Resources

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Independent schools – top tips when considering a merger

The government has recently announced its plans to introduce VAT on independent school fees from January 2025, as well as removing their eligibility for business charitable rates relief from April 2025. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in independent schools re-considering their long-term vision. Independent schools may decide to merge for many reasons, including …
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Bates Wells Impact Report 2023 and 2024

Our belief that we urgently need change in the sector, both from within and in using our experience to guide our clients is a fundamental part of everyone’s role in the firm.  Our impact report this year delves into the ways in which we continue to impact and influence businesses and charities to be better …
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Employers’ guide to eVisas – all you need to know

As the UK government continues to phase out physical immigration documents in favour of digital eVisas, it’s important that employers are aware of what the changes mean and how it impacts right to work checks. What’s changing? By 2025, almost all migrants in the UK will have to use a digital record to evidence their …
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Transition to a fully digital system – changes to guidance on eVisas and BRPs

On 6 August 2024 the guidance for eVisas changed to state that anyone with a BRP can now create a UKVI account to access an eVisa. The system previously in place encouraged people to only create a UKVI account if they were invited. According to the guidance, it is planned that people will be able …
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Legal Update: The Office for Students requires higher education providers to improve protection from harassment and sexual misconduct

On 31 July 2024, the Office for Students (the “OfS”) published a new ongoing condition of registration (the “New Condition”) for higher education providers (“HEPs”), aimed at protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. The New Condition will apply from 1 August 2025, except for a ban on non-disclosure agreements covering allegations of harassment and …
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Labour’s private school tax plan: what comes next?

On 29 July 2024, the government published its long-promised plans to apply 20% VAT on private school fees and to remove the business rates relief for charitable private schools. Here is what you need to know about the plans: 1. 20% VAT on private school fees – who does it apply to? All education services …
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Equality case law roundup: Bailey, Sutcliffe and Orwin

It has been a busy two weeks for equality and discrimination lawyers, with three recent judgments (one from the Employment Tribunal, one from the Employment Appeals Tribunal, and one from the High Court) adding to the body of decisions in this hotly contested area of law and policy. Here, we summarise the decisions and consider …
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Government announces plans to pause implementation of freedom of speech duties for students’ unions and HEPs

The government has announced today (26 July) that the new duties on Higher Education providers and students’ unions in the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will not come into effect next Thursday (1 August) as envisaged. The new duties were subject to exhaustive Office for Students consultation over the spring and summer. In …
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Clarity is key: what you need to know about the FCA’s anti-greenwashing rule and guidance

The FCA’s anti-greenwashing rule, which has been introduced into the Environmental, Social and Governance Sourcebook section of the FCA Handbook, clarifies to FCA-authorised firms that sustainability-related claims about their products and services must be consistent with the actual sustainability characteristics of the product or service in question, as well as fair, clear and not misleading. …
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Realise your purpose: Increasing social mobility and diversity in the workplace

Realise Your Purpose is a Bates Wells campaign to help commercial organisations consider, decide on and implement their ESG goals. From governance to people, and from contracts to real estate, this series will provide insight and guidance for business leaders and senior decision makers on the first steps in their sustainability journey.   There is widespread …
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Real estate: Stay vs Go

Whether you’re thinking about disposing of your office, moving to a new location or reconfiguring your existing space we are here to advise on your options. We will: We’ve developed a fixed fee package, so whether you decide to stay or go, we can help you choose your path with confidence. Prices for the above …
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The King’s Speech: Labour Government’s Legislative Agenda for Employment Law

On 17 July 2024, in the King’s Speech, the newly elected Labour government set out its proposals for two new employment law Bills; the Employment Rights Bill and the Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. Both are intended to deliver on the policies set out in its pre-election “Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering a New …
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