The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published its response to the 2023 call for evidence on the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (PTRs) alongside a new consultation on proposed amendments. The consultation outlines reforms including exempting domestic holidays without travel elements from regulation, simplifying linked travel arrangements, introducing third-party redress time limits, and clarifying scope and insolvency protection measures. The proposals aim to balance business flexibility with consumer protection following industry feedback indicating need for simplification. The consultation will run until 30 June 2025.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has initiated a consultation process seeking business input on potential counter-measures to new US tariffs. The move follows the Trump administration's announcement of 10% tariffs on UK goods. The DBT has published an indicative list of US imports that could face reciprocal measures, explicitly excluding medical supplies and military equipment. Business feedback is sought on import values and potential impact of counter-tariffs. The consultation will be running until 1 May 2025.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has launched a consultation on the design of a UK corporate re-domiciliation regime, seeking views on a proposed framework that would allow foreign-incorporated companies to re-domicile to the UK while retaining their legal identity. The consultation sets out proposals broadly based on the recommendations of the Independent Expert Panel on Corporate Re-domiciliation and follows an initial consultation in 2021. It focuses on introducing an inward-only re-domiciliation regime to make it easier for companies to move their place of incorporation to the UK. The DBT states that existing processes are costly and complex and that a re-domiciliation regime could reduce administrative burdens, support continuity of operations and help attract investment. The consultation closes on 19 June 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has launched a consultation on the development of a new Industrial Strategy, forming part of the government's proposed plan to facilitate investment and create long-term, inclusive, secure, and sustainable growth. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, have published a Green Paper to commence the delivery of the government’s Strategy. The Strategy will focus on key sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, digital and technologies, financial services, and life sciences, among other sectors. The consultation closes on 24 November 2024, with the final industrial strategy expected to be published in Spring 2025, alongside the multi-year spending review.

DBT has launched a consultation on a draft statutory code of practice for electronic and workplace balloting in trade union ballots. The proposed code aims to provide practical guidance on conducting these ballots, including requirements for compliance, factors to consider when selecting voting methods and best practices to ensure integrity and fairness. The consultation seeks input from stakeholders to ensure the code is clear, balanced and effective, with responses invited until 28 January 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has launched a consultation seeking views on two proposed changes to fire and rehire protections relating to employment expenses, benefits, and shift patterns under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The consultation, published on 4 February 2026, seeks feedback on which specific expenses, benefits, and shift changes should be covered by protections that will make dismissal automatically unfair where employees are dismissed or replaced to make changes to core contract terms designated as 'restricted variations'. The Act will prevent employers from using fire and rehire practices to impose less favourable terms on employees once commenced. The consultation applies to England, Scotland and Wales and closes at 11:59pm on 1 April 2026. The proposals will require Parliamentary approval before taking effect.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published a consultation on the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) will introduce a new measure which voids any provision in an agreement (such as a contract of employment or settlement agreement) between a worker and employer that prevents the worker from speaking out about relevant harassment or discrimination. The consultation invites views on the proposed scope of the legislation. The consultation closes at 11.59 pm on 8 July 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published a consultation on 6 February 2026 on modernising the Agency Work Regulatory Framework.The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) will bring umbrella companies within the scope of the regulatory framework that includes the Employment Agencies Act 1973, the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, SI 2003/3319 and the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, SI 2010/93.

The Department for Business and Trade has initiated a consultation on implementing a new subscription contracts regime, following the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation seeks views on proposals to simplify refunds and cancellation processes for subscription services, addressing 'subscription traps' that cost UK consumers £1.6bn annually. Key areas under consideration include cooling-off cancellation rights, remedies for breach of duties, and arrangements for exiting contracts. The government aims to balance consumer protection with business interests, inviting input from traders, consumer groups, and enforcement agencies to inform secondary legislation and guidance. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 10 February 2025.

On 16 May 2024, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) launched a consultation, Non-financial reporting review: simpler corporate reporting. The consultation proposes to widen the scope of the statutory definition of a medium-sized company and to exempt certain medium-sized companies from the requirement to produce a strategic report. The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 27 June 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published a consultation on protection from detriments for taking industrial action. The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) provides new protection for workers against detriments that they are subjected to by their employer to penalise, prevent or deter them from taking official industrial action. This consultation closes at 11.59 pm on 23 April 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has launched a consultation on reforms to non-compete clauses in employment contracts, outlining options ranging from statutory limits on clause length to partial or full bans. The working paper explains that reform is being considered to support economic growth by improving labour mobility, competition and innovation, drawing on evidence that non-compete clauses are widespread, deter job moves, suppress wages and hinder the growth of new businesses, while recognising mixed findings on their role in encouraging employer investment in training. It reviews international approaches including bans, compensation requirements and salary threshold models, and identifies government objectives to increase labour market dynamism, reduce recruitment barriers and protect workers from extended periods out of their profession and the financial risks of litigation.