Welcome to our round up of the latest business news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect your business. We are here to support you!
UK Budget Summary
Last week, Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, revealed his first Spring Budget. There was a focus on managing inflation and government debt, encouraging those who have left their jobs to return to the workforce, and increasing business investment.
Here are some of the key measures announced in the Spring Budget that will affect businesses and individuals across the UK:
- The Main rate of corporation tax, paid by businesses on taxable profits over £250,000 has been confirmed to increase from 19% to 25%. Companies with profits below £50,000 will pay at 19% and companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will pay at an effective marginal rate that is between 19% and 25% from 1 April 2023.
- There are changes to Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) available and, for non-SME companies, RDEC will be increased from 13% to 20%. For many SME companies, the R&D tax relief enhancement will be reduced from 230% to 186%.
- The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), giving 100% tax relief to unincorporated businesses and companies investing in qualifying plant and machinery, is now permanently set at £1million. The super-deduction, which gives enhanced 130% relief for new qualifying plant and machinery acquired by companies, will end on 31 March 2023.
- From 1 April, companies can fully deduct investment in new qualifying plant and machinery to lower their taxable profits. In addition, a 50% first year allowance will be available for integral features.
- From 6 April 2023, the Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) employee share options limit will increase from £30,000 to £60,000. Additionally, restrictions on the types of shares eligible for CSOP options will be lifted.
- The Government will establish 12 ‘Investment Zones’ across the UK, including a promise to have at least one each in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
- The Government is increasing the availability of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme for start-up companies. The amount of investment that companies will be able to raise under the scheme will increase from £150,000 to £250,000. The gross asset limit will be increased from £200,000 to £350,000 and the investment must be made within 3 years (increased from 2 years) of trade commencing. In a bid to support these changes, the annual investor limit will be doubled to £200,000. The changes take effect from 6th April 2023.
- Fuel duty freeze – A freeze on fuel duty and the 5p reduction will remain in place for another year.
- Alcohol taxes are to rise in line with inflation from August, with new reliefs for beer, cider and wine sold in pubs.
- Pension tax reform – The pensions annual tax-free allowance will increase from £40,000 to £60,000 and the Lifetime Allowance will be abolished to encourage highly skilled individuals to continue working for longer.
- The Energy Price Guarantee which caps how much suppliers can charge per unit of energy used will stay in place until June 2023.
- 30 hours of free childcare to be provided for one and two-year-olds to help parents in England return to work, this will eventually cover all children from the age of nine months. This will be rolled out in stages from April 2024.
Combined with the many mini-budgets and statements made towards the end of 2022, this Budget brings change; good, bad, and often to be determined with time. What is clear is that 2023 remains a year of opportunity and we are here to work alongside you and help you grow!
For further details please see our more detailed Budget Summary released last week and please talk to us if you need guidance on any of the changes announced last week.
New UK Version of GDPR
New data laws to cut down paperwork for businesses and reduce cookie pops-up have been introduced by the UK government.
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was first introduced last Summer and paused in September 2022 so ministers could engage in a co-design process with business leaders and data experts, ensuring that the new regime builds on the UK’s high standards for data protection and privacy and seeks to ensure data adequacy while moving away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach of the European Union’s GDPR.
Data is fundamental to fuelling economic growth in all areas of society, from unlocking medical breakthroughs to helping people travel, manage their finances, and shop online. It is vital to the development and use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Data-driven trade generated 85 per cent of the UK’s total service exports and contributed an estimated £259 billion to the economy in 2021.
The bill will:
- Introduce a simple, clear and business-friendly framework that will not be difficult or costly to implement – taking the best elements of GDPR and providing businesses with more flexibility about how they comply with the new data laws;
- Ensure the new regime maintains data adequacy with the EU, and wider international confidence in the UK’s comprehensive data protection standards;
- Reduce the amount of paperwork organisations need to complete to demonstrate compliance;
- Support international trade without creating extra costs for businesses if they are already compliant with current data regulation;
- Provide organisations with greater confidence about when they can process personal data without consent; and
- Increase public and business confidence in AI technologies by clarifying the circumstances in which robust safeguards apply to automated decision-making.
See: British Businesses to Save Billions Under New UK Version of GDPR – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Building Business Resilience
The British Business Bank’s Guide to building business resilience contains impartial, practical, and actionable information and support to help smaller businesses manage their costs, boost their long-term profitability, and increase their resilience.
There is guidance on everything from energy efficiency to investing in technology, included to help make your business more innovative and resilient.
Other topics covered in the guide include:
- Foundations for growth,
- Managing business costs,
- Securing funds and controlling debt,
- Focusing on customers,
- Optimising your supply chain, and
- Controlling staff overheads.
See: Guide to building business resilience – British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)
Government and Bank of England Facilitate Sale of Silicon Valley Bank UK
Silicon Valley Bank (UK) Ltd (SVB UK) was sold last week to HSBC for a symbolic £1. HSBC is headquartered in London, is the largest bank in Europe and is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services institutions, serving 39 million customers globally. Customers of SVB UK are now able to access their deposits and banking services as normal.
