Many financing options that we used to consider “alternative” are now commonplace. This article explains in basic terms what some of the alternatives to traditional bank loans are, who they’re used by and why they’ve increased in popularity ...
As the saying goes “when the wind blows, some people build walls, while others build windmills". We know that we’re facing a crisis unlike any other, but what’s been illustrated clearly is that a lot of our old assumptions on how we work can be challenged. We can be working smarter, faster, better. We want to emerge from lockdown with something positive to show for it: a new normal better than the old one. We need a new how ...
The evolution of technology is bringing rapid change to the world of work and employers who fail to embrace new tech will fall behind those that do. This is as true of the transport industry as any other. Employers that are leveraging technology are able to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and deliver a superior customer experience ...
Since the current Electronic Communications Code was introduced in 2017, swathes of it have come under the judicial microscope and even resulted in impending legislative updates. Until now, there has been no scrutiny of the process under which telecommunications apparatus is to be removed following termination of the underlying agreement ...
On 28 March 2022 the government published its paper Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy1 (Taking Charge) and an accompanying document, Government response to the CMA’s Electric vehicle charging market study (the Response).2 At the current roll-out of approximately 600 public chargepoints installed every month, there will be close to 90,000 chargepoints in the United Kingdom by 2030 ...
With the government’s widely publicised plan to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by the end of the decade comes a secondary issue – the need for an extensive electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to support an exponential increase in the number of EV cars on the road. Rollout of EV chargepoints is significantly behind what is needed to meet the predicted demand from 2030 ...
There are three main challenges to increasing competition in the availability of enroute charging stations, especially at motorway service area (MSA) sites, and the common theme is cost. The main challenges are: High costs for connecting to the electricity network, which acts as a key barrier to charge point operators (CPOs) investing at MSA sites. Limited competition at MSA sites, which is linked to the high costs for connecting to the electricity network ...
How can investors, developers and the public sector find value in an ever-changing environment? This was the big central question forming the basis for EG’s recent Scottish Cities Live event, of which Shoosmiths was a sponsor ...
More than two years on from the first work-from-home order of the Covid-19 pandemic, business leaders are still grappling with changes to working practices that one executive says could lead to a two-lane economy in which swathes of workers never return to the office ...
Levelling up the regional economies has many labels: the Northern Powerhouse, the Midlands Engine, the Golden Triangle and the Ox-Cam Arc. But have they delivered improved economic growth? Since Channel 4 announced its move to Leeds, media companies have flocked to the area. The government has also promised to deliver high-speed rail to northern cities, which would position the region as a global leader in transport innovation ...
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is currently making its way through Parliament but what do we currently know about the Bill, which may have an impact on over 2,400 pieces of legislation on the UK statute books? You may be forgiven for not spotting the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (or the Brexit Freedoms Bill as it is affectionately known) slip in front of the House of Commons on 22 September 2022 as all eyes were on Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget at the time
Last week the government issued the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill. The bill looks set to become law later this month and it will have a significant impact on the process of overseas entities acquiring or disposing of land in the UK ...
The requirement for companies to provide and maintain a registered email address is expected to be implemented on 4 March 2024. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all companies will be required to provide a registered email address to Companies House. The intention is that Companies House will use this address to communicate with the company for updates, notices and reminders ...
In its blog, Companies House has indicated that a number of changes will be introduced in March 2024 by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The Act will provide the Registrar of Companies with a set of new overarching statutory objectives to improve the accuracy and quality of the data held by Companies House ...
Bringing in major reforms for the UK’s companies registry, administrative changes for companies and new measures to combat economic crime, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is set to strengthen the UK’s economy’s position as a trusted place for business. Large, open economies are highly attractive for worldwide business, but with openness comes susceptibility to fraud and economic crime ...
From 2 May 2024 Companies House is set to receive new powers to impose financial penalties for non-compliance with company legislation. Currently, the Registrar of Companies operates a civil penalty regime only for late filing of accounts. Under the new regulations (The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Financial Penalty) Regulations 2024) the Registrar will be able to impose direct financial penalties for a wider range of offences under the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) ...
The Government has announced the dates for implementation of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. Overseas entities with prospective or existing land holdings in the UK must plan for the impact of the Act. The Act implements plans to address hidden foreign investment in the UK as part of the government’s strategy to crack down on overseas criminals using UK property for money-laundering ...
“The building has to earn the commute. There has to be a reason for people to come into an office building, and that’s why you’re seeing this bifurcation between the best and the rest,” said Steven Mew, customer experience and flex director at GPE, during Shoosmiths’ recent roundtable on the UK’s flexible office space sector ...
Jonathan Smart, head of the mobility sector at Shoosmiths, comments on upcoming trends and developments to expect in 2024 for the sector. The automotive industry is in the midst of a transformative era, marked by technological breakthroughs and shifting consumer preferences. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial for industry insiders. Let's delve into five pivotal trends that are reshaping the landscape of the automotive sector ...
Collaboration took centre stage at the recent Transport and Energy (TE) Forum event, which brought together industry leaders both in the public and private sectors to explore the crucial need for increased cooperation across the landscape. The forum, marked by the tagline 'Further & Faster,' acknowledged the strides the UK has made in achieving new charge point milestones but underscored the imperative for continued progress ...
The automotive industry has launched a new LGBTQ+ movement with an aim to provide a safer space for LGBTQ+ people within the industry and drive change within the sector. The movement, named Driving Pride, is focusing on making the automotive sector a more inclusive and supportive industry for LGBTQ+ workers. Major automotive brands including Ford and Jaguar Land Rover have signed up to the movement in a bid to help promote greater diversity and inclusion within their organisations ...
In another step forwards for consumer protection regulation, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade has confirmed further amendments to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill to tackle deceptive trading practices in the digital realm. Following a comprehensive consultation into consumer transparency, the proposed laws will target ‘drip pricing’ by banning unavoidable hidden charges and make fake reviews illegal ...
When we talk about discrimination, most people think of those with protected characteristics such as disability, race or sex being treated less favourably. Should we be considering people being treated less favourably because of their height? What is heightism? The general premise of heightism is the act of forming beliefs subconsciously about someone’s mental and physical qualities because of their height ...
When scoping a new development, sewerage and drainage may not be the first thing to spark everyone’s interest, but they are an essential component. Effective drainage is key to the functionality and success of any development. This article examines the legal position and regulations around drainage, with the aim of demystifying common queries and misconceptions ...
On 24 January 2023 the government launched a consultation seeking feedback on its draft statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement (sometimes known as “fire and rehire”). The consultation remains open until 18 April 2023. The draft code does not apply to redundancy situations ...
