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!
Thinking Long Term is a Key Business Strategy
We were finally getting over the financial crisis when Covid struck. Then, in the trough of the worst economic downturn in 300 years, we discovered that recovery was driving the FTSE to new heights and the job market into a frenzy. In the wake of that, it became clear that the recovery was overheating and that we are now facing a period of rising inflation and industrial action.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has made things worse. It has not only meant human suffering – it has affected the entire global economy, driving up the cost of food and energy. It adds to the hardship for those on low incomes and means serious food security risks in the world’s poorest economies.
The economy has always had its ups and downs, but its resemblance to a roller coaster is currently more marked than ever.
Businesses of every size face challenges that are now suppressing growth. A business might have a great product or service, but without a strategic plan to help it define, articulate and communicate where it is going, it will be at the mercy of outside events. We encourage our clients to take some time to think long-term about their business and to establish goals or targets that you can control.
A plan starts with identifying and accessing opportunities within your market and should address how your business is going to evolve to meet the challenges of today and the future. The plan gives your business purpose and answers questions about your long-term goals.
The first step is to look at five important areas:
- Think long term – invest time in understanding where the market is going and what this means for your customers. Short-term decisions do not help grow a business.
- Having a good value proposition is essential – this states the relevance of your product or service, what it does and why customers need it. What is yours?
- Expand your reach – who is your target customer and what do you need to do to let them know you exist and that your product or service is relevant to them?
- Growth means new people, systems and (maybe) different ways of doing things. Grow at a pace you can manage.
- How will your marketing get your value proposition to relevant customers?
Once you have taken time to write your plan and decide where you want your business to be in (say) 2 years, the next step is to work out a marketing programme with actions to make it happen.
A marketing plan is a business document outlining your marketing strategy and tactics. It is often focused on a specific period of time (i.e. over the next 12 months) and covers a variety of marketing-related details, such as costs, goals, and action steps. But like your business plan, a marketing plan is not a static document. The plan should outline:
- How you are going to keep existing customers happy and returning to buy more often.
- What the goals are for getting new customers.
- The marketing methods you are going to use to achieve 1 and 2.
We specialise in helping our clients manage their businesses. We do this by preparing and updating detailed forecasts, using the latest and most powerful software.
Please talk to us about strategic planning. We can help with a template so you can do this yourself or work together to produce estimates for various scenarios and help you take control of your business!
Bills and Notes Guarantee
UK Export Finance has launched a new product to help support SMEs through challenging market conditions.
The new Bills and Notes product is now open to guarantee payments by overseas buyers. The product will be available to more financial institutions with a simpler, more streamlined process.
Bills and Notes are a standard method of payment where money is due under bills of exchange or promissory notes. UKEF has now improved its offer to enable overseas buyers of UK goods to benefit from extended payment terms structured using these methods.
Simply put, it means that small UK businesses can get paid more quickly and easily for their exports.
See: Bills and Notes Guarantee – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
HMRC Reduce Advisory Fuel Rate for Petrol Company Cars
HMRC has announced their suggested reimbursement rates for employees’ private mileage using their company car from 1 December 2022, which are summarized in the table below. The rates have been reduced in line with the recent fall in petrol prices. However, diesel prices remain the same and LPG reimbursement rates have increased.
Remember, that provided all private fuel is fully reimbursed by the employee/director, the fuel benefit does not apply.
| Engine Size | Petrol | Diesel | LPG |
| 1400cc or less | 14p
(15p) |
10p
(9p) |
|
| 1600cc or less | 14p | ||
| 1401cc to 2000cc | 17p
(18p) |
12p
(11p) |
|
| 1601 to 2000cc | 17p | ||
| Over 2000cc | 26p
(27p) |
22p | 18p
(17p) |
Where the employer’s policy is that they do not pay for any fuel for the company car, these are the amounts that can be reimbursed to the employee in respect of qualifying business journeys for the payments to be tax-free. Where there has been a change, the rate for the previous quarter is shown in brackets. You can continue to use the previous rates for up to 1 month from the date the new rates apply.
