Tag: hospitality

Eat Out Edinburgh returns for 2024

Bigger than ever before with a full month of incredible offers from the city centre’s best bars and restaurants throughout the month of March, Eat Out Edinburgh has announced its return for 2024.

From weekend brunch, to business lunch, to dinner and drinks, Eat Out Edinburgh is designed to bring friends, family, and colleagues together from across the Lothians for the chance to explore new cuisines and try special occasion restaurants for an accessible price while supporting the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.

With an incredible response from both diners and restaurants in 2023, this year’s campaign will be doubled to four weeks, allowing diners twice the time to take advantage of set menu deals and curated offers from venues throughout the capital’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID).

Run by Essential Edinburgh, the campaign highlights both established city favourites and exciting newcomers on the food scene with a host of restaurants, cafés, and bars from Princes Street to George Street, to Charlotte Square and St James Quarter to take part. Over 40 venues are expected to take part this year, with many restaurants returning for another year after a successful 2023

Interested businesses within the BID are encouraged to sign up for the 2024 campaign as soon as possible, whether they participated in 2023 or would like to be a part of the 2024 campaign for the first time.

A full list of participating Edinburgh venues and offers will soon be available to browse on Eat Out Edinburgh’s website, with special tasting menus, events and exclusive offers for city centre workers to increase footfall throughout the campaign period.

Lothian Buses returns as a partner for 2024 with city centre offers open to Lothian Bus employees, and promotion for the event to be shown on bus screens across the city throughout the campaign.

Emily Campbell Johnston, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications, Essential Edinburgh, said: “2023’s Eat Out Edinburgh event was a huge success, with a fantastic turn out filling tables throughout the city centre so well that we saw a great opportunity to make this year even bigger, and create a month-long celebration of the city’s growing food & drink scene.

“With some of Edinburgh’s most exciting new restaurants opening in the BID, we anticipate an even wider range of venues taking part this year, with menus and offers to suit any occasion – giving locals, city centre workers and visitors from further afield a reason to get out, have fun and support the industry.”

For more information, and to keep up to date with the campaign, visit: 

http://www.eatoutedinburgh.co.uk/

The Eden Mill Experience Edinburgh

A TASTE OF ST ANDREWS ARRIVES IN THE CAPITAL

Eden Mill’s first-ever city centre Edinburgh venue opens next Saturday 3rd February 2024 as ‘The Eden Mill Experience’; located in the heart of the Scottish capital, the city’s newest drinks venue offers two unique journeys through the spirits & flavours of Eden Mill 

Independent distiller Eden Mill announces a date for the grand opening of The Eden Mill Experience, the capital’s latest drinks experience and Eden Mill’s first brand-owned venue in central Edinburgh.

Located in the Heads & Tales Gin Bar at 1A, Rutland Place, EH1 2AD at the West End, the immersive drinks venue offers two interactive mixology experiences. 

Opening Saturday 3rd February 2024, drinks lovers will have the chance to explore the stories behind Eden Mill’s whisky and gin expressions through a range of delicious cocktails, one of which guests will learn to mix themselves. 

The Eden Mill Experience joins a flourishing area of the capital’s drinks scene; bursting with culture, innovative bars and restaurants. Positioned as an experience and journey into the Eden Mill brand, the location is the ideal venue for drinks fans to begin their perfect day or night out in the beautiful Scottish capital. 

SHARE THE LOVE GIN | (From £30) 

Love Gin (40% ABV) is Eden Mill’s delectably fruity, lightly sweet and subtly floral pink gin. Joining the Eden Mill portfolio in 2015, the spirit was originally created as a limited-edition for Valentine’s Day, but the taste of fresh rhubarb spice, sweet strawberries & vanilla combined with green apple, citrus and a hint of rose water, was adored and earned Love Gin a permanent position in the Eden Mill portfolio. 

During the Share The Love Gin session, gin enthusiasts will hear the story of how Love Gin was born and the flavoursome botanicals used to make it so delicious. With three uniquely delicious cocktails and some sweet treats, this immersive session will tell the story of Eden Mill’s best-selling Love Gin. 

