News & Articles Hub
Government Updates
Announcements and Calls for Evidence
Budget to move “power and money out of Westminster, and into every postcode around Britain”.
Today (Friday 31 July), the Chancellor has confirmed that the date of the Budget will be Wednesday 28 October.
First published.
Millions reminded to get £150 off energy bills this winter
Households eligible for the Warm Home Discount must be named on their energy bill by 23 August to receive it automatically this winter.
First published.
PM: ‘From today Britain will value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap’
Under the Prime Minister’s fundamental changes to the education system, 14-year-olds will be able to get early access to technical education, skills training, work experience and connections with employers.
First published.
Call for evidence: digital product record policy
The government is gathering views on digital product records to inform future policy development and understand the potential impacts for businesses, consumers and supply chains.
Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet
Details on changes to the machinery of government
Updated the acronym for Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade from DBIST to BIST
The UK and France committed to strengthening cooperation to anticipate, prevent and respond to climate-related risks, particularly wildfires, and called for greater international action to tackle climate change and build resilience.
First published.
The UK and Spain agreed that the climate crisis is an urgent policy priority and committed to co-leading the green transition, strengthening clean energy cooperation and advancing international climate action.
First published.
This page provides information about the Government’s processes for handling correspondence, and relevant links to support citizens in contacting the Government.
Updated the titles for specific Departments after recent changes: Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Regulations, Compliance, Supply Chains, Procurement, and reporting requirements
Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: step-by-step guide to registering
A step-by-step guide for those registering with the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
First published.
Collaborating with other businesses
Complying with competition law while working with other businesses.
More information about beneficial collaborations added.
UKDI launches Cycle 8 of Innovation Support to Operations – a fast paced competition to identify and accelerate innovative technologies for scalable manufacture and urgent defence deployment.
First published.
A major £8.4bn investment in the UK’s nuclear deterrent, delivering jobs and opportunity for young people for years to come, is set to be announced by the Prime Minister today.
First published.
Terms for NHS England and Northern Ireland Buyers’ use
First published.
HSE updates
IP
UK-China Intellectual Property newsletter
At the end of every month we publish a newsletter covering recent intellectual property (IP) developments in China.
Updated UK-China IP newsletter July 2026
Goods Movement
SPS agreement: preparing your business
Prepare your business for the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement if you trade or move plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food.
Added a link to the summary of findings from the call for information, in the ‘SPS agreement: preparing your business’ document. Updated the guidance for the horticulture industry, to clarify that while negotiations are ongoing, growers do not need to make changes to their pesticide use. Detailed guidance and information will be provided following the completion of negotiations.
CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports
This guide provides detailed completion instructions for data elements when making an import declaration to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS).
Amendments have been made to various parts of the Declaration Completion Instructions in relation to PVA01 / the removal of the PVA01 workaround. The DE 4/17 completion instructions has been updated to highlight that the declared preference code must be compatible with the declared commodity code, otherwise the declaration will be rejected.
Trade, export, and investment
UK/India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement [TS No.30/2026]
This treaty was presented to Parliament in July 2026.
First published.
Applying for an export certificate
How to apply for an export certificate, including a Certificate of Free Sale, Certificate of Manufacture and Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice.
Page content restructured, with ‘Overview’ and ‘Check which export certificate you need’ sections added. Under ‘Certificate of Free Sale for cosmetic products’, Mexico has been added to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries list. Information about Canada being added from 1 September 2026 also included. ‘Get help’ section updated to explain what users can do if they are unable to access the online service.
Overseas business risk for Kazakhstan
Information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Kazakhstan.
Key statistical data was updated, as well as contact information.
Overseas business risk for Turkey
See below for information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Turkey.
This guidance has been updated throughout.
Sanctions
Made 5 variations under the Afghanistan sanctions regime.
HMRC updates
Introduction to R&D Tax Reliefs – Help to see if your company can claim
A brief outline of what Research and Development tax relief is, what the qualifying criteria are, and the next steps to take if you wish to claim.