Note that for hybrid cars, you must use the petrol or diesel rate. For fully electric cars, the rate is now 8p per mile (previously 5p per mile).
Self-Assessment: Don’t Forget to Declare COVID-19 Payments
HMRC is reminding taxpayers that they must declare COVID-19 payments in their tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year.
These grants are taxable and should be declared on tax returns for the 2021 to 2022 tax year before the deadline on 31 January 2023.
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) application and payment windows during the 2021 to 2022 tax year were:
- SEISS 4: 22 April 2021 to 1 June 2021
- SEISS 5: 29 July 2021 to 30 September 2021
SEISS is not the only COVID-19 support scheme that should be declared on tax returns. If taxpayers received other support payments during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, they may need to report this on their tax return if they are:
- Self-employed
- In a partnership
- A business
See: Self Assessment: don’t forget to declare COVID-19 payments – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Data Protection Employment Practices: Monitoring at Work Draft Guidance
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is producing topic-specific guidance on employment practices and data protection. The ICO is releasing drafts of the different topic areas in stages and adding to the resource over time. A draft of the guidance on monitoring at work is now out for public consultation.
The draft guidance aims to provide practical guidance about monitoring workers in accordance with data protection legislation and to promote good practice.
The public consultation on the draft guidance and draft impact assessment will remain open until 11 January 2023.
Artificial Intelligence for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme. It will support the development of innovative artificial intelligence technologies for decarbonisation applications to support the transition to net zero.
The programme will also promote coordination and collaboration between AI and carbon-emitting sectors in the United Kingdom in order to maximise the economic and carbon benefits of AI solutions in solving our most critical decarbonisation challenges.
See: Apply for the Artificial Intelligence for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Resource Efficiency for Materials and Manufacturing Competition
Innovate UK has launched a competition which will invest up to £1 million in innovation projects to improve resource efficiency. The aim of this competition is to support United Kingdom materials and manufacturing organisations to become more resource efficient. Simultaneous demonstrations of how UK materials and manufacturing will become more resilient or technologically advanced are encouraged.
Circular Fashion Recycling and Sorting Demonstrator
Innovate UK are to invest up to £4 million in an innovation project. This will be to develop and demonstrate closed-loop recycling for the fashion and textile sector at scale. This is the initial activity of a £15 million UK Research and Innovation Circular Fashion Programme.
The aim of this competition is to fund a research and development activity demonstrator. This will demonstrate new technologies, services, processes and business models capable of addressing the recycling and sorting challenges, as part of the UK’s fashion and textile sector and their direct supply chains.
Future Flight Skills Gap Competition
The future flight challenge for Innovate UK will invest up to £500,000 in projects to close aviation industry skills gaps.
The aim of the competition is to create and deliver course content and materials that will support skills, talent and training across the future flight sector. The purpose of this is to build awareness of future flight emerging markets and fill key gaps in the United Kingdom’s workforce talent and training capabilities.
Projects can deliver one or more of these objectives:
- Schools’ engagement
- Apprenticeships and internships
- Upskilling and reskilling of existing workforce
- Technical courses and vocational training
- Undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development (CPD)
Airlines, Airports and Passengers to Have Their Say on Independent Aviation Regulator
The government has launched a call for evidence as part of its review of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s independent aviation regulator.
Open to all interested parties, it will provide an opportunity for anybody who uses the CAA or is affected by its work – including airlines, airports, pilots and passengers – to provide insight and evidence to inform the government review, on everything from the CAA’s strategy to its organisation and performance.
The call for evidence will close on 22nd January 2023. It will ask questions such as whether the CAA has the right powers to effectively regulate the aviation market, whether its charges are good value for money and whether it is effectively structured.
Mid Ulster HGV Training and Employment Academy
Mid Ulster District Council is encouraging local employers to get involved in the Mid Ulster HGV Training and Employment Academy. This specialist academy is currently running across the council area to help address HGV/coach driver shortages in the sector. Through the scheme, council residents complete 90 days of training to become HGV drivers, achieve a Class 2, Class 1 or PCV licence and find employment.
