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For many owners, Companies House feels like a background obligation. You file what needs to be filed, pay the fee, and return your attention to running the business. For years, that approach has generally been sufficient, but from 2026, it will no longer be. Companies House is moving from being a largely passive registry to a more active gatekeeper, with a clear policy aim: improving the reliability of the register and reducing misuse and fraud. The

Most business owners and key decision-makers I speak to are in the same position: AI tools are already in use across the business (marketing, customer service, HR, analytics, and finance), but governance hasn’t kept pace. That's understandable. Businesses move fast, but regulation moves more slowly. And yet, in 2026, the direction of travel is clear: data protection is becoming more operational (especially around complaints and access requests), and AI governance is moving from “nice to have” to “expected”. This is not to be feared, as you do not need

When founders are asked what truly keeps them awake at night, the answer is rarely “legal change”. More often, it is people: finding and retaining the right talent, managing absence, addressing conflict before it escalates, maintaining morale, and building a culture that customers can sense from their very first interaction with the business. This is precisely why employment law deserves a place at the top of your 2026 priority list. Your employees are the heartbeat of your company. When employment practices are consistent, fair and