We at Khurram & Co Solicitors are aware that remaining properly hydrated will aid us to perform at our very best throughout the day. As a result, we decided to invest in water dispensers from AquAid.

Our unique relationship with AquAid has also given our company the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves, because with each purchase an automatic donation is made to the Africa Trust. These funds are used to build ‘Elephant Pumps’ – a modified version of an age old Chinese rope pulley system. One such pump is currently being installed in Africa on our behalf and it will be a much needed source of clean and fresh drinking water for many.

Our company’s name will be proudly displayed on our well and we look forward to adding some photos and letters of thanks from the villagers to our site in the near future.

To date AquAid have built over 5,000 such Elephant Pumps across parts of Zimbabwe and Malawi; and have donated in excess of £8 million to charity.

New legislation which will see landlords face fines if they rent homes to illegal immigrants without checking their ‘right to rent’.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire today announced the new measures in the Immigration Act would be launched in Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton as part of a phased introduction across the country.

The new law will mean private landlords will have to check the right of prospective tenants to be in the country if they want to avoid potentially being fined up to £3,000.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said:

We are building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who abuse the system or flout the law.

The right to rent checks are quick and simple, but will make it more difficult for immigration offenders to stay in the country when they have no right to be here.

They will also act as a new line of attack against unscrupulous landlords who exploit people by renting out substandard, overcrowded and unsafe accommodation.

Landlords in the West Midlands will have all the advice and support they need in advance of the checks going live on 1 December.

Landlords will need to see evidence of a person’s identity and citizenship, for example a passport or biometric residence permit. Many responsible landlords already do this as a matter of routine, and most legal renters will have the correct documentation ready to hand. In most cases landlords will be able carry out these simple checks without need to contact the Home Office.

Copies of the documentation will need to be taken as evidence the checks have been carried out and retained for one year after the tenancy ends. Children under 18 will not need to be checked. More information about how to carry out a right to rent check is available online at www.Gov.uk including eligibility for a free online Home Office checking service to confirm whether someone has a right to rent. A helpline (0300 069 9799) is also available.

Following an evaluation of the implementation in the West Midlands next spring, the Home Office expects to continue with the phased introduction of checks across the UK next year.

The Immigration Act 2014, which became law earlier this year, is a landmark piece of legislation which builds on the government’s ongoing reforms to make sure the immigration system works in the national interest. The Act is focused on stopping illegal migrants using public services to which they are not entitled, reducing the pull factors which encourage people to come to the UK for the wrong reasons, and making it easier for the Home Office to remove people who should not be here.

New changes give greater flexibility to business visitors and allow international students to take up corporate internships after graduation.

The Home Office has announced changes to the immigration rules today which will benefit businesses, international students and skilled workers. The changes to the business visitor route will allow employees to undertake corporate training in the UK where it is delivered by an external company.

Global organisations will be able to bring their own auditors to the UK on a business visitor visa, making it easier for them to complete international audits and business visitors will be able to do a short course of study while they are here.

International students

The changes will also make the UK more attractive to international students by allowing them to take up corporate internships after completing their degree and making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to take up skilled jobs.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper said:

The UK is open for business: we are building an immigration system that works in the national interest and supports growth. Today’s changes will ensure that the UK continues to attract global talent to work for British businesses and study at our world-class universities.

Immigration reform is working; we have tightened immigration routes where abuse was rife, while still encouraging the brightest and the best to come to the UK.

Individuals on graduate entrepreneur visas will be able to switch to a skilled workers visa more easily under the new rules, ensuring that the best global talent is able to stay in the UK to work. They will be able to switch visas for a job with a “new entrant” salary and the sponsor won’t have to complete a Resident Labour Market Test.

From 1 April 2014, the British Refugee Council and Migrant Helpline will provide advice services to asylum seekers and refugees.

The British Refugee Council will operate a children’s panel to support unaccompanied children seeking asylum (England only).

Migrant Helpline will provide independent advice and guidance about asylum to adult asylum seekers and their children throughout the UK.

Migrant Helpline’s services will replace existing one-stop shop and wrap-around services. Migrant Helpline will also provide help nationally for destitute asylum seekers to complete applications for asylum support, including accommodation.

The Home Office will ensure that asylum seekers have access to appropriate advice and support. There will be no break in service while we change over from current arrangements to the new ones. Any enquiries should be directed to the consolidated advisory services project team at CAS project.