See: Mid Ulster HGV Training and Employment Academy (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Women in Leadership Programme for Ards and North Down
This is an opportunity for local women to drive their career progression towards leadership and management roles. Business owners, employees and entrepreneurs are invited to boost their skills through a new Women in Leadership Programme designed for females in the Ards and North Down area. The programme is delivered on behalf of Ards and North Down Borough Council by South Eastern Regional College.
Participants will gain from:
- An approved Chartered Management Institute (CMI) at Level 5 or Level 3.
- Five hours of one-to-one mentoring to address business and individual needs and challenges.
- Attendance at two networking events that build the confidence of female business owners and entrepreneurs.
The CMI qualifications will be delivered online and begin on Monday 5 December 2022 from 9:30am to 1pm.
Eligibility criteria includes:
- The participant must be a resident or working in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area.
- It is available to female business owners of Small/Micro enterprises (< 50 Employees) and female employees or individuals.
- Participation in the Level 5 qualification requires:
– A minimum of 12 months of experience in a middle managerial role or a minimum of 36 months of experience as a supervisor/team leader.
– The ability to carry out independent research and complete assignments.
– A previous Level 3 qualification or higher.
See: Women in Leadership | AND Business
Free Exporting Training Courses Through the UK Export Academy
Business owners and entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland can receive tailored support to boost their exporting skills and sell their goods and services to new markets worldwide.
Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland businesses regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.
The UK Export Academy is delivered in three stages depending on your skill level:
Foundation – This is a step-by-step guide to becoming an exporter. The foundation modules will build your knowledge and confidence if you’re relatively new to selling internationally or interested in learning how to start. You will leave the foundation course with an export action plan tailored to your business.
Masterclasses – Once you have a good understanding of the basics, these masterclasses will broaden your knowledge in areas such as sales skills, website internationalisation, eCommerce, managing overseas partners, and more. This is where you’ll learn about sector-specific challenges and gain insight into the different markets overseas.
Opportunities – Discover how you can use DIT’s sector teams and overseas networks to access in-market opportunities, including the benefits of new free trade agreements. Find out how you can join like-minded businesses on trade missions and attend international exhibitions all over the world.
See: Home – UK Export Academy (great.gov.uk)
Young Enterprise Big Market 2022
Young Enterprise Northern Ireland is hosting the annual Big Market at Belfast’s historic St. George’s Market on Wednesday 7 December 2022 from 10am to 2pm.
Northern Ireland’s top student companies will take over the market to take their businesses to the public for the first time since founding their businesses through the charity’s Company Programme in September with the hope of making sales and competing for the coveted Best Company award.
Open to the public, the Big Market is a high-energy market with music, refreshments, and prizes to be won throughout.
See: Big Market 2022 Tickets, Wed 7 Dec 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
Employer-Led Disability Inclusion Programme
The Mid Ulster Labour Market Partnership (LMP) is seeking to engage a range of local employers in the Employer-led Disability Inclusion Programme.
The programme aims to:
- Improve companies’ understanding of disability employment needs.
- Raise awareness of the benefits of tapping into an under-utilised and capable labour pool.
- Support the companies through an employability programme that will result in a number of job opportunities being created that are suited to employees with a disability or health condition.
LMP is seeking expressions of interest from companies based in the Mid Ulster District Council area to get involved in the programme. It is open to all employers from all sectors including manufacturing, engineering, agri-food, construction, retail, hospitality, health and social care, and digital/ICT.
See: Employer-led Disability Inclusion Programme (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Mentor Growth Programme for Lisburn and Castlereagh Businesses
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s Mentor Growth Programme enables local businesses to access essential business knowledge, expertise and impartial advice.
The programme covers areas including sales and marketing development, strategic planning, digital marketing, branding and financial management through one-to-one mentoring, signposting support, workshops and networking opportunities.
Benefits of participation include:
- Flexible tiered support offering up to 30 hours of free tailored mentoring.
- Impartial advice to support business growth and sustainability.
- Help to develop and grow into new markets.
- Increase in profitability and job creation opportunities.
- Access to free workshops and webinars.
Eligible businesses must be based in the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area, employ less than 50 people and should not be an Invest NI client company.
