News Archive

20/2/2024

 
Competition And Markets Authority To Scrutinise Infant Formula Market Through A Market Study

The market study into infant formula is part of the CMA's ongoing work to contain cost of living pressures in the groceries sector.   The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today launched a market study into the supply of infant formula in the UK, after publishing its initial findings and committing to look at the sector in further detail in November last year.  

20/2/2024

 
Companies House Fees Increasing From 1 May 2024

Companies House fees are set on a cost recovery basis.  This means the fees must cover the cost of the services we deliver.  

20/2/2024

 
Britain's Exposure To Trade Shocks Has Shifted From The Factory Gate To Cities And The Supermarket

The traditional threat from globalisation - domestic manufacturing being replaced by cheaper imports - has declined in recent decades.  But Britain faces new and emerging trade exposures - from high-earning service sector jobs to cheap food in supermarkets - according to new research published on Monday 19 February 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.  

20/2/2024

 
Government Cracks Down On Controversial Fire And Rehire Practices

The Government has announced action to tackle the use of controversial 'fire and rehire' practices.   Government acts against controversial dismissal tactics through a new statutory Code of Practice.  

19/2/2024

Best Start Grant School Age Payment - Apply Now

School Age Payment is a payment of £294.70 per child to help with the costs of preparing for school when a child is first old enough to start primary school.   The child does not have to have taken up a place at school, however, applications should still be made in the year that the child is first old enough to start school, even if the parent / carer decides to defer when the child starts or the child is not going to school.  

19/2/2024

Government Launches Crackdown On Mobile Phones In Schools In England

Schools will receive new guidance on prohibiting mobile phone use during the school day in England.   Mobile phones are set to be prohibited in schools across England as part of the government's plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms.  

19/2/2024

£12.4 Million To Help Change Choices About Work - One Of Them On Endometriosis

Six ground-breaking projects including an investigation looking at how endometriosis impacts women in the workplace have been awarded £12.4 million, the government announced on, Tuesday 12 September 2023.   The plans have now been updated.  

19/2/2024

Supporting Students Over The Summer - Year-long financial support for undergraduates

Higher education students can apply to spread their student financial support package over a 12-month period for the first time this coming academic year.   The year-long package of support will be available for eligible undergraduate students from August 2024.  

19/2/2024

XL Bully Dog Safeguards Coming Into Force - Deadline Approaches For New Rules

XL Bully dog owners are being urged to prepare for new rules which are expected to come into force this Friday.   New laws laid for consideration in Parliament will make it illegal to sell, advertise, gift or exchange XL Bully dogs, or letting such dogs stray.  

18/2/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Property Demand Study Launched By Highlands and Islands Enterprisie

As part of the study, businesses, community groups and social enterprises with future land or property plans are encouraged to complete a short survey by 22 March 2024.   Whether it's interest in land for sale or space to lease, HIE is keen to hear from organisations already based in the region as well as from those that are considering locating a business to the area.  

18/2/2024

 
The UK Enters Recession - An Institute for Economic Affairs Take On It

Matthew Lesh, a Director of Public Policy and Communications with the Institute for Economic Affairs looks at the latest position.   The Office for National Statistics announced last week that the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the final quarter of 2023 after a 0.1 per cent fall in the third quarter.  

17/2/2024

Barclays To Acquire Tesco's Retail Banking Business

Tesco Bank has regularly been featured in our Best Buy tables of Savings Champion, offering competitive easy access accounts and fixed rate bonds and ISAs from time to time.  But it was announced last week that Barclays has entered into an agreement to acquire the retail banking business of Tesco, in a deal said to be worth £600m, which will include an exclusive long-term partnership to offer Tesco branded deposit accounts as well as credit cards and personal loans.  

17/2/2024

 
How We Got Into This Mess, And How We Get Out Of It - An Economics Lesson In 6 Minutes

Robert Reich an American sets it all out graphically and simply.   It equally applies to the UK and Europe.  

17/2/2024

 
Top Tips For Jobseekers At Risk Of Fake DBS Check Recruitment Scams

To coincide with the launch of the Home Office Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure & Barring Service is providing support to job seekers for a safer employment search.   Persuading job seekers to pay for a non-existent DBS check is a tactic being used by fraudsters to extract cash from their victims, with January and February a peak period for scammers to pounce.  

17/2/2024

 
Back To Work Boost As Quarter Of A Million Workplace Training Places Delivered

More than a quarter of a million workplace training places for benefit claimants have been delivered in just three years, new data reveals.   266,000 workplace training places delivered - boosting skills and long-term economic growth.  

17/2/2024

Trains Back to Normal Inverness to Thurso Wick today

According to the Scotrail web site trains are back to normal to the north.   Following the storms that affected parts of the track safety checks have all been completed.  

17/2/2024

 
Tax Credits Recipients Will Receive Cost Of Living Payment From 16 February

Eligible tax credits only customers will automatically receive a Cost of Living payment.   Around 700,000 families who receive tax credits and no other qualifying benefits will receive their £299 Cost of Living Payment from today, 16 February 2024, to help with everyday costs.  

17/2/2024

Government Plans To Boost Dental Workforce By Cutting Red Tape in England

New proposals would give General Dental Council powers to provisionally register dentists trained overseas to start delivering care as quickly as possible.   Highly-skilled dentists with qualifications obtained overseas must currently undergo lengthy registration process to work in UK New proposals would give General Dental Council (GDC) powers to provisionally register those dentists to start delivering care as quickly as possible.  

17/2/2024

Top Up Your Pension With National Insurance Cut

Announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the November 2023 Autumn Statement, the National Insurance (NI) cuts are now in effect as of 6 January 2024, with further cuts for self-employed taxpayers scheduled to arrive 6 April 2024.   For those who can afford it, these cuts to National Insurance rates could present a perfect opportunity to increase your pension over time.  

17/2/2024

Automatic Enrolment Changes Could Add £105bn To Young Adults' Pensions Over 50 Years

The Government's decision to extend automatic enrolment to workers aged between 18 and 21 could mean an additional £105bn of pension savings for younger people across the UK over the next 50 years, according to new analysis by People's Partnership, which provides The People's Pension to more than 6.5 million people across the UK.   Following the passing of a new Bill in Parliament last year, automatic enrolment, which has seen nearly 11 million people start saving into a pension since 2012, is set to be extended to workers aged between 18 to 21 by the mid-2020s.