ACS

Today sees one of the Government’s bi-annual common commencement dates which were developed to ease the burden of the introduction of new laws and legislation to businesses. These are the four main amendments likely to impact the convenience retailer:

Companies - Trading Disclosures
The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 come into force on the 1 October 2008. They unify and replace the current requirements for disclosure under the Business Names Act 1985 and various Regulations, to specify the information that incorporated companies must include in business documentation, on their websites, on signs and at premises. Under a new requirement, you must respond within five days to written requests for information about inspecting company records.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW)
The NMW for eligible workers will increase. It will rise to £5.73 an hour for adult workers aged 22 and above and to £4.77 an hour for workers aged 18-21. The rate for those under 18 but above compulsory school age rises to £3.53 an hour.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
From 6th April 08 an EPC must be provided where a new commercial property or one with a floor area of over 10,000 square metres is sold or rented out. From 1st July 2008 an EPC will be needed for premises of over 2,500 square metres. From 1 October 2008 this requirement will extend to all commercial premises of whatever size.

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
The Regulations amend the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998. The amendments mean that the requirements for the display of an employer liability insurance certificate will be satisfied if the certificate is made available in electronic form and is reasonably accessible to the relevant employees.