The right to take a break at work is etched into UK law. It is a necessary part of the workday, ensuring that workers can reduce fatigue and regain lost focus. Ensuring a productive cycle within a workplace is paramount to its function, as is understanding working time regulations. This article will comb over the law regarding working time regulations, the employment contract and rest breaks guaranteed within, and further advice on how to navigate the optimisation of your workplace productivity, health and safety. UK Law On Rest Breaks At Work The right to rest breaks at work is mandated by UK ..read more

By Mark Parsons, Corporate Lending MD for Shawbrook Bank for the Midlands and North SMEs have had a tough few years, first with the impact of the cost of living crisis, then with supply-chain issues adding to their own rising production costs. Still, many persevered and looking back, they should be extremely proud of their agility and adaptability to respond to challenges the economy presented. Despite the struggle, many also seized the moment and grew their services. This determination was evident in Shawbrook’s research late last year, with 29% of SMEs reporting higher than usual growth in 2 ..read more

Part of how a country makes money is by taxing its citizens and adjusting for income. However, when you end up paying too much tax, usually through a change in employment status, you are entitled to a tax refund. However, many of our viewers ask how long a tax refund is supposed to be, with many believing they’ve missed their window entirely. Today, we’re building this blog to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to tax refunds, detailing general guidelines, factors that affect them, and how to ensure all is okay with your tax return. HMRC Tax Refund Processing Times The typi ..read more

Final written warnings are part of a broader disciplinary process that must be completely understood and adhered to as a business owner. In other words, if you’re about to issue a final written warning and (possibly) terminate an employee’s contract at the end of their review period, then you need to ensure it is a fair process. Failure to do so could mean your employee’s dismissal is seen as unfair, which could be very damaging to your business if the disciplinary action was brought under review at an employment tribunal. A final warning can usually be given when you, as the employer, feel an ..read more

In the dynamic landscape of SMEs, particularly in the UK, success often requires thinking beyond traditional income streams. SMEs must adopt and diversify revenue streams and maximise profitability to navigate the market’s complexities and unlock new opportunities.  Here are nine innovative and rarely considered strategies tailored to resonate with SMEs in the UK: Event Hosting and Venue Rentals By acquiring unique properties or scenic locations one can generate rental income through event hosting and venue rental services. As the events industry continues to grow, there’s a lean towards ..read more

Being an introvert doesn’t have to limit your job options and career progress. There are plenty of choices available for those who prefer a quiet environment and independent work. Examples of jobs for introverts include a writer, accountant, designer, computer programmer, editor, librarian, data analyst and document translator. Those with introverted characteristics can leverage their strengths like analytical thinking, attention to detail and strong written communication skills. What Is An Introvert? An introvert is someone who displays certain characteristics around the way they interact wit ..read more

By Rafael S.Lajeunesse, co-founder and CEO of ReachX Fractional executives have long held back-end administrative positions, but in the post-pandemic landscape, they are becoming more prevalent in the C-Suite. These professionals typically offer management services to organisations for hire, whether this be on a temporary or part-time basis. They typically fill executive roles such as chairperson, owner, CXO, vice president, or director and tend to have over 20 years of experience in their area of expertise. As they are usually hired in place of full-time senior executives, they are a great op ..read more

If your employee has frequent sickness absences due to long-term ill health, you may wonder if dismissal is the right approach. There isn’t, however, a magic number of days an employee can be on sick leave before dismissal. It’s very much up to you, as a business, to decide what’s right here. Whilst you may indeed have grounds for lawful dismissal if employee absence and long-term sickness are damaging your business productivity (specifically due to your employee’s inability to fulfil the requirements of their job role), certain criteria will need to be met to dismiss an employee due to sick l ..read more

Recruitment and retention are two of the most important things your business needs to master in order to grow. But, as we all know, finding top talent, especially for emerging new roles, is difficult and often costly.  In this article, Adam Herbert, Co-Founder and CEO of Go Live Data will look at how working with local education providers can be the key to finding and recruiting top talent even before they’ve entered the hiring pool. Be clear about what skills your business needs  In order to look proactively at your hiring strategy and get ahead of the curve, you need to know what s ..read more

By Mr Sarwar Khawaja Chairman, Executive Board, Oxford Business College In the evolving landscape of higher education, fostering diversity and inclusion has become imperative for academic institutions worldwide. As the demographics of student bodies and faculty continue to diversify, leaders in higher education must embrace inclusive practices to ensure the success and well-being of all members of the academic community.  Diversity in higher education encompasses a broad spectrum of identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, and more ..read more