Employment Law Update 2025

Employment Law Navigator 2024–25 :

Your Essential Guide to Staying Compliant, Competitive & Future-Ready

Why This Matters…

With the new government’s employment reform agenda now in motion, HR teams and hiring managers are facing a rapidly shifting legal and compliance landscape. From National Insurance changes to strengthened worker protections, failing to keep pace could cost you talent, time, and reputation.

Change is coming in April 2025, and with the right planning, it could be an opportunity—not a setback. At Val Wade Recruitment, we’re here not just to supply high-quality talent — but to help you stay compliant, informed, and future-ready.

What’s Changing in 2025

1. Increase in National Insurance Contributions

From 6 April 2025, the main rate of Class 1 employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15%, and the secondary threshold—the point at which NICs kick in—will be lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.

What this means for you:

Review overall employment costs and ensure your agency partners are transparent with charge breakdowns.

2. Day-One Rights for All Workers 

Labour’s proposed reforms include:

•Basic rights from Day One, including:

•Unfair dismissal protection

•Parental leave rights

•Sick pay

•Union access rights

What this means for you:

Ensure your contracts and onboarding policies are legally watertight. Partner only with recruiters who are aligned and up to date on this legislation.

3. Zero-Hours and Insecure Work Under Review

•Ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts is on the table.

•Employers may be required to offer predictable hours and fair scheduling.

What this means for you

Roster planning and agency temp usage must be more structured and fair.

We’re already ahead — ensuring fair pay, transparency, and scheduling.

4. Ethical Procurement & Public Sector Compliance

•Frameworks and government-funded clients will increase scrutiny on how agencies treat staff.

•Compliance with Procurement Act 2023 and social value standards is now a commercial necessity.

What this means for you:

→ Val Wade is already embedded in key frameworks (CCS RM6277, SUPC LMU2021-1434).

→ We offer fully compliant, socially responsible recruitment — ready for audit and public reporting.

5. Skills Investment & Hiring Priorities Will Shift

•Expect more investment in green jobs, digital skills, education, and care.

•This means new opportunities for flexible hiring — and new risks in candidate availability.

What this means for you:

We’re developing specialist talent pipelines now, so you’re not left scrambling later.

Talk to us about skills gap planning.

How Val Wade Can Help

•Compliant Temps & Contractors

Our workers are fully briefed, properly contracted, and fairly paid.

•Framework-Ready Processes

We’re aligned with CCS and HE/FE frameworks — meaning less procurement admin for you.

•Proactive Legal Alignment

We monitor every employment reform and adjust our policies before it impacts you.

•Consultative Recruitment

We’re not here to just send CVs. We help you build smarter, safer teams.

Let’s Talk Strategy

Need help navigating these changes?

Want to stress-test your current recruitment model against upcoming legislation?

Let’s Talk!