THE GUARD BRIDGE MASTERCLASS | (From £35)

The Guard Bridge Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (46% ABV) is a new addition to Eden Mill’s range, crafted using an eclectic mix of single malts sourced from the Highland and Lowland regions of Scotland; the blend also contains Eden Mill Single Malt whisky which is highly scarce in quantity. The expression soothes the palate with the taste of creamy vanilla and barley sugar, finished with sherried fruit and light warm gingerbread. 

During The Guard Bridge Masterclass, whisky fans will learn the journey and discover the story behind this new blended malt Scotch whisky while delving into its deliciously sweet tasting notes. Designed to be enjoyed in cocktails, attendees will try three as part of the experience to demonstrate the whisky’s versatility, with one cocktail “guaranteed to feature an ingredient guests have never tasted before!”.  

Hannah Ingram, Head of Marketing at Eden Mill, said: “We are thrilled to bring a taste of St Andrews to the Scottish capital. It’s a really proud moment for us to launch a venue in a city with such a vibrant drinks scene. To have our very own Eden Mill experience in Edinburgh is an honour and an exciting milestone for the brand. 

“While our new distillery is being built, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase the versatility our expressions have, through inventive and delicious cocktails. The experiences are really special, interactive and immersive and we can’t wait to see the reaction from Scotland’s wonderful capital.”   

LAYING FOUNDATIONS

Eden Mill is currently building a contemporary Scotch Whisky and gin distillery which is due to become operational in 2024. Set to be one of Scotland’s iconic distilleries, it will also be a major St Andrews landmark and a key Scottish tourism attraction.

The brand has been recording progress with work on the exterior of the distillery now complete; a time-lapse video capturing the first stage of the journey is available on the Eden Mill website. 

The Eden Mill Experience will open on Saturday 3rd February 2024 and is located in the Heads & Tales Gin Bar at 1A, Rutland Place, EH1 2AD in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End. Offering immersive whisky & gin experiences, bookings are available now via the Eden Mill website. 

New Edinburgh steakhouse announces opening date

RIO Brazilian Steakhouse announces opening date of Edinburgh restaurant

The first Scottish venue opens Friday 9th February 2024

Edinburgh food lovers can now mark their calendars as RIO Brazilian Steakhouse announces its arrival to the capital for Friday 9th February.

The popular Brazilian Steakhouse offering an authentic Brazilian Churrasco dining experience will open its doors on George Street, within the historic Assembly Rooms building in a 150-cover space formerly home to Jamie’s Italian.

From early February, RIO will welcome guests to enjoy exquisite cuts of meat carved tableside in a traditional Rodizio style, while watching skilled chefs prepare authentic dishes from a stunning central sushi bar, with an unlimited gourmet salad bar lining the walls with an array of imported cheeses, meats and Brazilian flavours for diners to choose from.

The opening will be the restaurant’s first venue north of the border, bringing its non-stop meats concept to Scotland with a set price boasting a competitive alternative to other steakhouses in the city.

The expansion follows RIO’s success in England, marking the 8th location since the brand was established. Founded in Jesmond in November 2019, the Edinburgh site adds to its current locations in Jesmond, Newcastle’s Quayside, Middlesbrough, Durham City Centre, Warrington, Chester and York.

Rodrigo Grassi, Co-owner of RIO Brazilian Steakhouse, said: “It’s an exciting moment for us to announce RIO’s arrival into Edinburgh on the 9th of February, bringing our unique concept to Scotland for the first time.

“We look forward to welcoming our first guests through the doors in a month’s time in true Brazilian fashion, with plenty of good food, drink, and celebration!”

RIO Brazilian Steakhouse’s expansion into Edinburgh will also bring a range of employment opportunities, with recruitment underway for roles throughout the restaurant.

Interested applicants are encouraged to get in touch with their CVs by contacting careers@rio-steakhouse.co.uk, or apply online at https://harri.com/RioEdinburgh.

RIO opens from 5pm, Friday 9th February. Bookings are now open here.

Final call to take part in Edinburgh’s visitor levy survey

EDINBURGH residents and visitors have less than one week left to take part in a survey about the city’s plans to introduce a charge on all overnight stays.

