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VWV Articles & Blogs - Legal Updates and Best Practice

Articles & Blogs

Browse our law brief articles and blogs, aimed at addressing the practical implications of the latest legal developments affecting you and your organisation.

Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

Mergers and acquisitions - looking back and into the year ahead

Thursday, 19 September 2024

With a year of strategic challenges and opportunities ahead, we thought it might provide interesting insight to summarise merger and acquisition activity from the 2023/24 Academic Year and the trends emerging for the year ahead.

Mergers and acquisitions - looking back and into the year ahead
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Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

Renters' Rights Bill - limited Impact on staff accommodation

Thursday, 19 September 2024

The new government has published the first draft of its Renters' Rights Bill, which promises to finish the overhaul of tenants' rights started by the previous government.

Renters' Rights Bill - limited Impact on staff accommodation
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Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Independent Schools

New law on sexual harassment to come into force in October

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, schools will be under a new duty from 26 October 2024 to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of staff in the course of their employment.

New law on sexual harassment to come into force in October
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Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Independent Schools

Handling confidential information in schools: key lessons from a recent case

Thursday, 19 September 2024

A recent judicial review brought by a headteacher sacked for sharing sensitive information, has underlined the importance of maintaining confidentiality in schools.

Handling confidential information in schools: key lessons from a recent case
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Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Independent Schools

Making it compute - top tips for starting a successful IT system procurement project

Thursday, 19 September 2024

When procuring a new IT system, much of your success and avoidance of problems arising later on, will depend on how you approach the early days of the project - the tips below should help you to navigate those challenges.

Making it compute - top tips for starting a successful IT system procurement project
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Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Independent Schools

Education Policy update

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Schools will be aware of the rather late publication of KCSIE 2024 on 2 September 2024. Most of the changes are light touch, however Schools will still need to be mindful that some of the content remains under review.

Education Policy update
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Articles & Blogs Employment

Anti-Islamic belief in English nationalism not protected under Equality Act

Friday, 13 September 2024

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has confirmed that a belief in English nationalism when combined with anti-Islam sentiments, does not qualify as a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010.

Anti-Islamic Belief in English Nationalism Not Protected Under Equality Act
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Articles & Blogs Employment

Upper Tribunal decides on rugby commentator employment status

Friday, 13 September 2024

The Upper Tribunal has determined the employment status of a high-profile rugby commentator, in a decision that offers useful insights for businesses engaging freelance staff.

Upper Tribunal decides on rugby commentator employment status
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Articles & Blogs Employment

Next loses equal pay case: implications for employers

Friday, 13 September 2024

The retailer Next has lost a six-year equal pay claim comparing the pay of warehouse and shop floor staff. The value of the litigation could be in excess of £30 million.

Next loses equal pay case: implications for employers
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Articles & Blogs Procurement Public Sector

Procurement Act 2023 - Go-live date delayed

Thursday, 12 September 2024

The Cabinet Office has advised that the go-live date for the Procurement Act 2023 has been delayed into 2025.

Procurement Act 2023 - Go-live date delayed
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Articles & Blogs Employment

Government shelves predictable T&Cs framework in favour of stronger contractual rights

Friday, 06 September 2024

The Government has reportedly decided not to implement new laws on requesting a predictable working pattern, and will instead introduce a more robust right to a contract that reflects regular working hours.

Government shelves predictable T&Cs framework in favour of stronger contractual rights
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Articles & Blogs Employment

Procedural steps not taken by employee irrelevant to constructive dismissal claim

Friday, 06 September 2024

An employee’s failure to fully complete every step of an internal grievance process will not impact their right to claim constructive dismissal, according to the recent ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT).

Procedural steps not taken by employee irrelevant to constructive dismissal claim
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Articles & Blogs Pharma & Life Sciences

How's it going for pharma SMEs in the EU?

Wednesday, 04 September 2024

In the EU, there are regulations - lots of them. There's even a specific regulation for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the pharma sector. The EU is seeking opinions on support for pharmaceutical SMEs.

How's it going for pharma SMEs in the EU?
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Articles & Blogs Pharma & Life Sciences

£100 million boost to quantum hubs to aid life sciences innovations

Wednesday, 04 September 2024

The UK Government has recently allocated substantial funding of over £100 million to support five new quantum research hubs across the UK.

£100 million boost to quantum hubs to aid life sciences innovations
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Articles & Blogs Pharma & Life Sciences

Long term agreements still apply even when things change

Tuesday, 03 September 2024

When a licensee entered into a trade mark licence for 25 years and decided five years in that they did not want to use the trade mark any more, they were still required to pay the large minimum royalties, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Long term agreements still apply even when things change
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