HLAS

The Government’s Tax-Free Childcare Accounts provide a 25% subsidy towards the cost of childcare. The account can be used to pay nursery fees, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and registered childminders. The scheme operates by topping up savings of up to £8,000 per child by 25%, potentially an extra £2,000 a year from the Government to spend on qualifying childcare. The scheme generally applies to children under 12. In the case of disabled children the age limit is 16 and the amount that can be saved is £16,000 a year, topped up by the Government by a further 25% to [...]

The Small Business Britain's Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme to help grow small businesses with expert guidance and mentoring is a six-week programme, designed to supercharge sole traders and micro businesses and concludes with a growth plan to support the next year of business opportunity. It will be delivered entirely online, allowing access from anywhere in the UK with flexible learning enabling opportunities for all. What does the course include? Live weekly sessions recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants. Weekly worksheets to embed learning outcomes accessible on the private website hub, developed by [...]

Facial recognition technology (FRT) identifies or otherwise recognises a person from a digital facial image. Businesses can use FRT in a variety of contexts - for example, in allowing access to devices, taking payments, or allowing entry to secure areas. Depending on the use, FRT involves processing personal data, biometric data and special category personal data. Such technologies can intrude on people's privacy, so businesses need to think carefully when deciding if they should implement them. If you are a small business looking to begin using facial recognition technology, read the ICO's latest FAQ about using FRT for payment, entry, or [...]

The SME Climate Hub is here to help small businesses deliver on their climate goals and they have developed free, practical resources specifically tailored to support SMEs on their net zero journey, through strategic emission reductions and opportunities for climate leadership. Businesses can calculate their emissions with the Business Carbon Calculator, learn how to take action with the Climate Fit education course, and access support through the Financial Support guide and 1.5°C Business Playbook. Research shows that such measures can significantly save companies on their overheads. For example: switching to EVs can not only cut running costs but also lower servicing and maintenance costs by around 40% [...]

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) states that UK organisations should prepare for an extended period of heightened cyber security threat. It has guidance for organisations on the steps to take to improve security. The guidance is designed to be applicable to any period of sustained heightened cyber threat, including the one arising from Russia in light of events in and around Ukraine. The NCSC says that the cyber threat to the UK remains heightened and they expect it to stay that way for some time. The NCSC guidance aims to help organisations avoid complacency and staff burnout. It advises [...]

HMRC have released a new online tool to help taxpayers understand what their tax code means. Tax codes are used by HMRC to tell an employer how much income tax to withhold through the “Pay as you earn” (PAYE) system. A person’s tax code can change from time to time, based on their personal circumstances. If it does, HMRC will inform the taxpayers of their new tax code by post or through their personal tax account. You can use this tool to find out what the numbers and letters in your tax code mean and how much tax you will [...]

The Working Minds campaign has been created by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety that is committed to improving the health of workers. Tackling stress isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a legal obligation. Working Minds can help you make it a routine priority for your business. There are three main reasons employers should be looking to prevent stress and support good mental health in business: It's the law; It’s good for business; and It’s the right thing to do. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the [...]

Being resilient by choice is critical for both survival and for strategic advantage in an era where disruption is the norm. The threats businesses face today are complex and becoming more frequent than in previous times. We have seen a pandemic, an ongoing war in Europe with supply chain issues, a cost of living crisis, extreme weather and frequent ongoing cyber-attacks. These events are more interconnected than before the Pandemic, and resilience is now critical for maintaining consumer and stakeholder trust. Many leading businesses are now making resilience a strategic aim to look at how they make the right investments [...]

Fines are to be more than tripled for employers and landlords who allow illegal migrants to work for them or rent their properties, in the biggest shake up of civil penalties since 2014, the Home Secretary announced last week. The civil penalty for employers, which was last increased in 2014, will be raised to up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach from £15,000, and up to £60,000 for repeat breaches from £20,000. For landlords, the fines will increase from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and [...]

The UK government has launched a £40 million fund to spark local digital revolutions and unlock 5G benefits across the UK. Local and regional authorities can apply for a share of the multi-million-pound fund, designed to accelerate innovation in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture, and public services, helping to create better connected places across the UK. The cash boost will create 5G Innovation Regions by awarding funding to areas that can demonstrate how they will drive the development and adoption of 5G and other technologies. This will make sure communities in towns, cities and rural areas across the UK [...]