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!
What’s Your Growth Strategy?
A company might have a great product or service but without a business growth strategy to help it define, articulate and communicate where it is going, it may not grow at all!
A growth strategy starts with identifying and accessing opportunities within your market. The strategy addresses how your company is going to evolve to meet the challenges of today and in the future. A growth strategy gives your company purpose, and it answers questions about your long-term plans.
Having a growth strategy is important because it keeps your company working towards goals that go beyond what is happening in the market today. They keep both owners and employees focused and aligned, and they allow you to think long-term.
The first step is to look at five important areas that will help you develop a growth strategy:
- 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?
- Expanding 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 some time to write out your growth strategy and where you want your business to be in (say) 2 years, the next step is to work out your marketing plan.
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. This 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
Please talk to us about helping you formulate your expansion plans; we have considerable experience in helping our clients grow their businesses.
Businesses Urged to ‘Scam-Proof’ their Messages to Public
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance for businesses on creating trustworthy customer text and telephone messages.
The guidance follows a rise in text and call-based scams such as those involving fake parcel deliveries, the most prevalent type of ‘smishing’ text messages in 2021.
The guidance covers various aspects of secure customer communications including:
- issuing consistent and trustworthy SMS and telephone messages
- measures to make it harder for criminals to exploit telecoms channels
- providing a route for customers to independently verify communications and more
It includes recommended practices for putting services in place and offers nine tips for organisations to follow to create messages their customers can trust.
See: Business communications – SMS and telephone best practice – NCSC.GOV.UK
Employers’ PPE Responsibilities Extended to ‘Workers’ from April 2022
From April, employers will be obliged to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers, as well as employees, who may be exposed to health and safety risks at work.
An amendment to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, will come into force on 6 April 2022.
Organisations will need to undertake a risk assessment to establish whether a worker requires PPE to carry out their work tasks. If they do, the employer will need to carry out a PPE suitability assessment and provide protective equipment or clothing to them free of charge, as they do for employees.
Organisations will also be responsible for the maintenance, storage and replacement of any PPE they provide, while workers will be responsible for reporting any loss or damage to their PPE.
See: Personal protective equipment (PPE) at work (hse.gov.uk)
NCSC For Startups Programme
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging tech startups to join the fight against ransomware.
Companies with ideas to protect small businesses from ransomware are offered a chance to develop them further with leading cyber security experts.
The companies can apply to join NCSC For Startups, a programme in which they collaborate with experts to develop, adapt and test their products.
The programme was launched last year by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – and the innovation company Plexal. The programme’s aim is to bring together innovative startups with NCSC technical expertise to solve some of the UK’s most important cyber challenges.
The latest call for companies to join the programme is aimed at those who are developing products to protect SMEs from the growing ransomware threat. In the first four months of 2021, the NCSC handled the same number of ransomware incidents as for the whole of 2020 – which was itself a number more than three times greater than in 2019.
The NCSC and Plexal want to hear from startups that can:
- improve choice for SMEs looking for ransomware protection
- encourage firms to implement secure backups to minimise the impact of an attack
- reduce the risks involved in using Remote Desktop Protocol from home
See: Current challenges – NCSC.GOV.UK
Directors may be Liable for Overclaimed CJRS Grants
Where HMRC believe a company (including LLPs) is insolvent or about to become insolvent, and overclaimed CJRS grants owed will not be paid, they may give a notice making an individual (or individuals) jointly and severally liable for the relevant tax liabilities. This means that all individuals given a notice will be jointly and severally liable with the company for paying these liabilities.
HMRC have issued guidance setting out the conditions that need to be present in order to use their powers:
- An officer of HMRC may give a joint and several liability notice to an individual if they are satisfied that all 4 of the conditions A to D set out in the legislation have been met
- the company is subject to an insolvency procedure, or there is a serious possibility of becoming subject to one
- the company is liable to an income tax charge as a result of receiving a COVID-19 support payment it was not entitled to receive
- the individual was responsible for the management of the company at the time the tax first became chargeable, and the individual knew (at that time) that the company was not entitled to the relating COVID-19 support payment
- there is a serious possibility that some or all of the income tax liability will not be paid
GBIP in Taiwan: Smart Cities
Innovate UK is inviting applications for their Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) to Taiwan from companies developing new technologies to address challenges in:
- smart healthcare
- smart mobility
- intelligent buildings and housing
- new energy solutions
- future education
- direct citizen engagement
- urban infrastructure and planning
Taiwan is an excellent testbed for future cities innovations and this programme will enable you to find potential collaborators and improve your company’s value proposition to international partners and investors.
The programme, delivered by Innovate UK EDGE, consists of:
- a preparation phase
- a 5-day innovation visit focused on Smart Cities
- a post-visit exploitation workshop
- follow-up support from an Innovate UK EDGE Innovation and Growth Specialist
The programme aims to help your business maximise the opportunities identified, including developing innovation projects with partners in the territory.
This initiative will be delivered physically and include virtual activities.
See: Global Business Innovation Programme Taiwan Smart Cities Flyer 2022 (ukri.org)
Climate and Environmental Risk Analytics for Resilient Finance
Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative competition will assist in integrating climate and environmental factors into financial services.
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £1.5 million inclusive of VAT.
