Government announces exemption from new regulation for small businesses

On 18 March 2011, the coalition Government announced a three-year exemption from new domestic regulation for businesses with fewer than 10 employees and a public audit of almost 22,000 statutory instruments that are currently in force. 

The measures were announced as part of the Growth Review, the purpose of which is to encourage businesses to grow. The three-year exemption from new domestic regulation will apply to businesses with fewer than 10 employees and "genuine start-ups". The exemption will not extend to regulation in public safety and national security. 

The public audit will allow businesses to comment on existing regulations, which will be posted on a dedicated website. Regulations will be posted on the dedicated website in turn by reference to their subject matter, starting on 7 April 2011. The Government's intention is that "any overly burdensome or unnecessary regulations are removed unless [government] departments can prove there is a good reason for them". 

Also

Staff handbooks: Example staff handbook structure for small businesses Use this model structure as the basis for putting together a new staff handbook or reviewing an existing staff handbook to ensure that it includes details of all the necessary policies, procedures and practices.