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Collection of vaccination status by employers

Employers may seek to be aware of the vaccination status of staff to limit the spread of Covid-19. However, collecting this information must be done carefully. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the UK continues, with all adults having now been offered a vaccination and over 45 million (almost 90% of the adult population) having received …
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EU Settlement Scheme: What’s next for employers and individuals?

We explain the next steps for employers and individuals following the deadline. The EU Settlement Scheme (‘EUSS’) officially closed for applications on 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021, all EU, EEA and Swiss nationals will need to have immigration status in the UK to live and work. Click here to skip to ‘What can …
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Update to Travel Rules from Amber List Countries from 19 July 2021

The UK Government has announced today that, from 19 July 2021, fully vaccinated UK residents who are travelling to England from a country on the Amber List will not be required to quarantine in their homes for 10 days. They will still be required to pay for PCR tests before and after they arrive in …
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New ballot system for T5 Youth Mobility Workers

The Home Office has recently introduced a new ballot system for migrants seeking entry into the UK under the T5 Youth mobility visa. This sought after visa allows migrants of certain nationalities to live, work and study in the UK for a period of 2 years. When will it open? The ballot runs twice a …
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Latest changes announced to the Immigration Rules

The Home Office published a Statement of Changes on 4 March 2021, which introduces a new Graduate visa route and sets out changes to a number of existing routes, including the Skilled Worker, Innovator, Global Talent and EU Settled Status routes. Graduate Route: From 9am on 1 July 2021 a new Graduate visa route will …
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Bates Wells advises SigmaRoc plc on its £305 million syndicated debt facility

SigmaRoc was created in 2016 and focuses on investing, improving and integrating companies in the European construction materials sector. Nordkalk was established in 1898 as a limestone developer in Finland and has expanded to become a leading supplier of limestone-based solutions for agricultural, construction and chemical industries. The enlarged quarried materials group is operating across …
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Mergers: salvage or sense?

Lawrence Simanowitz, partner at Bates Wells, recently shared his observations on the surprising lack of increase in the number of mergers across the sector. Lawrence, who regularly advises on mergers, said to Third Sector: “If you look at the economic research we have seen showing a really high proportion of charities that thought they would …
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The right to work checks concession has been extended – what does this mean for your organisation?

With less than one week to go until the Covid-19 adjusted right to work checks were due to end, the Home Office has announced today that these measures will be extended until 5 April 2022 (inclusive). In recent months we have been lobbying the Home Office via Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association to request a delay …
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Mandatory vaccinations in care homes – 5 key steps

How your organisation can best prepare for the new regulations, which are expected to be extended to workers in the wider health and social care sector From 11 November 2021, anyone entering a registered care home in England will have to be double vaccinated. The DHSC’s operational guidance clarifies that, in addition to care home …
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Urgent legal reform is needed to help high-risk groups leave Afghanistan

We believe an urgent intervention is needed to help groups that are at high risk of persecution by the Taliban escape Afghanistan – including human rights activists, lawyers, and academics. We also want the government to offer support and assurances to NGOs working to help their people on the ground in Afghanistan. Chetal Patel, immigration …
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The Charities Act 2022, explained: Social Investment

Have you considered how the new Charities Act 2022 could affect your charity’s social investment activities? Our blog outlines key changes, focusing on investing permanent endowment and the restrictions on dispositions of land In 2016 the statutory social investment power was introduced into the Charities Act 2011, which confirmed the ability of most charities to …
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5 top tips to ensure your hybrid working model is a success

Our top tips are a helpful guide when making and implementing such important business decisions. Organisations country-wide are grappling with decisions around what their future way of working will look like. Undeniably, one of the biggest changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, has been the sudden shift away from a “9 to 5” office-based …
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