http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk - News Articles en-GB Copyright Tourism Business Toolkit Tourism Business Toolkit News Tourism Business Toolkit 60 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:41:18 GMT http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/8/10/help-for-businesses-on-complying-with-competition-law-a3582 In June 2011, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) released new guidelines to help businesses comply with competition law. The guidelines include a quick guide explaining the law, and a film depicting a dawn raid, both designed to help companies understand the procedures and consequences of competition investigations. Read more here Rules%20and%20Regulations Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/4/19/find-out-what-you-can-and-cant-do-when-managing-your-staff-a3450 For employment law to be effective there needs to be a balance between protecting employees and enabling businesses to operate effectively in order to support economic growth. The Employer's Charter aims to dismiss some of the myths about what employers can and can't do in managing their workforce. Read  more about the Employer's Charter Rules%20and%20Regulations Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/4/12/relaxation-of-opening-hours-for-the-royal-wedding-a3429 The Government has brought into force an Order relaxing licensing hours to celebrate the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton. The Order will allow licensed premises in England and Wales to stay open between 11pm on Friday 29 April and 1am on Saturday 30 April, and between 11pm on Saturday 30 April and 1am on Sunday 1 May for: - the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises - regulated entertainment; and - la Rules%20and%20Regulations Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/4/1/employing-older-workers-a3415 The law on age and retirement is changing.  The Government is phasing out the default retirement age (DRA) from April 2011. Read more here Rules%20and%20Regulations Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/2/15/extra-bank-holiday-coming-up-what-are-your-legal-obligations-a3372 The Cabinet has agreed that the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on Friday 29 April 2011 will be marked by a public holiday. However, the announcement of an extra bank holiday does not increase any entitlement to holiday under the Working Time Regulations, so whether an employee will benefit from the additional bank holiday will be entirely dependent on the wording of their contract. Find out more from Business Link on your legal obligations when managing holiday requests Rules%20and%20Regulations Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/9/19/selling-alcohol-responsibly-a2691 If you are a business selling alcohol, remind yourself of your responsibilities with this governmental guide aimed at the Alcohol Retail and Hospitality Industries. The guide includes best practice examples as well as advice on: - preventing underage sales - taking a socially responsible approach - keeping staff and customers safe - supporting national communication Read and download Selling Alcohol Responsibly (PDF) Rules%20and%20Regulations Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/9/16/the-equality-act-2010-a2689 The Equality Act 2010 replaces the existing anti-discrimination laws with a single Act.  It simplifies the law, removing inconsistencies and making it easier for people to understand and comply with it.  It also strengthens the law in important ways to help tackle discrimination and inequality. Most of the Equality Act 2010 comes into force on 1 October 2010. The Government has put together a helpful summary guide to help businesses understand their new obligations under the Equalit Rules%20and%20Regulations Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/8/16/find-the-right-licence-or-permit-for-your-business-a2643 Finding the right licence or permit to operate your business has just got easier. Business Link has updated their 'Your Type of Business Tool' and has doubled the number of licences and permits that can be searched for. They have been working closely with local authorities and other issuing authorities to ensure that, where possible, you will be able to apply for many of the licences online. The new enchanced tool now has over 450 licences and permits for businesses in Rules%20and%20Regulations Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/8/8/home-office-latest-on-alchohol-reforms-a2641 A new Home Office consultation on alcohol reform could have unintended impacts for tourism businesses. The consultation aims to focus on tightening controls and penalties relating to problem inner city bars and clubs.  However, as the proposals do not single out just these problem establishments, there will be an increased compliance cost right across the board - including for small tourism businesses that only sell small amounts of alcohol. Read and download the fu Rules%20and%20Regulations Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/7/5/good-news-for-self-catering-accommodation-providers-a2616 We reported earlier in the year that VisitBritain and VisitEngland had been putting pressure on the government to look again at what the proposed changes to the FHL (Furnished Holiday Lettings) tax rules would mean for self-catering accommodation providers up and down the country. Success! An announcement in the new government's budget has reinstated the tax rules for operating Furnished Holiday Letting properties. This is great news for our self-catering businesses who, under the w Rules%20and%20Regulations Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/4/18/extra-conditions-announced-for-all-liquor-licenses-a2540 With effect from 6 April this year, all liquor licenses in England and Wales now have extra conditions imposed on them with a ban on any "irresponsible promotions" of alcohol.  This is defined in terms of risk of crime, prejudice to public safety, disorder, public nuisance or harm to children. Read more and view the guidance documents on the British Hospitality website.   Rules%20and%20Regulations Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/3/21/are-you-up-to-scratch-on-service-charges-a2506 Following the British Hospitality Association's launch in October last year of a voluntary code of practice to encourage the hospitality industry to give clearer information on tips, services and tronc to their customers, the Department for Business (BIS) has now  launched a publicity campaign to promote the code. The campaign urges restaurants, cafes, hotels, hairdressers, and casinos, in fact any business where tipping is common, to give customers and staff clear information about how ti Rules%20and%20Regulations Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/2/26/does-your-pub-restaurant-or-hotel-play-recorded-music-if-so-you-could-be-in-for-a-refund-a2482 Pubs, restaurants and hotels across the country could share up to £20m in refunds after the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) won a High Court legal battle over the charges they pay to play recorded music. Phonographic Performance (PPL) appealed against a decision by the Copyright Tribunal which ruled that its tariff increases were unreasonable.  The BHA said that the tariffs, which were applied retrospectively back to 2005-2006, repres Rules%20and%20Regulations Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/1/11/good-news-for-small-live-music-venues-a2439 Live music performances for 100 people or less will no longer need to be licensed. The proposals, recently announced by licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, mean that it will make it much easier for a wide range of venues, including unlicensed premises such as cafes and record shops as well as licensed pubs and clubs (even if their license doesn't include provision for staging entertainment), to put on live music, and to help musicians who want to play to a liv Rules%20and%20Regulations Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2009/3/3/prs-licence-fees-heavily-cut-for-small-businesses-a2267 Licence Fees Cut to £44 per Business if Less Than Four Employees PRS for Music has halved its fees for businesses with 4 or fewer people after consultation with the Federation of Small Businesses. Music can now be played in workplaces with four or fewer staff for less than £1 a week. Small workplaces wishing to obtain a music licence can now pay a reduced flat rate of £44 per annum + VAT – whereas before, it would have cost them around £84.   The Rules%20and%20Regulations Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT News