Blog
Make a habit of motivation
Posted 3rd May 2022 at 7:41 pm
We’ve all described ourselves – or maybe even a colleague or friend – as lacking the motivation to do something at one time or another. Motivation is the force which drives us to act; if we’re standing in the road and a bus is coming, our motivation for stepping out of the way is the fear of getting run over! Most people don’t struggle with short term motivation for imperative action, but our motivation can wane when the action is not ‘life or death’ or just takes place over a longer time period. Motivation is important for business leaders, and... Read more
Take control of your business
Posted 25th April 2022 at 1:44 pm
The pandemic put many businesses off-track in the short and medium term, and with the additional uncertainty created by Brexit during the same timeframe, and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine adding to the mix, it is not surprising to learn that economic growth has slowed and that the UK economy is now only 1.5% above its February 2020 level. While the situation in Ukraine is still cause for concern in humanitarian and political terms, the ongoing economic impact is as yet unknown. At least with the pandemic now losing momentum, and the Brexit situation more stable, there are fewer... Read more
Changes you need to know about to VAT
Posted 20th April 2022 at 6:53 am
On 1st April two major changes to VAT were implemented. One or both of these may affect your business, so read on to find out more. Making Tax Digital is now mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses Making Tax Digital (MTD) became mandatory for all VAT registered businesses on the 1 April 2022. The government states that MTD helps taxpayers get their tax returns right by reducing common mistakes as well as saving time managing their tax affairs and is a key part of the overall digitalisation of UK tax. VAT-registered businesses that have not yet signed up to MTD for VAT should do so... Read more
Tap into the Jubilee spirit!
Posted 13th April 2022 at 6:27 am
Her Majesty the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this year, with events planned across the country during the four-day Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. There is huge potential for businesses to tap into the feelgood factor brought about by the festivities, but you do need to take care not to look too opportunistic, or even fall foul of the law! The movement of the May bank holiday to the end of the week, with the addition of the extra day is something that hopefully all businesses are by now aware of. Employers and employees... Read more
Spring Statement summary
Posted 4th April 2022 at 1:30 pm
With inflation rising and households facing the largest ever recorded cost-of-living squeeze, Chancellor Rishi Sunak recently delivered the government’s Spring Statement. This blog summarises some of the key points that you should be aware of. The treasury predicts that inflation is likely to average 7.4% for the rest of the year, a rise from the current level of 6.2%. This will put further significant pressure on household budgets as the cost of living continues to increase. Local Authorities are to be given a further £500m of funding for the Household Support Fund, which is designed to help the most... Read more
Fraudsters attack personal tax accounts
Posted 31st March 2022 at 10:36 am
Last month, HMRC made coordinated arrests of several individuals in locations across England as part of an investigation into suspected Self Assessment repayment fraud and money laundering offences. As a result, HMRC is warning individuals not to share their personal information online to avoid their identities being used to commit tax fraud. In the cases seen so far, individuals are being targeted on social media platforms and offered the opportunity to ‘lend’ their identities to a fraudster, who promises a cut of the tax refund in a fraud that they claim is ‘risk free’. However, handing over sensitive personal information... Read more
Work Trip travel tips
Posted 21st March 2022 at 12:51 pm
Since the lifting of all Covid restrictions in England, many people have found that they are now finally getting back to some sort of pre-pandemic normal with regard to business trips. If it’s been a while since you last left home for a work trip, you might find the tips below useful to remind you what to do! Get organised It may take you longer than you think to pack your suitcase for a work trip these days! Many of us used to have a ‘ready to go’ bag that we just added a few items to each time... Read more
How will the Commonwealth Games benefit our region?
Posted 15th March 2022 at 8:33 am
After 5 years of preparation Birmingham is warming up for the Commonwealth Games, with the 11 day event featuring 71 countries set to take place later this summer. With an estimated 1.5 billion viewers due to tune into the event, we look at how the games may benefit our region now and in the future. Regeneration of key areas in Birmingham is already nearly complete, including a £72 million redevelopment of Alexander Stadium, and a £500 million investment in Perry Barr to deliver 5000 new homes, and transport improvements promising greater accessibility by both road and public transport. Victoria Square... Read more
How to support your staff on International Women’s Day
Posted 8th March 2022 at 11:49 am
It’s International Women’s Day! (Yes, there is an International Men’s Day too but not until November!) In celebration of this day we’re sharing our top tips for supporting women in the workforce. Amplify their voices Every woman knows the feeling of having something they say ignored, only to hear a man say the same thing later and be hailed for it as an heroic genius. If this happens in a meeting or other professional conversation, you can help by saying something along the lines of ‘I think that was X’s idea / Isn’t that similar to what you just... Read more
How to help Ukraine
Posted 3rd March 2022 at 10:10 pm
A humanitarian crisis is developing in Ukraine, and you might be wondering whether there is anything that you can do to help. Advice from charities expert in providing humanitarian support have identified the three main things that we can do here in the UK to make the most impact. Firstly, visa restrictions are preventing Ukranian refugees seeking asylum in the UK. If you disagree with the government’s stance on this, you can sign a petition or write to your MP, to ask them to change their minds. In some circumstances it is possible for employers to sponsor work visas... Read more