There is useful guidance published on GOV.UK that explains the do’s and don’ts for Standard Visitors to the UK. Visitors to the UK who are classed as a ‘Standard Visitor’ are allowed in the UK for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.

Permitted activities include the following:

• for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation;
• to see your family or friends;
• to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity;
• to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’);
• for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview;
• for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’) as an expert in your profession, for example to give lectures or perform;
• to take part in a school exchange programme;
• to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course;
• to study, undertake a placement or take an exam;
• as an academic, senior doctor or dentist; or
• for medical reasons.

The following activities are not permitted for a Standard Visitor:

• undertake paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event;
• claim public funds (benefits);
• live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits; or
• marry or register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership – you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa.

In a recent press release, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed that consumers are set to benefit from cheaper and more convenient energy deals as part of new measures to create a smart, flexible electricity system to help save money on bills. They said:

“New proposals set out in a recent consultation will introduce minimum requirements for cyber security and grid stability, and minimum product standards for energy smart appliances to give consumers confidence to accept smart devices and make it easier for them to benefit from cheaper bills. Electric heating appliances with the greatest flexibility potential – like heat pumps – could also be required to have smart functionality.

“Smart appliances enable consumers to manage their energy use to benefit from cheaper tariffs at times of low electricity demand, for example a smart charge point which waits for a period of low-demand overnight to charge the car. This will reduce the consumer’s bill while also ensuring that their car is ready to be used in the morning.

“By shifting some electricity use away from peak periods, this will ease pressure on the grid and reduce reliance on backup fossil fuel generation and the need for new infrastructure like pylons, helping to save up to £50 billion by 2050. The use of smart systems and flexibility could create 10,000 jobs and increase GDP by up to £1.3 billion by 2050. A further 14,000 jobs could be created by exporting the technology.”

The government’s Tipping Act is a step closer to coming into force, as the Code of Practice is published and laid before Parliament. The new Code of Practice will protect the tips of more than 2 million workers giving them a fair share of the tips received by a company.

Millions of UK workers are set to take home an estimated £200 million more of their hard-earned cash, as landmark legislation on tipping took a step towards coming into force.

The government introduced the Code of Practice on the fair and transparent distribution of tips that will have legal effect under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023.

The updated Code of Practice will be statutory and have legal effect, meaning it can be introduced as evidence in an employment tribunal.

The Act and secondary legislation make it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees, ensuring staff receive all of the tips they have earned.

The measures are expected to come into force on 1st October 2024, once they have been approved by Parliament.

Many hospitality workers rely on tips to top up their pay and are often left powerless if businesses do not pass on service charges from customers to their staff.

This overhaul of tipping practices is set to benefit more than 2 million UK workers across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors helping to ease cost of living pressures and give them peace of mind that they will keep their hard-earned money.