Government news and archive

UK government introduces reforms to apprenticeship system

The UK government has announced a 725 million pound reform package for the apprenticeship system as it looks to address youth unemployment and push for economic growth. Among the initiatives to be carried out under the Growth and Skills Levy will be a 140 million pound pilot programme in which regional Mayors can connect young people,...

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New report finds Leicester garment exploitation claims overstated

A new review presented to UK Parliament has found that allegations of worker exploitation and modern slavery in Leicester’s garment sector were not supported by evidence from formal investigations. The report, ‘Lessons Learned from Operation Tacit’, published in November 2025 by the director of labour market enforcement, Margaret Beels, suggests...

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400 of Britain’s largest shops at risk, BRC warn

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is warning that 400 large-format stores, from department stores to supermarkets, are at risk of closure if the Government forces them into its proposed higher business rates tax band. New research from the BRC reveals that large stores would be at risk if they are included in the Government’s new business...

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UK government launches consultation to reform IP protection for design sector

The UK government has launched a new comprehensive consultation to explore potential reforms for the region’s design sector, with a particular focus on modernising intellectual property (IP) protection in a post-Brexit landscape. With this, the government said it is seeking expertise from the UK’s design community, from independent creators to...

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UK government mulls ban of ‘forever chemicals’ in school uniforms

New amendments to the UK’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill could see PFAS – otherwise known as ‘forever chemicals’ – banned from use in school uniforms. The bill is currently in the committee stage in the House of Lords, and intends to introduce new regulation on everything from the cost of uniforms to the number of branded items a school...

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Business rates reform absent from spring statement: concerns for retailers in the UK

In her first spring statement and second budget as UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves presented a plan aimed at kick-starting the country’s faltering economy. In her statement on Wednesday, the UK’s first female Chancellor admitted that “growth is still not where it should be” but nonetheless reiterated the government's decision to raise the National...

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UK businesses plan price increases as confidence wanes in anticipation of Budget

A new report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has underlined some worrying developments in the realm of UK business, where confidence is slipping ahead of the incoming Autumn Budget. In the organisation’s ‘Quarterly Economic Survey’, for which over 4,800 UK businesses were polled, around 63 percent of firms said the Chanceller’s autumn...

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Unwrapping in 2025 – Fashion in politics: What to anticipate under Trump's presidency and UK's Labour party

If anything, 2024 was a year in which the world underwent somewhat of a global political evolution, with many countries undergoing elections that will make next year a one rife with change. FashionUnited takes a look at what is on the horizon as the biggest stories of this year continue to unfold into 2025. What is to come under Trump’s return...

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What to expect under the UK’s Employment Rights Bill

A new bill put forth by the UK’s Labour Government is hoping to shake things up in what the administration said will be “the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”, replacing so-called “out-of-date” employment laws. The Employment Rights Bill is currently in the committee stage in the House of Commons, and is still being debated and...

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‘Tale of two halves’: Industry reacts to ‘damaging’ Autumn Budget

The Autumn Budget, the first to have been issued by Labour in 13 years, has received mixed reactions from industry insiders and experts alike, with a 40 billion pound uptick in taxes being at the centre of discussion. On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the budget via a lengthy speech in which she noted that she did “not take this...

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Fashion industry calls on UK government to implement variable EPR fees

A new white paper by QSA Partners has outlined a call on the UK government to implement variable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees to help drive sustainability and establish a circular economy in the UK fashion and textiles sector. The report, which was backed by UKFT, BFC, the BRC and several fashion brands, looked to emphasise the...

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In the UK, a new Labour government is incoming: What this means for retail

In what has been a largely anticipated turnout, Labour has swung the election with a landslide majority, making Keir Starmer the UK’s next prime minister (made official once King Charles III formally requests him in during a ceremony later today). It marks the first change in government in 14 years, throughout which the Conservatives served at...