This competition will fund projects that bring climate and environmental risk analytics into the everyday practices of financial services.
These risks include:
- physical risks to supply chains and property as posed by increasingly common natural disasters
- litigation risk where businesses are liable for their contribution to damages to nature
- transition risk whereby socioeconomic or political shifts toward net zero undermine non-aligned investments
The competition will fund companies to develop cutting-edge solutions for greening finance and to trial these solutions with partners in the finance industry.
The closing date is 16 February 2022.
See: Climate and environmental risk analytics for resilient finance: phase one – UKRI
£50 million of Government Investment Announced for Creative Businesses Across the UK
£18 million funding will support creative businesses outside of London as they create new economic opportunities in their areas, £21 million to go into three-year UK Global Screen Fund to promote UK films internationally and £8 million will help entrepreneurial, start-up video game developers from across the UK create new games the government announced last week.
Geovation Accelerator Programme is Now Open for Applications
The Geovation Accelerator Programme is backed by Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry. The Programme offers 6 months intensive support, structured to each start-ups needs, aimed at helping founders grow their business. Start-ups receive up to £20,000 grant funding and the equivalent to over £100,000 in benefits on the Programme.
Applications for the Spring 2022 intake are now open and are seeking start-ups working in PropTech, as well as start-ups using location data in the energy and mobility industries, especially with a sustainability angle.
The deadline to apply is 28 February 2022.
See: Startup Accelerator Programme | Geovation | London
Great Taste 2022 Awards
Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme.
Putting your food or drink to the test with our panel of over 500 experts is a quick way to get honest, straightforward and impartial feedback from chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers. Whether your product receives a 1, 2 or 3 star accolade, Great Taste stars are highly respected seals of approval.
General entry closes 14 February 2022 (competition will close earlier if entry cap is reached)
See: Great Taste – Guild of Fine Food (gff.co.uk)
UK Government Sets Out Blueprint to Transform UK
The UK government’s Levelling Up white paper has set out the blueprint to expand opportunities across the United Kingdom.
The UK government has set 12 new missions to drive change to people’s lives by spreading opportunity and reversing geographical inequalities.
Leaders across the UK will be asked to find new ways to collaborate and learn from each other’s successes as the UK faces common challenges.
One example is a Silicon Valley-style ‘Innovation Accelerator’ for Glasgow to create quality new jobs and boost regional economies.
See: UK Government sets out blueprint to transform UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Coronavirus Distance Aware Scheme
This initiative lets individuals politely request space or care around them by wearing a recognisable badge or lanyard.
Businesses and organisations can also purchase their own badges or lanyards for distribution to staff or visitors, but this is not mandatory.
Businesses can support the Distance Aware scheme by:
- displaying posters or leaflets in your organisation or premises
- sharing information about the campaign on your social media channels
- encouraging your staff, members and/or customers to use the #BeDistanceAware hashtag
- sharing information on your website or through email communications
- encouraging workplace or member discussions about what Distance Aware means and how to promote and understand it within your business or organisation
- purchasing badges, lanyards, or any items with the symbol for your staff, members or customers
- talking to staff, members or customers who may benefit from the scheme and making lanyards or badges available if appropriate
The Distance Aware scheme is a voluntary scheme for individuals, businesses and organisations to participate in. The Scottish Government believes that the scheme can provide some confidence to anyone that is anxious about being around others as restrictions ease and return to a more normal way of life.
See: Coronavirus (COVID-19): distance aware scheme – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Guidance for Driving Instructors and Motorcycle Trainers
The Scottish Government has issued guidance for driving instructors and motorcycle trainers about how to operate safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Topics include the use of face coverings, Test and Protect rules and guidance, precautionary measures, hygiene and working safely.
The guidance includes advice on:
- risk assessments
- workforce planning and support
- delivering a lesson
- vehicle cleaning and ventilation
- physical distancing
- face coverings
See: Coronavirus (COVID-19): vehicle lessons – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Public House Table Service Restrictions Fund
The Public House Table Service Restrictions Fund will provide financial support to public houses that were required to introduce table service to help control the COVID Omicron variant from December 2021.
The grant is a one-off payment at the rate of:
- £2,500 for businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less
- £5,000 for businesses with a rateable value over £51,001
The fund will close on 14 February 2022.
See: Coronavirus (COVID-19): funding for businesses affected by Omicron control measures – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Close Contact Services Fund
The Close Contact Services Fund will provide a one-off payment to support eligible close contact service businesses impacted by the COVID restrictions and guidance introduced from 9 December 2021 to 24 January 2022 to control the Omicron variant.
The grant is a one-off payment of:
- £1,000 for self-employed businesses
- £1,500 for non-domestic rates (NDR) registered businesses with premises
See: Close Contact Services Fund (findbusinesssupport.gov.scot)
Sustainability Certification Scheme Fund for Tourism Recovery
This fund isn’t open for applications yet. The application form will be available from 10 February 2022. You can read the guidance now.
This fund is aimed at providers of sustainability certification schemes, to allow them to offer a discounted or free membership to tourism businesses for one year. This will provide support for tourism businesses to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 in a sustainable manner.
This £75,000 fund is being delivered by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
See: Sustainability Certification Scheme Fund for Tourism Recovery (findbusinesssupport.gov.scot)
