We’re sharing the latest government announcements, consultations and regulatory updates relevant to our sector. We encourage members to review the updates and engage with any consultations relevant to their business.

Announcements and Calls for Evidence:

Chancellor sets out plan to crackdown on profiteering and drive Britain's energy security

Households across Britain set to benefit as Chancellor acts on food prices, energy bills and profiteering – taking action on cost of living pressures while securing Britain’s long-term energy independence.

First published.

Ministers rip up consultation culture

Ministers working closely with the new Cabinet Secretary order a clear up of Whitehall consultation culture to speed up decision making and deliver for the British people.

First published.

Smart Data Strategy

This strategy sets out the long‑term vision for smart data in the UK, and the actions government will take to unlock growth, competition and innovation through secure, trusted data sharing across the economy.

First published.

Government commits to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers

Minority ethnic groups and disabled people are to benefit as the government commits to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay‑gap reporting for large employers.

First published. 

£1 billion to cut costs for businesses, drive growth and clean up UK roads

The Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants and the Depot Charging Scheme aim to help businesses make the switch to electric vans and trucks.

First published.

Modernising public procurement: backing British businesses and building a fairer economy 

Chris Ward, Cabinet Office Minister

First published.

Public Procurement: Growing British industry, jobs and skills – consultation on further reforms to public procurement

This consultation aims to ensure that public procurement improves domestic competitiveness, strengthening the UK’s economic resilience and supporting British businesses

Added the document: Public Procurement: Growing British industry, jobs and skills. Government response to consultation

Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin (PEM)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is seeking views on the potential impacts of UK accession to the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin (PEM).

Response to the call for evidence added as HTML and PDF attachments.

Fur market in Great Britain

Seeking views on the fur market in Great Britain to help shape government policy in relation to the fur trade.

Added the summary of responses and government response.

An alternative transitional registration model (ATRm) for UK REACH

We are seeking views on an ATRm for the UK REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) regulation.

Added the summary of responses and government response

Reform of planning committees: technical consultation

This consultation seeks views on the implementation of our proposals to modernise planning committees.

Government response added.

Planning committee reform: draft regulations and guidance

We are seeking views on draft regulations and guidance underpinning planning committee reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

First published.

Make Work Pay: threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations

We are seeking views on the level and methods by which the new organisation-wide threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations might be set.

‘Make Work Pay: options assessment on threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations’ added to page.

Climate adaptation reporting: plans for the fifth round

Seeking views on our proposed approach to the fifth round of reporting under the Adaptation Reporting Power.

First published.

Open for business: implementing a UK corporate re-domiciliation regime

Consultation on a re-domiciliation regime to make it easier for foreign companies to change their place of incorporation to the UK.

First published.

Applying the new NPM to advertising and promotions restrictions

We’re seeking views on applying the new nutrient profiling model (NPM) to the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products.

First published.

Billions to go directly to small businesses across the country as government sets new targets for spending

Government departments have, for the first time, set individual spending targets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to deliver over £7.4 billion a year to small businesses by 2028.

First published. See procurement updates below

Construction Products Reform White Paper

We are seeking views on a package of proposals for reform of the construction products regime.

Link to consultation webinars added.

Regulations, Compliance, Supply Chains, Procurement, and reporting requirements

Departmental Small Business Procurement Targets

Central government departments (including executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) three year target for direct spend with SMEs.

First published 

Ministry of Defence small and medium-sized enterprise engagement

How the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in advance of the SME Action Plan.

First published.

Raising product standards for household tumble dryers

We’re seeking views on proposals for updated ecodesign and energy labelling requirements for household tumble dryers.

Added link to the Regulations.

EU/ International Regulations:

EM on Level Playing Field for Open Competition (COM(2026)89)

The government’s summary of a proposal for a Council decision on the Trade Specialised Committee position on Open Fair Competition & Sustainable Development.

First published. 

HSE updates

Biocides: GB active substance non-approval decisions

Biocides: Upcoming GB active substance expiry dates

Goods Movement

Reference Document for The Customs (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

The Reference Document for The Customs (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 sets out the necessary steps businesses who import goods into Northern Ireland will need to take.

