
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched a new weekly podcast series, ‘DBS discussions: Safeguarding in Focus,’ aimed at employers, HR teams and anyone working in safeguarding.
Each episode of the podcast features a DBS specialist explaining how key DBS processes work in practice. Topics will include:
- How DBS checks fit into recruitment.
- Common questions from employers.
- Clarity on eligibility and regulated activity.
- How barring decisions are made.
- The role DBS plays in wider safeguarding.
The first episode was released on 9 February 2026, and introduced the function of DBS and the impact of checks in recruitment.
New episodes will be available each week on Spotify, Amazon and YouTube

UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.

Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, sole traders and landlords with income of more than £50,000 have been required to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC since 6 April 2026.

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