Lancashire businesses can now access subsidised occupational health support under a new pioneering project. The move is part of a government trial initiative designed to stop employees leaving the workplace and to ease the process of people returning to work. The scheme is being piloted in Lancashire by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) […]
In a welcome development, chancellor Jeremy Hunt lifted the VAT threshold for small businesses in his Budget statement. He announced that it would be increased from £85,000 to £90,000 from the beginning of April. It will be the first increase in seven years and the chancellor said the move would lift tens of thousands of […]
Small and medium sized businesses are facing a growing credit crunch, according to new research. A report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed they are finding it harder to access finance and are seeing credit costs rise. The figures show barely more than half (53 per cent) of SME credit applications were […]
Scrapping Inheritance Tax (IHT) is back on the Cabinet table, with reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering the move as he looks towards this year’s general election. There are now strong suggestions that the tax is in chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s sights again, ahead of the spring Budget, which will take place on March […]
A support programme aimed at helping Lancashire businesses start, grow and thrive has unveiled a new range of services, thanks to a fresh £3.9m funding deal. The new funding will ensure that Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, continues until March 2025, with a potential extension beyond that. Boost, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this […]
The government has announced what it describes as tougher measures to tackle the issue of late payments to small businesses. It says measures, which will be included in a soon to be published ‘Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review’ will improve enable more small firms to get paid on time. The measures have been broadly […]
Companies are tightening their belts as cost pressures increase but there is still cautious optimism in the air. Rising interest rates and high costs have forced many firms to cut spending, freeze pay increases and restructure operations as they grapple with cost pressures, new research shows. A survey of 605 UK mid-sized businesses found that […]
Britain’s banks face fines if they fail to provide free access to cash withdrawals for businesses and consumers. A new government policy, unveiled this month, will mean that free cash withdrawals and deposits must be available within one mile for people living in urban areas. In rural areas, where there are concerns over ‘cash deserts’, […]
Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub has revealed plans to deliver a new programme of business support between September this year and March 2025. The new programme will be funded by Lancashire County Council, along with 10 of the county’s 14 local authority district councils, who have each committed a proportion of their UK Shared Prosperity […]
The government has been urged to raise the VAT threshold amid warnings interest rates are a ‘straitjacket” on business investment. The call follows the Bank of England’s decision to increase interest rates by 0.5 points to five per cent. Some financial experts believe that rate will have to go up even further as the bank […]
