Government and Public Sector news, May 2025

Legal insights, news and events from DWF's Government and Public Sector team delivered monthly to your inbox.

DWF monthly insight:

UKREiiF 2025 - Shaping the future of Real Estate: The UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum is set to take place from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Leeds city centre. This annual event has become a cornerstone for professionals in the real estate and investment sectors, offering unparalleled opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration. View >

Subsidy Control - UK Government announces intention to increase financial threshold for mandatory referral of proposed subsidies to the Competition and Markets Authority: On 7 April 2025 the UK Government announced that in response to consultation feedback, it plans to lift the mandatory referral threshold from £10m to £25m. In this article, Subsidy Control experts Jonathan Branton and Alexander Rose consider the implications of this announcement and the further news that two new Streamlined Routes will also be created. View >

IR35 - Where are we in 2025? Sky TV pundit finds out: The UK has an extensive legislative arsenal when it comes to tax compliance. Following the 2025 Spring Statement the current UK Government has made it clear that it intends to take a rigorous approach to ensure compliance with the tax rules, in an attempt to draw in more revenue. Signs of this prioritised focus are already clear from the recent tightening up of umbrella company compliance and an increase in HMRC’s debt and compliance staff. One area of focus for HMRC is the minefield of employment status and the "off payroll" working rules, more commonly known as "IR35". In this article, DWF analyse one recent IR35 case and consider what it means in the current landscape. View >

Global Risks - Horizon Scanning - Cyber: In the Global Risks Horizon Scanning report our experts discuss the developments within cyber insurance in 2024 and 2025. Tim Smith, Andrew Symons, Stewart Room and Eva Wallace discuss the developments within cyber insurance and set out the technological and AI changes that will impact organisations. View >

India market and business update - April 2025: On 1 February 2025, India's Union Budget unveiled tax and regulatory reforms with a strong focus on areas relevant to the international community, aiming to propel the country to a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Two months in, DWF considers the reception to India's plans to boost key sectors of its economy and navigate international relations amidst global economic pressures. View >

1.5 million homes - Can the UK Government's ambitious milestone be achieved? Central to the UK Government’s growth agenda is its “relentless focus” on getting Britain building again. At the heart of Labour’s social and economic reform agenda – and forming an important and well-publicised milestone in its December 2024 ‘Plan for Change’ – is the UK Government’s plan to deliver 1.5 million homes over this Parliament. View >

R&D on R&D - Is the Government focusing on the right areas? As part of the Spring Statement in March, the UK Government announced a number of consultations to assist with its aim of cracking down on tax avoidance and ensuring better tax compliance in its effort to close the tax gap. This included a consultation seeking views on possible further changes to the Research and Development tax relief regime. View >

Spring Statement 2025 update and potential enterprise incentive scheme and venture capital trust reform: The Spring Statement delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on 26 March 2025 was an opportunity for the UK Government to highlight its focus and priorities when it comes to taxation, as well as an indication to businesses and the British public of any changes on the horizon that may affect how they operate. For those in venture capital, an industry significantly influenced by taxation, this Spring Statement had a number of things to consider. View >

Can the non-statutory Public Inquiry model be used more? In September 2024, the Prime Minister announced that new legislation to create a “Hillsborough Law” would be introduced in Parliament before the next anniversary of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in April 2025. View >

Other news:

Government Commercial Function: Publishes “UK1: the new Pipeline Notice - a guide for buyer and suppliers”. View >

Department for Business and Trade: A national roadshow kicks off to get businesses exporting and grow the economy. View >

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Prime Minister brings forward £300 million for Great British Energy to invest in offshore wind supply chains ahead of the Future of Energy Security summit. View >

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: New AI tool aims to modernise council planning by replacing outdated paper systems with high-quality digital data, enabling faster, smarter decisions to support the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes. View >

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: £121 million boost for quantum technology set to tackle fraud, prevent money laundering and drive growth. View >

Sector Events

Look out for details of our upcoming webinars and events:

Remedies in the Employment Tribunal - 14 May 2025

During this webinar we will provide an outline of the remedies available in the Employment Tribunal. Including:

Preparing for remedies hearing – when and how?
Reducing the award - Polkey and contributory fault
Beware of the Acas uplift
How does settlement fit in?
What if the employer does not pay?
Key tactical considerations

Registration link >

UKREiiF: Young professionals networking event - 21 May 2025

Join us at our young professionals networking event in collaboration with DWF LINK (Leeds), on Wednesday 21 May 2025. Our event aims to bring together business leaders of the future from all industries and sectors.

