Thinking about updating your charity’s legal structure?
We all know how important it is to keep our charity’s constitution and purposes up to date. Depending on how your charity is constituted however, it may also be appropriate...
Seven top health and safety tips for teachers and lecturers
When deciding which health and safety policies should be introduced in an educational environment, an employer should carry out a risk management assessment to identify, analyse, review, and monitor risks....
Basic Horse Box Guidance
In 2014 the old Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle Standards Agency were merged into the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency. One of its many areas of responsibility is stated...
Could you make your own clean energy? – Four things to understand
We have declared a climate emergency and net-zero is rarely out of the public conversation. There is renewed hope that we have reached a tipping point in the clean energy...
Change in the Scottish rural land market and responsible investment in natural capital
A longstanding characteristic of the Scottish rural land market is high demand and low supply. Natural capital investment to tackle climate change has emerged as an additional factor. The factors...
Boundaries and Maintenance: What you need to know
Determining where a boundary lies and who is responsible for maintaining it can sometimes be a tricky issue, particularly in a rural context. While the title deeds may be explicit...
Club HR – Workplace wellbeing: the commercial advantages and how to attain them
Club HR – Workplace wellbeing: the commercial advantages and how to attain them This series is suitable for HR professionals or those with responsibility for managing staff. Our conversation was...
Anderson Strathern announces SAMH as its new charity of the year
The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) has been chosen by our people as the new Anderson Strathern charity of the year, after having previously been our charity of the...
What’s changed and on the horizon for Employment Law
What’s changed for Employment Law? *Article updated on 18 May 2022. There have been a few changes in employment law in the last few weeks. In case you missed them,...
Pensions and independent schools
Many independent schools in Scotland are participating employers in schemes such as the Scottish Teachers Superannuation Scheme (STSS), which provides pensions on a final salary basis, and the Scottish Teachers...
Anderson Strathern hails advisory role regarding ScotWind agreements
Our clean energy team has been busy advising Crown Estate Scotland on all of its ScotWind offshore leasing agreements, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with them on...
There is a new, higher standard for homebuilding in the UK
The New Homes Quality Code (“New Code”) was published on 17 December 2021 and replaces the current Consumer Code for Home Builders. The New Code is designed to “fill...
Short Term Letting Control and Other Housing Issues
Changes afoot on housing There are several important changes to Housing Law in the pipeline. Legislation changes surrounding short term letting control as well as fire alarms are now in...
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land: what you need to know
Land reform can take many guises, and the new Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (“the Register”) is one that we should all be aware of. This...
Anderson Strathern partners with LINC Scotland to advise on new legislation
We’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with LINC Scotland to provide members with advice around the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which came into force on 4 January...
Separated parents: Navigating school holidays
During the school year, you probably already have a schedule that works for you and your family. But, the school holidays can throw everything off track. With the holidays approaching...
Gift Aid Changes following the Spring Statement
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced at the Spring Statement that the rate of basic rate income tax in the UK will be reduced from 20% to 19%...
The effect of financial sanctions on charity trustees
The Charity Commission for England and Wales opened an inquiry on 16 March this year into the Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG). GPG is an English registered charity set up...
Consumer behaviour – key retail and restaurant sector trends for 2022
The pandemic forced the retail industry to quickly adapt with more high street businesses opening online, click and collect orders continuing to gain popularity and expand. Consumers became completely connected...
Wick Academy Development Fund – implications for charity trustees
OSCR recently published its inquiry report into Wick Academy Development Fund, a Scottish registered charity set up in 2002 to benefit the inhabitants of Wick and its environs. The charity...
Investigation into the Captain Tom Foundation
The Captain Tom Foundation, a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales has been in the headlines following the publication of the accounts for its first year...
Five top tips for charities navigating contracts
Contracts. Even the word can be daunting, not to mention the feeling when you’re faced with a 30-page document containing an array of legalisms and Latin phrases. However, as daunting...
The Story of Kids Company: as one chapter ends, another begins…
As any parent of small children will know, the bedtime routine is often a somewhat protracted affair with whining, pleading requests for one more chapter. Those directly involved in the...
Scotland 2045 – how the NPF4 vision will affect the retail sector
On 10 November 2021, the Scottish Government published the long-awaited consultation draft of its Fourth National Planning Framework (“NPF4”). The ministerial foreword makes it clear that the overall approach is...
Hospitality update – all tips to be paid to employees in full
The UK government has announced a proposed new law requiring employers to pass all tips to their workers. It is estimated that this reform will benefit around one million workers...
Assignation – how much leeway does a landlord have?
A recent Court of Session decision has considered the circumstances in which it will be reasonable for a landlord to refuse consent to an assignation of a lease. The facts...
Divorce and separation – what’s the difference?
For those who are newly separated or going through a divorce, the start of the year can be an especially difficult time. January is a busy time for people separating...
Employment Law challenges for the construction sector in 2022
Flexible Working In the past, the construction sector hasn’t had to tackle the concept of flexible working. On the face of it, the two do not marry up well, with...
A trend with the potential to revolutionise UK’s high streets
The covid-19 pandemic, the rise of online shopping and changing consumer habits have forced many retailers to reorganise their portfolio, with several opting to reduce their physical footprint on the...
Anderson Strathern appoints former Deloitte partner Mike McGregor as Non-executive Director
We’ve appointed former Deloitte partner Mike McGregor as Non-Executive Director, replacing Graeme Bissett, who has served two terms on the board since 2015. Mike has spent over 26 years at...