First published
Customs intermediaries: introduction of Mandatory Registration
HMRC is proposing the introduction of Mandatory Registration for customs intermediaries who submit customs declarations on behalf of traders.
The consultation found at the link above seeks views on:
the proposed scope of mandatory registration
which intermediaries should be in scope or excluded
the proposed mandatory requirements and associated checks
the proposed enforcement approach; and
how the proposals could be implemented proportionately.
The government is keen to hear from customs intermediaries, traders, representative bodies, software providers and other interested stakeholders.
The consultation is open until 21 September 2026. We are keen to hear from as many stakeholders as possible, so if you have views on the proposals, we encourage you to take this opportunity to influence the design of the policy and ensure it works for the sector.
Further information, including the full consultation document and details of how to respond, can be found here:
For any questions about the consultation, please get in touch with the team via the consultation mailbox: customsintermediariesconsultation@hmrc.gov.uk
Help to avoid errors in claims for plant and machinery allowances – GfC5
Find out about common areas of error when claiming capital allowances on plant or machinery. We want to share information to help you manage the risk of an incorrect claim.
We have removed the survey link from the Details section. Updates made at part 2 to both the qualifying expenditure and a change to the business cars section which is now called the cars section with further changes within it. Additional sections have been also included on 40% first-year allowance and hybrid writing down allowance.
Skills, employment, and training
Government invests in young people with more opportunities close to home
Thousands more young people will be able to gain the skills, qualifications and experience they need for future careers, as the government today rolls out a major package to break down barriers stopping access to technical education, training, and apprenticeships.
First published.
How providers can make reasonable adjustments, get funding and offer flexibilities for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Updated ‘Support for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities’ to reflect changes in claiming reasonable adjustment costs for apprenticeship units.
Get started with the recruitment APIs as an employer
How employers can access recruitment APIs and API keys using their apprenticeship service account.
Added a new section called “Privacy and data protection”.
Information for employers applying for grant funding to deliver the Youth Jobs Grant.
Published a new version of the Youth Jobs Grant: Employer Vacancy Submission Form in ODT (OpenDocument Text) format.
Transferring your apprenticeship levy to another business
Information for large employers about transferring unused apprenticeship levy funds to another business to pay for their apprenticeship training and assessment.
Removed information about the top-up payment of 10% from the government as this no longer applies from 1 August 2026.
How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer
Guidance on how to use the apprenticeship service to access funds to pay for apprenticeship training.
Updated co-investment rates for employers who do not pay the levy.
Information about employing an apprentice and how apprenticeship funding works.
Information about apprenticeship funding has been updated.
How the government funds apprenticeships in England, including details of funding bands and the apprenticeship levy.
‘Apprenticeship funding’ has been updated in line with changes to the apprenticeship funding rules from 1 August 2026.
Join the Skills England Expert Network
Information for employers, training providers, unions, regional partners and regulators who want to help inform Skills England’s work.
First published.
30 July 2026: Connect to Work – Programme Business Case 2 Summary
Connect to Work is a major initiative in the government’s Get Britain Working strategy.
First published.
Make Work Pay: strengthening the law on tipping
We are seeking views on strengthening the law on tipping.
‘Detail of outcome’ updated to confirm that a new public consultation will be held on the draft revised code of practice.
Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)
Specialist support and resources to help businesses cut carbon emissions, save energy and work on new technologies.
First published.
Summary logs for UK packaging waste: an overview
An introduction to the summary logs that reprocessors and exporters need to use to record packaging waste activity under extended producer responsibility for packaging requirements.
Added guidance about making changes to your summary log.
Record and report packaging waste: reprocessors and exporters
How to record and report data under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging requirements.
Added guidance about making changes and resubmitting a report
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: templates for sampling and inspection plans
If you are required to apply for registration as a reprocessor or exporter of packaging waste or want to apply for optional accreditation, you must submit a sampling and inspection plan (SIP) using these templates.
Updated the SIP templates for: reprocessor registration, exporter registration, reprocessor accreditation, exporter accreditation