This transaction has been facilitated by the Bank of England, in consultation with the Treasury, using powers granted by the Banking Act 2009. The deal makes use of post-crisis banking reforms, which introduced powers to safely manage the failure of banks.
See: Government and Bank of England facilitate sale of Silicon Valley Bank UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Recent Global Bank Stocks Slump has Implications for all Businesses
Following the collapse of Silicon Valley and Signature banks, bank shares in Asia and Europe have slumped, despite the reassurances from Joe Biden. The volatility has led to speculation that the Federal Reserve will pause plans to raise interest rates, designed to halt inflation.
We should remember that post 2008 there was a focus on reforming banks considered “too big to fail” and the issues right now mainly focus on medium to smaller sized banks. There is a clear message about the failure of Silicon Valley and Signature banks in that they were mainly concentrated in one sector, and they came under pressure as the rise in interest rates affected asset values.
Understanding who your most valuable customers are helps focus your efforts to increase sales, but diversification is also important. Even if you have many customers, it’s risky if they are too similar and could be affected by a similar change in business or the market. For example, if your three largest customers are based in the US, an unfavourable change in the exchange rate could see them all drastically reduce their orders.
If you run a business, then the message is: “Diversify your customer base”. Here are some thoughts:
- increase your market share by widening your customer base in your existing markets,
- use information to understand your competitors and take advantage of any gaps in the market,
- grow through product and service development,
- grow through strategic partnering with other businesses, and
- grow through international trade.
The Key Question is: “Do you have a Marketing Plan?”
Successful businesses all have two things in common: a thorough understanding of customer needs and a total dedication to their customers.
The logic is that you gather information about your business and get an insight into the way customers and prospective customers think and make ‘buy’ decisions. So, take a day out to work on your marketing plan and set some targets.
By the end, you should be in a position to:
- Have gathered information about existing and potential customers needs and wants;
- Have facilitated a discussion about the marketing actions the company should take;
- Know the unique selling points that your business has and how to take advantage of these;
- Understand how to differentiate the business from competitors; and
- Produce a marketing plan.
A marketing plan sets out how you are going to put your business strategy into practice. The marketing plan ensures that everyone in the business knows what you are trying to do and what they need to do to make it happen.
Please talk to us – we can provide you with a marketing template to get your thoughts into a plan so you can take action and grow your business!
Faraday Battery Challenge
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Faraday Battery Challenge to invest up to £1.5 million in innovation scale-up projects.
The aims of this competition are to:
- support an SME’s research and development for the scale-up of battery technologies within the UK;
- support an SME to access the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and demonstrate technologies at suitable scales to customers;
- increase engagement with UKBIC;
- move UK battery innovations from technological potential towards commercial capability; and
- develop and secure material and manufacturing supply chains for battery technologies in the UK.
The competition closes at 11am on 4 April 2023.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise
Businesses will soon be invited to apply for the UK’s most prestigious business award when applications open in May.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise has been renamed following the Accession of King Charles III. The Awards will become The King’s Award for Enterprise. The King’s Awards for Enterprise recognise and encourage the outstanding achievements of UK businesses in the fields of:
- international trade,
- innovation,
- sustainable development, and
- promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Businesses of all sizes and from all sectors can apply. The awards are free to enter, and you can apply for more than one award. To be eligible, your organisation must:
- be based in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man);
- have a good compliance record with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – for example, showing you pay the right amount of tax on time;
- be a self-contained enterprise that markets its own products or services and is under its own management;
- have at least two full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents; and
- demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility.
Your organisation can be a business or a non-profit organisation. Each of the award categories has additional entry criteria.
The awards are valid for five years. Previous winners have reported benefiting from worldwide recognition, increased commercial value, excellent marketing opportunities and press coverage and a boost to staff morale.
See: The King’s Awards for Enterprise: About the awards – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Events to Help Employers Find the Right People for Their Industries
Workplus has been commissioned by the Department for the Economy to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland access the support they need to recruit the right people for their business and industry needs. Workplus is hosting two events to help employers address changing priorities and challenges for a 10X economy in the following sectors:
- fintech
- life and health sciences
Fintech Workshop
This workshop will help SMEs in the fintech industry overcome the barriers to finding the right people for their organisation. Fintech includes services and technological solutions to the international financial services industry including banks, insurance companies, and asset management companies.
Helping Fintech SMEs Find the Right People
Date: Monday 20 March
Time: 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Ormeau Baths, Belfast
Cost: Free
Register to attend the fintech workshop.
Life and Health Sciences Workshop
This workshop will help SMEs in the life and health sciences industry overcome the barriers to finding the right people for their organisation. Health and life sciences include pharmaceutical, diagnostics, connected health, medical devices, and biotechnology with a focus on enhancing wellbeing and providing healthcare solutions.
