The Financial Conduct Authority’s new non-financial misconduct rules come into effect on 1 September 2026, extending existing conduct standards to around 37,000 non-bank financial firms, including asset managers and insurers. The rules cover bullying, harassment and violence at work, while separate fitness and propriety guidance may also make certain conduct outside the workplace relevant. In … Continued
Managing your Sponsor Management System (SMS): best practice for UK employers The Sponsor Management System (“SMS”) is the Home Office’s online platform through which licensed sponsors manage their day-to-day sponsorship activities. From assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (“CoS”) to reporting changes in worker or organisational circumstances, the SMS sits at the heart of sponsor licence compliance. … Continued
The UK Government continues to place significant emphasis on English language proficiency for foreign nationals applying for a visa. For many visa categories, meeting specific English language requirements remains essential and completing the wrong test, or failing to meet the correct standard, may result in your application being refused. With recent updates to the Immigration … Continued
British citizenship applications reach a record high Recent figures show a significant increase in applications for British citizenship. According to Home Office data analysed by the Migration Observatory, just over 315,000 people applied for British citizenship in the year ending June 2026 – the highest number on record and 17% higher than the previous year. … Continued