HLAS

Recruiting new employees is tough just now so be different! For example, some employers are now offering “Wellbeing leave” in addition to the usual holiday package. If you want to recruit more you have to get serious about the process and be on it 24/7, 365! There are a number of actions you can take to make your business attractive to new staff. In addition to reviewing your pay and conditions to be as competitive as possible, these include: Tasking recruitment as a permanent process; Regularly asking existing staff, customers and suppliers for introductions; Offering incentives for referrals; Make sure [...]

Working capital finance solutions offer businesses the opportunity to improve cash flow. The world of commercial finance and asset based lending (ABL) is complex and expansive with products, terminology and contractual interpretation varying from lender-to-lender. The Benefits of arranging Working Capital are: Up to 90% of outstanding invoice value can be advanced within 24 hours; Flexible lending - funding increases in line with your growth (UK and Export); Confidentiality - lenders can offer a completely confidential service - your customers need not know you have a facility in place; Lenders allow you to manage your funding at all times; Sector-specific [...]

The new tax year starts 6 April 2022, so you have one month to consider your options, once we pass this date the majority of the tax planning options for Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax purposes will cease unless actioned before the 6 April. Do you fall into any of these categories? You have or are thinking about a change in your personal status (single, married, separating, joining or dissolving a civil partnership). You claim Child Benefit and the income of either parent is likely to exceed £50,000 for the first time during tax year 2021-22; Your annual income [...]

The COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for travel to England changed on the 11 February. If you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you: will not need to take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England or after you arrive will not need to quarantine when you arrive You will need to complete a passenger locator form before you travel to England. Check if you can follow the rules for people who are fully vaccinated – includes people aged 17 and under. If you do not qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you will need to: show proof [...]

Innovate UK has launched a competition for organisations to apply for a share of £1.2 million to develop open solutions to accelerate decarbonisation of energy in the UK. This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The competition will stimulate the development of collective equity for the sector and the creation of communities to support the development of reusable and open net zero energy solutions. Your open solutions should accelerate the delivery of net zero energy in the UK. The outputs should be adopted by first users and have potential to be supported [...]

This call for evidence invites respondents’ views on: the customs intermediary sector the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) the Transit facilitation By taking a fresh look at the fundamental building blocks of the UK’s customs system, the government wants to use this opportunity to gather and consider a wide range of evidence on how the customs system is working and changes that could be made to make it simpler, easier and more responsive to stakeholders’ needs. This evidence will support changes to policy or processes to make it easier for traders to navigate the UK’s customs system. The government welcomes [...]

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of £25 million for late stage research and development projects that help accelerate the UK towards a net zero automotive future. The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) provides funding, support and insight for the development of low carbon and net zero automotive technologies. It aims to support the UK’s transition towards net zero product manufacturing and supply chain in the UK automotive sector. Eligibility summary: this competition is open to collaborations only to lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size your consortium must include a vehicle [...]

The government are concerned about the lack of take up of tax-free childcare accounts, with HMRC estimating that less than 22% of families eligible for the scheme had joined in March 2021. With many parents returning to work following the pandemic they should be encouraged to set up a tax free childcare account to help with their childcare costs. HMRC are suggesting that employers should make their employees aware of the support available to families with young children. With many parents working from home for part of the week tax free childcare accounts are more flexible than childcare vouchers. Childcare [...]

For limited companies, when it comes to making decisions, Company Law states shareholders who own more than 50% can pass a motion at a company meeting regardless of the views of other shareholders and if 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 all [...]

From 4 January 2022, the government is able to scrutinise and intervene in certain acquisitions that could harm the UK’s national security. The National Security and Investment (NSI) Act – the biggest shake-up of the UK’s national security regime for 20 years – commenced on the 4 January 2022. The government is now able to scrutinise and intervene in certain acquisitions made by anyone, including businesses and investors, that could harm the UK’s national security. The government will also be able to impose certain conditions on an acquisition or, if necessary, unwind or block it – although it is expected [...]