With over 2,600 responses already received over the past six weeks, final feedback is being called for before the survey closes on Friday 19 January. The results will be used to inform formal public consultation this spring.

The questionnaire follows the same format to market research carried out back in 2018 which showed strong support (85% backing) for the introduction of a levy in the city.

Since then, Edinburgh’s proposals have been developed further alongside the long-awaited Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in May.

The Bill means Scotland may be the first place in the UK to legislate for a visitor levy this year, giving local authorities the ability to introduce charges such as those already widespread across Europe. 

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We’ve had a fantastic response so far and I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their views with us. Clearly this is a subject residents and visitors feel strongly about and we’re keen to make sure their views shape the proposals and largescale consultation we bring forward in just a few months time.

“We’ve been seeing visitor numbers edge back up towards pre-pandemic levels and new figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium show footfall in Edinburgh has risen 6.4%, bucking a national decline. The Winter Festivals have also proved hugely successful and Edinburgh continues to top charts as one of the best places to visit in the world.

“A levy presents a major opportunity for us to generate millions of pounds in additional revenue to support, sustain and develop the city and this visitor economy – just as so many other major cities do so successfully. It is a way of trying to rebalance the debate and make sure positives are brought back to the industry, to the city, and to our local communities.

“Please take this chance to have your say.”

The council says the Winter Festival programme alone generates £48 million for the city’s economy.

The survey forms part of ongoing engagement work with industry and stakeholders, with officers seeking views on the shape and size of the levy, who it should apply to, and how the funds raised should be invested.

Further industry engagement includes meetings with the Edinburgh Hotels Association (EHA) and Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG). A series of one-to-one and group meetings with local and national tourism groups and other local government officials is also continuing to take place.

Consumer spending on holidays and  socialising on the rise 

• Lloyds Bank data unearths how different generations and regions spend on  making memories 

• Non-essential spending on holidays, restaurants and recreation rising

• Non-essential spending increase is slowest in London  

• Gen Z holiday spending growing quicker than Millennials and Generation X 

Non-essential spending in the UK is on the rise despite the cost-of-living crisis,  according to data from Lloyds Bank. 

Every region in the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is spending  more on non-essentials like holidays, restaurants and recreational activities but  London is the slowest-growing region for this type of spending. 

Lloyds Bank has revealed the data following the launch of its new credit card, the World Elite Mastercard®, which enables customers to earn cashback on every card purchase  made, alongside enjoying a range of travel benefits. 

With millions of customers across the UK, Lloyds Bank touches nearly every  community and household in the country. The analysis, based on card spending of  the bank’s customers, provides live insight into the state of the nation. 

Non-essential purchases – like holidays and restaurant spending – have been in  positive growth, year-on-year, since May 2021.  In 2023 alone, year-on-year non-essential spending has grown more than 3% every single month, peaking at a 10% increase in January.  

The data indicates the trend is largely being driven by wanderlust – particularly  amongst the over 65s, who have increased spending in this category by 21% in  October. Millennials (people aged 25 to 34) meanwhile, are displaying the slowest  growth among generational holiday spenders year-on-year, up 11.8%, while Gen Z  consumers (aged 18 to 24) have seen holiday spend grow 16.9% over the last  year. 

Taking a regional view, consumers in Wales are leading the charge in holiday spending – up by more than a fifth compared to last year (21.6%), while Scottish  holidaymakers and those in the South West have increased travel card spending  by 19.5% and 19.1% respectively.  

Spending from people living in London shows the slowest growth at 12.5%, with  those in the North West spending 16.5% more year-on-year.

Overall, year-on-year holiday spending is up 17.1%, restaurant spending is up 6.2% and recreational  spending is up 3.3%. 

Looking at regional growth around non-essential spending more broadly, you see London showing the  slowest growth – up just 1.8% compared to the previous year. 

Meanwhile, consumers in Yorkshire and the Humber, which is the fastest-growing region, spent more  than 6% on non-essentials when compared with the previous year and Scottish consumers also spent over 5% more. 

The data also shows that spending on restaurants and going out to socialise account for the biggest non essential spending growth across all generations and all regions across the UK in October. 

