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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Business News”
A survey carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has suggested that the UK unemployment rate could rise by 50,000 as a result of the increase in national insurance contributions (NICs) for employers, sole traders and employees. The FSB carried out an assessment of the potential impacts of …
In the first instalment of our growth advisory services blog series, we outlined what business consultancy is and how it can benefit e-commerce sellers. There are a number of steps in the advisory process, and the first of those is company benchmarking. AVASK takes pride in doing a thorough job …
Inflation rose to 3.2% last month from 2% in July – its largest ever recorded increase, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation for August was the highest since March 2012, though the ONS said much of the effect was likely to …
The UK government faces big choices this autumn if it wants to stimulate economic growth, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. Following the recent government announcement on plans to increase national insurance contributions (NICs) to support social care, UK business is clear that the time for further business …
HM Treasury has announced that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver the Autumn 2021 Budget on Wednesday 27 October. On 7 September the Chancellor launched Spending Review 2021, which will conclude on 27 October and will be presented alongside the Autumn Budget. The Spending Review will outline government departments’ resource and …
Labour supply problems could last for up to two years and will not be solved by the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned. The CBI said that although a lack of HGV drivers has dominated the headlines, the challenge extends to many other skilled professions. Marrying skills policies …
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has stated that the current business rates system in England serves to ‘disincentivise businesses to invest in net zero and employee wellbeing measures’. In a letter to the government, the business group said that small firms should not be penalised with higher business rates …
Social media and e-commerce are becoming more intertwined than ever before, with most platforms now offering some form of e-commerce integration. It is easy to see why these two industries have come together so harmoniously, as well as the payoff that many e-commerce entrepreneurs are experiencing as a result. According …
British business confidence is at its highest level since April 2017, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Business Barometer. Confidence is being fuelled by hope that the economy will recover strongly to pre-pandemic levels. Firms in the manufacturing, services and construction sectors were the most optimistic that recovery would continue. …
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that rising prices and rail fare hikes threaten to stifle small firms’ recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Responding to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that showed that the Retail Prices Index (RPI) reached 3.8% and the headline …
There will come a time in a business owner’s life when they find they need to administer a little first aid to their enterprise. Maybe an unexpected new regulation came into effect, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic disrupts business as usual, or things simply stagnate after a while. Whatever the case, you …
HMRC has published a list of the most absurd excuses given by employers for not paying their employees the National Minimum Wage (NMW). HMRC noted that while the majority of employers pay their employees at least the NMW, it had received bizarre excuses for not paying the legal minimum. Some …
Employers have warned that businesses may be required to raise prices as a result of wage hikes. A survey carried out by job board Caterer.com revealed that many employers have experienced staff shortages since coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions eased. The survey also found that 93,000 EU workers have lost their …
Two out of every five freelancers suffered a loss of over 40% of turnover during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to research from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE). The research also found that two out of three freelance businesses were negatively affected by the pandemic. In …
A survey carried out by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has revealed that the aftermaths of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Brexit have caused a ‘huge rise in costs’ for UK businesses. The survey showed that 70% of companies surveyed are considering hiking prices over …
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has welcomed the introduction of flexible season tickets for rail commuters but says more change is needed. The government says new national flexible rail tickets, matching modern working habits and saving passengers hundreds of pounds, will be made available to commuters across England. The …
Scammers and fraudsters thrive on confusion and instability, so the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and ongoing economic repercussions of Brexit have created opportunities for them to attack businesses, taxpayers and savers. Online scams rose 15-fold last year as criminals exploited national events, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It …
UK businesses face a ‘perfect storm’ of factors causing staff shortages, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned. The CBI highlighted issues ranging from the paradoxical effects of the furlough scheme to EU workers not returning to the UK amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Hauliers, hospitality, and food and …
The number of cash payments made in the UK fell by 35% during 2020, according to the latest figures from banking trade body UK Finance. However, cash remains the second most frequently used payment method behind debit cards, accounting for 17% of all payments. During 2020 the number of contactless …
The first ever UK Infrastructure Bank has opened for business with the aim of investing in sectors such as clean energy and transport. The bank was opened in Leeds by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who announced its launch in March’s Budget. The UK Infrastructure Bank has an initial £12 billion of …
The government is to extend the ban on commercial evictions introduced during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic until March 2022, the Treasury has confirmed. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Barclay, said the moratorium for business tenants will not expire at the end of this month as planned and will instead …
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is set to explore the benefits, costs and wider implications of changing the date of the end of the tax year for individuals. The review will focus on the implications of moving the tax year end date from 5 April to 31 March or …
The G7’s finance ministers have announced a historic international agreement on global tax reform. Following years of discussions, finance ministers agreed to reforms, which they say will see multinationals pay their fair share of tax in the countries in which they do business. The ministers also agreed to the principle …
Many small businesses will soon be required to begin repaying loans taken out under the government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). The BBLS helped to support businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and permitted firms to apply for a minimum of £2,000, up to a maximum of £50,000, or 25% …
An analysis carried out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has suggested that the UK’s green jobs and economic recovery plans lag behind the plans of most G7 countries. The UK currently ranks sixth for investment in net zero climate infrastructure, the TUC found. The business group stated that the …
The fifth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant covering May 2021 to September 2021 will open to claims from late July, HMRC has confirmed. To be eligible for the grant, an individual must be self-employed or a member of a partnership. They must have traded in the tax year 2019/2020 …
AVASK Accounting & Business Consultants would like to invite you to a new webinar series that will further explore the upcoming changes and provide you with the information you need to start preparing your business now. We have been busy changing our systems and putting materials together so that we …
AVASK are always looking for new ways to help our clients with valuable information on e-commerce and other related topics. That is why we maintain a steady schedule of webinars to help communicate the latest updates in an efficient but digestible manner. This week, we are sponsoring and hosting a …
A survey carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has found that remote working was the most popular form of flexible working during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The survey of more than 900 firms found that 66% of employers offered remote working to their employees. 72% of businesses …
The UK economy grew significantly in the three months to May, according to the latest Growth Indicator from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The Indicator showed that private sector activity across the economy grew at its fastest pace since 2015, with a balance of +30%. The CBI found that …
