Dr Evelyn Oginni, Lecturer in People Management at the University of Salford, sets out why the gender pay gap persists and the practical steps businesses of every size can take to close it

For SME owners holding commercial property in a pension, the inheritance tax changes arriving in April 2027 raise a practical question: where will the cash to pay the bill come from?

While well executed in parts, Companies House’s identity verification roll-out has exposed a problem: blanket rules are overcomplicating compliance for solo-founders and micro-businesses

Charlie Mullins OBE, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, argues that decades of prioritising university over apprenticeships have left businesses short of skilled people and young people short of practical opportunity – and that the solution is straightforward if ministers are willing to act on it

Rupert Lee-Browne, CEO of Caxton, argues that the Commercial Payments Bill’s 60-day payment rule is welcome news for SMEs – but only if they use the breathing space to overhaul their own payment processes first

Lauren Pilcher of Gardner Leader explains why married founders who delay legal planning risk losing control of their business in a divorce, and what steps they can take now to protect it

Karen Holden of Allin1 Advisory explains why the best business exits start with an honest conversation about what you actually want, and why legal preparation before any deal is the single most important step a founder can take

Evelyn Oginni of the University of Salford examines the extension of unfair dismissal rights and what businesses need to do to prepare

The Department for Business and Trade outlines six key employment law reforms for 2027 that will affect hiring, dismissal and flexible working

From January 2027 the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims falls to six months, prompting SMEs to review probation and record-keeping practices

Karen Holden, managing director of Allin1 Advisory, explains why every founder should plan for the business relationship they hope they never need to navigate

The changes to statutory sick pay introduced earlier this year are still catching employers out. Dr Evelyn Oginni of the University of Salford on what businesses need to know now