In today’s digitally connected world, social inclusion has extended into virtual spaces, and young people are increasingly exchanging personal information to stay connected with friends and access social media platforms. This trend has raised significant privacy concerns, especially as recent research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reveals how critical data handling is for safeguarding children online.

A strong relationship with your bank is a crucial part of the success and stability of your business. You may rely on them for tailored financial solutions, ranging from short-term credit facilities to long-term loans, to support your growth plans or manage cash flow fluctuations. At the same time, we can sometimes feel that the bank is calling all the shots, and it is difficult to get any redress when something goes wrong. If you are in that position, then the Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS) may be able to help you.

Following the release of the Employment Rights Bill, its Impact Assessment was published last week showing that the new Bill will have a “positive direct impact on economic growth.” The Bill received a majority vote at its second reading in the House of Commons last week, and now goes to committee stage, where it will be given a detailed examination.

The UK government has announced a consultation on new legislations designed to regulate Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) products. The forthcoming rules, which will bring BNPL products under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), are designed to provide the same key protections for BNPL as exist for other consumer credit products

If a cyber incident affects your business, the way you communicate with your staff, stakeholders, customers and perhaps the media, can make a huge difference in the way your business is perceived.
In an incident, attention tends to focus on the technical aspects of putting things right and communication may be left as a secondary concern.

Samantha Fairweather, the director of Essex-based Fairweather Construction Ltd, has been disqualified from serving as a company director for eight years, after it was discovered that the firm took in excess of £300,000 in deposits for home improvement projects it failed to deliver.

Law practices hold sensitive information and can often be the target of cyber attacks. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published some specific cyber security tips to help barristers, solicitors and legal professionals in firms of all sizes protect themselves. The tips they provide are good practice for businesses of all types.

During the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week, which ran from 14 to 20 October, they issued a press release urging farmers in Devon and Cornwall not to take chances and gamble high-risk crops against a changing climate. The Environment Agency is concerned about the effect heavy and prolonged rainfall is having on the farmland in Devon and Cornwall, especially in areas with steep slopes.

With the Budget coming on 30th October, speculation is increasing on what changes will be announced. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister have made comments to indicate that the Budget will bring “difficult decisions”. The Chancellor reported shortly after taking office that there was a £22bn “black hole” in public spending inherited from the previous government. The BBC reported last week that their sources indicated that actually £40bn is needed to avoid real-terms cuts to departments.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have reported that their measure for inflation (Consumer Prices Index) fell to 1.7% for September. This is an unexpected reduction and is the lowest inflation has been in more than three years. Drops in airfares and petrol were the main reasons for the reduction. The Bank of England targets 2% inflation, so this reduction may allow them to cut interest rates further when they meet in November. There is also some expectation that there could now be a second rate cut in December.