HLAS

The UK government has allocated £1.2 million in funding to small businesses for projects aimed at improving transport links in rural areas. Through the Rural Transport Accelerator Fund, eight small businesses have each been awarded £150,000 to develop digital tools and other innovations that will enhance connectivity for rural communities. By collaborating with local authorities, these projects will help support rural jobs, community wellbeing, and local economies, with trials set to begin in locations ranging from Norfolk to Scotland. Among the successful projects are digital solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural residents. For example, You.Smart.Thing will trial a [...]

Immediately following the US election results and Donald Trump’s win, the dollar made gains against other currencies. The FTSE 100 index also went up on Wednesday afternoon by 1%. The positive moves appear to be based on Trump’s plan to cut taxes and raise tariffs, as these will cause inflation to increase and reduce the speed at which interest rates are cut. US interest rates staying higher for longer will mean that investors get a better rate of return on savings and investments they hold in dollars. However, there are concerns that the UK economy could be detrimentally affected by [...]

A new corporate criminal offence of "failure to prevent fraud" is set to come into effect on 1 September 2025, following its introduction in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. This law holds large organisations criminally liable if they benefit from fraudulent acts carried out by an employee, agent, subsidiary, or other associated person on their behalf. A “large organisation” is defined in the legislation as meeting two out of the following three criteria: More than 250 employees More than £36 million turnover More than £18 million in total assets These criteria, along with the obligation to prevent fraud, [...]

The second UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Summit took place in London last week. Organised by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, the summit brought together government officials from both the UK and the Caribbean, along with senior investors, to explore business partnerships and funding opportunities for projects across the Caribbean. In the year leading up to April 2024, UK exports to the Caribbean countries involved in CARIFORUM reached £2.7 billion, marking an impressive 36% increase compared to the previous year. The forum showcased the vast potential for trade and investment between the UK and the rapidly growing [...]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have begun reminding taxpayers that time is ticking for getting self-assessment tax returns filed in time for the 31 January 2025 deadline. More than 3.5 million tax returns have already been submitted, however HMRC are anticipating more than 12 million in total needing to be filed by the end of January. So, HMRC are encouraging people to submit their return as early as possible. Filing earlier does have some advantages, such as avoiding a last-minute panic, and knowing how much any tax payment will be in time to be able to budget for it. If [...]

Changes to inheritance tax announced in the recent Budget have caused concern among farmers and business owners across the UK. So, what exactly is changing, and what could this mean for you? What are agricultural and business property relief? Agricultural Property Relief (APR) is an inheritance tax relief designed to reduce the amount of tax payable when farmland is passed down to the next generation. Currently, APR has no financial limit, meaning farmland can be inherited without incurring inheritance tax, regardless of its value. Similarly, Business Property Relief (BPR) applies to business assets included in an individual's estate. Like APR, [...]

As widely anticipated, the Bank of England reduced the base interest rate to 4.75% last week, following recent easing of inflationary pressures. The Bank expects inflation to rise slightly over the next year, reaching around 2.75%, before returning to the 2% target thereafter. In their quarterly report, the Bank indicated that they will take a cautious approach, avoiding rapid or excessive rate cuts. Therefore, it seems unlikely there will be another rate reduction when the Bank meets again on 19th December. However, the Bank has stated that "if things evolve as expected, it’s likely that interest rates will continue to [...]

In today’s digitally connected world, social inclusion has extended into virtual spaces, and young people are increasingly exchanging personal information to stay connected with friends and access social media platforms. This trend has raised significant privacy concerns, especially as recent research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reveals how critical data handling is for safeguarding children online. The ICO’s Children’s Data Lives research has highlighted the importance of enforcing stronger privacy practices to protect young users who may not fully understand the implications of sharing their data. Data as a form of currency For many children, personal data has become [...]

In a recent court case, a company director from Bury was sentenced to prison for failing to comply with basic accounting and legal responsibilities. Vezubuhle Ndlovu, the former director of VN Electrics Limited, was jailed for 10 months after he failed to provide the required records when his company went into liquidation, leaving over £200,000 in unpaid taxes. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for businesses that do not prioritise accurate accounting, particularly when dealing with financial and tax obligations. Let’s examine why keeping up-to-date records is so important for businesses of all sizes and sectors. [...]

From 26 October 2024, employers were given a new legal duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of employees. This duty requires employers to anticipate when sexual harassment may occur and take reasonable steps to prevent it. If sexual harassment has already taken place, then an employer would need to take action to stop it from happening again. It is not possible for an individual to make a claim against their employer for failing to take preventative action. However, if they successfully bring a sexual harassment claim, the employment tribunal will automatically consider whether the employer failed in [...]