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Employment tribunal shake up will help business growth

Employment tribunal changes will come into effect on Friday that will make it easier for businesses to take on staff and improve the process when staff have to be let go.

These changes are part of a radical reform package that will ultimately deliver direct net savings to business of more than £10 million a year with wider benefits to employers estimated at more than £40 million a year.

The Government has streamlined employment tribunals to cut unnecessary demands on employers, and encourage growth, while safeguarding workers’ rights. From 6 April:

Date published: 07/04/2012

Chancellor launches Scheme to boost small business lending

The Chancellor has today launched the National Loan Guarantee Scheme (NLGS), helping smaller businesses across the UK (with an annual group turnover of up to £50 million) access cheaper finance.

The Government is using the UK’s budget credibility in financial markets to provide up to £20 billion of government guarantees on unsecured borrowing by banks, enabling them to...

Date published: 22/03/2012

Lancashire father and son banned as directors for a total of 15 years

Barry Howard Bullen and his son Jonathan Bullen, directors of Managed Online Solutions (MOS) Ltd in Lancashire, have been disqualified for 11 years and four years respectively, following an investigation by The Insolvency Service’s Company Investigation Team, in Manchester.
Barry Howard Bullen and Jonathan Bullen, both of Thornton Cleveleys, have each given undertakings to...

Date published: 18/03/2012

Government seeks views on dismissal rules

Proposals to examine the current dismissal process have been announced by the Government today with the publication of a Call for Evidence. Ministers are to seek the views of employers and employees, and gather evidence from interested parties, on whether current dismissal procedures are too onerous, too complex and whether or not there is a lack of understanding in their...

Date published: 16/03/2012

Online sellers offered chance to settle tax bills

People trading on the internet who haven’t paid all the tax they owe have been offered the opportunity to come forward and pay up under an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) campaign.

Under the time-limited opportunity, the e-Markets Disclosure Facility, online marketplace traders can pay the tax they owe and benefit from lower penalties available to those who come forward, rather...

Date published: 14/03/2012

Company director disqualified for giving banned father director’s duties

Matthew Richard Sixsmith of Whittle le Woods in Lancashire has been disqualified from being a director for eight years by Bolton County Court following an investigation by the Company Investigations North team of The Insolvency Service.

The court found that Matthew Richard Sixsmith, 31, had allowed his father Richard Sixsmith, from Bolton, to act in the management of...

Date published: 03/03/2012

Government’s new Plug-in Van Grant, have been announced

The first vans eligible for the Government’s new Plug-in Van Grant, have been announced by Transport Secretary Justine Greening and Business Minister Mark Prisk today.
Van buyers will be able to receive 20% - up to £8,000 - off the cost of this first wave of 7 plug-in vans.

At an event today to launch the eligible vans, which was supported by companies such as British Gas...

Date published: 22/02/2012

Illegal working: publishing details of employers who don’t comply

10 February 2012

From today, the UK Border Agency will publish quarterly reports detailing the penalties given to people or organisations who employ illegal workers.

Illegal working causes damaging social and economic problems for the UK. It undercuts businesses that operate within the law, undermines British workers, and exploits migrant workers. Employers who employ...

Date published: 21/02/2012

An innovative online training tool has been launched

An innovative online training tool has been launched to help get thousands of experienced business people mentoring small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The new training tool is part of the Get Mentoring scheme launched in November that is recruiting 15,000 new mentors to help entrepreneurs fulfil their potential.



The tool, provided by the Small Firms Enterprise...

Date published: 15/02/2012

Electricians - to receive warnings from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) warning them to pay any undisclosed taxes.

Electricians around the country will start receiving letters this month from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) warning them to pay any undisclosed taxes.

Under a special, time-limited tax opportunity, electricians can pay the tax they owe, with lower penalties. Normally, up to 100 per cent of the tax owed can be charged to those who fall outside of such opportunities.

The...

