Measures to support small businesses contained in the Enterprise Act 2016

Implementation date: 4 May 2016

The Enterprise Act 2016 introduces legislation to further reduce regulation on small businesses.

The main elements of the Act are:

• establishing a small business commissioner to help resolve disputes between businesses, such as late payments;
• improving the business rates appeals system;
• preventing misuse of the term "apprenticeship" and setting an apprenticeship target for the public sector;
• enhancing shop workers' rights to opt out of Sunday working;
• introducing a requirement on statutory regulators to measure the economic impact of new legislation on businesses; and
• introducing a legal obligation on insurers to pay insurance claims within a reasonable period of time.

The Act received Royal Assent on 4 May 2016 and the provisions are being commenced by various regulations.