Join Streets Chartered Accountants’ Autumn Statement webinar

Tess Egginton
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Join Streets Chartered Accountants’ Autumn Statement webinar

Following Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement today, join Streets Chartered Accountants for a post event webinar tomorrow at 11am.

Colleagues from Streets Tax and Streets’ financial services team will present on the announcements made along with providing an update on topical issues affecting business clients and private individuals during this tax year 2023/24.

Whilst the Autumn Statement will most likely focus on measures to bring down inflation, it is likely to provide some indication as to the treatment of taxation and potential changes that might take place in the Spring Budget 2024.

This presentation will be recorded and available on demand for those not able to join live. Simply register to receive a link to watch on demand.

REGISTER

South Yorkshire names new team for Business Advisory Board

Stuart Pearcey
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South Yorkshire names new team for Business Advisory Board
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has unveiled the membership of its new Business Advisory Board, which is committed to growing South Yorkshire’s economy and driving business growth in the region. The Board will be co-chaired by Louisa Harrison-Walker, representing the three South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce, and Tariq Shah OBE, Director of the Vigo Group – a leading, sustainability-driven, transformational property enterprise. Both are leading South Yorkshire’s business revolution. Members of the Board are:
  • Co-chair: Louisa Harrison-Walker representing the three South Yorkshire Chambers (Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster, and Sheffield)
  • Co-chair: Tariq Shah, Director, Vigo Group
  • Rachel Abbott representing the Cutlers, South Yorkshire International Trade Forum, Manufacturers Forum and Made In Sheffield
  • Dawn Huntrod representing MakeUK
  • Paula Gouldthorpe representing the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
  • Angela Foulkes representing the South Yorkshire Skills Advisory Board (SYSAB)
  • Liz Blackshaw representing the Northern Trade Union Congress
  • Sherry Kothari, Chief Executive, Plasma 4
  • Roz Davies, Chief Executive, Green Estate
  • David Cross, Chief Executive and Architect, Sky-House
  • Richard Gould, Sales Director, Metlase
  • Ken Perritt FCILT, Senior Director, GXO Logistics
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’m hugely excited to launch our new Business Advisory Board. South Yorkshire’s economy has been too small for too long, and fixing that problem is central to my ambitions as Mayor. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have such a brilliant group of people to work with in addressing that challenge. It’s a brilliant group of people that showcases the immense, diverse talent we have across the region. The Business Advisory Board will play a vital role in our plans to turbo charge economic growth, offering both advice and insight, helping me to restore the pride, purpose and prosperity of South Yorkshire.” Tariq Shah said: “As someone proudly from Doncaster, I am delighted to have been appointed to SYMCA’s Business Advisory Board. This group demonstrates SYMCA’s commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity. “The board’s diverse composition, featuring leaders from various industries and business stages, reflects an inclusive and collaborative spirit. I commend Mayor Oliver Coppard and SYMCA for prioritising not only business success but also improving lives equitably, aligning with Vigo Group’s values. “The recent designation of South Yorkshire as the UK’s first Investment Zone positions the region on a global stage. I believe the Business Advisory Board will play a pivotal role in capitalising on this momentum, driving business success nationally and internationally. “I am optimistic about the transformative impact the board will have on our local businesses and communities. This is a commendable step towards ensuring that SYMCA’s efforts align with the evolving needs of our dynamic region. I express my gratitude to SYMCA and Mayor Oliver Coppard for their dedication to South Yorkshire’s economic and social well-being.”

Hethertons Solicitors joins forces with AJC Law in strategic merger

Tess Egginton
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Hethertons Solicitors joins forces with AJC Law in strategic merger
Hethertons Solicitors has merged with local law firm AJC Law to enhance its services in York and beyond. The two firms, who will operate under the Hethertons name, believe that the merger will enhance their combined dispute offering, amalgamating the strengths of two teams. “Our merger with AJC Law will enhance our dispute resolution capabilities, offering our clients an elevated level of service backed by wider expertise and a broader resource pool,” said Tom Henry, a director at Hethertons Solicitors. “We are thrilled to leverage the strengths of both teams to offer a deeper breadth of service to those navigating complex disputes.” As part of the merger, Hethertons Solicitors will welcome AJC Law’s founder Anthony Corps as a director of the practice. A former founding partner at Pryers Solicitors, and head of dispute resolution at Langleys Solicitors in York, he has more than 20 years of extensive experience in his field. Speaking about the merger, he said: “Our partnership is founded on a shared vision of offering superior legal services rooted in professionalism, dedication, and a keen understanding of our client’s needs. “We are excited to step into this new chapter, confident in the enhanced value we will bring to our clients through a renewed dispute resolution offering.”

Gateley reports “resilient” performance in first half

Tess Egginton
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Gateley reports “resilient” performance in first half
Professional services group Gateley has hailed a “resilient performance” in its half year results, amidst a challenging market due to macro-economic conditions. According a trading update ahead of its half year results for the six months ended 31 October 2023 (H1 24), group revenue grew by 7% and is expected to be not less than £81.5m. Underlying profit before tax, meanwhile, is expected to be not less than £10m, representing growth of 4%. Rod Waldie, Chief Executive Officer of Gateley, said: “Given the economic conditions during the period, I am pleased with the group’s performance in H1 24 and improving activity levels as the financial year progresses mean that we are carrying good momentum into H2. “Whilst the macroeconomic and geopolitical outlook remains uncertain, the group continues to benefit from the resilience created by our strategy of investing in a diverse and complementary range of professional services. “Our balance sheet provides a strong foundation from which to take a long-term view of potential opportunities to further invest in both legal and consultancy services. “Finally, as always, I would like to thank our clients for their support and our dedicated people for their ongoing hard work, commitment and can-do attitude.”

