A regulator has urged local authorities to ensure that families are furnished with all relevant details about a care home’s costs, The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman issued the reminder after being tasked with looking into a complaint...

Are the rights of workers and the gig economy about to change?

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The media has been reporting that workers are to receive new employment rights as a result of the Government’s response to the Taylor Review. Last year, the independent Taylor Review was published following a review of modern working practices,...

Home Office review recommends legislative changes to protect Muslim women in Sharia marriages

Gurdip Brring
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Sharia marriages should be recognised by law in England and Wales, an independent review has found. The 18-month review, which was first commissioned by Theresa May in 2016 during her time as Home Secretary, set out to explore the issues of whether Sharia...

Birmingham joins campaign to promote diversity in apprenticeships

Sally Morris
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Birmingham is among the five cities to take part in the Government’s campaign to promote the take-up of apprenticeships among under-represented groups. It was reported this month that the Midlands hub would join Manchester, London, Bristol and...

UK hugely successful in reducing high-carbon coal use, report reveals

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A new report published in Brussels in recent days has revealed that Britain’s energy industry has succeeded in significantly reducing the nation’s use of high-carbon coal power in recent years. According to the report, the share of coal in the...

Support for Kidderminster Food Bank

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Generous staff at a Kidderminster legal firm have helped to get a local food bank back up and running following two devastating break-ins. Staff from Birmingham Road-based mfg Solicitors have donated several boxes of  unopened, essential food to...