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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

Are paid governors the future?

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

Economic, demographic and political headwinds are presenting independent schools with a financial challenge to operate efficiently and make good commercial decisions to strengthen their positions.

Are paid governors the future?

Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

Key employment law changes in place from 6 April 2024

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

A number of new and enhanced employment law rights took effect on 6 April 2024. The changes include the new right to unpaid carer's leave, enhanced redundancy protection for family leave returners, and changes to the flexible working regime.

Key employment law changes in place from 6 April 2024

Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

Is your school's catering contract a 'prime cut' or a 'turkey twizzler'?

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

If done well, the outsourcing of catering provision allows schools to benefit from expertly-run catering facilities, delivering the highest standards of produce and service.

Is your school's catering contract a 'prime cut' or a 'turkey twizzler'?

Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

New guidance for mobile phone use in schools

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

The DfE published guidance in February 2024 to help schools develop and implement policies to prohibit mobile phone use, along with other similar smart technologies, as part of a plan to "minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms".

New guidance for mobile phone use in schools

Articles & Blogs Independent Schools

Changes to legal duties on schools regarding pupil registration and attendance

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have.

Changes to legal duties on schools regarding pupil registration and attendance

Articles & Blogs Employment

Lack of protection against detriment for taking part in industrial action breaches human rights

Thursday, 25 April 2024

The Supreme Court has confirmed that the lack of statutory protection against detriment for participating in industrial action breaches the right of freedom of assembly under article 11 European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Lack of protection against detriment for taking part in industrial action breaches human rights

Articles & Blogs Employment

Statutory Code of Practice on dismissal and re-engagement to be in force by July 2024

Thursday, 25 April 2024

The Government has confirmed that the new statutory Code of Practice on dismissal and re-engagement will be brought into force by July 2024, subject to parliamentary approval.

Statutory Code of Practice on dismissal and re-engagement to be in force by July 2024

Articles & Blogs Employment

TUPE: post-transfer changes to terms and conditions of employment

Thursday, 25 April 2024

A recent EAT decision demonstrates the importance of evidencing reasons for post-TUPE changes to terms and conditions of employment, in order to successfully defend claims.

TUPE: post-transfer changes to terms and conditions of employment

Articles & Blogs Pharma & Life Sciences

Patent licence drafting - top tips from recent case

Wednesday, 24 April 2024

A recent Court of Appeal case has provided important guidance for those drafting patent licences.

Patent licence drafting - top tips from recent case

Articles & Blogs Pharma & Life Sciences

MHRA responds to report on equity in medical devices

Wednesday, 24 April 2024

The independent report on equity in medical devices and the MHRA's response were published on 11 March 2024.

MHRA responds to report on equity in medical devices

Articles & Blogs Public Sector

Procurement updates - New Standard Selection Questionnaire - What you need to know

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

A new Procurement Policy Note has been published which provides an updated Standard Selection Questionnaire. This applies to all above-threshold procurements.

Procurement updates - New Standard Selection Questionnaire - What you need to know

Articles & Blogs Public Sector

Procurement Act 2023 - Go-live date and update

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

The Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) receiving Royal Assent in October of last year was the first step in the long-awaited implementation of the public procurement reforms.

Procurement Act 2023 - Go-live date and update

Articles & Blogs Employment

Guidance published by Government and ACAS on the new right to statutory carer's leave

Friday, 19 April 2024

From 6 April 2024, employees in England, Wales and Scotland have a statutory right to one week's unpaid carer's leave. Both the government and ACAS have now published helpful guidance on how carer's leave will work in practice.

Guidance published by Government and ACAS on the new right to statutory carer's leave

Articles & Blogs Employment

EAT upholds tribunal's decision to reject race discrimination claim despite error in reasoning

Friday, 19 April 2024

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld an Employment Tribunal's decision to reject a race discrimination claim, despite finding that the Tribunal had erred in some of its reasoning.

EAT upholds tribunal's decision to reject race discrimination claim despite error in reasoning

Articles & Blogs Employment

Termination of employment for breakdown of working relationship fair despite lack of process

Friday, 19 April 2024

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has found that an employer was justified in dismissing an employee due to a breakdown in working relationships, despite the fact the employer did not follow a process or offer a right of appeal.

Termination of employment for breakdown of working relationship fair despite lack of process