Blog

Back to Blog

HMRC Tax Webinars for the Self-Employed

Listed below are a number of live HMRC webinars that will give the self-employed an understanding of key taxes that affect them. The webinars are free and last around an hour....

Business Finance Week 2023

From 6-10 November the British Business Bank, along with several partners from across the UK, will host Business Finance Week 2023.With a host of free of charge nationwide and regional in-person events, webinars, and more, Business Finance Week helps smaller businesses learn about the difference finance options available to them to support their individual needs....

Small Business Saturday 2023

Small Business Saturday is taking place on the 2nd December this year. It is a day to highlight small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities.It is a great opportunity for you to highlight the achievements of your own small business, as well as meet other small businesses within your local area through the events that Small Business Saturday runs. Currently, they are running the Small Biz 100 which showcases 100 small busines...

New HMRC Tax Webinars for the Self-Employed

Listed below are a number of live HMRC webinars that will give the self-employed an understanding of the key taxes that affect them. The webinars are free and last around an hour....

Pros and Cons of Self-Employment: Is It Right for You?

In an ever-evolving job market, the attraction to self-employment has grown stronger for those seeking flexibility, autonomy, and a chance to follow their own entrepreneurial dreams. The idea of being your own boss and setting your own schedule is enticing. But, like any role, self-employment comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages that demand careful consideration. In this blog post, we list some of the pros and cons of self-employment to help you decide whether it is the right p...

Sustainability in Small Businesses

A sustainable business, or a green business, is an enterprise that has minimal negative impact or potentially a positive effect on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy.Going green could boost competitiveness and specifically improve a business’s reputation with its customers and staff. Most importantly, many surveys reveal that consumers are increasingly assessing a company’s environmental credentials, while business supply chains are under scrutiny to minimise env...

New Workers' Rights for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are to be given new protections at work, covering leave entitlement and redundancy rules as three Government backed Private Members Bills received royal assent in the last few weeks.This wave of new workers’ rights has been welcomed by charities and parties across parliament.When in force, these new laws aim to increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing field by ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a competitive advantage and...

Data Protection Online Event: 23rd May 2023

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is repeating its data protection and marketing webinar for small businesses, due to the popular demand it received last time it ran.This free event will take place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 23 May from 10am to 11am.The ICO's experts will share tips and advice to help small businesses handle people's information confidently and unlock the value of the personal information they hold. The webinar will also offer an opportunity for people to get involv...

Mobility Pathfinder 2023

There is £50k-£70k funding available for inspirational, life-enhancing ideas, prototypes, or plans to reimagine how personal mobility options in the UK can better support a rapidly ageing population to stay connected, active, and independent for longer.Funded by the UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge, part of Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, Design Age Institute’s Mobility Pathfinder Innovation Programme invites innovators, businesses and entrepreneurs from across the UK ...

Business Planning

Successful businesses all have two things in common – a thorough understanding of customer needs, and a total dedication to their customers....

HMRC is changing how they assess profits for some sole traders and partnerships

How HMRC assesses profits for sole traders and partnerships who use an accounting date between 6 April and 30 March will change from 6 April 2023. This change will not affect companies. Your accounting date is the last day of the period that you prepare your accounts for. You choose your accounting date when you set up your business and will normally make your accounts up to that date every year. Under the current rules, you are taxed on profits for the accounting date that ends in a given tax y...

Energy advice, guidance & costs calculator

UKHospitality (UKH) has made its energy cost calculator and guidance on the Energy Bill Relief Scheme accessible to all businesses. Previously, this was only available to their members. UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “As we head into winter, many businesses will be extremely concerned about what is in store with energy prices eye-wateringly high. We know that our sector is feeling the pinch more than most and that is why we’ve taken the decision to make our exper...

The key to success in challenging times

The key to business success in challenging times Times are tough and they are likely to remain challenging for many businesses. History shows us that only when things are difficult does genuine quality rise to the surface. So what do businesses have to do to ensure that they succeed in the economic environment of the next two years? On 17 November we will know more about the government’s spending plans and taxation policies. The prospect is one in which the economy will be less dependent on th...

HMRC late payment interest rates revised

HMRC late payment interest rates revised The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted on 3 November 2022 to increase the Bank of England base rate to 3% from 2.25%. HMRC interest rates are linked to the Bank of England base rate. As a consequence of the change in the base rate, HMRC interest rates for late payment and repayment will increase. These changes come into effect: 14 November 2022 for quarterly instalment payments.22 November 2022 for non-quarterly instalments payments. See: HMR...

Bank Holiday for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

An additional bank holiday has been proclaimed on Monday 8 May 2023 to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. The Coronation takes place on Saturday 6 May 2023 and the bank holiday will fall on Monday 8 May 2023 to mark the occasion. This bank holiday is in addition to the regular bank holidays that take place in May: Monday 1 May for May Day and Monday 29 May for the spring bank holiday. See: Bank holiday proclaimed in honour of the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III - GOV...

Export Support Service

If you are a UK business that sells goods or services to Europe, you can contact the UK Government's export support team by phone or online. You can ask any question for your business and get advice on topics such as: How to export to new markets.The paperwork you need to sell your goods abroad.The rules for a specific country where you want to sell services. If you ask a question online, the export support team will reply within 3 working days. They might ask for more information. See:  As...

Living Wage Week 2022

Living Wage Week takes place from 14 November to 20 November 2022 and is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement in the UK. The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that is voluntarily paid by over 10,000 UK businesses that believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs. The Living Wage rates are independently calculated based on the real cost of living in the UK and London. The new rates for 2022/23 are: £10.90 per hour UK rate £11.95 per hour London rateSee: L...