2021 News and Blogs

With many seasonal jobs being filled at this time of year, it is important that employers protect the health and safety of gig economy, agency and temporary workers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website has guidance to help users and suppliers of agency and temporary workers understand their health and safety responsibilities. If you are an agency or temporary worker then your health and safety is protected by law and employment businesses (agencies) have...

Forming your vision of where you ultimately want to be in life is a major achievement and a big step on the way to successfully following your passion. But your final destination can seem so far away that it feels like more of a dream than reality. To make it more real and prevent the sheer scale of what you want to achieve becoming too daunting, you need to break down your journey into smaller...

The Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) is targeted at businesses in the hospitality, leisure and attraction sectors and their supply chains who have been materially impacted by a greater than 50% reduction of turnover between 13 December 2021 and 14 February 2022. The funds seeks to compliment other COVID-19 response measures to support businesses, social enterprises and charitable organisations in Wales. The ERF will support: Businesses impacted between 13 December 2021 and 14 February 2022 and...

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Public Health Advice, Guidance and Expertise (PHAGE) group has presented evidence to the four chief medical officers regarding the duration of self-isolation for COVID-19 cases and the potential to reduce this period with support from repeat testing with lateral flow devices (LFDs). This advised that a 7-day isolation period alongside two negative LFD test results has nearly the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period without LFD testing...

Fairtrade Fortnight will be back Monday 21 February to Sunday 6 March 2022. For two weeks each year thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to share the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks and who grow the cotton in our clothes. For further information please visit the Fairtrade website. If you run a business find out how by becoming a responsible business you can have a...

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment customers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020 to 2021 tax return. These grants are taxable and customers should declare them on their 2020 to 2021 tax return before the deadline on 31 January 2022. The SEISS application and payment windows during the 2020 to 2021 tax year were: SEISS 1: 13 May 2020 to 13 July 2020 SEISS 2: 17 August 2020 to...

Whether you want to be your own boss, have a business idea or simply want to improve your entrepreneurial skills, this is the event for you. Start Up 2022 is an absolute must for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. It’s your chance to not only discover everything you need to know about starting and growing a business, but to connect with advisers and experts who’ll help take your enterprise to the next level. Join the virtual...

Wales’ leading doctor has urged everyone to take steps to protect themselves from Covid-19 as case rates are surging to their highest levels in the pandemic. Dr Chris Jones, Wales’ deputy chief medical officer, encouraged people across Wales to get their booster vaccine and follow measures to curb the spread of the virus. The latest figures show case rates have risen sharply to more than 910 cases per 100,000 people – the highest levels since...

Changes have been made to the self-isolation requirements for close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases. Fully vaccinated adults, children aged 5-18 and vaccine clinical trial participants identified as a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19 will not need to isolate. Instead, they should take lateral flow tests for 7 days as a precautionary measure. You can get lateral flow tests: by collecting from a pharmacy or a local collection point: Find your nearest...

HMRC have written to traders with a reminder of the changes coming into force from 1 January 2022 and how they might affect the way goods are imported and exported between Great Britain and the EU. You can read this letter, along with more information about these changes by going to GOV.UK Temporary arrangements for movements from Ireland and Northern Ireland The UK government has announced that current customs arrangements for goods moving from Ireland...