Following on from our latest newsletter, information about the Recovery Loan Scheme has come to light that we feel it's worth sharing before the next one: The Recovery Loan Scheme  What is the aim of the RLS? To enable UK businesses who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to access Government backed loans from accredited lenders. When does the RLS open? It opens on 6th April 2021 and will run until 31st December 2021. What type of business is eligible for the RLS? Sole traders, Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships. Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies. Any other legal entity carrying out business activity in the UK through a business bank account. Businesses which have already had a Coronavirus loan, such as through the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) or the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) or the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), can still apply, although in certain circumstances, it mig...

I hope you have all enjoyed the Easter weekend and eaten lots of chocolate? Tomorrow sees the start of a new financial year and as always, that means change for a number of things. Today’s newsletter look at the changes but firstly let's have a look at the Brexit Support Fund. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Contact details can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.                                BREXIT SUPPORT FUND Who is it aimed at? It is aimed at SME businesses who incur costs for training or professional advice to deal with their customs excise, import/export VAT or safety and security declarations. What is the size of the grant? It provides grants of up to £2,000. It could be a training grant or one for profession advice or both. The total grant cannot exceed £2,000 What is the eligibility criteria for a business? It must be established in the UK. It must ha...

Employer Update End of Year 2020/21 and P60 End of Year Certificate The final submission for the tax year is due this month. Please ensure all payments made to employees have been recorded through the payroll. If this is not the case please let us know straight away as we may need to submit an amended submission for the year. If you have not yet received the P60 End of Year Certificates for your staff, we will be sending these to you shortly. These need to be given to your employees by the deadline of 31st May 2021. Working Patterns and Weekly Hours It is important that we know the working patterns and weekly hours for your employees. We need these details when calculating statutory payments, such as Statutory Sick Pay, in order to calculate the correct weekly amount due. This also aids us when calculating the hourly rate for your employees and ensuring that you meet the National Minimum Wage requirements. Increase in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage The National Min...

***OUT NOW*** Are you stressed and overworked? Do you wish your customers paid you more? Do your customers value your work? Do you have a cash flow problem? If you have answered yes to any or all of the above, ‘The Quote Handbook’ is for you! Since 2013, I have worked as an accountant within the plumbing and heating industry, so I know the ins and outs of this trade from a financial perspective. I often find when gas engineers start up in business, they have massive drive and ambition. They dream of turning over £1million plus per annum, owning the best sign written vans, having office staff and a team of loyal, trustworthy engineers working for them - The Boss! They want the financial freedom, wish to retire young and leave a legacy behind which will make their family proud. Most plumbing and heating engineers are excellent on the tools, but with the running of the business, they fall short. Many plumbing and heating businesses churn out jobs and work to please their customers, with ...

Today’s newsletter is to update you on few things including the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme and an interesting tale of two Uber drivers who went to the Supreme Court over worker rights and what the outcome could mean for businesses going forward. I should image after BoJo’s announcement later today and the fast-approaching budget, we’ll have another newsletter out soon. The National Debt Support Fund The Government have now set up a facility for individuals and presumably businesses to make voluntary donations to help pay down the National Debt or to be used for public expenditure. If that is of interest to either you or anyone within your client base please see the link below: Voluntary payments / donations to government - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme Who is it aimed at? Businesses who deferred their VAT payments due between 20th March 2020 and 30th June 2020 and have yet to pay it over to HMRC. What 3 options are presently open to these businesses?...

Many clients tell us that the main challenge they face when trying to improve their business is finding time to work ON the business without the distraction of day to day tasks. The team at Together We Count have shared their tips for tackling this challenge. Implementing just one of these will help you towards your goals... 1. Put the following questions on a laminated sheet and ask yourself the questions before you start any task. It’s a great way to eliminate the jobs you shouldn’t be doing. Keep the sheet handy and get into the habit of referring to it regularly: How critical is it that this task is done? (If critical, block out time in diary. If not critical, either add it to the “nice ideas” list or delegate it) How important is it that I do this task? If not me, who is the best person to do it? Is there a step-by-step system or training video? If the task is likely to be repeated there should be a system?   2. Make an appointment with yourself. Block it out in your diary (pa...