COVID-19: THE LATEST
For all the latest news and updates, visit our Covid-19 Hub.
NET ZERO
Our Sustainability Hub has everything you need to help you on your journey to net zero.
EU TRADE
If you are a UK business which trades with Europe, keep track of the latest changes and developments via FSB's Transition Hub.
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
GDP fall in December shows need for NICs rethink
ONS figures show that the economy shrank by 0.2% in December, while export and import volumes for last year were down £36.8bn and £23.4bn respectively on where they stood in 2018. FSB said it showed that the economic recovery was not yet underway in any true sense, and called for the coming jobs tax hike to be cancelled. FSB National Chair Mike Cherry commented: "Unless policymakers intervene before this April flashpoint to cancel the jobs tax hike and alleviate the mounting wider pressures that small firms face, we risk long-term scarring of the economy and local communities."
Ditch NICs to boost apprenticeship numbers
At the beginning of England's National Apprenticeship Week, FSB highlighted how bringing back the apprenticeship incentive in England and scrapping the planned National Insurance hike could help apprenticeship starts - which fell from just under 500,000 a year in 2016/17, before the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, to under 325,000 in 2020/21 - to recover. FSB's Mike Cherry said: "Small businesses disproportionately hire young people and those from disadvantaged groups when they create apprenticeships, so a targeted reintroduction of the hiring incentive that existed over lockdowns makes sense in the context of the levelling up agenda."
Covid restrictions in England to end
The Prime Minister announced that the "last domestic restrictions" in England - due to expire on 24 March - could end a month early if "current encouraging trends in the data continue". FSB's Mike Cherry responded: "With existing law on Covid restrictions set to be replaced with guidance, we need the Government to swiftly clarify where small businesses will stand when changes take effect... We're urging the Government to bring back the workplace testing initiative, remove the lower earnings limit for sick pay entitlement and extend the current SSP rebate for small firms to cover all time away from the workplace."
Cross-party Brexit report
The Public Accounts Committee of MPs has released a report on Brexit which says that since the transition period ended in December 2020, "new border arrangements have added costs to business". FSB's Mike Cherry commented: "This important cross-party report lays bare the impact of increasing trade admin on small firms. The PAC rightly highlights that not enough of the SME Brexit Support Fund was accessed by firms in need before it closed due to unreasonable eligibility criteria and unrealistic deadlines - we're urging government to build on that previous programme, learn lessons and launch a new trade support fund for small businesses with a genuinely international focus."
IR35 implementation report
The National Audit Office has published a report looking at how the IR35 reforms to off-payroll working in the public sector were implemented by HMRC. The report finds that the reforms "achieved their primary purpose of reducing non-compliance", but that public sector bodies "had little time to prepare; some found it difficult to use the original guidance and tool that HMRC had provided; and there was a limited understanding on all sides of how much time and resource were needed to get it right".
Avoiding tax avoidance guidance
HMRC has updated its advice for contractors who are self-employed or employed through an agency or umbrella company on how they can avoid unexpected tax bills, through its Tax avoidance - don't get caught out site.
Parking code of practice
Private carpark operators in England, Scotland and Wales will now be subject to a new Code of Practice, the Government has said. The new measures "will protect drivers from unfair and extortionate charges", and "will see parking fines cut by up to 50% in the majority of cases".
Are you a designer?
Calling all UK designers, architects, and engineers: The Design Council wants to better understand who is a designer today, what their personal and professional backgrounds are, and what kind of design they practice. Take the survey.
Negotiation and technical networking webinars
Next week's free FSB webinars are on Negotiation - Structuring Better Outcomes (15 Feb), helping attendees boost their negotiation and bargaining skills, and Networking - Let's Talk Technical (16 Feb), for anyone working in engineering, manufacturing or transport.
Net zero webinar
The British Business Bank is holding a seminar for SMEs on 23 February, Net zero heroes: Small business - big impact, which will explore the role of small businesses in tackling climate change, through case studies of firms which have already had an impact.
Taxi and scrap metal licence changes
From April 2022, HMRC will be introducing a new tax check to ensure that licence holders in the taxi, PHV, and scrap metal industries are properly registered for tax. Check here if you need to be registered.
JOIN BIG VOICE AND MAKE YOUR BUSINESS HEARD
Big Voice is FSB's unique online research community for members. By responding to one of our surveys, members give us the evidence we need to engage with politicians around the world on the subjects that matter to you.