Helping Life and Health Sciences Smes Find the Right People
Date: Monday 27 March
Time: 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Catalyst, Belfast
Cost: Free
Register to attend the life and health sciences workshop.
See: Events to help employers find the right people for their industries (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Fermanagh And Omagh Survey: Draft Improvement Objectives 2023-24
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has launched a consultation on its Draft Improvement Objectives 2023-24 and is encouraging local businesses and individuals to share their views by completing a short survey.
The three key improvement objectives are:
- Protect the environment and improve its sustainability;
- Work in partnership to tackle disadvantage, with a focus on reducing poverty to ensure our people have equal access to opportunities; and
- Work to accelerate economic recovery and job creation, enhancing skills and providing opportunities for sustained employment.
When the survey is completed, the results will be analysed and a report, ‘You said. We listened 2023’, will be published which will outline any changes made to the document as a result of the engagement.
The survey will run until Wednesday 5 April 2023.
Support to Help Tourism and Hospitality Sector Attract and Retain Staff
Tourism Northern Ireland’s Make It Here campaign aims to change perceptions of working in the tourism and hospitality sector to help employers within this industry attract and retain the talent they need to succeed and grow.
Tourism NI is seeking help from businesses in tourism and hospitality to contribute to its Make It Here campaign. Employers are being urged to use the creative assets from the campaign toolkit to promote on their own social media channels. Tourism and hospitality employers are also encouraged to share their upcoming vacancies.
In order to share best practices amongst the industry, Tourism NI also wants to hear from employers on the things they are doing to recruit and retain staff:
- Are you doing anything unconventional and innovative?
- Why are you a great employer?
- Have you recently introduced more flexible rotas, new training opportunities, or changes in pay, grading, or working conditions?
Tourism NI is making a number of resources available to help employers make the most of the campaign:
- Use the Make It Here campaign assets on social posts, web pages, posters, etc. to tell people that you are supporting the campaign and encourage others to do so.
- Use #MakeYourCareer on any social media posts to amplify the campaign.
- Upload your job vacancy ads to any of Tourism NI’s partner recruitment sites or advertise on your own channels like your website or social media channels.
- Access wider Tourism NI recruit and retain practical supports such as the people health check tool.
- Demonstrate your commitment as an employer by signing up for one of the industry charters offered by industry bodies such as the HATS Network and Hospitality Ulster.
- Jobs of the week – there will also be opportunities for employers to showcase live vacancies in the sector that are suitable for the target audiences mentioned above. Use the campaign as an opportunity to attract better candidates and let Tourism NI know about the opportunities in your sector.
- Tell your story – do you have fantastic employees? What are you doing differently in your business to attract, retain, and challenge perceptions of working in tourism & hospitality?
See: Tourism NI’s Make It Here initiative
New Cater for Later Food Box Scheme Launches
Belfast City Council is inviting food providers across the city to sign up to a new scheme, aimed at helping them reduce food waste
Launched during Food Waste Action Week, the scheme will provide Belfast-based restaurants, cafés, canteens, and food-serving event venues with Cater for Later boxes, which they can use to offer diners the opportunity to take leftover food home.
This will in turn allow food providers to cut down on food waste and benefit from:
- improved sustainability,
- being more environmentally friendly, and
- improving their customer service and satisfaction.
The boxes used for the Cater for Later scheme are made of food grade cardboard and can be composted, so customers can dispose of them along with their food and garden waste.
See: Cater for Later food box scheme (belfastcity.gov.uk)
Local Carbon Offsetting In Northern Ireland – Stakeholder Survey
Belfast City Council is evaluating the opportunity for a local offsetting scheme in Northern Ireland and would like to hear from businesses about their existing work on sustainability and the level of interest in offsetting.
Offsetting is a commonly used means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering progress towards Net Zero targets and ambitions.
Local sustainability company Anthesis is carrying out this project which is being delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete and there are 24 questions. Anthesis will hold your responses in accordance with GDPR guidance and all results will be anonymised.
The survey will close on Friday 14 April 2023.
See: Local carbon offsetting in Northern Ireland – stakeholder survey (Page 1 of 4) (office.com)
Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey 2023
Business in the Community’s NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey 2023 will help your business examine and reflect on your environmental management performance and identify areas for improvement. The survey is a free self-disclosure exercise.
The survey focuses on environmental management and performance in key areas, as well as the extent to which environmental business practices have been embedded within corporate strategies. Participants are also issued a gap analysis which provides valuable individual feedback on your submission.
The survey can help businesses:
- identify environmental impacts,
- measure progress to drive improvement, and
- raise awareness of the environment as an important, strategic, and competitive issue at board level.
The survey is open to all organisations in any sector in Northern Ireland and is widely recognised as Northern Ireland’s principal environmental benchmarking exercise.
The survey will open on Wednesday 26 April 2023 and the deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday 28 June 2023.
See: Environmental Benchmarking Survey | Business in the Community NI (bitcni.org.uk)
