HLAS

Wastewater Fuels, based in Warwickshire, has developed an innovative technology that harnesses energy from wastewater. The process employs stainless steel mesh rods to break down organic material in wastewater into hydrogen ions, which are then converted into hydrogen gas and stored within the rods. This technology has undergone several successful trials, and a full-scale sewage facility using this method has now been approved for production. The potential of this new technology is significant. Currently, approximately 2-3% of National Grid energy is utilised for treating wastewater at around 9,000 water treatment sites nationwide. A method that treats wastewater while simultaneously generating [...]

The government has announced its plan to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. The Act was initially introduced to ensure that minimum service levels were upheld during strikes, especially in critical sectors vital to public safety, health, and welfare, such as healthcare, transportation, education, and emergency services. Despite a series of high-profile strikes this year, no employer has utilised the legislation, and it has not contributed to resolving disputes. The Act will be officially repealed as part of the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, which is set to be introduced in the coming weeks. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-services-back-on-track-as-strikes-act-to-be-repealed

Small Business Britain has opened registrations for the September session of the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme. This six-week, CPD-accredited course is tailored for small businesses, providing sole traders and micro-businesses with expert guidance and mentoring to support their growth. The programme is free and will be conducted entirely online, making it accessible from anywhere in the UK with an internet connection. To celebrate participants' achievements, an in-person event will also be held. For more details and to register, visit: https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/small-and-mighty

Last week, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) announced that 98% of eligible farmers have now received their first instalment of the new delinked payments. The second instalment is due to be paid from 30 September. This is earlier than originally planned. According to RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell, the payment has been brought forward “to make sure farmers are paid promptly to improve cash flow during this challenging period.” Farmers will receive support via delinked payments until 2027. The delinked payments are based on the average BPS payment received by the farm for the 2020 to 2022 scheme years. Progressive [...]

The Bank of England’s decision to reduce the base rate to 5% means that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will also reduce their interest rates. The interest rates charged by HM Revenue and Customs on late tax payments, as well as the rates they pay on repayments are linked to the Bank of England’s base rate. Late payment interest is charged at base rate plus 2.5%. Repayment interest is paid at base rate minus 1%, subject to a minimum of 0.5%. The reduced rates will apply from: 12 August 2024 for quarterly instalment payments; and 20 August 2024 for non-quarterly [...]

The UK government has announced £32 million in funding for 98 innovative AI projects, aimed at improving efficiency in various sectors. These include delivery of prescriptions, railway maintenance and training construction workforces. The funding will support over 200 businesses and research organisations across the UK. The projects span across the UK from Southampton to Birmingham and Northern Ireland. Examples of some of the projects being funded include: Construction Safety Training: V-Lab Ltd has received £165,006 to develop AI-powered virtual simulations for training workers in the construction sector. These simulations train workers on risk assessments and safety protocols, ensuring a skilled [...]

The government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the housing planning system, with all councils in England now required to meet new, mandatory housing targets. These targets aim to support the government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million additional homes. The reforms will simplify the process for granting brownfield development permissions. Councils will also be required to review their green belt land where necessary and identify and prioritize 'grey belt' land. This term is defined as land on the edges of existing settlements or roads, as well as sites like old petrol stations and car parks. Land safeguarded for environmental reasons [...]

The widely reported IT outage in July caused significant global disruption. Although this particular incident was triggered by a bug in a security update rather than a cyber-attack, it highlighted the vulnerability of networks. During the King’s Speech, the government announced plans to introduce a Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that essential services like water, power, and healthcare are increasingly at risk. Both ransomware groups and state-affiliated actors have shown interest in targeting these critical systems. The NCSC has welcomed the proposed Bill, stating that it will help strengthen the UK's critical [...]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the US and Canada last week, and during an interview with Bloomberg was asked whether she was considering increasing capital gains tax. She replied: “We’ve got a budget on October 30 and we will set out our policy then, but it’s always important when you’re deciding tax policy to strike the right balance. Of course, you need to bring in the revenue to fund public services, but we’ve also got to grow the economy. I won’t do anything that makes it harder to achieve that economic growth and prosperity.” The Chancellor has ruled out raising VAT, [...]

For businesses, having a strategic plan is essential for long-term success and sustainability. It acts as a roadmap, providing clear direction, setting priorities, and ensuring that resources are used effectively to achieve your goals. However, there are some potential drawbacks that you should be aware of to avoid common pitfalls. Rigidity A strategic plan can sometimes lead to rigidity, where the business becomes overly focused on the plan and resists adapting to new opportunities or market changes. To avoid this, it’s important to strike a balance between following the plan and remaining flexible. This balance is easier to achieve when [...]