Thousands of businesses were left without power and faced untold damage to property and infrastructure after Storm Desmond breached flood defences and inundated large swathes of the north of England in December 2015. Combine this with the growing number of firms, large and small, that are being
Read more →National Insurance has undergone a plethora of changes in recent years that have kept employers on their toes. Businesses that employ apprentices saw a change in the law back in April 2015 when the Government introduced a zero per cent rate of Secondary National Insurance Contributions (NIC)
Read more →Businesses looking to preserve and subsequently boost their IT operating systems can rejoice as Microsoft is offering Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users a free upgrade to Windows 10 – a first for the tech giant. Most SMEs are working with the six-year-old Windows 7 operating platform
Read more →A hike in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is due to take a bigger bite out of individuals and families purchasing properties on or after 1 April 2016. Whilst the reforms are yet to be finalised, the Treasury has published a consultation paper which sheds more light
Read more →The recent passing of the Finance Bill 2016 (a vehicle for renewing taxes, delivering new proposals and maintaining administration) saw many of the measures unveiled by the chancellor come to fruition. To separate fact from fiction, we’ve put together a handy breakdown of the most relevant tax-related
Read more →Although by no means impossible, it’s fair to say that organising a mortgage when you’re self-employed can be a bit of a headache. Sharon Duckworth, director of Key Mortgage Advice, answers your questions and lays out the options available. How will my self-employment mortgage be calculated?
Read more →Millions of older savers have been given the opportunity to boost their retirement income by topping up their state pension. The scheme, known as Class 3A, enables voluntary top ups of up to £25 per week (£1,300 per year) for those already in receipt of a state
Read more →Yesterday the chancellor set out his first all-Conservative Spending Review and Autumn Statement, revealing his party’s economic goals for the next five years – and by anyone’s standards, George Osborne is intending to spend a lot of money. It isn’t immediately obvious how it will all be
Read more →Despite only around 8 per cent of parents expected to utilise the new Shared Parental Leave entitlement, the major reforms mean it is crucial that businesses understand the legislation and its implications, whatever the volume. A revolutionary reform? In a bid to offer families greater flexibility, parents
Read more →You’ve spent years working passionately and relentlessly to build a business empire and it’s inevitable that at some stage you’ll consider an exit. Whether its retirement, moving onto pastures new or handing over the company to a larger organisation, here are our five steps to sale success.
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