IR35 Changes 2026: What’s New, Who’s Affected & Next Steps
The IR35 changes have fundamentally altered how UK employers engage contractors and manage off-payroll working arrangements. While IR35 is a tax regime rather than an employment law framework, the reforms now sit squarely within the remit of HR, finance and senior leadership, carrying material compliance, cost and reputational risk for businesses that get them wrong. […]
Immigration Enforcement Activity at Record Levels: Employer Impact
Home Office Boasts of Record Enforcement Activity The Home Office has published a press release, reporting immigration enforcement activity to be at record levels in the UK. Between July 2024 and the end of December 2025, raids increased by 77 percent and arrests rose by 83 percent. More than 17,400 enforcement visits were […]
Employee Offboarding: Process, Legal & Best Practice 2026
Offboarding is a critical but often underestimated stage of the employment lifecycle. While many employers focus heavily on recruitment, onboarding and retention, the point at which an employee leaves the organisation is where legal risk, financial exposure and operational disruption are most likely to crystallise. Offboarding is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a […]
VFS Global UK Visa Appointments: What It Is & How to Use 2026
If you’re applying for a UK visa from overseas, you may need to use the services of VFS Global as part of your application. In this guide, we explain what VFS Global is and what its role is in the UK visa application process. What is VFS Global? VFS Global, also known as […]
ETIAS: What It Is, Who Needs It & How It Works 2026
ETIAS is an EU border-control requirement, not part of UK immigration law. Even so, it creates direct operational and compliance risk for UK employers, HR teams and sponsor licence holders because it can block or delay business-critical travel, disrupt assignments and trigger knock-on issues in the UK, including sponsorship management, workforce planning and record-keeping. What […]
UKVCAS Centres: Locations, Appointments & What to Expect 2026
If you’re currently applying for further leave to remain, settlement or naturalisation from within the UK, you will most likely need to make an appointment with UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) at one of the UKVCAS centres for your application to be processed. UKVCAS is the digital system, launched by the Home Office […]
UK Visa Guide: Types, Eligibility & How to Apply 2026
Section A: Types of UK Visas The UK immigration system is structured around clearly defined visa categories, each designed for a specific purpose of stay. Choosing the correct category at the outset matters, as each route comes with fixed conditions on length of stay, permitted activities, switching options and long-term outcomes. Visa […]
Right to Work Checks: How-To Guide for Employers
Section A: What are Right to Work Checks? Right to Work checks are a central part of the UK’s enforcement framework against illegal working. Employers are required to complete these checks for every new hire. The obligation applies across all sectors, regardless of size or recruitment model. The Home Office expects a high, […]
Immigration Skills Charge 2026 | Cost, Who Pays & Exemptions
Section A: What is the Immigration Skills Charge? The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee payable by most UK employers when sponsoring workers under either the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visas, with limited exemptions. It was introduced on 6 April 2017 under the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations to address […]
UK National Minimum Wage 2026: Current Rates & Legal Rules
The National Minimum Wage is one of the most actively enforced areas of UK employment law. For employers, it is not simply a question of paying the correct headline hourly rate. Compliance depends on correct classification of workers, accurate calculation of working time, lawful treatment of deductions and charges and robust payroll controls that can […]