Businesses have been urged to file Companies House accounts online as coronavirus disruption continues to significantly delay processing times.
Author Archive: Muhammad Zia
UK business confidence hits a four-year high
Business confidence in the UK is at the highest level for more than four years according to a new survey, with nine of the 12 UK regions expecting growth.
Tax-related scams double during coronavirus pandemic, figures reveal
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Preston accountants reach finals of prestigious awards
A Preston accountancy firm has reached the finals of one of the region’s most prestigious business awards.
Rotherham Taylor Limited is once again a finalist at the BIBAs – the Be Inspired Business Awards – in the Service Business of the Year category, it has been announced.
The awards, organised by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, are known for their particularly rigorous judging process, which sees firms make detailed written submissions, before a selection of the best entrants are interviewed by the judges.
The judges then hand-pick just a handful of finalists in each category, before winners are announced at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom in September.
Rotherham Taylor’s entry in the awards highlighted its efforts throughout the pandemic to support businesses across the region as they adapted to restrictions on their ability to trade and the complexities of Government support schemes, including furlough.
It detailed the wide-ranging strategies the firm employed to lend a helping hand to business owners grappling with some of the toughest economic conditions in living memory. These included webinars, virtually daily email updates and detailed guides to the support available, in addition to extensive practical support and advice for clients.
Rebecca Bradshaw, a Director at Rotherham Taylor Limited, said: “It is wonderful to be shortlisted, but particularly special this year after the challenges of the last 18 months.
“This is a credit to the efforts of our entire team, who have gone over and above the call of duty to support our clients.
“We are now looking forward to the awards ceremony and finding out whether we will be named Service Business of the Year.”
Government to launch new animal welfare standards following EU departure
New legislation will protect the welfare of farm animals being transported across England and Wales, the Government has announced.
EU directives had previously prevented any changes to animal welfare rules, but now that the UK has left the single market, the UK Government is free to improve standards and regulations.
Here’s what we know about the reforms so far.
What is changing?
According to the consultation document, farm animals will benefit from improved welfare standards compared to those currently afforded under the EU regime.
This includes shorter journey times, more headroom, and “stricter rules” on being moved in extreme temperatures.
Here’s a summary of the proposals:
- Introducing shorter maximum journey times for live animals – between four and 24 hours depending on the species of animal
- Giving animals more headroom during transport
- Stricter rules on the transport of animals during extreme hot or cold temperatures
- Better training for animal transporters
- New guidance on an animal’s fitness to travel.
The Government says the new rules – which have been developed in partnership with the farming industry – come in addition to the proposed ban on live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, currently going through Parliament as part of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.
When will the new rules apply?
The new legislation will apply to any animal being transported within England and Wales for journeys over 65 km. This is also likely to include animals being transported abroad via England or Wales or animals exported into England and Wales from overseas.
“Opportunity to change legislation and make substantial improvements to animal welfare in transport”
Commenting on the new standards, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “We are legislating to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, and are now developing other measures to improve the welfare of animals during transport.
“We have listened to the concerns raised relating to our proposed changes to transport regulations and have made changes to address these. We will continue to work with industry on the remaining details.”
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