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January 6, 2025
A fresh start: Reviewing your business goals for the New Year

The start of January marks a time of new beginnings, and for business owners, it’s the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan ahead. After the whirlwind of the festive season, January offers a quieter moment to consider where your business is headed, how it’s performing, and whether you’re still on track to meet your goals.

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January 2, 2025
Latest statistics show economy shrinking while wages grow

The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest official figures for October show that the economy shrank for the second month in a row, while pay growth increased for the first time in more than a year.

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December 23, 2024
Spring Forecast scheduled for 26 March 2025

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has confirmed 26 March 2025 as the date for the Spring Forecast.

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December 19, 2024
Chancellor promotes reset of UK-EU trade relations

Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke last week at a meeting of EU finance ministers as part of the government’s attempt to perform an economic reset with the EU. It was the first time a UK chancellor has attended such an event since the UK left the EU.

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December 18, 2024
HMRC introduces new interactive tool for self-employed people

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have announced the launch of a new interactive online tool and clearer guidance for those who are already self-employed and those considering it.

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December 16, 2024
Spread the cost of your Self Assessment tax bill with HMRC's Time to Pay

With the holidays and end of the year fast approaching, it’s a good time to plan your finances for the new year. For those who file Self Assessment tax returns, the prospect of having to make a heavy tax payment at the end of January 2025 may be causing you concern.

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December 12, 2024
Better finance access for disabled entrepreneurs

In the runup to Small Business Saturday last week, a new Disability Finance Code was launched.

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December 11, 2024
New reporting requirements for online platforms

New changes come into effect from January 2025 where online platforms, such as eBay and Airbnb, will start sharing some user sales and personal data with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

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December 9, 2024
New Fair Payments Code launched

The government’s promised new Fair Payments Code was launched last week to try and tackle late payment problems that can be particularly harmful to small businesses.

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December 5, 2024
Get Britain Working White Paper: Reforms to employment support announced

The government has unveiled some significant reforms to employment support, underpinned by a £240 million investment. The measures aim to address deep-rooted issues of unemployment, economic inactivity, and barriers to work, as detailed in the newly published Get Britain Working White Paper.

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December 2, 2024
Be wary of Self Assessment scams

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to be careful about scam attempts that target people filing Self Assessment tax returns. In the last year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were referred to HMRC, a 16.7% increase on last year. With the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaching, fraudsters are likely to step up their activities.

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November 28, 2024
Stay safe during Black Friday season

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024.

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November 26, 2024
VOA to improve transparency on business rates valuations with reforms coming

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, has launched a new initiative aimed at helping British engineering, design, and technical services firms secure international contracts.

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November 25, 2024
Inflation on the rise: What October's figures mean for businesses

The latest inflation figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for October 2024 rose to 2.3%, up from 1.7% in September.

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November 21, 2024
VOA to improve transparency on business rates valuations with reforms coming

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has announced plans to share more detailed information on business rates valuations, making the system more transparent for ratepayers across England.

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