Updates

Carbon Footprint offsetting for home working

When Bates Wells formally recognised the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis in 2019, we made a number of commitments to mitigate our environmental impact. One of these commitments was to decrease our carbon emissions and to reach net zero carbon in 2019. Net zero carbon covers our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and some of …
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Positive change: the outcomes of an unprecedented year – a Bates Wells report

Twelve months after the UK first locked down, we wanted to take a moment to pause, step back and look at the bigger picture in what has been an extraordinary year for the charity sector.  We asked leading sector journalist Liza Ramrayka to take a look back and pull together the key challenges, solutions and …
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The Triple Bottom Line Q&A Series: Planet

The second edition of our Triple Bottom Line Series focuses on the planet. We asked Thang Vo-Ta, CEO & Co-founder at Callaly, about their experience of being a B Corp so far and their future goals. Click below to read more.
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Ten steps to make recruitment safe

As businesses venture into the new normal – which may include a hybrid office and home working – employers should take time to review their recruitment policies. Many employers struggle to implement effective recruitment and induction processes within their organisations. With the rise of hybrid working, now more than ever employers need to consider if …
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What should you do if your email has been hacked?

Our newest guide outlines the top tips for dealing with an email hack. It’s a shame we had to write this guide. But unfortunately hacking, phishing and other blagging attacks are becoming more and more common – particularly in a work context. Whether it’s your email that’s been hacked or whether you’ve received an email …
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How is the new post-Brexit UK subsidy control regime taking shape?

Although the UK and EU have agreed a national ‘subsidy control’ regime to replace EU state aid law here, the new regime is still taking form… Following the end of the transition period, the UK has a new subsidy control regime. Subsidies are, broadly, defined along similar lines to the EU’s definition of ‘state aid’, …
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Real estate update: Rent reductions – mitigate the impact of Covid-19

With the significant economic impact of Covid-19 and the associated closure measures, many organisations are having to modify their strategies to adapt and survive. Tenants of commercial property should consider whether to seek a renegotiation of their rent payment obligations. This article gives a user-friendly summary of the various options to consider when renegotiating. Click …
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Diversity in action: A guide for charities – taking positive action

Want to take positive action on improving diversity but don’t know where to start? The Equality Act sets out a framework that permits organisations to take ‘positive action’. We’ve produced a user-friendly article that explains what qualifies as a positive action under the EA to help you put your plan into action. To read this …
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Governance building blocks for charities

We know that excellent governance underpins excellent charitable outcomes, and we’re here to help you achieve that. Download our guide to governance building blocks to learn about the key things you need to know about governance in your charity.
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Real estate update: Lease health check – planning for your future

Now is the time to review your occupation of your premises and assess the options available. There are still uncertain times yet to come. This article describes what you can you do now to secure the future of your workplace for the longer term. To read the article, click here. Click here to read the …
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Real estate update: News in brief

The latest update from our real estate team summarises recent developments and gives insight to key topics across the sector. This news in brief gives an overview of: Support for tenants during Covid-19Stamp Duty Land Tax on residential purchasesBusiness ratesEnvironment and Sustainability – Energy White Paper and Net Zero Review (interim report)Environmental Bill 2019-21 To …
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Crisis communication: top tips for charities

Peter Gilheany, director at Forster Communications, outlines a practical toolkit for communicating in a crisis. Unfortunately, crisis communications is a growth industry within the voluntary sector at the moment for multiple reasons – financial pressures, criticism from government, and chickens coming home to roost around issues like bullying, discrimination (on the grounds of race, disability, …
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