Treasury to scrap valuation quango amid efficiency drive April 28, 2025 The Valuation Office Agency will be folded into HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the tax minister has said, in the latest sign of the government’s efforts to trim away fat from the operations of the state. The arms length body responsible for valuing properties to determine tax rates, which spans £60bn worth of valuation each [...]
Small firms splash out £25bn on tax compliance as HMRC accused of ‘poor service’ April 22, 2025 Small firms are set to stump up a combined £25bn on tax compliance this year, a leading industry body has said, as it accused HMRC of failing to answer phone calls or letters. Calls for a vast reform of the UK’s tax system have come from leading think tanks and policymakers for several years. But [...]
Business groups attack ‘deeply damaging’ employment reforms April 16, 2025 The UK’s five largest business groups have warned that the government’s flagship workers’ rights package will be “deeply damaging” to the UK’s growth prospects and will worsen living standards in the UK. In a co-ordinated effort, Britain’s ‘Big Five’ business groups have taken the unusual step of writing to all members of the House of [...]
UK tech startups sound alarm over US tariffs April 8, 2025 The UK’s small and medium-sized tech firms have raised concerns following President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on British goods entering the United States. As part of a sweeping trade shift dubbed ‘Liberation Day’ by the Trump administration, these new levies have injected uncertainty over UK-US economic relations, provoking anxiety among [...]
Bosses fear workers’ rights overhaul more than National Insurance hike March 3, 2025 Employers are more worried about the government’s upcoming reforms to workers’ rights than the widely condemned National Insurance rises announced in the October Budget, a fresh poll has revealed. More than a third (34 per cent) of bosses cited the far-reaching overhaul to employment rights as the biggest challenge facing their organisation in 2025 despite [...]
Labour’s workers’ rights overhaul has small business owners scared February 11, 2025 As the government’s long-awaited overhaul to workers rights’ returns to the Commons, small business owners are worried not enough has been done enough to accommodate their concerns, writes Ali Lyon. For a company that promises to unleash clients’ growth by helping them overcome knotty engineering issues, Bass Rock consultancy has adopted a staid approach to [...]
Small firms slash jobs on fears of employment rights bill January 6, 2025 An alarming number of businesses have become increasingly concerned about the future of the UK’s workforce under the new Labour government’s employment reforms. A fresh survey of 1,270 small employers by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed over 90 per cent are worried about the implications of the Employment Rights Bill. A majority [...]
Workers’ rights: Business secretary defends ‘rushed job’ bill October 10, 2024 The business secretary has defended the government’s plan to overhaul workers’ rights after a lobby group branded it a “rushed job, chaotic and poorly planned”.
Firms fear looming minimum wage rise and workers’ rights package September 9, 2024 The survey makes apparent the extent of business concern over the new deal for workers, which is one of the most controversial aspects of Labour's legislative agenda.
Workers rights: Ministers meet unions but warned on ‘unintended consequences’ of reform August 15, 2024 Unions and employers have met with the government to discuss new plans for workers rights but it comes as ministers are warned against “unintended consequences” of reforms. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds met unions and businesses on Wednesday to kick-start Labour’s work on employment rights. Rayner hailed the meeting as [...]