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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.

The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Small firms offer Kickstart placements to young unemployed

8 December 2020

Hundreds of small businesses and sole traders are to provide work placements to unemployed young people under the Kickstart programme.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given its backing to a scheme which will enable small employers and sole traders to provide work placements to unemployed people aged 16-24 under the government's Kickstart programme.

More than 700 small firms have so far come forward to offer placements through a gateway set up by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), alongside Adecco Working Ventures (AWV) which will be the intermediary employer.

AWV will provide support to the young people taking part throughout their six-month placement and beyond, including mentoring, a dedicated placement manager, skills development, help with CV-building and job applications, as well as post-placement support towards future employment.

AWV will handle all of the administration required for payroll, HR and monitoring, allowing employers to focus on providing a high-quality work placement experience. It means that smaller businesses and sole traders who might otherwise be deterred from offering Kickstart placements can more easily take part. AWV will liaise with Jobcentre Plus to identify and recruit young people best suited to the roles available.

FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: "The coronavirus crisis has made it much more difficult for young people to find employment, and it is vital that they are given opportunities to gain workplace experience so that they can go on to have successful careers or even become entrepreneurs themselves.

"Small businesses can be the ideal environment to nurture talent, which is why we wanted to see a range of options available to access Kickstart, including this model which will enable even the smallest employers to provide placements."

Thérèse Coffey, the secretary of state for work and pensions, said: "We have opened an important gateway through the Federation of Small Businesses and Adecco Working Ventures to help small employers and sole traders create new life-changing opportunities for young people through our Kickstart scheme.

"This is a crucial part of our Plan for Jobs to create and support jobs across the UK, ensuring help reaches those who need it most and they aren't left without hope or opportunity."

Small firms can apply through the FSB's Kickstart Gateway page on its website.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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