Are manufacturers putting off their cyber defences because they don’t believe themselves to be at risk, or because they simply don’t know where to start? In 2011, the government and IT specialists Detica undertook a study which suggested that hi-tech manufacturers, including those working in aerospace, electronics and pharmaceuticals, were high-risk targets for cyber crime.
Did you know? According to a new study conducted by health and safety consultants, Arinite, the average cost of a health and safety fine is £75,000 more than the cost of compliance. In general, compliance involves a formal health and safety programme, insurance, and compensation for a designated health and safety employee. Keep reading for
You may think that your employees would never steal from you or that your business would never be the victim of theft, but the harsh reality is that nearly every business is eventually victimised by fraud or theft. Thieves (including your employees) do not need direct access to cash to steal from you—merchandise, supplies and
The new rate was announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond in his Autumn Statement. On 1st June, the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) has increased from 10% to 12%, meaning the tax has doubled in just 18 months. This increase will affect 27 million households, 17 million drivers and most businesses, potentially increasing their
The gig or sharing economy is comprised of organisations that hire independent workers for short-term positions. Common jobs include food delivery drivers, car journey drivers, web developers and translators. In the United Kingdom, approximately 5 million people are employed in this fashion, according to the Office for National Statistics. If your organisation employs or is
WannaCry, a ransomware program that targets a vulnerability in outdated versions of Microsoft Windows, has spread across 150 countries and infected more than 230,000 computers since it was launched on 12th May. It disrupted many NHS hospitals in England and Scotland, infecting up to an estimated 70,000 devices including computers, MRI scanners, blood-storage refrigerators and
One year after new sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter, and food safety and hygiene offences came into force in February 2016, the number of health and safety prosecutions against directors has tripled and UK businesses have seen a dramatic rise in the value of health and safety fines. In fact, in
On 8th March, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered the Spring Budget to Parliament. Does Hammond’s new budget spell good or bad news for your business? Keep reading to find out. Key Numbers The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecast for business investment showed improvements since the Autumn Statement, concluding that business investment declined
From 6th April, UK businesses have legislative changes that they will have to comply with unless they wish to incur fines and penalties. To ensure that your business is prepared, here are the five most significant pieces of legislation that came into force: Gender pay gap: Qualifying companies (250 or more employees) will need to
As an owner or manager, you have a clear obligation and responsibility to provide your employees with a safe working environment. If you fail to do so, it could result in a current or even former employee filing a claim against you. A successful claim can be costly—not just financially—but also to your organisation’s reputation.
