Business News England – From Charity Fraud Guidance to Employment Reforms

Key Updates and Insights

Welcome to our round-up of the latest business news. If you’d like to discuss how these updates might impact your organisation, we’re here to help and support you.

Protecting Charities: New Guidance on Fraud and Cyber Crime

To mark Charity Fraud Awareness Week, the Charity Commission has launched updated guidance aimed at helping trustees protect their charities from fraud and cyber crime. The Commission reported 603 fraud cases and 99 cyber crime cases over the past year.

Simplified and Practical Guidance

The refreshed resources provide straightforward advice tailored to modern threats:

1. Fraud Guidance:
   • Details what trustees should do if fraud or attempted fraud occurs.
   • Includes practical tips, such as implementing strong internal financial controls.
2. Cyber Crime Guidance:
   • Focuses on common threats like phishing, identified as the most frequent cyber-enabled fraud targeting charities.
   • Encourages fostering a culture of fraud and cybercrime awareness.

The updated guidance replaces older, more complex versions and has been developed in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Key Tips for Trustees

Mazeda Alam, Head of Guidance & Practice at the Charity Commission, highlighted that small, inexpensive steps can significantly reduce risks. For example:

• Dual authorisation for financial transactions can significantly mitigate fraud attempts.
• Building a proactive culture of vigilance within the organisation.

The Importance of Reporting Fraud

Charities are encouraged to report all fraud attempts, successful or otherwise, to Action Fraud. This helps provide accurate sector-wide data and ensures trustees receive the necessary support.

Next Steps for Charities

If you’re a trustee, it’s important to:

• Review the updated fraud and cyber crime guidance.
• Implement preventative measures to safeguard your charity’s assets and reputation.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further assistance with your charity’s financial or governance matters.

For more details, visit: Regulator refreshes guidance on fraud.

Be Wary of Self Assessment Scams

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a warning to the public about the rise in scam attempts targeting individuals filing Self Assessment tax returns. Over the past year, nearly 150,000 scams were reported to HMRC, a 16.7% increase from the previous year. As the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaches, fraudsters are expected to intensify their efforts.

Common Scam Tactics

Around half of these scam attempts were fake tax rebate claims, with fraudsters primarily aiming to steal personal information and banking details. Scammers typically make contact through:

• Emails
• Text messages
• Phone calls

They may ask you to provide personal information or offer you an unsolicited tax rebate.

How to Spot a Scam

HMRC has provided a useful checklist to help you identify potential scams. Key signs of a scam include:

• HMRC will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest.
• HMRC will never ask for personal or financial details via text messages.
• HMRC will never contact you by email, text, or phone to announce a refund or ask you to request one.

If you receive a message or call from someone claiming to be HMRC and feel uncertain, it’s best to verify the communication’s legitimacy.

Next Steps

If you are ever unsure whether you’ve been contacted by a scammer, or if you want to check if you are due for a tax refund, feel free to contact us at any time for assistance.

For further details on avoiding Self Assessment scams, visit: HMRC Scam Warning.

Stay alert and protect your personal information!

Get Britain Working White Paper: Reforms to Employment Support Announced

The UK government has introduced significant reforms to employment support in the Get Britain Working White Paper, backed by a £240 million investment. These measures aim to address high levels of unemployment, economic inactivity, and barriers to work.

The Current Challenges

The White Paper highlights the following issues:

• 1.5 million unemployed people.
• 9 million economically inactive individuals.
• A record 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term illness.
• Young people are disproportionately affected, with 1 in 8 not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

The UK is the only major economy where the employment rate has fallen over the past five years, with long-term ill health being a major contributing factor.

