March 2023 News and Blogs

Find out about the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) for non-domestic customers. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will run for 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. This scheme replaces the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which supported businesses and organisations between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. For further information please select the following link Energy Bills Discount Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Business Wales is here to support businesses through the...

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government "Today (30 March 2023) I am providing an update about our proposal to provide local authorities with the power to introduce a discretionary visitor levy. A levy would be a small charge paid by people staying overnight in commercially-let accommodation, raising new money to be re-invested in local areas. This work is being undertaken as part of the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru. A public consultation...

On 7 April 2023, World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) will observe its 75th anniversary. This year’s theme is ‘Health for All’. In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.  WHO’s 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality...

The Startup Academy is a free 10-week incubator programme for pre-start and early stage tech founders to help get their Startup Ideas off the ground. Successful applicants will be supported through mentorship, on-demand content and independent learning materials via the Startup Academy portal as well as weekly peer-to-peer sessions. The programme culminates with a Showcase Day - an opportunity for the cohort to demo their tech and showcase their skills. Registration closes on 7 April...

Business in the Community’s (BITC) Age-Inclusive Business Review is a free, online, self-assessment tool to help identify gaps and highlight strengths in relation to being an age-inclusive and age-friendly employer. It will take approximately 25 minutes to complete, and you will receive bespoke age-inclusion recommendations for your organisation. Business in the Community Cymru in partnership with Age Cymru are delivering the Age at Work Programme, supporting businesses to create workplaces where older workers can thrive...

The UK Government has launched a consultation on the role of the Small Business Commissioner as part of a statutory review. The consultation will examine: the Commissioner’s effectiveness in carrying out the functions of the office the impact of its work on improving payment practices in commercial transactions awareness and use of alternative dispute resolution procedures among small businesses The consultation closes on 28 April 2023. Read more about the consultation at Small Business Commissioner...

With energy prices increasing the whole issue of energy efficiency is in the spotlight. Business Wales, the North Wales Business Council, Ambition North Wales, in collaboration with the Welsh Government Energy Service, has summarised some ‘low and no cost’ energy efficiency solutions, to help businesses and individuals mitigate against rising energy costs this year: Adjust heating system timings, temperatures and rooms – reducing the set point temperature by just 1ºC can save you up to...

Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services Wales’ long-term COVID-19 transition plan Together for a Safer Future, published in March 2022, highlighted the vital role our Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) programme played during the pandemic in reducing the transmission of coronavirus. The pandemic has not gone away – we continue to experience waves of infection and new variants of the virus are emerging. We remain in a Covid Stable situation – the virus...

The arrival of Ramadan this week brings a month of worship, devotion and community gathering for many Muslims in the UK – and a responsibility on employers to support their employees during a month-long holy period. Ramadan begins on Wednesday 22 March and finishes on Friday 21 April, with the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, when Muslims break their daylight fasting. The beginning of Ramadan is an ideal time to remember the...

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched two new security tools aimed at small businesses, microbusinesses, organisations and sole traders that lack the resources to address cyber issues. The National Cyber Security Centre – a part of Government Communications Headquarters – unveiled the services to coincide with the latest phase of its Cyber Aware campaign. The Cyber Action Plan can be completed online in under 5 minutes and results in tailored advice for businesses...