Policy paper

Reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts: working paper

This working paper sought views on different options to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

• From: Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 26 November 2025
• Last updated: 19 February 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 19 February 2026

     Page updated to reflect the closure of the working paper.

  2. 26 November 2025

     First published.

This was published under the 2024 to 2026 Starmer Labour government

Documents

Working paper on options for reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts

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Details

This working paper was published on:

• 26 November 2025

It closed for responses at:

• 11:59pm on 18 February 2026

Non-compete clauses are inserted into employment contracts to restrict an individual’s ability to work for, or establish, a competing business after they have moved on from a job. 

The government was interested in views on different options to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts to support the growth mission. 

This working paper was intended to support discussions, to determine whether and how to take proposals forward, as opposed to a formal consultation.