Key Reforms Proposed

1. Revamping Jobcentres
   • Jobcentres will be transformed into a “national jobs and careers service”, focusing on career and skills development rather than just monitoring benefits.
2. Addressing Health-Related Inactivity
   • Extra NHS staff will be employed in 20 high-inactivity areas to reduce waiting times.
   • Mental health support will be expanded.
3. Introducing a “Youth Guarantee”
   • Every 18-to-21-year-old will have access to apprenticeships, training, or education opportunities.
   • The Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced with a Growth and Skills Levy.
   • Eight youth trailblazer areas, including Liverpool and Tees Valley, will help young people access education, training, or work.
4. Supporting People with Disabilities and Health Conditions
   • An independent review will explore how employers can create inclusive workplaces and better support recruitment and retention of disabled people.
   • The review will also look at early intervention for sickness absence to help more people return to work.
5. Empowering Local Communities
   • Areas without trailblazer programmes will receive up to £15 million to develop their own employment plans.

Impact on Businesses

• Employers’ responsibilities regarding long-term sickness may change due to new measures.
• A larger pool of skilled workers could become available over time as more young people receive training.
• Businesses may benefit from new policies to support hiring disabled individuals and those with health conditions.

To learn more, view the White Paper here: Get Britain Working White Paper.

If you’d like to discuss how these reforms might affect your business or workforce planning, please get in touch—we’re here to help!

New Homebuilding Skills Hubs: Addressing UK Construction Challenges

The UK government has announced a £140 million initiative to tackle workforce shortages in construction and support housebuilding targets by creating 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs. These hubs are expected to deliver 5,000 additional construction apprenticeships annually and accelerate training to meet industry demands.

What Will the Skills Hubs Offer?

The purpose-built hubs will provide fast-track training for key construction trades, such as:

• Bricklaying
• Roofing
• Plastering
• Scaffolding
• Carpentry

Key features include:

• Hands-on training in realistic working environments.
• Streamlined apprenticeships lasting 12 to 18 months (compared to the traditional 24-30 months).
• A collaborative effort involving the government, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), National House-Building Council (NHBC), and Skills England.

Government and Industry Perspectives

• Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP: “A skilled and efficient construction sector is essential to building 1.5 million new homes in this parliament.”
• Roger Morton, NHBC Training Hubs Director: Highlighted the £100 million investment in 12 NHBC Multi-Skills Training Hubs, emphasising their role in producing skilled workers faster.

Challenges and Considerations for the Industry

1. Labour Shortages
   • The construction sector faces an ageing workforce and reduced availability of skilled workers post-Brexit.
   • It is unclear whether these hubs can scale up quickly enough to address immediate needs.
2. Economic Uncertainty
   • Rising inflation, higher interest rates, and overall economic pressures may dampen housing demand.
   • Firms might struggle to invest in training during uncertain times.
3. Implementation Timeline
   • The hubs are scheduled to be fully operational by 2028. This raises concerns about their short-term impact on the government’s housing goals.

What’s Next for Construction Firms?

• Monitor where the 32 hubs will be located to identify potential local opportunities.
• Consider integrating fast-track apprenticeships into your workforce strategy to address skills shortages.
• Stay informed on further developments, particularly funding or support available for participating in the programme.

For more details, read the official announcement here: New Skills Hubs Launched to Get Britain Building.

If you’d like advice on how these changes could benefit your business, please get in touch we’re here to help!

Addressing Work-Related Ill Health and Injuries: Practical Steps for Employers

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) 2023/24 report highlights the pressing need for businesses to address both physical and mental health challenges in the workplace. With 1.7 million workers suffering from work-related ill health and 138 fatalities from workplace accidents, employers have a clear responsibility to protect their workforce.

Key Insights from the Report

1. Mental health challenges:
   • 776,000 cases of stress, depression, or anxiety were reported.
   • Rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
2. Workplace injuries:
   • 138 fatalities from work-related accidents.
   • 604,000 non-fatal injuries occurred.
3. Economic impact:
   • Work-related ill health and injuries cost the economy £21.6 billion in 2022/23.
   • 33.7 million working days lost in 2023/24.

Practical Steps Employers Can Take

1. Strengthen Mental Health Support

• Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs):
• Provide confidential counselling and mental health resources.
• Promote work-life balance:
  • Introduce flexible working arrangements.
  • Encourage regular breaks to reduce stress.
• Train managers:
• Equip managers with skills to identify and support employees facing mental health challenges.

1. Enhance Physical Safety Protocols

• Risk assessments:
• Use HSE guides to identify hazards and implement preventive measures.
• Training programs:
• Provide tailored safety training specific to each role.
• Maintain equipment:
• Regularly inspect tools and machinery to ensure they meet modern safety standards.

1. Address the Root Causes of Stress and Anxiety

• Transparent communication:
• Open dialogue between staff and management can reduce uncertainty.
• Workload distribution:
• Ensure tasks are fairly allocated, and monitor for signs of employee burnout.

1. Proactively Monitor and Review

• Sick leave patterns:
• Analyse trends to identify underlying health or safety issues.
• Encourage feedback:
• Create a culture where employees feel comfortable raising concerns.

1. Leverage Technology

• Automation:
• Reduce manual and high-risk tasks using new technologies.
• E-learning:
• Use cost-effective, on-demand training platforms to reinforce safety and health awareness.

Looking Ahead

HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, has called for continued vigilance in improving workplace health and safety. For employers, investing in the health, safety, and well-being of employees isn’t just an ethical responsibility—it’s a sound business strategy that boosts productivity and profitability.

For the full HSE report, visit: HSE Annual Statistics 2023/24.

If you’d like tailored guidance on implementing these measures in your organisation, feel free to reach out!

Will it Cost More to Visit Wales?

Under the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, visitors staying overnight in Wales may need to pay a visitor levy, adding a small charge to accommodation costs.

Key Details of the Proposed Levy

• Rates:
  • 75p per person, per night for hostels and campsite pitches.
  • £1.25 per person, per night for other types of accommodation, including hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets.
• Implementation:
  • Local authorities will decide whether to impose the levy.
  • Revenues will be used to fund tourism-related infrastructure and activities in the area.

Additional Measures: Visitor Accommodation Register

• Statutory Registration Scheme:
  • A compulsory register for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales is set to begin in 2026.
  • This will ensure transparency and better regulation of the accommodation sector.

Impact on Visitors and Tourism

• For visitors, the levy represents a modest additional cost. For example, a family of four staying in a hotel for three nights would pay an extra £15.
• Local authorities aim to use the proceeds to enhance tourism experiences, benefiting both visitors and the local community.

For more details, visit the official announcement: Welsh Government Tourism Legislation.

Would you like advice on how this might affect travel planning or tourism businesses?

Deposit Return Scheme for Drinks Containers Confirmed

The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), with plans to launch the initiative in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in October 2027.

What is the Deposit Return Scheme?

The scheme is designed to reduce littering of single-use drink containers and increase recycling rates.

• How it works:
• Consumers will pay a small deposit when purchasing drinks in plastic, metal, or glass containers. This deposit is refunded when the container is returned to a designated collection point.
• Key statistics driving the scheme:
  • 55% of litter by volume in the UK is made up of plastic and metal drinks containers (Keep Britain Tidy, 2020).
  • 12 billion plastic drink bottles and 14 billion cans are sold annually in the UK.

Impact of the Scheme

• Environmental benefits:
  • Reducing littering and encouraging recycling.
  • Contributing to the UK’s sustainability goals.
• Economic benefits:
  • Estimated to create 4,000 new jobs across the UK.

Regional Updates

• England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland:
  • Governments will collaborate to implement the scheme by October 2027.
• Wales:
  • The Welsh government has delayed its DRS implementation, focusing on aligning it with existing successful recycling initiatives. Wales is ranked second globally for recycling.

Next Steps

The government plans to publish regulations soon to move the scheme forward.

For further details, visit: UK Government DRS Update.

Would you like information on how this might impact businesses or consumers?