Date published: 15/02/2012

New powers to tackle employers who try to dodge paying their PAYE

New powers to tackle employers who try to dodge paying their PAYE or National Insurance contributions (NICs) come into effect this spring.
From April 2012, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can require employers to pay a security, where there is serious risk that they won’t pay over their PAYE tax deductions or NICs.

The new power will be targeted at employers who deduct money...

Date published: 08/02/2012

Land Registry launches top tips to help owners protect their property from fraudsters

Property is usually the most valuable asset people own. It can be sold and mortgaged to raise money and is therefore an attractive target for fraudsters. The properties most vulnerable to fraud are usually empty, tenanted or mortgage-free. Individuals at a higher risk of fraud include owners who are absent for whatever reason; for example because the owner may live abroad, buy...

Date published: 02/02/2012

Interactive calendar of key enterprise events taking place in the North West throughout 2012 to help a new or growing business venture

A new comprehensive and interactive calendar of key enterprise events taking place in the North West throughout 2012 has been unveiled by Business Minister Mark Prisk.
The StartUp 2012: Enterprise Calendar highlights at least seventeen enterprise opportunities in the region throughout the year. They include competitions, conferences, workshops and networking events that could...

Date published: 29/01/2012

VAT-registered businesses, VAT returns must be submitted online from this spring

HMRC is reminding VAT-registered businesses that all VAT returns must be submitted online from this spring, meaning paper returns will soon be a thing of the past.

Currently, only newly-registered businesses and those with turnovers of more than £100,000 have to submit their VAT online, as well as pay electronically. Anyone else can send HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) a paper...

Date published: 24/01/2012

There’s just one week left to send your 2010/11 tax return to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), if you want to avoid a penalty.

There’s just one week left to send your 2010/11 tax return to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), if you want to avoid a penalty. All outstanding 2010/11 Self Assessment returns must be sent online to HMRC by 31 January 2012. If you send your return after that date, you will receive a £100 penalty – even if you have no tax to pay or you pay your tax on time.

The longer you delay,...

Date published: 24/01/2012

Major government/private sector campaign launched to encourage businesses to get off the ground.

Prime minister announces plans to make empty government offices available to small businesses to start up and grow.
'Business in You', a major new campaign aimed at inspiring people to start or grow their own businesses and helping small businesses and entrepreneurs understand the array of information and help available from the Government and private sector has been launched...

Date published: 24/01/2012

Regional mediation pilot scheme launched

The latest steps in reforms to the employment tribunal system were unveiled by Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey (23/01/2012) with the announcement of a pilot scheme for two regional mediation networks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Cambridge and Manchester will be the first regional mediation networks where the Department for Business, Innovation...

Date published: 24/01/2012

Bolton's Primary Care Trust (PCT) now provides a specialist service to businesses

Bolton's Primary Care Trust (PCT) now provides a specialist service to businesses of all sizes, supporting them to encourage staff to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Whether you employ one person or one thousand there will be some way in which your workplace could benefit from some small changes.

Ill health may be costing your organisation in terms of loss of productivity...

Date published: 22/01/2012

Van buyers will be able to receive 20% - up to £8000 - off the cost of a plug-in van

Van buyers will be able to receive 20% - up to £8000 - off the cost of a plug-in van, Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today.

This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25% - up to £5000 – to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for this grant until...

Date published: 18/01/2012

Self Assessment filers need to register for online filing by the end of this week

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding first-time Self Assessment filers that they need to register for online filing by the end of this week, or they may not be able to send their tax return on time.
Tax returns for 2010/11 must be sent online to HMRC by 31 January but, if you’re filing online for the first time, you need to register by Saturday 21 January, to allow enough...

Date published: 18/01/2012

Accountant sang sick song as he ripped off the public

A professional tax adviser has been found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court of trying to defraud honest taxpayers of £70m. He spent his cut of the stolen cash on expensive second homes, exotic holidays, works of art and luxury cars.

David Perrin, Deputy Managing Director at Vantis Tax Ltd, devised and operated a tax avoidance scheme which he sold to wealthy taxpayers in...

Date published: 14/01/2012

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