Business News

The proportion of businesses targeted by cyber criminals in the past year increased from 38% to 43%, according to the insurer Hiscox.

A new government-backed mortgage scheme to help people with 5% deposits get on to the housing ladder is available to lenders from 19 April 2021.

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has stated that the recent changes to the rules relating to off-payroll workers, commonly known as IR35, 'undermine the self-employed at the worst possible time'.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the government to act in order to support small businesses exporting to the EU.

HMRC has confirmed it will be contacting potential claimants for the fourth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant this month.

The UK economy returned to modest growth in February despite the country being under lockdown but remains sharply below its pre-pandemic peak, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The government has cut the Plug-in Car Grant and Van & Truck Grant by £500 and lowered the pricing cap on qualifying electric vehicles.

Employees who are working from home will need to make new claims for tax relief for the 2021/22 tax year, HMRC has stated.

A survey carried out by the Institute of Directors (IoD) has revealed that confidence amongst UK businesses has been boosted by plans to re-open the UK economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its UK economic forecasts for 2021 and 2022.

The 6 April start of the new tax year sees important fiscal and business changes come into effect, including the introduction of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS).

UK workers are set to benefit from rises in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) rates that take effect from 1 April 2021.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has warned eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that they have a limited window to apply for a grant under the Brexit Support Fund.

More than 1.5 million Bounce Back loans have been taken out since the coronavirus (COVID-19) support scheme was launched last May, with borrowing by businesses now over £46 billion, according to the Treasury.