The benefits of exercise on our physical and mental health are well known. The healthier and fitter we are the better we work on our business. A healthier, fitter workforce are also much more likely to be productive and happier. Yet, many of us struggle to find the time or energy to do enough exercise.

January can often be the time of year when entrepreneurs start to make plans for a new business. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published some guidance to help entrepreneurs think about data protection when setting up their business, so they get it right from the start.

Recent immigration enforcement activity has highlighted the need for employers to ensure their workers have the right to work in the UK. With thousands of enforcement visits, arrests, and hefty fines being issued, businesses that neglect their responsibilities risk serious consequences.

The government has announced that it will provide an additional £5 million of support to Bradford, which is the 2025 UK City of Culture. The funds, which bring total support provided to £15 million, will be used to help in delivering a programme of events and support a legacy of cultural regeneration. It is expected that 6,500 jobs will be created in the area as a result of Bradford being UK City of Culture.

The government has unveiled some significant reforms to employment support, underpinned by a £240 million investment. The measures aim to address deep-rooted issues of unemployment, economic inactivity, and barriers to work, as detailed in the recently published Get Britain Working White Paper.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to be careful about scam attempts that target people filing Self Assessment tax returns. In the last year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were referred to HMRC, a 16.7% increase on last year. With the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaching, fraudsters are likely to step up their activities.

The government’s promised new Fair Payments Code was launched last month to try and tackle late payment problems that can be particularly harmful to small businesses. The code introduces a gold, silver, and bronze system that smaller firms can use to identify business partners who have made themselves accountable to pay fairly and within certain time limits.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has confirmed 26 March 2025 as the date for the Spring Forecast. The Office for Budget Responsibility is required to produce two forecasts each financial year by the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011.

The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest official figures for October show that the economy shrank for the second month in a row, while pay growth increased for the first time in more than a year. The official figures show that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – often used as a measure of the economy as a whole – fell by 0.1% in October. This follows a similar reduction in September of 0.1%.

The EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into force on 13 December. Many small businesses have ceased exports to the EU and Northern Ireland as a result. The GPSR replaces the EU’s General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). Because of the growth in digital commerce and drop-shipping, there has been an increase in selling substandard or even dangerous goods.

The UK government has struck a deal with Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group to secure the future of Royal Mail, a move that could have significant implications for the postal service in the UK. The agreement, announced on 16 December, includes legally binding commitments aimed at maintaining Royal Mail’s services, workforce protections, and its headquarters in Britain.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has started a consultation on draft guidance on the protection from unfair trading provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024. Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the DMCC Act includes provisions on unfair commercial practices that replace and update the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Additional import controls have been introduced to protect UK sheep and goats against ‘peste des petits ruminants (PPR)’. As from 18 December 2024, commercially produced and packaged sheep and goat milk and milk products are not permitted from Bulgaria. This is because of an outbreak of PPR in Bulgaria last month.

Domestic trade marks can now be partially replaced by international registrations. Even where only some of the goods and services are listed in the domestic registration, this will still be possible. Previously, the regulations only allowed replacement when the international registration covered all the goods and services listed in the domestic registration.

Last week, the UK joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in a move designed to grow the UK economy. Estimates suggest that it could add £2 billion to the economy in the long run. The CPTPP is a trade bloc that includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The UK joining brings the combined GDP of the bloc to £12 trillion.