HLAS

Following a recent UK Government consultation and Royal Assent of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, flexible working will become the default for millions of employees who will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment in 2024. Flexible working doesn’t just mean a combination of working from home and in the office – it can mean employees making use of job-sharing, flexitime, and working compressed, annualised, or staggered hours. The UK government states that the new measures will give employees greater access to flexibility over where, when, and how they work, and the government [...]

Buses are the most popular form of public transport in our country. They are an essential part of the national transport system, in both urban and rural areas. The government has announced £150 million new funding for local transport authorities in the North and the Midlands over the next financial year. This is the first tranche of £1 billion in new funding to improve bus services: £770 million for the North and nearly £230 million for the Midlands. The £150 million committed is from redirected HS2 funding, part of the new £36 billion Network North plan which will improve the daily transport [...]

A new, simpler common-sense approach to recycling means people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school, putting an end to confusion over what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country. Weekly collections of food waste will also be introduced for most households across England by 2026. The government is proposing new exemptions to make sure that waste collectors will be able to collect dry recyclables together, in the same bin or bag, and collect organic waste together, to reduce the number of bins required. The government states [...]

The UK Government have updated their ‘Help for Households‘ website for 2023. Find out what actions you can take to get ready for winter and save money on your energy bills by reading their ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign. The latest cost-of-living instalment of £300 is currently being paid to low-income households across the UK, without the need to make a claim. Warm Home Discount Scheme You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount applied to your [...]

There are numerous benefits to businesses, enabling you to thrive in the digital age and stay ahead of the competition. Let's explore some of the ways digital marketing can help you. Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to traditional marketing methods, digital marketing is often more cost-effective. Online advertising, email, and content marketing campaigns can be tailored to fit various budgets, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Content Marketing: Creating valuable content such as blog posts, eBooks, and webinars can establish you as the expert in your field. Enhanced Online Visibility: Strategies such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and pay-per-click advertising [...]

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), part of MI5, and the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSC) have launched a new awareness campaign to encourage the UK's emerging tech sector to protect and secure their innovations. The campaign consists of an updated suite of Secure Innovation guidance that offers best practice advice on keeping ideas safe. A free Quick Start Guide is available to help those without extensive security expertise take the first steps towards protecting their innovations. The advice centres around three key steps: appointing a security lead; identifying and documenting your key assets; and assessing your business for security [...]

There are less than 90 days to go until the deadline for filing your Self-Assessment return online. You need to file your return by 31‌‌‌‌ January 2024. Filing your return early is an option and means you can find out how much you owe and help you budget and plan for your payment. If you are due a refund, you can claim it back sooner. If you’ve already sent HMRC your return and paid, you don’t need to do anything else. If you think you are no longer required to complete a Self-Assessment return, you can 'Check if you need to [...]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to give their childcare budget a boost by opening a Tax-Free Childcare account. Parents can use Tax-Free Childcare to help with childcare costs for school holiday clubs, breakfast or after school clubs, childminders or nurseries. You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you will have to set up an online childcare [...]

This is a question many business owners want answering. The truth is, it depends on a range of factors and any valuation is only useful as a guide for planning forward. The ultimate value of a business is the price a willing buyer is prepared to pay for it. The prevailing economic climate and state of the business’ sector can affect company valuation for better or worse, as can your reasons for selling. If you need a fast sale due to ill health, for instance, the value may be lower than if a sale was taking place under more favourable [...]

In recent years many accountants have advised their director/shareholder clients that the most tax efficient method of extracting profit from their family company was to pay themselves a low salary, at or around the £12,570 personal allowance, with the balance in dividends. This strategy may need to be revisited with the introduction of higher corporation tax rates from 1 April 2023 as company profits in excess of £50,000 are taxed at an effective 26.5% rate. Where company profits exceed £50,000 it may be more tax efficient to increase the salary or put a bonus through the company accounts. Other things [...]