July 2009

Here’s what’s been hitting the headlines over recent weeks:

FEATURE ARTICLE

HMRC publication highlights ineffective tax avoidance schemes: HMRC has a new policy of publicising tax avoidance schemes that it believes are ineffective. MORE...

NEWS ROUND-UP

Legislation to help local firms: Large employers will be required to show a ‘duty of care’ towards the local workforce with regards to employment, development and training. MORE...

2012 Olympic news: The London Development Agency has stated that it has enough money to cover a shortfall of £60 million in the Olympic budget. MORE...

Westminster Abbey to get new crown: The first building work to be carried out on the Abbey in 250 years is being planned. MORE...

Downturn in construction drags down economy: In the first quarter of this year Britain’s economic output fell by 2.4 percent. The construction industry sector fared particularly badly with a decline of 6.9 percent. MORE...

Red tape costs construction firms £1 billion: The Forum of Private Business has reported that it costs small construction firms £1 billion each year to comply with legislation. MORE...

CITB cuts grants: CITB-ConstructionSkills is to cut training grant payments by 10 percent. MORE...

Recession sees staff work longer hours and flexible working increase: Over a third of workers are increasing the number of hours they work in order to keep their jobs during the recession. MORE...

Parental leave: European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities announces results of six month’s negotiations on the extension of parental leave rights. MORE...

Employee rights and benefits: A new ruling has given workers who have been denied holiday pay whilst on sick leave, the right to claim payment for the lost holiday. MORE...

Mystery bid for Blackwall tunnel job: Tfl claim they have received a number of bids for the Blackwell tunnel project. MORE...

Firms breach Data Protection Act: A survey conducted by BSI, the Business Services Organisation has shown that almost one in five UK businesses has breached the Data Protection Act at least once. MORE...

Constructionline to vet firms for ProCure21+: Constructionline is to be used to vet contractors who are bidding for a place on the ProCure21+ framework. MORE...

Holiday trading - staff swap holiday for cash: An increasing number of staff are selling their holiday allowance in order to boost their income. MORE...

Counter operator trapping danger: Associations in the construction industry are joining together to initiate a major campaign to highlight the problem of counter operator trapping. MORE...

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