It's been a challenging few weeks for the UK life sciences sector. Following the breakdown of the talks with the Government to provide a more competitive reimbursement scheme for pharma, there have been a number of high-profile decisions that have created big concerns for the future of the sector. However, there have been some good news stories too, including a resilient message from MedCity - the life sciences arm of London and Partners, with whom VWV is a partner.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that umbrella companies cannot treat separate assignments as a single continuous employment for tax purposes and that a failure to take proper advice on contractual arrangements can amount to carelessness leading to a loss of tax.

The Primary Care UMF offers an opportunity for GP practices to improve their premises. Securing the grant requires navigating complex legal agreements. Act promptly to meet these requirements to ensure your practice benefits from this investment. 

The government is consulting on how the new right for trade unions to access workplaces will operate in practice. Our summary highlights the main proposals and what they could mean for employers.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have provided more details about a significant collaboration aimed at transforming the regulatory and health technology assessment processes in the UK. This MHRA and NICE partnership marks a pivotal step in expediting patient access to medicines while enhancing the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences. 

The Cabinet Office has updated the financial thresholds that determine when procurement contracts are subject to the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 in England and Northern Ireland.