From October 2026, UK employers will face stronger legal duties to prevent workplace harassment. Expectations around policies, training, reporting procedures and workplace culture will increase, with a greater focus on prevention rather than simply responding to complaints after the event.
For many businesses, checking that employees hold a valid driving licence is simply part of the routine. But a licence only tells you that someone is legally entitled to drive. It doesn't tell you whether they're actually a safe driver.
Our breakfasts are a regular fixture in the Chamber calendar, taking place every other month at venues around Uckfield. They’re open to both Chamber members and non-members, giving local businesses the chance to make new connections, share what they do and hear from other businesses and organisations in the local community.
Beacon Down vineyard in Cross in Hand, which already runs tour and wine tasting experiences alongside picnic lunches, is this month opening the doors to a new café and shop. The new shop / café will be open six days a week (Tuesday-Sunday) and will showcase the award-winning wines of Beacon Down.
Business language everywhere can be better. It can be memorable and lasting, impressive and striking. It can be simple, clear, expressive, descriptive. It all depends on the words you choose and which other words you choose to put them next to.
I thought about sharing the email. For a moment it felt justified. The reply I'd received was polite, careful, and quietly infuriating. A request to promote a Menopause event had been met with the explanation that the subject matter would not be suitable or appropriate for all of their audience.
It’s tempting to think of your brand as your logo, your colours and the font you use. And although these things are important, your brand is so much more than that. It’s about how you present yourself to the world and the way you communicate with your customers. It’s also the personality behind your business and the impression people get when they come across you for the first time.
Another significant set of employment law reforms arising from the Employment Rights Act is on the horizon, and expectations placed on employers are increasing. The changes are phased across late 2026 and into 2027 but preparing now will make the transition far smoother.
This mid-summer Uckfield Chamber members’ meeting was held at the beautiful Horsted Place Hotel. With glorious weather on our side, it was the perfect evening for a spot of al fresco networking on the croquet lawn.
AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude have gone from novelty to everyday business kit in a remarkably short time. Plenty of Uckfield firms are already using them to draft emails, summarise documents and produce first drafts, and it’s a regular talking point at Chamber networking events.