HLAS

In response to a recommendation by the Office of Tax Simplification the Government have introduced draft legislation for inclusion in Finance Bill 2023 that extends the no gain/no loss rule when a couple separate. Under the current rules the no gain/no loss rule that means that there is no CGT on transfers of assets between spouses or civil partners only applies up to the end of the tax year in which they separate. The divorce settlement or court order that transfers assets between the couple often takes place many months after the separation and may lead to CGT being payable. [...]

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a call for submissions to the 2022 Hydrogen Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund Electrolytic Allocation Round. The UK is aiming to develop up to 10 gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen generation by 2030. This is subject to affordability and value for money, with the intention that at least half of this will be from electrolytic hydrogen, drawing on the scale-up of UK offshore wind, other renewables, and new nuclear. The Energy Security Strategy sets out the ambition to support up to 1GW of electrolytic hydrogen being in construction [...]

The Music Export Growth Scheme offers grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 to UK-registered independent music companies to assist them with marketing campaigns when looking to introduce successful UK music projects overseas. The scheme is targeted at artists/projects that have achieved reasonable levels of impact in the UK and are now looking to break internationally. See: Music Export Growth Scheme - bpi

Connected Places Catapult has partnered with the Future Flight Challenge from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to launch the second iteration of the Future of Air Mobility Accelerator (FoAM). They will select up to 12 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to join a six-month programme to receive support from a consortium of industry, academic and regulatory partners on the trial and testing of their disruptive innovative solutions. The challenge areas for FoAM 2022 are: Future airport and vertiport operations Aviation sustainability Future air and space traffic management Enabling end-to-end mobility Applications close on 11 September 2022. See: Connected Places Catapult [...]

Tax-free childcare accounts will gradually replace childcare voucher schemes as no new schemes could be set up after 4 October 2018. Those within voucher schemes continue to be eligible until their child is aged 16, provided the employer is willing to continue operating the scheme. Many organisations provided the vouchers by way of salary sacrifice and there were tax and NIC advantages for both employers and employees. Despite the PAYE and NIC advantages, not all employers provided childcare vouchers. Depending upon when they joined the voucher scheme, employees could be provided with vouchers worth up to £55 a week (£2,860 [...]

The UK Seafood Fund is a £100 million fund set up to support the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fisheries and seafood sector. The fund is managed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The fund’s objectives are to: Reform and modernise infrastructure to level up and bring economic growth to coastal communities. Ensure the best science, research and technology are used in fisheries management. Encourage new entrants to the industry and upskill the existing workforce. Enable an environmentally sustainable fishing industry that gives the most value for money and reflects the long-term needs of [...]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising businesses to think about how they need to adapt to warmer working conditions for their staff. After last month’s record-breaking temperatures and with more hot weather this month, HSE is asking employers to ensure extreme heat becomes part of their long-term planning. With temperatures reaching 40oC in some parts of the UK in July, adapting to climate change is something all businesses will need to consider as warmer weather becomes more frequent. Employers have a legal obligation under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to assess risks to the health [...]

Many employers are currently facing challenges in recruiting the people they need to help their businesses survive and prosper. It has never been more important for those employers to keep and develop the people they already have. It’s therefore crucial that businesses have the tools they need to prevent long-term absence and avoidable job loss because of ill health or disability. The UK Government is testing a new online service for employers, which provides advice and guidance on managing health and disability in the workplace and also explains your legal obligations and good practice. This may be particularly helpful for smaller [...]

For limited companies, when it comes to making decisions, company law states that shareholders who own more than 50% can pass a motion at a company meeting regardless of the views of other shareholders. If a shareholder(s) owns more than 75% of the shares, they control the company outright and can veto the decisions of all other shareholders. This may not suit all business situations, especially where you have two or more founders holding equal share capital or a group of owners with varying amounts of capital, some of whom are directors and some who are not, but who are [...]

The Great British Businesswoman Awards brings together the whole Great British Businesswoman Series community to celebrate the women who are changing the face of business across the United Kingdom. The awards showcase the business role models, advocates and mentors, as well as the inspirational women leading businesses and those ascending to new heights! More than just an awards ceremony, the Great British Businesswoman Awards is a year-round programme of engagement, delivering touch points throughout the year to support and champion. The awards focus on community and collaboration by bringing together those who make it their business to inspire female business [...]