What’s on the retail horizon?

There are a number of significant legal and regulatory changes on the horizon in 2024 which will shape the retail landscape.

Our Retail Horizon Scanner is designed to help retail businesses in the UK stay up to date by giving an overview of the legal developments in the sector.

Check out our LinkedIn page where we provide more detailed updates throughout the year.

Please contact one of our retail experts to talk about what these changes mean for you and your business.

October 27
Government announced new approach to environmental regulation to support new homes drive
Government announced new approach to environmental regulation to support new homes drive

The Government’s Regulation Action plan confirmed there has been support for proposals…
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October 28
Waste and recycling company prosecuted and fined £270,000
Waste and recycling company prosecuted and fined £270,000

A waste and recycling company has been prosecuted and fined after a…
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October 30
Care home company prosecuted and fined £1.8 million
Care home company prosecuted and fined £1.8 million

A care home company has been prosecuted and fined following failings that…
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October 30
Transport company fined £133,00 after an employee fell from height
Transport company fined £133,00 after an employee fell from height

A transport company has been prosecuted and fined after an employee suffered…
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November 3
Haulage company fined £250,000 for workplace fatality
Haulage company fined £250,000 for workplace fatality

A haulage company has been prosecuted and fined after an employee died…
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November 3
Passenger train derailed in Cumbria
Passenger train derailed in Cumbria

On 3 November 2025, a passenger train derailed after hitting a landslip.…
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November 6
Farmer has been ordered to pay £40,000 for slurry pollution
Farmer has been ordered to pay £40,000 for slurry pollution

A farmer has been ordered to pay £40,000, consisting of a £5,000…
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No set date
Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024
Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024

This Act was given Royal Assent in May 2024 and is set…
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November 10
Public consultation opened on Control of Asbestos Regulations
Public consultation opened on Control of Asbestos Regulations

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a public consultation to request…
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November 10
Construction client sentenced after the death of a worker on site
Construction client sentenced after the death of a worker on site

An individual assigned as client under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015…
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November 10
Housing construction company and four employees deny manslaughter charges
Housing construction company and four employees deny manslaughter charges

A housing construction company and four employees have entered not guilty pleas…
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November 11
Plastics company fined £277,500 after workplace fatality
Plastics company fined £277,500 after workplace fatality

A medium-sized plastics company has been prosecuted and fined after a worker…
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November 11
Recycling company fined £40,000 for breaching environmental permit
Recycling company fined £40,000 for breaching environmental permit

The recycling company has been fined £40,000 and ordered to pay almost…
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November 12
Farm owner prosecuted for disease outbreak
Farm owner prosecuted for disease outbreak

A farm owner has been prosecuted and fined after an outbreak of…
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November 20
HSE annual statistics 2024/25
HSE annual statistics 2024/25

HSE has published its annual workplace health and safety statistics for 2024/25.…
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November 20
Manufacturing company fined £600k after fatal workplace incident
Manufacturing company fined £600k after fatal workplace incident

A manufacturing company has been fined £600,000 after an employee was killed…
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November 25
New law bans plastic wet wipes
New law bans plastic wet wipes

The Government has signed into law a ban on the sale of…
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November 25
Suspended sentence for father and son importing and burning waste
Suspended sentence for father and son importing and burning waste

A father and son have received suspended sentences after illegally importing, storing,…
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November 25
Scrapyard owner receives suspended sentence over falsified documents
Scrapyard owner receives suspended sentence over falsified documents

A scrapyard owner has received a suspended sentence and has been ordered…
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November 25
Haulage operator has licence revoked following compliance shortcomings
Haulage operator has licence revoked following compliance shortcomings

A haulage firm has had its operator licence revoked and been disqualified…
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November 25
Environment Agency publishes second Chief Regulator Report
Environment Agency publishes second Chief Regulator Report

The Environment Agency has set out how improved data, stronger enforcement and…
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November 25
Animal feed manufacturer fined £500,000 after employee suffered severe injuries
Animal feed manufacturer fined £500,000 after employee suffered severe injuries

A Yorkshire animal feed manufacturer has been fined £500,000 after an employee…
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November 28
Caravan Park owner fined for disturbing a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Caravan Park owner fined for disturbing a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

A caravan owner has been ordered to pay £116,263 after being found guilty…
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December 2
Environment Agency Publishes Guidance on Assessing Noise
Environment Agency Publishes Guidance on Assessing Noise

The Environmental Agency (EA) has published guidance on how companies should assess noise and vibrations…
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December 2
DEFRA publishes policy paper against Environmental Improvement Plan
DEFRA publishes policy paper against Environmental Improvement Plan

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published a policy…
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December 2
DEFRA publishes Environmental Improvement Plan and Environment Act target delivery plans
DEFRA publishes Environmental Improvement Plan and Environment Act target delivery plans

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published the Environmental Improvement Plan…
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December 3
Gas company fined £560,000 after hydrocarbon release
Gas company fined £560,000 after hydrocarbon release

A large offshore gas company has been fined £560,000 for failing to maintain pipework on a…
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December 4
Roofer prosecuted for failing to cooperate with HSE
Roofer prosecuted for failing to cooperate with HSE

A roofer has been fined £400 for failing to cooperate with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) during an…
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December 11
Manufacturing Company Fined £187,600 after Apprentice Suffers Serious Injuries
Manufacturing Company Fined £187,600 after Apprentice Suffers Serious Injuries

A manufacturing company has been fined £187,600 after the shirt of an…
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December 11
Construction Company and Roofing Contractor fined over £800,000 After Worker Suffered Life-Changing Injuries.
Construction Company and Roofing Contractor fined over £800,000 After Worker Suffered Life-Changing Injuries.

A property refurbishment company and a roofing contractor have been fined after a worker…
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December 15
2025
Manufacturer sentenced after sawmill worker lost leg
Manufacturer sentenced after sawmill worker lost leg

A large wood manufacturer has been fined £160,000 after a worker suffered…
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December 16
2025
Construction company fined after worker crushed by wall
Construction company fined after worker crushed by wall

A large wood manufacturer has been fined £100,000 after a worker was…
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December 18
2025
HSE enforcement on work stress targets university
HSE enforcement on work stress targets university

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) urgently intervened to protect staff at…
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January 7
2026
January 8
2026
Cellulose film packaging company fined after worker dies from exposure to harmful gas
Cellulose film packaging company fined after worker dies from exposure to harmful gas

A company producing cellulose film packaging has been fined £200,000 after several employees…
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January 14
2026
January 15
2026
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into chiropractors radiation compliance
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into chiropractors radiation compliance

The HSE are conducting an inspection campaign which targets chiropractors use of…
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January 16
2026
NHS Trust fined after failing to manage Hand Arm Vibration (HAVs) risks
NHS Trust fined after failing to manage Hand Arm Vibration (HAVs) risks

An NHS Trust has been fined £40,000 after several employees developed HAVs related conditions following…
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January 20
2026
Police Force prosecuted for failing to protect officers
Police Force prosecuted for failing to protect officers

A police force was fined £60,000 after multiple officers were injured during…
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January 21
2026
Packaging company fined after worker suffers life-changing head injuries
Packaging company fined after worker suffers life-changing head injuries

A paper packing company has been fined £433,333 after a 4.5-ton machine fell on…
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January 23
2026
A wire company fined after a worker receives a fatal head injury
A wire company fined after a worker receives a fatal head injury

A wire company has been fined £140,000 after a worker was fatally injured after…
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January 23
2026
HSE inspections to focus on exposure to flour dust in bakeries
HSE inspections to focus on exposure to flour dust in bakeries

From January 2026, the HSE will be carrying out inspections at large bakeries across…
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January 26
2026
Sole trader receives suspended sentence after worker injured in fall from height
Sole trader receives suspended sentence after worker injured in fall from height

A sole trader has received an eight-month suspended sentence after a worker fell four metres through…
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January 28
2026
Global chemicals firm fined after dangerous steam release
Global chemicals firm fined after dangerous steam release

A major chemical firm has been fined £400,000 after a worker escaped injury…
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January 29
2026
Maintenance company fined after worker dies
Maintenance company fined after worker dies

A housing maintenance company has been fined £400,000 after an employee died from…
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January 29
2026
A children’s holiday camp company fined after 3-year-old almost drowned
A children’s holiday camp company fined after 3-year-old almost drowned

A company that runs children’s holiday camps across the country has been fined…
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January 30
2026
Man sentenced after putting family at risk from illegal gas work
Man sentenced after putting family at risk from illegal gas work

An unqualified man installed a combi gas boiler and gas pipework at…
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January 30
2026
Stone company fined after worker killed by falling granite
Stone company fined after worker killed by falling granite

A company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured by granite…
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January 30
2026
Manufacturer fined after employee suffered life-changing injuries
Manufacturer fined after employee suffered life-changing injuries

A building materials manufacturer has been fined £633,300 after an employee crushed their legs…
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February 2
2026
Contractor sentenced after teen fell to death
Contractor sentenced after teen fell to death

A self-employed contractor has been jailed after a teenager fell to his…
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