Registration link >

Lawfully varying a Public Contract in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 - 22 May 2025

This webinar will provide practical advice on how to approach lawfully varying a contract in accordance with the 2023 Act. It will provide practical guidance on how to ensure that the factual circumstances align with the safe harbour and how to audit decision making and publication of any notices required by the 2023 Act.

Registration link >

Demystifying Litigation in Procurement Claims arising from the Procurement Act 2023 - 29 May 2025

This webinar will discuss the stages following the formal issuing of a procurement claim, covering the steps from issue all the way to trial. It will highlight key deadlines which must be met and litigation strategy to ensure a successful outcome.

Registration link >

In case you missed it:

Opportunities afforded by Subsidy Schemes and how to structure them correctly and effectively

The webinar addressed the specific issue of subsidy schemes as flowing from the Subsidy Control Act 2022. It considered specifically the situations that lend themselves to delivery by creation of subsidy schemes, what are the core features a subsidy must have and what sort of audit trail needs to be in place to show how the Subsidy Control Principles have been properly considered in drafting the terms and conditions of the scheme. It also considered subsidy schemes requiring referrals to the CMA and how to secure best results from such CMA referrals.

Webinar Recording

Open and Closed Frameworks and Dynamic Markets that comply with the Procurement Act 2023

This webinar explained the differences between Open and Closed Frameworks and Dynamic Markets, offering practical guidance on setup and call-off processes. It also covered compliance with the 2023 Act requirements.

Webinar Recording

The impact of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

In this webinar, our experts discussed the potential impact of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 for local authorities including practical considerations of the reforms. Our experts also considered the proposed reforms to Commonhold and considered the possible practical implications for local authorities.

Webinar Recording

Prosecutions Update: A review of Attorney Generals' guidelines, disclosure and the landscape post Horizon

This webinar provided key tips for prosecuting authorities and those involved in bringing and taking criminal prosecutions on how to conduct prosecutions in the current regime post-Horizon and dealt with thorny issues such as disclosure to ensure successful results.

Webinar Recording

Conditions of Participation, Exclusion, and Debarment in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023

This webinar explores exclusions, debarment, and conditions of participation under the Procurement Act 2023, offering practical insights for both contracting authorities and suppliers to help them navigate the new regulatory framework. It outlines the mandatory and discretionary grounds for exclusion under the Act, with a particular focus on the newly introduced grounds related to competition law infringements.

The session also examines the updated rules on self-cleaning, the implications of the new debarment list, and how conditions of participation can be lawfully applied under the new legislation.

Webinar Recording

Using inclusive language

This webinar explored the importance of using inclusive language to create a sense of inclusion and belonging for all individuals.

Webinar Recording

Being menopause inclusive

This webinar explored how employers could be menopause inclusive. A lack of awareness and support led to a loss of a key talent pool within organisations.

Webinar Recording

Meet the team – Katie Moody

Katie is a Solicitor in DWF’s commercial team, based in the Liverpool Office. Katie has gained experience advising on high value private and public sector commercial matters, some of which have had an element of litigation.

Katie supports a wide range of clients across different sectors, mainly in a business-to-business context. In particular Katie has experience working in the retail, technology and energy sectors and has supported with multiple corporate transactions. Katie is a member of DWF's Procurement Centre of Excellence which has been set up to add value for and service the requirements of our Public Sector clients.

Katie Moody

Solicitor, Commercial

Email me | +44 7845 264210

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