Change made:
‘Duty incurred in Northern Ireland – repayment and remission on production of evidence (eligibility criteria and other conditions)’ has been updated.

UK Trade Tariff: duty suspensions and autonomous tariff quotas

Temporary duty suspensions and autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) for importing goods into the UK.

The page was updated to reflect the launch of the 2025 to 2026 objections window for new duty suspensions.

Trade, investment, and export support

Memorandum of Understanding between the UK, the Netherlands and Indonesia on the Sustainable Production of Palm Oil

The governments of the UK, the Netherlands and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding on 9 October 2025 on co-operation on the sustainable production of palm oil.

First published.

Update following negotiations on an enhanced FTA with Switzerland

Update following round 10 of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Switzerland

First published. 

UK boosts global trade partnerships to help economies grow through stronger, fairer trading systems

New support package announced at WTO Ministerial Conference to help countries trade more, build resilience, and reduce long-term reliance on aid.

First published.

Multi-billion-pound support deal agreed as part of major UK export win

The UK and Türkiye have signed a multi-billion-pound training and support contract, marking the next phase of the landmark £8 billion Typhoon deal agreed in October 2025.

First published.

Minister for the Middle East speech at the Driving International Trade Conference

In a keynote speech at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual conference, Minister Falconer highlighted how the Foreign Office is supporting businesses to navigate an increasingly uncertain world.

First published.

UK Strengthens Trade Partnership with Uganda 

The Westminster Africa Business Association and South Asian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was in Kampala to explore opportunities.

First published.

Trade Envoy appointed to Japan

The Business and Trade Secretary has appointed David Taylor MP as Trade Envoy to Japan.

First published.

Sole ambition: How Vivobarefoot boosted global sales through government-backed finance

UK Export Finance supports footwear pioneer to grow exports across five continents.

First published.

TRA initiates first absorption review

The TRA has initiated an absorption review, following an application from a UK producer of excavators.

First published.

Sanctions

The UK Sanctions List

Find out which people, entities and ships are designated or specified under regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, and why.

Added 10 new designations under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime.

Skills, employment, and training

Skills England is exploring the potential of skills passports: portable, verified records of people’s skills and experience. As part of this work, they are seeking views from stakeholders across the skills system to help them understand the value, user needs, and practical considerations of developing skills passports.   We would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey below and share your insights. 

Survey closes at 23:59 on 17 April 2026

Take part: https://forms.office.com/e/uC54s8g5Wc

Skills England welcomes input from employers, individuals, training providers, representative bodies, regulators, and any organisations already using or considering skills passports or similar tools. Please feel free to share the survey with others in your network who may also wish to contribute. 

 If you have any questions or would like to discuss this work further, please contact colleagues at skills.england@education.gov.uk with ‘skills passports’ in the subject line. 

Apprenticeship standards achievement rates update: 2026

A letter from the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions on current apprenticeship standards achievement rates.

First published.

Support for thousands with musculoskeletal conditions as government tackles inactivity

Thousands of people with back, joint and muscle issues have been assessed quicker following a landmark initiative which aims to help people stay in, or move back into, work.

First published.

Support for Keep Britain Working ramps up across employers and regions

The number of employers and mayoral authorities committed to tackling one of the biggest issues facing the labour market has more than doubled since the publication of the Keep Britain Working Review in November 2025.

First published. 

DWP partnerships

How to contact DWP partnership teams for England, Scotland and Wales.

The name of the national partnership team contact for West Midlands has been updated.

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 ‘Changes to apprenticeship assessment, 2025 to 2026’ to reflect new changes.

Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)

Extended producer responsibility for packaging: local authority payment calculations 2025 to 2026

Find out the methodology and procedure used to calculate extended producer responsibility (EPR) payments to local authorities for 2025 to 2026 (year 1).

Updates to the local authority payment values for the 4 nations for 2025 to 2026 under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme. Year 2 methodology moved into its own section of GOV.​UK to make it simpler for people to find what they’re looking for 

Simpler household recycling rules come into force across England

Simpler Recycling to end years of confusion and deliver consistent collections

First published.