News & Articles
Government Update: Final Update for 2025
This update summarises the latest Government announcements,and guidance affecting the gift and home sector, including funding, regulation, trade, skills and sustainability. Members may wish to review the areas most relevant to their business and note any key updates or deadlines.
Announcements and Calls for Evidence
New funding to help small businesses cut their costs
Small businesses across the UK will benefit from new Government funding and support to help them invest in sustainability, to cut their operating costs and boost their business.
First published.
Page summary:
The £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, with thousands more young people expected to benefit over the next three years.
Page summary:
Almost one million young people will benefit from learning or employment opportunities as a result of a major £820 million funding package
This consultation aims to ensure that public procurement improves domestic competitiveness, strengthening the UK’s economic resilience and supporting British businesses
Updated the details section on the homepage regarding the timeframe for a response
Extended CE marking recognition for Ecodesign regulations
We’re seeking views on a proposal to extend recognition of CE marking for ecodesign regulations so that it applies to new measures made under ESPR.
First published.
Impact assessments covering migration policy
This page presents a collection of impact assessments led by the Home Office on migration policy.
Added a link to Spring 2025 Immigration Rules: impact assessment
Regulations, Compliance, Supply Chains, Procurement, and reporting requirements
Regulations: ecodesign of energy-consuming productsGuidance for manufacturers, their authorised representatives and importers.
Updates added on existing enforcement easements.
IP
The below provides guidance and helpful information on the IPO’s attaché based in international locations – first published.
IPO attaché in Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC)
IPO attaché in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan
IPO attachés in Geneva, Switzerland
Goods Movement
Trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland
How to prepare if you trade and move goods in and out of Northern Ireland.
Information about moving goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has been added.
Check if you can claim a waiver for goods brought into Northern Ireland
You may be able to claim a waiver for goods brought into Northern Ireland so that you do not have to pay duty on those goods.
The date when you must update the sector of your undertaking in the digital service to continue using the waiver has changed from before 1 January 2026 to before 31 December 2025.
Making an indirect export from Northern Ireland
Find out what to do when goods are exported from Northern Ireland and move through an EU country before arriving in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or a country outside both the UK and the EU, or when goods are exported from a country in the EU and move through Northern Ireland before arriving in Great Britain or a country outside both the UK and the EU.
The way you make an Indirect Export from Northern Ireland has changed.
Trade, investment, and export support
How you import from and export to South Korea.
Guidance clarified on rules of origin to make it clear that they apply to both imports and exports. Details added about the extension of EU cumulation and direct transport provisions under the UK-South Korea trade agreement, which now apply until 1 July 2027 or the entry into force of the new agreement. Links to the agreement text and supporting resources were included
Stronger, faster trade defences for UK businesses
Government’s first steer to the Trade Remedies Authority to make trade defence system simpler and faster for UK producers and manufacturers
First published.
Enhanced UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement negotiations update
An update following the third round of negotiations on an Enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Turkey.
First published
Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation between the United Kingdom and Belgium
The United Kingdom and Belgium are close neighbours, like-minded partners and Allies committed to working together to promote our common interests. Today, we deepen our bilateral cooperation and friendship, within the framework of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Renewed Agenda for European Union – United Kingdom Cooperation (‘the Renewed Agenda’ agreed 19 May 2025).
First published.
Growth Gateway: Guide to inclusive investing in Africa
A practical guide for investors to unlock Africa’s tech potential through inclusive strategies that support women-led and women-centric businesses in high-growth sectors.
First published.
Growth Gateway: ASEAN cooperation on industrial project-based initiatives scoping paper
ASEAN’s new framework for industrial project-based cooperation aims to accelerate regional economic integration, create resilient supply chains, and unlock up to 15% GDP growth and 6 million jobs by 2030.
First published
UK Export Finance: Leading with finance product brochure
UK Export Finance offer a number of products for exporters and for buyers of UK goods.
PDF attachments and HTML updated
Sanctions
Who is subject to financial sanctions in the UK?
HM Treasury Notice, Sudan, 12/12/2025 added.
HM Treasury Notice, Iraq, 10/12/2025 added.
HM Treasury notice, Cyber, 09/12/2025 added.
HM Treasury notice, Russia, 09/12/2025 added.
HMRC updates
HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for off-payroll working
The ‘Changes to off-payroll working rules from April 2021’ and ‘Status determinations and disagreements’ recorded webinar links have been updated.
HMRC compliance checks: help and support
Find out about what happens during an HMRC compliance check and the help you can get with the process.
A video for ‘Extra support from HMRC during a compliance check’ and ‘What should I do at the end of a compliance check’ have been added.
Skills, employment, and training
Apprenticeship funding rules and assessment plan guidance, 2025 to 2026
The rules for apprenticeship training and assessment funding, and guidance on the changes to assessment.
Updated the apprenticeship funding rules to reflect a policy change and include a number of other clarifications. Added ‘Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance’. Updated ‘Off-the-job training: minimum requirement for each apprenticeship standard’.
Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: recycling obligations and waste disposal fees
UK organisations that are affected by extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging may need to get evidence of packaging waste recycling and pay disposal fees.
This update explains that you cannot accept any PRNs or PERNS to meet 2026 recycling obligations on the Report Packaging Data (RPD) service is updated. Any you accept will go towards your 2025 obligations.
Packaging waste: apply for registration and accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter
How to apply for mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter of packaging waste – includes how to comply with requirements and technical information.
If you’re adding an overseas site to an accreditation during the year, you can only submit the template after 1 January of the accreditation year, or on or after the accreditation start date if later.
Taking part in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets
This guidance explains the operation of the UK ETS markets and how to take part in auctions and in trading on the secondary market.
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.