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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.

Nine in ten small firms don't measure their carbon footprint

10 August 2021

Larger firms are far more likely to be taking environmental action than small and micro-businesses, according to a new study by the British Chambers of Commerce and O2.

A poll of 1,000 UK businesses, conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with O2, has found that just 11% of firms are measuring their carbon footprint. This falls to 9% for small businesses and 5% for micro-businesses, with fewer than ten employees. By contrast, 26% of larger firms, with more than 50 employees, are measuring their footprint.

The survey comes as the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, published this week, has warned that greenhouse gas emissions will have to be halved to limit heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Worryingly, the BCC research reveals that the pandemic has pushed climate action down the agenda, with only 13% of firms having set targets to reduce their emissions - down from 21% in February 2020. Almost two-thirds (64%) of businesses polled said they don't see net zero targets as a high priority in the wake of the pandemic, although half (49%) admit their customers are worried about the environment.

In fact, the findings show that 22% of small firms don't fully understand the term "net zero" and almost a third have yet to seek advice to help them improve their environmental sustainability.

The main barriers preventing respondents from making their business more sustainable are high costs (34%) and a lack of finance (30%). Getting access to grants (28%), tax allowances (14%) and reducing the costs of making adaptations (14%) were cited as the three steps businesses would most like to see to help them reduce their carbon consumption within the next six months.

Even so, many firms are still taking positive steps to reduce their emissions and become greener. Over the next 12 months:

  • 54% of businesses plan to reduce their consumption (e.g. of paper, food and plastics);
  • 47% plan to reduce the energy they use through travel;
  • 40% will reduce the energy used at their premises.

The British Chambers of Commerce and O2 have launched a free online hub to help businesses measure their carbon footprint, set targets and develop a net zero strategy. The hub has information on how to apply for grants, where to get specialist advice and practical tips from firms that have already taken action.

Shevaun Haviland, BCC director general, said: "This research is a real eye-opener and shows just how big a challenge the UK's net zero target is. The dual impacts of the pandemic and Brexit have been a huge body-blow to many businesses, so it's unsurprising that targeting emissions has taken a back seat.

"The climate challenge is one that affects every single one of us and business has a big part to play in tackling it. But the government must also recognise that smaller firms will need access to grants, subsidies and other financial support to help them take effective steps on the journey to a greener future."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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