Marc Lien, Credit Cards Managing Director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Despite understandable concerns  around the cost-of-living crisis, people still want to socialise and have a holiday to look forward to.

“We’ve  come through a challenging few years, and it’s positive to see that consumer spending is on the rise.  

“After listening to our customers it’s clear that spenders up and down the country want more from their  credit and debit card providers, and this is more important than ever at times like these – that’s exactly  why we launched the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard®, to provide better, more easily accessible rewards. 

“The new Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard® offers cashback on every card purchase – no matter how big or small – and great benefits for travellers, including the luxury of skipping airport security queues and  access to over one thousand airport lounges worldwide.” 

Customers using the World Elite Mastercard® will earn 0.5% cashback on each card purchase up to and including £15,000. When total card spending reaches over £15,000, each card purchase will earn 1% cashback, paid into the account each month. 

World Elite Mastercard® customers will also receive benefits which add a touch of luxury when travelling: 

o Access to over 1,300 airport lounges, including lounges at London Heathrow, Edinburgh  International, Orlando International, Dubai International and many more, through Priority Pass. (Owned and operated by Collinson.) 

o Cardholders will be able to skip airport security queues and upgrade their airport security  experience at participating airports, powered by DragonPass. 

o Direct access to Mastercard’s priceless.com experiences and content in the UK and around the  world. 

World Elite Mastercard® also provides one additional cardholder with all the card benefits at no extra cost to the initial £15 per month.

Cashback earned by the additional cardholder will be added to the main  cardholder’s running total, and will be included in the monthly cashback payment made to the account. 

The main cardholder will be able to view or manage their World Elite Mastercard® and travel benefits  through online banking and the mobile app.

A feast of employment opportunities at Edinburgh’s new Rio Brazilian Steakhouse

Rio Brazilian Steakhouse will soon be taking residence in Edinburgh’s iconic Assembly Rooms building, providing 60 employment opportunities in the capital. As the restaurant prepares to open its first Scottish venue, it is seeking enthusiastic candidates for all positions including roles for assistant manager, front of house, bartenders and a head chef.

An employment open house day will be held on 9th January, where hopeful applicants can visit the new location to speak with Rio Steakhouse co- founder Rodrigo Grassi and Fawira Lira, operations manager, in an informal interview setting. The team will be available for applicants to stop by throughout the day to answer questions about employment at Rio and share more information about the restaurant and opportunities available. 

Location: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse: The Assembly Rooms, 54 George St, EH2 2LR
Times: Tuesday 9th January, 9:30am – 6:30pm

More information on employment opportunities with Rio can be found at:

 https://harri.com/rio

Find out more at www.rio-steakhouse.co.uk

Travel agency takes flight after employees’ talent recognised

AN EDINBURGH venue is highlighting its diverse workforce after one employee helped spark the founding of a new division of the business.

With a wide portfolio of businesses including a luxury hotel and city centre cafe, Surgeons Quarter, the commercial arm of The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd), launched its own travel agency assisted by the skillset of one of its employees.

Justin Mackenzie began his career with Surgeons Quarter as a receptionist in its flagship hotel, Ten Hill Place Hotel, and worked his way up to Guest Services Manager before spearheading the opening of the organisation’s travel agency, SQ Travel after highlighting his previous experience in the sector.

Surgeons Quarter prides itself on providing unparalleled hospitality, as well as inspiring its employees to make a positive difference in and outside of the workplace.

As well as being a Living Wage Employer, it is the first hospitality venue to be a Living Pension Employer, with Surgeons Quarter placing a strong focus on the satisfaction and well-being of its workforce.

Commenting on his time at Surgeons Quarter, Justin said: “Working with people has always been something I love, and Surgeons Quarter recognised my skill set. I didn’t think when I started as a receptionist at Ten Hill Place Hotel, I would end up as a manager of a brand-new travel agency.

“In one of our regular team meetings, we were discussing our careers and what we are interested in. I mentioned that I previously worked at a travel agency when I left school and really enjoyed it. It was always something I considered getting back into. 

“They recognised this and two days later I sat down with our Managing Director Scott Mitchell who asked me if I was interested in being part of the setup of a new venture they were considering, which was SQ Travel.

