The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) launched on Wednesday 1 November at 10am to help small organisations prepare for a new data protection law.The phone service is aimed at people running small businesses or charities and recognises the particular problems they face getting ready for the new law, called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR replaces … Continued
UK Interest Rates Rise for the First Time in 10 years – Despite Warnings
Liverpool accountancy firm boss Peter Taaffe says the Bank of England’s quarter point rise to 0.5% will impact on both small businesses and homeowners. Tony McDonough reports Bank of England policymakers have raised the UK interest rate for the first time in a decade – pushing up the rate from 0.25% to 0.5%. The bank’s … Continued
Late Payments Continue To Hit SMEs
Two-thirds (66%) of small businesses are feeling the effects of clients who fail to pay their bills on time, research shows. Banking group Close Brothers polled 900 small business owners and found the problem was particularly serious for 87% of SMEs in Northern Ireland, 73% in London and 72% in the South West. Late payments … Continued
Cautious Businesses Delaying Investment
Businesses are in no rush to make investments amid the ongoing uncertainty of Brexit, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). More than one in four businesses are delaying investment decisions as the government continues negotiations with the EU. As a result of their collective cautiousness, 61% of those firms … Continued
Sole Traders Exposed to Cash Crises
Nearly half (41%) of self-employed people struggle to save any money each month, leaving them exposed to financial problems. Insurer LV= surveyed 9,495 self-employed workers and found one in three could not survive for more than three months if they lost their income. Nearly two thirds (62%) of respondents said monthly bills eat up the … Continued
Businesses urged to prepare for Data Protection Bill
Individuals will be able to legally ask businesses to delete certain personal data under new proposals outlined in the Data Protection Bill. The Bill forms part of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is due to come into effect on 25 May 2018. The legislation will allow individuals greater control over their personal … Continued
Company car advisory fuel rates from 1 September 2017
HMRC has published revised advisory fuel rates for company cars, applying from 1 September 2017. The rates are to be used only where employers either reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars, or require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel. These rates apply from 1 September 2017. You … Continued
Businesses approve Prompt Payment Code
Businesses have backed the Prompt Payment Code (PPC) to support SMEs who are dealing with late payments. The PPC sets the standards for best practice for businesses and suppliers chasing overdue payments and invoices, ensuring everyone is paid on time and offered clear guidance on procedures. Suppliers to the government have willingly committed to pay … Continued
Important changes to PSC reporting
Changes to the people with significant control (PSC) register have come into force. All companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are required to identify and record the people with ‘significant control’ over their company. Previously, a company or LLP would make any changes to the PSC register as part of its annual confirmation statement submitted … Continued
Lack of funds holding back start-ups
Almost half (40%) of aspiring entrepreneurs cited lack of funds as the main barrier to starting a business, according to research. Out of 1,500 people surveyed by Yell Business, 51% thought about starting their own business but barriers such as risk of failure (25%) and not knowing where to start (23%) were preventing them from … Continued