Author: Jaime Thorpe
Government criticised for gaps in self-employment support during Covid
IPSE: ‘Many of the report’s findings echo the deep concerns we raised over gaps in support for the self-employed throughout the pandemic’.
Repayment agency banned from trading
HMRC: ‘We will not allow a small number of bad actors to tarnish the reputation of the whole tax agent sector’.
Chancellor urged to tackle childcare crisis in Spring Budget
FSB: ‘To make sure more people can work, and we can secure growth in the long term, the Chancellor has a real opportunity to tackle the domino effect that rising childcare costs have on the workforce’.
SME concern over looming fuel duty hike
FSB: ‘If fuel duty rises as planned, it would represent a missed opportunity to remove one of the obstacles that will hinder growth – but the Chancellor still has the power to rectify that mistake in next month’s Spring Statement’.
FSB publishes Budget submission to support SMEs and secure recovery
FSB: ‘There have been very encouraging signs that Jeremy Hunt ‘gets it’ – the Budget is make or break to see if he can turn words into action’.
Calls for childcare reform
REC: ‘We urge government to work with labour market experts to better understand and address the causes of economic inactivity – and we are finding the availability and cost of childcare is a significant barrier to work right now’.
UK business confidence at six-month high
Lloyds Bank: ‘Business confidence continues to improve following the December boost. Firms are clearly more optimistic about the wider economy and this is driving the increase, helped by precursory signs that wage and other cost pressures may be easing’.
Procurement Bill could be a ‘game-changer’ for SMEs
FSB: ‘SMEs face a costly and confusing procurement process. Figures show that only one in five have tried to bid for a public sector contract in the last three years due to roadblocks – which is why the Government needs to go further to knock these down, to stimulate growth for both SMEs and the wider economy’.