The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed that carers paid using direct payments under the Care Act 2014 are not automatically employees of the local authority.

Workplace Compass: As the government refines one of its flagship employment reforms, the latest amendments raise important questions for employers planning contractual change.

On 10 July 2025, the Government published the first reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.  The Bill is intended to transfer power out of Westminster by devolving more powers to local government by making changes to democratic processes and funding streams.

The judgment considered a wide range of important issues including the continued use of the Waldram method to assess interference with light and the interaction with section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

The Employment Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament on 10 October 2024, proposes significant reforms across various aspects of employment law. Below is a summary of key provisions, organised by topic:

Home Office guidance for sponsors is to be updated on 1 September, requiring holders of student sponsor licences who use agents to recruit international students to be signed up to the Agent Quality Framework.

Merger and acquisition activity in the independent schools sector has surged in 2024/25, marking an exceptional year.

Amidst a backdrop of consolidation in the independent schools' market - and with increased numbers of co-educational independent schools - the Department for Education (DfE) has recently updated its non-statutory guidance for independent schools. 

At Narrow Quay HR we have recently assisted a number of independent schools with collective consultations. Reasons to consult have included potential redundancies, changes to terms and conditions or changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.