Business planning for 2018

By Emma Swan, partner, and Trishna Modessa, trainee solicitor, Forbes Solicitors.

As business owners and managers we often start the New Year with good intentions of reviewing our businesses and planning for the year ahead in order to be one step ahead of some of the challenges we anticipate.

However, we recognise that the success of our business isn’t just about our own conscientious planning but of crucial importance is the people in our business – how productive they are, how efficient they are, how many sales they are closing… the list goes on.

So in 2018 make sure that your people are, or remain, your priority and start by considering some of the key developments in HR and employment law for the year ahead.Brexit

We appreciate that there are no immediate changes to our employment laws as a result of Brexit. But we must remain vigilant to what is being discussed in the Brexit negotiations because these do have an impact on the resilience of our economy, the business opportunities that are open to us and the people available to work in our businesses.

In particular, the uncertainty around the rights of EU citizens to continue working in the UK will affect us all, whether we are hiring for particular sectors or as business consumers using services that have been impacted.Gig economy

Flexibility of our workforce is fundamental to our businesses when dealing with the pressures imposed by the economy.

Businesses like Uber and Deliveroo have been able to grow and survive by treating their couriers and drivers as self-employed, thus avoiding pensions, tax and national minimum wages.

However, the controversial legal battles come as no surprise and have recently kept businesses on their toes. Earlier this month, Uber lost its appeal against a landmark ruling that the drivers were considered as workers and have since launched their appeal to the Supreme Court. GDPR

These four letters seem to have become the talk of the town for businesses across the UK, however small or large they may be. Whilst we cannot delve into the GDPR in any detail within this article, the main thing to state is that if you haven’t already started preparing for the implementation on 25 May 2018, you must start today. Abolition of ET fees

Whilst there has not been a sudden influx of claims as expected by the pivotal abolition of ET fees, businesses can no longer make the risky decisions or side step processes.

The danger of poor HR advice or equally ignoring the advice received could prove to be extremely costly as employees no longer have as much to lose in taking their chances to lodge a tribunal claim against you.Gender pay gap reporting

The gender pay gap report is due on 4 April 2018 and again whilst we won’t explore this particular challenge in much detail, the best advice is to ensure that you have collated the information and you are prepared to produce the report with all evidence already stacked up.In summary these are only some of the challenges that we as businesses face next year. The best course of action for the New Year is preparation, organisation and communication.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Lancashire Business View

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin