Activated a new industrial relations Code of Practice for electronic and workplace voting in trade union ballots starting 25 August 2026.

This Order establishes 25 August 2026 as the commencement date for a new Code of Practice governing electronic and workplace balloting for trade unions in England, Wales, and Scotland.

It directs trade unions to follow specific guidance when conducting statutory ballots for industrial action, political resolutions, and union amalgamations.

The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers involved in statutory voting processes, while exempting ballots that were already underway or formally initiated before the effective date.

Expanded trade union balloting methods to include electronic, hybrid, and workplace voting while updating unfair dismissal protections.

This Order amends the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 to permit trade unions to conduct elections and industrial action ballots via electronic, hybrid, and workplace voting in addition to traditional postal methods.

It directs a 'responsible person' within the union to determine which voting methods are available for a given ballot based on specific security and accessibility criteria.

The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers, mandating strict technical standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus certification, data encryption, and the maintenance of comprehensive audit logs.

Authorized the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board to impose a training levy on industry employers for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Establishes a statutory levy on employers within the engineering construction industry for three distinct periods covering 2026 through 2028.

It directs the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board to assess and collect payments based on employer emoluments and labor-only contract costs, while providing specific exemptions for small-scale employers and charitable organizations.

The Order applies to all employers engaged wholly or mainly in engineering construction activities in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Updated various education laws and regulations to reflect new procedures for establishing schools and managing pupil referral units.

These regulations update several primary and secondary education acts to align with the school establishment framework introduced by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

They modify the procedures for proposing new schools, clarify employment transfer rules for staff in pupil referral units, and adjust how governance arrangements are made before a new school is formally approved.

The measures apply to local authorities, school governing bodies, and the Department for Education in England and Wales.

Activated statutory requirements for bus staff training and local transport byelaws starting 5 August 2026.

These Regulations bring into force several sections of the Bus Services Act 2025 on 5 August 2026, primarily affecting local transport authorities, bus operators, and their employees.

The provisions grant new powers to vehicle inspectors, authorize the creation of local and London-based bus byelaws, and introduce mandatory staff training regarding disability, crime, and anti-social behaviour.

The instrument also establishes practical deadlines for staff to complete this training, with specific transitional windows extending to late 2028 and 2029 depending on when an individual was employed.

Corrected a typographical error in the Explanatory Note of a previous Employment Rights Act commencement order.

This instrument amends the Explanatory Note of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026 to correct a grammatical error.

It substitutes the word 'brings' for 'bring' in the fourth paragraph of the note.

The document applies to the King's Printer and those responsible for the publication and maintenance of UK statutory instruments.

Increased professional registration fees and modernized fitness to practise hearing procedures for nurses and midwives.

This Order approves a series of rules made by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to increase professional registration fees and amend the procedures for fitness to practise investigations.

It authorizes the Council to appoint legally qualified chairs to lead practice committees, introduces new case management direction powers, and permits the service of legal documents via online accounts.

These regulations apply to nurses, midwives, and nursing associates registered in the UK, as well as the administrative and legal panels of the NMC.

Modified employment, insolvency, and procurement laws to facilitate the nationalisation and property transfer of British Steel Limited.

These Regulations modify several areas of UK law—including employment, freedom of information, insolvency, and procurement—to facilitate the transfer of property and liabilities from British Steel Limited (ACo) to a state-owned company, SPV 2026 Limited (BCo).

They ensure all British Steel employees are transferred to the new entity while removing the statutory duty to consult with employee representatives during this specific process.

The instrument further exempts the new company from transparency requirements under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and public procurement rules under the Procurement Act 2023, while protecting government ministers and agencies from being legally classified as shadow directors.

These provisions apply to the Secretary of State, UK Government Investments Limited, and the personnel and management of the involved companies starting 16 July 2026.