HLAS

A new online Midlife MOT has been launched to help older workers with financial planning, health guidance, and to assess what their skills mean for their careers and futures. The free Midlife MOT website encourages people to review their skills and help to break down barriers to the labour market. It brings together trusted services, help such as a jobseeker toolkit, and charity resources. It will allow people to identify job opportunities across the UK as well as better preparing them for later life and their retirement. The website signposts to key organisations and charities, including the NHS, Mind, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, [...]

Listed below are some HMRC webinars that will give the self-employed an understanding of key taxes that affect them and also help employers with payroll. The webinars are free and last around an hour. Webinars for the self-employed: Capital Allowances for the self-employed Tue 18 Jul at 9:45am Record keeping for the self-employed Tue 18 Jul at 11:45am How to apply the VAT reverse charge for construction services Tue 18 Jul at 1:45pm Residential property income for individuals - an introduction Fri 21 Jul at 11:45am Residential property income for individuals - expenses, and deductions Fri 21 Jul at 1:45pm [...]

The Insolvency Service has launched a new online information hub to support company directors. The hub hosts guidance and information on a range of business themes commonly faced by companies and aims to help company directors to push their business forward by being more aware of potential pitfalls. It is specifically designed for directors of micro, small, and medium-size limited companies, although it will also be useful to others. Directors of limited companies, unlike sole traders, must comply with certain statutory obligations. These can range from hairdressers and builders with their own companies to directors of mid-sized companies in the IT [...]

It's up to employers how they recruit for their organisation. There are no set processes that are required by law. But employers must follow a fair process and certain laws that apply throughout the whole recruitment process, including discrimination and data protection. Employers should also follow good practice and any policies their organisation might have on recruitment and equality, diversity, and inclusion. Recruiting new employees is administratively cumbersome and economic conditions mean there are fewer applicants, so now is the time to be a little “different”! For example, some employers are now offering “Wellbeing leave” in addition to the usual [...]

According to the Institute of Customer Service’s (ICS) most recent UK Customer Satisfaction Index more companies have declined in service than improved. In 2021 and 2022, customer satisfaction with complaint handling showed a steady improvement but this has now stalled and other areas of customer satisfaction that are predictive of business performance, such as measures of a company’s emotional connection with its customers, their customer ethos, and ethics, have also declined. ICS chief executive Joanna Causon comments, ”We are seeing a greater polarisation in customer satisfaction performance, with some companies pulling away from the pack and others alas falling considerably [...]

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) is the professional membership body representing and supporting the interests of everyone involved in importing, exporting, and international trade. The IOE&IT has launched a £5 million Export Support Programme to help UK businesses. The programme will provide exporters with a bespoke package of training and consultancy to reflect their circumstances and needs. The support package has been put together by industry experts, considering the most common and difficult obstacles faced by SMEs wanting to export. See: IOE&IT Export Support Package | Get Started In Trade

The UK advertising rules (known as the ‘CAP Code’ and ‘BCAP Code’), apply to businesses based in the UK and everyone who markets or advertises their business in ‘UK media’, from a sole trader right through to a global conglomerate. These rules help ensure consumers are treated fairly, and that businesses benefit from a level playing field. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has created a new resource especially for small businesses. The resource is made up of a collection of materials to help businesses understand advertisement  rules and how best to follow them. Topics include how to avoid misleading consumers, [...]

This new guide equips music creators with step-by-step guidance on what music data is, why it matters, and what to do with it. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has recently partnered with the Performing Right Society for Music (PRS), The Ivors Academy and The Music Publishers Association to develop and launch a new website that helps songwriters, composers, artists, and those supporting them, demystify music metadata. This follows the publication of the UK Industry Agreement on Music Streaming Metadata in May 2023. The digital Get Paid Guide equips music creators with quick and easy step-by-step guidance on what music data [...]

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 is part of the UK government’s plan to grow the economy and create an open, sustainable, and technologically advanced financial services sector. It is designed to help tailor financial services regulation to fit UK markets. The Act aims to improve competitiveness of the UK as a global financial centre and deliver better outcomes for consumers and businesses. It contains new powers that will set the path for reforms to the European Union rules on financial services the UK has followed since 2016. The Act also introduces new secondary objectives for the Financial Conduct [...]

On 1 August 2023, the Alcohol Duty system will change, taxing all alcoholic drinks based on their alcohol by volume (ABV). This replaces the current Alcohol Duty system, which consists of four separate taxes covering beer, cider, spirits, wine and made-wine. Small businesses as well as pubs and restaurants could benefit from reduced rates on qualifying products, such as draught beer and cider. See: One month to go until Alcohol Duty system changes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)