“We are now growing our team at SQ Travel, it’s an exciting time and knowing I have played such a big part in the formation of the agency is very rewarding.”

Hailing from the Northeast of England, Justin began his career at Hays Travel as a Travel Consultant, seeing the business double in size. Although, always having a keen interest in travel, Justin’s career took him to the hospitality sector across the UK and Spain.

Justin added: “I admire Surgeons Quarter’s ethos around all profits being invested back into funding research for surgeons, which drew me into the job originally. It makes everything feel very rewarding knowing I am helping to contribute to such a worthy cause.

“I would encourage people to consider a career in hospitality, you never know where it will take you!”

Initially set out to streamline travel for surgeons, and now arranging travel and holidays for all, SQ Travel was founded in 2020 and is affiliated with Hays Travel Independence Group.

Surgeons Quarter, Cafe 1305 Scott Mitchell – Managing Director

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter said: “Our staff are the centre of everything we do. We always aim to showcase their strengths and provide them with a platform so they can thrive in their career.

“Justin was the perfect person to be the driving force behind setting up and pushing forward SQ Travel, he had experience, passion and was eager to get the business started. We wouldn’t be here today without him.

“We take great pride in the passion our employees have for the work they do and services they deliver. We know that a career in hospitality can be challenging, which is why we’re committed to doing everything we can to support our people.”

Surgeons Quarter employs around 200 people across its venues, the majority of which hold operations-based in person roles.

Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus. It includes facilities for conferences, meetings, private events, parties, weddings and its own four-star hotel Ten Hill Place as well as Café 1505 and SQ Travel. 

Profits from the Surgeons Quarter portfolio go towards the advancement of surgery and the improvement of patient outcomes worldwide. 

More information on SQ Travel can be found here: https://www.sqtravel.co.uk/

More information about Surgeons Quarter can be found at: https://www.surgeonsquarter.com/  

No frosty surprises when you claim tax relief directly with HMRC

Every penny counts at Christmas and employees eligible to claim a tax refund on any work-related expenses are being urged to do it directly through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to guarantee receiving 100% of their claim.

Whether working in hospitality or retail, taking on a seasonal second job as a delivery driver, or even becoming Santa’s elf for the month, the most straightforward way to claim – and keep – all of a tax refund is through HMRC’s online service. A claim takes just 15 minutes.

Employees can use the online service to check eligibility and get a full list of work expenses they could claim a tax refund for, including: 

  • cleaning, replacing or repairing a uniform or work clothing
  • using their own vehicle for work including business mileage
  • professional subscriptions they’ve paid for, that are needed to do their job.

Suzanne Newton, HMRC’s Interim Director General for Transformation, said: “Christmas can be an expensive time of the year and for many, it could be a good opportunity to claim a tax refund on work expenses to boost finances.

“Latest figures show the average claim is £125 a year. But the only way to guarantee receiving 100% of your eligible refund is by claiming direct through HMRC. Just search ‘tax relief for expenses’ on GOV.UK to find out more.”

Once customers have signed into the HMRC service, they just need to follow the simple step-by-step guidance to submit their claim. Those who need to set up an account can do so quickly and easily via GOV.UK.

Customers considering using an agent to make their repayment claims are likely to be charged a fee – in some cases up to 50% of the value of the claim. If the claim is then found to be ineligible, customers are liable to pay back the full amount of the refund, not the amount they finally received, so could end up out of pocket.

While going through an agent may seem like a simpler option at first, customers will need to supply the agent with the same information they would use to make the claim themselves using HMRC’s free online service.

Anyone who does, nevertheless, choose to use an agent to make a claim on their behalf should also check the small print before signing a contract – including researching the company so they understand what commission is being charged and how much of their tax refund they are likely to receive back. 

More information about how to make a work-related expense claim and what type of expense can be claimed is available at GOV.UK. 

‘Pints’ of wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever

  • ‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union
  • Still and sparkling wine to be sold in 200ml, 500ml and 568ml ‘pint’ sizes in 2024
  • 900 British vineyards set to benefit across the country from new freedoms 

UK tipplers will soon be able to purchase ‘pint’ sized bottles of still and sparkling wine, as a new 568ml size is introduced to Britain’s supermarket shelves, pubs, clubs and restaurants, the Department for Business and Trade has announced today (27th December).

