Recycling in England is changing from March 2025 - here's how your business can prepare
From 31 March 2025, DEFRA’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation will take effect, standardising the collection of dry recyclable waste (excluding garden waste and plastic film) across councils in England, impacting most businesses.
Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees will have until 31 March 2027 to comply, while households in England have until 2026 for local authorities to implement the changes.
This shift towards a more consistent system is expected to boost recycling rates and encourage manufacturers to design more widely recyclable packaging, ensuring their products can be recycled nationwide, not just in select areas.
You can read more here and we’ll keep you updated.
Speciality Fine Food Fair - 9th & 10th September
Speciality & Fine Food Fair is the UK's leading showcase of artisanal food & drink and provides the perfect platform for brands to showcase their products to an elite audience of buyers.
Held at Olympia in London, the fair has a number of great strengths:
Knowing all the right people – introductions to premium buyers from farm shops, delis, food halls, wholesalers and hospitality businesses who are serious about stocking great products
Make a great first impression - your brand in the spotlight and help you stand out in a crowd of industry tastemakers
Long term relationships - connect you with buyers who'll keep coming back for more
Longevity - With over 25 years of experience, they know exactly how to bring the right people together and help brands grow
You can find out more here
Cumbrian MP names as part of 'global growth team' - as trade envoy to Brazil
Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has been named as part of a new 'global growth team' - after his appointment to be the government's trade envoy to Brazil.
Josh has been named as one of 32 parliamentarians appointed by the Trade Secretary to drive UK exports and investment, as the Government says it 'pulls every lever available to drive economic growth under its Plan for Change'.
The MP has been appointed as the trade envoy to Brazil, with Cumbrian Lord Roger Liddle being appointed to the Andean.
The appointments were made on 28th January by the Trade Secretary to drive UK exports and investment.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "Trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth, the number one mission of this Government and a key part of our Plan for Change.
"That’s why I’ve launched a new team of Trade Envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth."
Food Waste Action Week
Running 17th to 23rd March, Food Waste Action Week is the ideal opportunity to champion the amazing benefits of food waste prevention.
Cutting costs. Saving Food. Helping to protect our planet.
Through the Guardians of Grub, keep an eye on their website for further details.
We’ll be sharing a recent podcast with Gemma Proctor from Cumbria Tourism on the Guardians of Grub as part of our activity during this week.
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New legislation for alcohol approvals, returns and payments
On 1st February 2025, the new legislation for alcohol approvals, returns and payments went live, replacing the previous alcohol production registrations and licenses with the alcoholic products producer approval (APPA). This means from 1st February 2025, new producers of alcoholic products can apply online for approval (Apply for an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA) - GOV.UK). On 1st March 2025 they’ll launch the ‘Manage your Alcohol Duty online service’ (Get access to the Alcohol Duty online service - GOV.UK) allowing alcoholic product producers to submit monthly returns and payments online, for the first time. This will make alcohol duty administration simpler with producers able to report and pay duty on all types of alcoholic products (beer, cider, wine, other fermented products, and spirits) on one monthly duty return.
During February, producers approved under the previous alcohol production registrations and licenses will be migrated to an APPA. Existing producers of alcoholic products should receive a letter with their APPA ID and information about how to enrol onto the 'Manage your Alcohol Duty service' by 25th February 2025. As some producers have multiple premises checking the post at each site is recommended. HMRC also recommend that, if this affects you, you enrol as soon as possible and by 15th March 2025 to submit your first return. Producers can watch a recorded webinar for more help, HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for Alcohol Duty - GOV.UK. If you haven’t received your APPA ID letter by 25 February 2025, you can email nru.alcohol@hmrc.gov.uk, including the below information:
To enrol into this service you will need your APPA ID and either a business postcode (from your APPA ID letter) or a Self Assessment UTR or Corporation UTR. Once enrolled producers will only need to send one return each month to cover all alcoholic products across all approved premises.
The first return is due by 15th March 2025, for products released in February 2025. Payment must be cleared and received by HMRC by 25th March 2025. For more information, please use HMRC’s Alcohol Duty Guidance (Alcohol Duty: detailed information - GOV.UK) and create or access your account at HMRC online services (HMRC online services: sign in or set up an account: Sign in to HMRC online services - GOV.UK).
