Blogs

How the pandemic reshaped the luxury property market

We’ve all heard a great deal about the mass exodus from cities sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, as millions of people sold up their urban homes in favour of the fresh air, open space and tranquillity of the countryside. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the luxury property market, wi....

LGBT+ employees still face significant workplace challenges

1 February 2021 marked the beginning of LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration that provides education and an insight into the issues the LGBT+ community faces. LGBT+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, plus other types of sexuality and gender identity. The event, held i....

Why Living Together Agreements are more important than ever before

These days, many more couples are deciding to live together without getting married. This may be due to the extortionate costs of weddings, a rejection of archaic social conventions or simply because they’re happy as they are. However, what many unmarried couples are unaware of is that they lack ....

Government consults on non-compete clauses

On 4 December 2020, the government launched a consultation into non-compete clauses in employment contracts, which employers often use to prevent employees from working for or establishing a competing business following the termination of their contract. This clause is a type of post-termination re....

The local businesses that flourished during lockdown

In our Private Wealth Guide this year, we profiled some of the most up and coming start-ups that had made a name for themselves in the previous year. An ecological toothbrush company, a fledgling design agency and an equine veterinary business all made our list of prize-winning start-ups across Her....

Coronavirus and spousal maintenance payments

Across the UK, millions of people have been impacted financially by the coronavirus pandemic. Some lost their jobs, others were furloughed, while many parents were forced to cut their hours to focus on homeschooling and caring for their children. Others still lost money when the stock markets plumm....

Philanthropy and the legacy of great estates

Back in their heyday, Britain’s great estates were integral to the economies of the local communities in which they were based. Not only were they huge employers for those living in nearby towns and villages, but they were also massive supporters of local businesses, which thrived from supplying ....

What if my employee refuses to come back to work?

Amid a second national lockdown, millions of employees are back on furlough leave or working from home. The lockdown was ordered in an attempt to stem rapidly rising COVID-19 cases and related deaths, which are once again being closely followed and reported by the media. In such a climate, it is....

Escape to the country?

As the months have ticked by, the coronavirus pandemic has led to some profound shifts in the UK’s attitudes to various aspects of life – including aspiring buyers’ property preferences. Rightmove reported a 126% increase in buyer enquiries about village properties in June and July this year[....

National lockdown prompts furlough extension

On 5 November 2020, the day on which England’s second lockdown came into force, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention (or furlough) Scheme was to be extended until March 2021. Prior to the announcement, the furlough scheme had been due to end at the end of October, w....

Recent study confirms benefits of private schooling

According to research from the Bridge Group, 53% of partners at leading City law firms attended independent schools, with the figure standing at 47% for the wider associate, senior associate and partner population[1]. This data coincides with the findings in our latest Private Wealth Guide to Hertf....

Furlough to be replaced with new ‘Jobs Support Scheme’

The furlough scheme is due to end on 31 October 2020, with employers claiming nearly £40bn for 9.6 million workers since the scheme opened. Now, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to reverberate and with winter fast approaching, the Chancellor has been facing increasingly....