October 2022 News and Blogs

The iconic Small Business Saturday UK Tour will hit the road again this November 2022! Calling at twenty-three different towns and cities across the UK, the special ten-year anniversary Tour will mark the official count-down to Small Business Saturday on 3 December 2022. ‘The Tour’ will kick off in Glasgow on Monday 31 October 2022 and travel across the UK for five weeks, calling at Merthyr Tydfil on 17 November 2022 and Cardiff on 18...

Protecting your intellectual property makes it easier to take legal action against anyone who steals or copies it. You get limited automatic protection over some intellectual property, for example design right. However, it’s easier to prove you own intellectual property legally if it is registered. Keep your intellectual property secret until it’s registered. If you need to discuss your idea with someone, use a non-disclosure agreement. There are different types of protection depending on what...

Ewan Heppenstall wins Adult Learner of The Year Award at Inspire 2022 National Ceremony. We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Project SEARCH Graduate; Ewan Heppenstall has received the Adult Learner of the Year Award at INSPIRE Adult Learning Ceremony 2022. This is a national award and Ewan was selected from hundreds of candidates, in recognition of his achievements. Please take 2 minutes to watch this video, showcasing Ewan’s journey and his commitment to learning: https://youtu.be/jv3K4gn9S1o...

Import animal products through Welsh ports? From 1 January the rules will change. You may need to pre-notify your imports. The Welsh Government is consulting on a requirement from 1 January 2023 to pre-notify on IPAFFS products of animal origin and regulated and notifiable plants and plant products, not already subject to pre-notification, arriving from Ireland. We will continue to require pre-notification for live animals, high priority plants, and high-risk food and feed not of...

A new initiative designed to help businesses lower their carbon impact and save on energy bills will be accelerated and launched in the new year, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. The Minister has asked the Development Bank of Wales to fast track its plans for an invest to save decarbonisation offer with more favourable terms for businesses looking investing in renewables and energy efficiency measures. Accelerating the introduction of the offer will allow businesses...

This interactive, free all-day event will take place virtually and is part of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) approach to inspire and promote better prevention, management and control of the common risks and causes of work-related ill-health across Great Britain. Building on the success of last year’s conference, which saw huge demand, HSE has increased the capacity five-fold to provide 5,000 spaces for delegates. With discussions on topics including work-related stress and mental health...

Throughout the week of 7 to 11 November 2022 the British Business Bank, along with business support partners from across the UK, are working together to host the inaugural Business Finance Week 2022. During five days of nationwide and regional in-person events, webinars and more, we’re helping smaller businesses learn all about the different finance options available to them to support their individual needs. Each day will be centred round a key theme, giving SMEs...

The October edition of the Employer Bulletin brings you all the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents. The October edition of the Employer Bulletin includes articles on: the reduction in the rate of National Insurance contributions making PAYE Settlement Agreement payments and using the PSA1 online form the new starter checklist interactive guidance Making Tax Digital returns and changes to VAT penalties and interest charges the Government Information and...

Healthy Working Wales has launched new guidance for employers on 'The Cost of Living Crisis'. The new website section provides employers with advice on how they can support their staff’s health and wellbeing through the current economic crisis. It also contains links to useful financial wellbeing services and resources, including Healthy Working Wales’ expert podcast with the Money and Pensions Service. For further information please select the following link The Cost of Living Crisis -...

Success of the pilot means that the project will now head to its second phase. SMART Towns Wales has been awarded further funding after its successes in its first year of operation. The project is primarily aimed at educating and supporting the implementation of various ‘SMART’ technologies. This technology can provide data, which is then analysed to improve business function or public services. Ninety towns across Wales engaged with the programme last year, including 49...