The move to introduce the 568ml size would sit alongside the 200ml and 500ml measures already available, offering more flexibility and choice for customers.

The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations are up to date and agile,. The move comes following engagement with the industry, with businesses now being able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and 200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.

900 vineyards are set to benefit from the new freedoms, boosting production and supporting British businesses, which currently produce around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a year*.

These optional reforms from Government are thanks to our new Brexit freedoms via the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and are wholeheartedly backed by industry wanting to reduce burdensome regulations.

The changes will help to boost innovation, increase business freedoms and improve choice for consumers.

Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: “Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.

“Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries and further growing the economy.”

Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB said: “We welcome the chance to be able to harmonise still and sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the greater choice that allows UK producers for domestic sales.

“The Windsor Framework also means that newly packaged wine will be able to be sold by bars, restaurants and retailers in Northern Ireland – with products able to move in what is known as the retail “Green Lane”, under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.”

In addition to announcing the deregulatory measure on wine, the Government has published a response to the consultation Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales. Following the extensive consultation, the Government has decided not to introduce any new legislation in this area. But new guidance has been issued to promote awareness and use of imperial measurements.

The Government will continue to keep this legislative framework under consideration, as part of a wider review of metrology EU derived legislation.

Festive bonus as UK Government progresses on workers’ rights package

Government sets out the next stages for a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts to support UK workers

  • UK Government sets out next steps to improve the lives of workers across the UK
  • Benefits include tips worth £200 million a year in the pockets of hardworking people and more say over working patterns
  • Government ‘also backing British workers’ by introducing the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage

Millions are set to benefit as the Westminster government sets out the next stages for a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts – giving more money and more say back to UK workers.

Benefits range from £200 million more back in the pockets of hard-working people, to greater flexibility over when, where and how you work.

Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “As we approach Christmas, it’s more vital than ever that we do what we can to support workers and families across the country.

“I’d like to encourage businesses to be as flexible as possible and give their hard-working employees the tips they deserve.

“I want to thank the MPs who brought forward this legislation to support hard working families and shape the UK’s outstanding workers’ rights record.”

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which became law in May this year, requires employers to pass all tips on to workers.

Most employers already pass on tips to the staff who earn them. However, there are still some unacceptable tipping practices by unscrupulous employers, which must be stopped.

Christmas is an incredibly busy season for hospitality workers, and usually a time of year when customers are more generous with their tips. All employees deserve to receive their fair share of tips, so the Government has launched a public consultation on the Tipping Act’s Code of Practice to gain feedback from employers, workers and other stakeholders on the fair and transparent distribution of tips.

Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said: “The shift in recent years towards increased use of flexible working by organisations has allowed more people to better balance their working lives and enabled employers to attract and retain skilled staff.

“Acas has recently consulted on a new draft Code of Practice which outlines good practice around requests for flexible working and explains the forthcoming changes in the law to employers and employees.”

New rights to protect new parents from redundancy, give carers extra support and help all employees work flexibly are also a step closer as government has laid legislation with plans for the measures to come in next spring.

These measures will improve the lives of hard-working families across Britain, aiding workers who have caring responsibilities or parents at risk of redundancy and ensuring everyone is able work as flexibly as needed into the new year.

An extra 2.6 million workers across the UK will benefit from the removal of the 26 week qualifying period that is currently required before making a flexible working request.

Those with caring responsibilities will also be entitled to a brand new employment right to a week’s leave to care for a dependent.

Redundancy protections are also being extended to cover pregnancy, as well as to new parents.

The UK Government is are also backing British workers by introducing the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage, worth over £1,800 a year for a full-time worker, fulfilling the pledge to end low pay.

When this increase comes into effect in April, the National Living Wage will be worth nearly £21,000 a year for a full time worker – almost double, in cash terms, the amount which a full time worker on the National Minimum Wage earned in 2010.

For the first time, 21 years olds will be legally entitled to the National Living Wage, which is set to reach two-thirds of average earnings.