Length of non-compete clauses limited to three months

Implementation date: To be confirmed

The length of non-compete clauses will be limited to three months.

The proposal for reform is contained in the Government's Smarter regulation to grow the economy policy paper, published on 10 May 2023.

The paper states that the reform will not affect employers' use of paid notice periods, gardening leave, non-solicitation clauses, confidentiality clauses or restrictions on former public-sector employees under the business appointment rules.

In the response to its consultation on non-compete clauses, the Government stated that legislation to introduce the statutory limit will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.