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Universities scramble to catch up with the side hustle generation

15 May 2026

12 min

Britain’s freelance revolution heads for the classroom Universities scramble to catch up with the side hustle generation A new national push to legitimise freelancing is gathering momentum across Britain’s colleges and universities as educators race to support a generation of students already building businesses before they graduate. FreelancerClub.net founder Matt Dowling says the old education model is failing thousands of aspiring freelancers by treating them like startup founders chasing inv...

Episode 3: the January 2027 shift is the real strategic turning point

30 Apr 2026

16 min

In this episode, we look ahead to the major employment law changes coming in January 2027 — and why they could fundamentally change how small businesses hire.” Why small firms are worried about January 2027 • Unfair dismissal qualifying period • Qualifying period cut • From 2 years → 6 months • Less time to assess staff • Faster risk exposure • More cautious hiring Removal of compensation cap • Compensation cap removed • Awards based on actual loss • Higher exposure for employers • Claim ...

Why small firms are worried about January 2027

30 Apr 2026

14 min

The anxiety is not abstract. It changes who small businesses hire, how quickly they act, and how carefully they document everything. Large firms hear “compliance”. Small firms hear “risk, paperwork and cost without an HR department. Hiring Risk - Recruitment becomes more consequential because mistakes become harder and costlier to unwind. Admin load - Policies, probation, manager training and record-keeping all matter more. Legal exposure - Bigger penalties and broader protections increase press...

What ERA means to small business employers

29 Apr 2026

11 min

What changes from 6 April, in practical terms 6 April 2026 The first visible shift is about immediate rights and immediate employer duties. “The rules now bite much earlier in the employment relationship.” Day-one family rights Unpaid parental leave and paternity leave move much closer to the start of employment. The support slide should stress: there is less waiting, less employer breathing space. Redundancy consultation gets more expensive If 20 or more redundancies are proposed in 90 days, th...

Why Constant Policy Changes Are Making Britain’s Smallest Employers Think Twice About Hiring

12 Mar 2026

9 min

The video features a discussion between Liz Barclay and Samantha about the challenges faced by small businesses in the UK, particularly in relation to policy changes. The main point raised is the need for policy stability, as frequent changes create uncertainty and erode business confidence. Small business owners, who often juggle multiple roles, find it difficult to keep up with the constant changes in legislation and policy. This not only costs money to implement but also drains emotional and ...