Understanding a Special Guardianship Order: A guide for families
When children can no longer live with their birth parents due to various circumstances, finding a stable, secure, and loving home becomes essential. Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) offer a legal solution that provides a permanent arrangement, while still maintaining a link to the child’s birth family. In this blog, we’ll explore what SGOs are, how they work, and why they are increasingly being used as an alternative to adoption in the UK. What is a Special Guardianship Order? A Special Guardianship Order is a legal order that appoints one or more individuals as a child’s “special guardian,” granting them...
Read Blog
4 min read.
Empowering Workers’ Voices
Worker representation goes beyond wage disputes or contract negotiations; it’s about creating a culture where employees are involved in decisions that affect their day-to-day lives.
Read Blog
4 min read.
B&P helps local business to flourish
Bowcock and Pursaill successfully supported the asset purchase acquisition for client David Charlton of Posh Paws of Eccleshall.
Read Blog
2 min read.
Family Friendly Working Rights: The New Labour Government’s Vision
With their "New Deal for Working People," Labour promises to reshape the workplace to accommodate modern needs, particularly focusing on family-friendly rights.
Read Blog
4 min read.
Five Things You Need to Know About Separation Agreements
Separation agreements are a vital tool for couples who are looking to formalise their separation without immediately heading into court for a divorce.
Read Blog
5 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter September 2024
September's newsletter details Labour's proposed right to request a four day week, plus equality and discrimination case updates.
Read Blog
4 min read.
Zero-hours contracts and one-sided flexibility
In the UK, zero-hours contracts have become a controversial issue, particularly regarding their role in promoting "one-sided flexibility."
Read Blog
2 min read.
Cohabitation Agreements
August's newsletter details organisations named for not reporting gender pay gap details and more. For advice call 01782 200500.
Read Blog
4 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter August 2024
August's newsletter details organisations named for not reporting gender pay gap details and more. For advice call 01782 200500.
Read Blog
4 min read.
Employment Law – Incoming Changes with our New Government
A property chain is a series of linked property transactions where each purchase depends on the success of the one before it. If one part fails, it can lead to delays and problems for everyone else involved in the process.
Read Blog
4 min read.
How to navigate financial settlements during divorce
A property chain is a series of linked property transactions where each purchase depends on the success of the one before it. If one part fails, it can lead to delays and problems for everyone else involved in the process.
Read Blog
4 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter July 2024
July's employment law newsletter covers AI regulation, Improved workplace provision and travel times are not 'working time'
Read Blog
5 min read.
What is a property chain and why do we get them?
A property chain is a series of linked property transactions where each purchase depends on the success of the one before it. If one part fails, it can lead to delays and problems for everyone else involved in the process.
Read Blog
2 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter June 2024
June's employment law newsletter covers AI regulation, health and wellbeing in the workplace and more.
Read Blog
6 min read.
Protecting your assets when you’re getting married
When you get married, you don’t often think about the implications it may have on any assets you own - here's how to protect your assets.
Read Blog
2 min read.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The new duty to prevent sexual harassment contained in the Worker’s Protection Act 2023 (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) has placed the UK on a firm path towards fostering a culture of proactive prevention, rather than one of reaction and redress. So, what are the “reasonable steps” an employer should take?
Read Blog
4 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter May 2024
May's employment law newsletter covers paternity leave, multi-claimant legislation and more.
Read Blog
6 min read.
Heather Reynolds Appointed as Partner at Bowcock & Pursaill
Bowcock & Pursaill has appointed Heather Reynolds as the latest partner at the firm. Having joined the team more than 14 years ago, Heather is the epitome of climbing the career ladder, starting out as Office Assistant. Very quickly Heather became interested in training as a solicitor and started working her way up the ranks. She progressed to Receptionist first before becoming a Legal Secretary at the firm at 21 where she worked for Commercial Property Specialist, Tom Gregory and Residential Property Specialist, Emma Amat. During her time as Legal Secretary, Heather enrolled at Staffordshire University to study law in...
Read Blog
3 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter April 2024
What are the new employment laws and how will they affect employees and employers? This month, we are focusing exclusively on the new employment laws that will come into force in April 2024. National Minimum Wage Increases The National Minimum Wage (NMW) will experience increases effective from 1 April 2024. For people over 21, the National Minimum (Living) Wage will elevate from £10.42 to £11.44. Those aged between 18-20 will see an increase from £7.49 to £8.60, while individuals aged 16-17 and apprentices will observe a rise from £5.28 to £6.40. The NMW, a mandatory wage floor for all employers,...
Read Blog
3 min read.
Increased protection from redundancy for pregnant employees and those who have taken adoption or shared parental leave – new legislation 2024
In April 2024, there will be significant changes to UK redundancy rules. Currently, employers have a legal obligation to offer suitable alternative employment, where a vacancy exists, to an employee who is on maternity leave, shared parental or adoption leave, if their job is at risk of redundancy. This is limited to the duration of the relevant leave. The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 24 May 2023, introduces further protections which means that expectant employees or those returning from maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, will receive greater protection from redundancy....
Read Blog
3 min read.
Protection from Harassment – new legislation 2024
The Worker Protection Bill has been updated and new legislation comes into effect from October 2024 covering protection from harassment. Employment law specialist, Clare Thomas, talks through the new legislation and what it means for employers. What does Protection from Harassment legislation mean for employers? This new legislation means that workers will have protection from harassment – particularly sexual harassment – and employers will be duty-bound to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees. In workplaces where sexual harassment thrives, this new legislation will be very welcomed. It marks a change in legislation from ‘redress’ to ‘prevention’,...
Read Blog
4 min read.
New Flexible Working legislation 2024
Millions of workers in the UK will have more flexibility over where and when they work as the Government announces new flexible working legislation which comes into effect on 6 April 2024. Under this new legislation, employees will have the right to request flexible working from day one of their employment. This is a significant change from current legislation which states that an employee must be employed for 26 weeks or more before being able to request to work flexibly. Clare Thomas, employment law specialist at B&P talks about the changes and what employers can do to prepare. Why is...
Read Blog
4 min read.
What is the Neonatal Care Act?
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Neonatal Care Act will be introduced to support employees who have a newborn baby receiving palliative or medical care. This means that it will be easier for employees to be granted Neonatal Leave and Neonatal Care Pay to look after their babies. The Neonatal Care Act received Royal Assent on 24 May 2023, and it is scheduled to come into force in April 2025. What will employees be entitled to? It is anticipated that employees who qualify for neonatal care will be offered the additional entitlement if their baby needs medical or palliative care...
Read Blog
3 min read.
Employment Law Newsletter February 2024
The Employment Tribunal considered whether a university professor had been directly discriminated against, harassed and victimised for her gender-critical beliefs. The Employment Tribunal has affirmed the claims made by a former professor against her previous employer, the Open University. The allegations include direct discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and constructive dismissal based on her gender-critical beliefs. Her perspectives, such as asserting that a person cannot alter their biological sex and emphasising the distinction between sex and gender identity, met the Grainger criteria and were protected under the Equality Act 2010. Professor Phoenix expressed her gender-critical views by co-signing a letter to The...
Read Blog
12 min read.
Changes to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage in 2024
What is the new National Minimum Wage, what will it mean for your business and how do you comply with the new legislation? We’ll tell you everything you need to know! In November 2023, the Government announced the largest ever increase in the National Living Wage. From 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage will increase by: 8% from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour for those aged 21 and over (previously those aged 23 and over) The National Minimum Wage will increase by: 8% to £8.60 per hour for those aged 18 – 20; 2% to £6.40 per hour for...
Read Blog
5 min read.