Norfolk and Waveney Mind have been allocated funding by Norfolk County Council to provide a limited number of Mental Health focussed training places specifically to VCSE’s and SME’s across Norfolk. This funding forms part of a wider initiative to help organisations provide health and wellbeing support to their workforce.
Increase awareness of mental health and improve understanding of how and why mental health may fluctuate within a workplace setting
Outline the importance of managerial and organisational roles in building positive and supportive cultures in the workplace
Identify relevant resources and tools to provide support for people in the workplace and explore further sources of support and information
Were promoted from within because they are technically good?
Are new to the role and / or inexperienced at managing others?
Need improved confidence in managing people and problems?
Find it difficult to balance the pressures of delivering for management while remaining part of the team?
Could make a significant contribution to the company’s profits if they were able to improve the performance of themselves and their teams?
If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, you will find that the Forefront course provides solutions to these and many other issues that stretch today’s team leader. The Forefront Team Ledaer Development course has been specially designed to give practising or aspiring first line managers a solid foundation in their formal development as a manager. Delegates will also complete a project which is to identify a problem within the workplace and implement an effective solution.
The Government has confirmed that, from April 2026, two
significant reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) are expected to come into
force.
If you’re
an employer, it’s important to understand what these changes mean in practice
not only for your employees, but also for your policies, budgets, and
compliance obligations. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key
changes, what they mean for your business, and how Stallard Kane’s HR team will
support you every step of the way.
What are the two key changes?
1. SSP
will be payable from Day 1 of sickness absence
Currently, employees are only
eligible to receive SSP from the fourth qualifying day of sickness absence; the
first three days are unpaid, unless the employee qualifies for enhanced sick
pay.
Under the new legislation, the
three-day waiting period will be removed, and SSP will become a ‘Day 1’
entitlement. This means it will be paid from the first qualifying day of
sickness absence (provided eligibility criteria are met).
2. The
Lower Earnings Limit will be removed
At present, an employee must earn
at least the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL), currently £123 per week (2025/26
rate), to qualify for SSP.
From
April 2026 this minimum earnings threshold will be abolished. This means that
all employees, regardless of how much they earn, will be eligible for SSP if
they meet the other qualifying conditions (such as being classed as an employee
and being off work due to illness for at least four consecutive calendar
days).
What do these changes mean for me as an employer?
These reforms represent a shift
in both cost and administration for employers. Here’s what to consider:
Increased sick pay liability: employers
will potentially pay more in SSP, as it will begin from Day 1 of absence
rather than Day 4
More employees will qualify: with the LEL
removed, even those working limited hours or on very low incomes who were
previously ineligible will now be entitled to SSP
Greater emphasis on absence management:
employers will need to ensure that absence reporting procedures are
robust, as accurate records will be crucial for compliance and payroll.
Prompt and clear recording of the start date of absence is essential to ensure
SSP is paid correctly from Day 1.
Possible impact on Enhanced Sick Pay
schemes: if you offer contractual sick pay, the interaction between
enhanced policies and the new SSP rules should be reviewed; policies may
need to be realigned to ensure they are not inadvertently overpaying or
duplicating entitlement
What should I do to prepare?
Although these changes aren’t due
until April 2026, early preparation is key. Here are the practical steps
employers should begin taking now:
Equip managers with the knowledge and
tools to handle SSP queries, report absences correctly, and understand the
updated entitlement criteria
Include absence management in your ongoing
compliance training
How will Stallard Kane support me?
At Stallard Kane, we know that
employment law updates can quickly become a burden for busy businesses. That’s
why our HR team is already preparing the tools, templates, and support you’ll
need to navigate the 2026 SSP reforms with confidence.
We’ll ensure your absence, sick
pay, and employee conduct policies are fully compliant with the new SSP rules
and tailored to your business context, leaving you free to focus on running
your business.
Click here to learn more about Everywhen’s
range of risk solutions
Over the past year, significant UK cyberattacks rose by 129%, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) now managing around four major incidents each week. Could a large-scale attack put your business at risk?
As it stands, cyber risk affects every level of society, from governments protecting essential services, to businesses navigating fluctuating markets and supply chain delays, through to organisations fighting to keep their operations running. These high stakes are evident in recent large-scale cyberattacks.
Real-world impact
Following the 2025 M&S cyberattack, the retailer’s market capitalisation fell by around £1 billion, and customer data was allegedly stolen. This has resulted in collective legal action as people look for compensation for their lost data.
Last year, Jaguar Land Rover also reported a £485 million pre‑tax loss for the quarter versus a £398 million profit a year earlier, after being forced to shut down networks and halt highly automated‑ production lines for weeks.This event has widely described as the costliest cyberattack in UK history, with an estimated £1.9 billion economic impact and considerable supply chain disruption.
Neil D’Mello, Everywhen’s Client Director (South Division) comments: “One of the biggest issues to come out of these attacks was how the supply chain – particularly SMEs – were impacted. When something of this scale occurs, having the right advice and protection in place is key to preventing and mitigating losses.”
What’s being done about cybercrime?
As the frequency and severity of cyberattacks rise, so does the government’s determination to tackle them. In their latest defensive move, they have announced that they are launching new measures to ‘make public services more secure and resilient’ with a dedicated Cyber Action Plan, allowing people to use these services safely and securely.
What’s changing?
For their new Cyber Action Plan, the UK government has committed £210 million to strengthen public services against cyber threats. At its core, this will consist of a new Government Cyber Unit, setting mandatory cybersecurity standards, coordinating incident response, and providing expert support across departments, local authorities, and health services. The plan also introduces measures to secure supply chains and improve detection and recovery capabilities, ensuring essential services remain safe and reliable.
When will it roll out?
The plan has already started and will progress in three phases from now to 2029. In phase one, by March 2027, they will focus on governance and minimum standards. Phase two will see implementation scale up with enhanced tools, threat monitoring, and workforce development. From 2029 onward, phase three will drive continuous improvement, aiming to build stronger supplier resilience and embedding cyber skills across the public sector.
Ultimately, this plan sets a new overall standard for security and accountability, raising expectations for every organisation connected to government services.
Where Everywhen comes in
Cyber Insurance solutions can usually provide the below, however please refer to your appointed broker for full details of your tailored coverage:
Threat alerts and proactive insight
Access to cyber security tools and expert advice
Cover for legal defence, PR costs, loss or damage, and business interruption
Neil notes: “These types of cyber outages can break a business, even when they’re not the initial target. Cyber policies that include legal defence, PR and interruption cover aren’t optional, they an essential part of a rounded defence strategy.”
Ready to protect your business?
Talk to us today about how cyber cover can help you stay ahead of evolving threats. Click here to find out more.
Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement, in the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.