HLAS

Innovate UK and its partners have created a series of scoping activities to gather information on how remote sensing is used to understand, monitor, and mitigate plastic litter. As part of these activities, they are inviting businesses to complete a survey, which aims to gather information on the current challenges surrounding remote sensing techniques for plastic litter studies and the challenges of policy making. They will use these survey results to craft three webinars/workshops that will discuss how the challenges identified by the survey could be addressed. The first webinar will take place on Tuesday 18 July 2023 from 2pm [...]

We never know what life has in store for us. We hope that everything goes our way, but we can’t guarantee it. What can be guaranteed is that the bills keep coming in even if our income doesn’t. Putting food on the table and a roof over it is expensive and could become impossible if a serious illness, accident or job loss were to stop us working. State benefits exist, but the sums involved and the help they provide is limited. Accident, Sickness and Unemployment cover, also known as ASU, is a type of insurance designed to replace a lost [...]

Ask us for a copy of our guide called “57 Ways to Grow Your Business!” Our publication is packed full of bright ideas for the Serious Entrepreneur and starts with the four basics of growth before looking at some really useful ideas. All the ideas in this guide ultimately revolve around four basic insights about growing a business by: Increasing the number of customers you have; Increasing the number of times each one does business with you; Increasing the average value of each transaction; and Improving your own effectiveness and efficiency. Here are some other business principles that we explore in [...]

After some of the hottest temperatures seen on record last month we have been reminded about global warming and how small businesses could help the drive towards net zero. Smaller businesses have recently been affected by the pandemic, higher interest and inflation, and increased energy costs, so it is worth discussing the viability of a green policy during these tough times. What is a “Sustainable” business? 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 [...]

HMRC frequently warn taxpayers that when a tax avoidance scheme looks “too good to be true”, it probably is. They publish “Spotlights” on their website to alert taxpayers of schemes being marketed by promoters that are under scrutiny, and, in their opinion, do not work. Tax avoidance schemes need to be notified to HMRC under the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) rules, normally by the scheme promoter. HMRC then issue a DOTAS scheme reference number (SRN). This does not mean that the scheme is HMRC approved, although some promoters claim this in their marketing literature. If taxpayers have used [...]

During the COVID pandemic the government relaxed the conditions to enable those working from home to be paid £6 a week tax free by their employer, or, where that was not paid by the employer, they could claim relief for £6 a week against their employment income for a tax refund from HMRC. Those relaxed rules applied for 2020/21 and 2021/22. Many employers and employees may not be aware that from 6 April 2022 the rules reverted to the strict statutory position. Employees can claim tax relief if they have to work from home under a homeworking agreement, for example [...]

The VAT Flat Rate scheme was introduced in 2002 to simplify VAT reporting for small traders, reducing the time taken to calculate VAT and prepare returns compared to normal VAT accounting. The thresholds for using (£150,000 pa) and exiting the scheme (£230,000 pa) have not changed since 2003. With the extension of Making Tax Digital to all VAT registered businesses, those traders are now required to keep digital records and, arguably, the time saving benefits have reduced. The decision as to whether or not traders should use the scheme should now be based on the amount of VAT payable and [...]

In the Spring Budget the Chancellor announced that “full expensing” - 100% relief for new, eligible plant and machinery - would replace the 130% super-deduction from 1 April 2023 for limited companies. This is in addition to the £1 million annual investment allowance (AIA) and will be available for expenditure incurred up to 31 March 2026. Unlike with AIA, the equipment must be new and must qualify for inclusion in the capital allowances general pool.  The legislation specifically excludes motor cars and assets for leasing. The items purchased are not pooled with other equipment, and a separate record needs to [...]

With all of the changes to personal pensions in the Spring Budget, maximising the State Pension entitlement should not be overlooked. The full rate of new State Pension increased to £203.85 per week (£10,600 pa) from 6 April 2023; a 10.1% increase over the 2022/23 rate as a result of the “triple lock” being restored. At least 10 qualifying years are required to get a UK State Pension, with full State Pension entitlement at 35 qualifying years. Individuals should log into their Government Gateway account to check their contribution record as they may be entitled to credit for missing years, [...]

The Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) will award more than £50 million in matched funding to UK organisations, as part of a competition to increase the capability, capacity, and connectivity of the UK’s space research and development (R&D) infrastructure. The funding is available to businesses and academic institutions that can deliver projects to procure, build or upgrade R&D facilities and equipment that will bring high-potential, high-value space technologies to market. The infrastructure developed through this funding will enable UK space organisations to accelerate pioneering products and applications that will become critical for the success of future space missions while making [...]