Rates Relief Supporting Local Businesses and Jobs – O’Dowd
Finance Minister John O’Dowd has announced the continuation of the Small Business Rate Relief, Back in Business and rural ATMs exemption schemes for the 2025/26 year. Speaking after the Assembly debate on two of the measures today Minister O’Dowd said: “Supporting local business means supporting entrepreneurship, helping our economy grow and creating better jobs. “Small […]
Company Accounts and Tax Return Joint Filing Service To Close
The online accounts and Company Tax Return service, run jointly by Companies House and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), will close on 31 March 2026. Companies House and HMRC are closing the joint online filing service on Tuesday 31 March 2026. Companies have used this service to file their accounts and Company Tax Returns at […]
Equality Commission Employer Webinars 2025
The Equality Commission’s employer training programme of online events for 2025 will help keep employers on the right side of equality law. The Equality Commission’s latest training sessions for 2025 are now available to register for. The webinars focus on a number of important equality issues, laws, and best practices for employers. Equality training events […]
New Statutory Payment Rates For 2025-26
New rates for statutory payments in force from April 2025. Employers should be aware that from April 2025, a number of statutory payment rates will increase for the 2025-26 financial year. Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay From Sunday 6 April 2025, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental […]
Latest HMRC Tax Webinars
Upcoming webinars from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to help employers, businesses and the self-employed understand tax issues that affect them. Listed below are a number of live HMRC webinars that will give the self-employed an understanding of key taxes that affect them and also help employers with payroll. The webinars are free and last […]
Minister Muir Announces the Opening of the 2025 Single Application and a Change to the Entitlement Transfer Period
Minister Muir announces the opening of the 2025 Single Application and a change to the Entitlement Transfer Period Minister Muir said: “The Single Application offers access to significant funding that will support farm businesses and our rural economy. These payments are a vital source of income for many farmers and highlight our ongoing commitment to building […]
Help Shape UK System For Protecting Designs
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched a new survey to gather views on the future of the UK designs system The survey is open to designers, businesses, legal professionals, and anyone with an interest in design. The UK design sector contributed £97.4 billion to the economy in 2019, with over 80,000 design businesses operating […]
Electricity Distribution Network Connection Costs Consultation
Views sought on proposals for the increased socialisation of connection costs in the electricity distribution network. The Department for the Economy (DfE) has launched a consultation on proposed increases to the proportion of electricity distribution network building costs being socialised across all customers. The current connection charging policy for the distribution network here is to […]
Prepare Your Business For The Procurement Act 2023
Changes to public procurement in the UK from 24 February 2025 On Monday 24 February 2025, new Procurement Act 2023 rules will take effect changing the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services. The Procurement Act 2023 aims to streamline procurement to benefit prospective suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups […]
Northern Ireland Food and Drink Conference 2025
Bookings are open for NI’s flagship food and drink event The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Conference will take place on Tuesday 4 March 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast. Organised by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and the Food Standards Agency, the conference will […]