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The number of companies entering insolvency in England and Wales rose to more than 17,000 last year, according to research by the trade body R3. That was an increase of 2.5% compared with 2016. Duncan Swift, deputy vice-president of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3, said: “The slight rise in corporate insolvencies across 2017 as
The government has ordered a review of how well employers are helping ethnic minorities to progress in the workplace. The new study will assess what steps businesses have taken to remove barriers highlighted in the recent McGregor-Smith Review into black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) participation and progression in the workplace. It found that the
A restaurant worker has been awarded £9,000 compensation after a male colleague told her she was not “a real woman”. Ms Jewel Minchella, aged 37, was asked by her colleague how many children she wanted and answered that she didn’t want any. The colleague then said that all men wanted children and that if she
Growth in house prices in the UK slowed down in 2017, according to the latest figures from the House Price Index. The annual growth rate for 2017 was 4.8%, compared with 7% in 2016. On a calendar year basis, that is the lowest rise since 2013. The figures showed a wide variation in growth rates
A woman facing a jail sentence has won her appeal to prevent her daughter being returned to her father. The case involved a married couple who had been permanently based in Italy. The marriage broke down and the mother took the child to live elsewhere in Italy without the father’s consent. That unlawful removal resulted
A couple have won a dispute with their neighbour after Japanese knotweed invaded their garden, knocking £50,000 off the value of their property. Adam and Eleanor Smith had bought their Cornwall home for £200,000 in 2002 from Rosemary Line. Mrs Line’s kept some of the neighbouring land, which had Japanese knotweed growing on it. The
The government is set to launch its ‘Good Work Plan’ to keep employment laws up-to-date with the changing world of work in the modern economy. It follows recommendations made in the Taylor Review of working practices and it is hoped that millions of workers will benefit from the reforms. The government will seek to protect
A betting shop manager has won her unfair dismissal claim after she was sacked for refusing to accept a new contract on a lower pay grade. Nicola Dinham had worked as a manager for William Hill for 18 years. The company restructured its employment model, merging the roles of shop manager and deputy manager into
A school dinner lady has been awarded £45,000 in compensation after she was subjected to bullying because she reported a breach of policy by her colleague. Neydi Vasconcelos worked part-time at Medlock Primary School in Ardwick. She became aware that some of the kitchen equipment was being taken off site for private use by a
A review of inheritance tax thresholds could make it easier for parents to give their children money to buy a home, fund their education or set up a business. Currently, the maximum sum that can be gifted tax free is £3,000 a year. Any additional funds are subject to 40% inheritance tax if the donor