HLAS

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 [...]

Applications for this loan have been extended and are now open until 30 June 2022. Launched on 6 April 2021, the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) provides financial support to businesses across the UK as they recover and grow following the coronavirus pandemic. You can apply to the scheme if Covid-19 has affected your business. You can use the finance for any legitimate business purpose – including managing cashflow, investment and growth. However, you must be able to afford to take out additional debt finance for these purposes. If your business has already borrowed from any of the other coronavirus loan [...]

The Home Office and DEFRA have announced the Seasonal Worker visa route will be extended until the end of 2024, which allows foreign workers to come to the UK for up to six months to work in the horticulture sector. There will be 30,000 visas available in 2022, but this will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 if necessary. The number of visas will begin to taper down from 2023. See: Industry given certainty around seasonal workers but told to focus on domestic workforce - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Leaseholders in England and Wales could find it easier and cheaper to buy the freehold of their building under new proposals to create a fairer housing system. A government consultation has opened to look at proposals that could make it cheaper and easier for leaseholders to buy the freeholds of their homes. The consultation follows the reset of government approach to building safety, and forms part of the reforms to property law. As part of a consultation, homeowners and the housing industry are being invited to give their views on proposals from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [...]

The UK Government have announced the rise in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage from April 2022. In full, the increases are: National Living Wage (23+) to increase from £8.91 to £9.50 National Minimum Wage (21-22) to increase from £8.36 to £9.18 National Minimum Wage (18-20) to increase £6.56 to £6.83 National Minimum Wage (16-17) to increase £4.62 to £4.81 Apprenticeship Wage to increase from £4.30 to £4.81 See: UK government announces pay rise for millions of people - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Do you agree?  Most of our other clients do.  In this economy CASH IS KING and managing your cash flow is more important than ever. If you are concerned about the future of your business then take some time to reflect on where you are and what could happen in the next few months. It is now vitally important for all businesses to plan ahead for a range of scenarios. Cash flow and business planning in these uncertain times may appear difficult but there are some practical steps you can take to minimise potential disruption to your business. Review your [...]

Geovation and the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) have launched a challenge to find a sustainable solution to diffuse coastal pollution. Diffuse pollution is pollution from multiple, often unidentified sources. Diffuse pollution causes significant damage to the coastal environment. Impacts of diffuse pollution are disturbing, including eutrophication, loss of biodiversity, human health, and adverse effects to the food chain. The main source of water quality degradation worldwide is diffuse pollution. Half of the world’s population suffer from polluted water; freshwater diversity has declined by 81 per cent and 500 marine locations are now dead zones. All these issues are significant effects [...]

Plans to boost nature recovery and safeguard England’s national parks for future generations have been set out by Environment Secretary George Eustice. The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, are set out in the Government’s response to Julian Glover’s independent Landscapes Review which looked at whether the protections for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are still fit for purpose. The Government’s response sets out changes to increase access to nature and ensure protected landscapes can deliver more for climate, nature, people and places for the next 70 years and beyond. A new national landscapes partnership will bring [...]

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a new programme to help develop innovative technologies to produce hydrogen, a clean energy source, from sustainable biomass and waste. The Hydrogen BECCS Innovation Programme is funded through the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies and processes through the 2020s and 2030s. BECCS technology can uniquely offer the ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as the CO2 absorbed during the growth of the sustainable biomass and the organic content found in waste can then be permanently [...]

HMRC is developing the system for tax checks that will apply to renewals of taxi driver and scrap metal site licences, among others, in England and Wales. The check will be integrated into the licencing application and agents will not be able to complete it on behalf of clients. From April 2022, the renewal of certain licences in the transport and scrap metal sectors will require the applicant to complete a tax check with HMRC. When renewing their licences, applicants will need to complete a basic online check to confirm they are registered for tax if they need to be. [...]