Leeds gets share in new call centre jobs created by British Gas

Stuart Pearcey
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Leeds gets share in new call centre jobs created by British Gas
Leeds is one of several UK locations chosen by British Gas to increase the number of jobs at its call centres.
The company is hiring over 700 new roles across its network of energy contact centres, helping to boost its existing customer service teams in Leicester, Leeds, Stockport, Edinburgh, and Cardiff as the winter heating season begins. These roles will all be in post by the end of the year with continued hiring taking place in January as part of the company’s aim to move call centre resource to the UK. Last winter, British Gas experienced an increase in call volume due to the energy crisis and invested £25 million in its customer services operations to meet this demand. Whilst energy prices have come down, the company still expects customers to need support so is continuing to boost its UK teams. The increased staff will also mean longer opening times for British Gas customers of 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. British Gas has a £100 million support package in place to help customers who are struggling with energy costs – the largest voluntary support package offered by a UK supplier. Its customer services teams will receive additional training in how to help customers in financial difficultly including directing them to available support. Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, parent company of British Gas, said: “Although energy prices have come down slightly, many of our customers are still struggling overall with the cost of living and need to speak to us for longer about their energy bills.  Strengthening our UK call centre operations will allow us to help more households with expert advice and support during this time. “I’m extremely proud of how our expert teams support our customers every day – in the past year they’ve helped over 1 million customers who’ve been struggling to afford their bills with additional support such as grants, debt relief and payment plans.” In addition to hiring UK based call centre staff, British Gas will continue to train apprentices to help accelerate the drive to net zero and to fix boilers and ensure people are heating their homes efficiently over the winter. The company has a strong history of boosting jobs and training in the UK with 3,500 new apprentices to be hired by 2030.

Agricultural machinery specialist picks Swinderby for its UK HQ

Stuart Pearcey
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Agricultural machinery specialist picks Swinderby for its UK HQ
Global agricultural machinery specialist Maschio Garpardo has leased premises at the Swinderby Industrial Park near Lincoln for use as its UK HQ. According to the Lincoln agency of Eddisons – who acted alongside EQT Exeter, who manage Swinderby Industrial Park in the letting deal, Maschio Gaspardo had started its search for premises only this summer. Swift lease negotiations and completion of the deal, sees new UK operation up and running for launch at its new 20,239 sq ft warehouse & offices premises at the Park this month. An established brand in the UK already, Maschio Gaspardo has worked successfully for the past 12 years with distributor, OPICO Ltd. A change in growth strategy necessitated an independent UK operation for a more direct relationship with dealer networks. Maschio Gaspardo UK Managing Director Warren Rivers-Scott said location and size were the key drivers. He said: “While Lincolnshire’s agricultural heritage plays a part, it’s really the area’s logistical reach that attracted us. “Proximity to A1 and the East Coast mainline at Newark, access to ports, plus good East-West road connectivity onwards across the country, particularly to the South West – an important market for us – sees the area well-placed for the logistical needs of our business. “The size and configuration of the premises and site at Unit 4 gives us the ability to hold stock and parts at a level where we can be responsive to end-users’ needs. And, with the A46 on our doorstep, we can get machinery on and off the road in good time.” William Wall, Director, Eddisons incorporating Banks Long & Co, said: “It’s encouraging to see another global brand having the confidence to invest in the East Midlands and, in particular, Lincolnshire. It’s an area of the country that is continuing to attract foreign investment as businesses look to grow in the post-BREXIT settlement years.”  

Farmers offered share in £74m to help with slurry management

Stuart Pearcey
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Farmers offered share in £74m to help with slurry management
A further £74 million is being made available to help farmers invest in improved slurry infrastructure to tackle water pollution, improve air quality and make better use of organic nutrients, the government has announced. Under the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, farmers can apply for grants of £25,000 to £250,000 to replace, expand, build extra and cover slurry stores, and fund equipment such as separators, reception pits and agitators. Applications are now open for the second round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant which forms part of a total £200 million being invested in infrastructure and equipment to tackle agricultural pollution from slurry over the agricultural transition period. The second round has more than doubled the funding on offer than the first round of the scheme to help meet increased demand. Based on feedback from farmers, there have been several improvements to the scheme, including how much storage pig farms can apply for, offering grants towards a slurry separator, and the option to retrofit covers onto existing stores. The grant forms a key component of the government’s Plan for Water which sets out more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement to tackle every source of water pollution. It also delivers on vital commitments under the Environmental Improvement Plan to reduce air pollution, halt biodiversity decline and support recovery of protected sites. Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:  “We’re indebted to farmers who work day in day out to ensure we have great British food on our tables while protecting and shaping our countryside. It’s vital they are supported to make the environmental improvements I know so many want to make. Our Slurry Infrastructure Grant is helping farmers to invest in infrastructure which is often costly but can deliver big benefits for our waterways and air quality, while also cutting their input costs.” Livestock manure is a vital tool to increase organic matter in soil, supporting crop growth and helping farmers be more productive while reducing the need for artificial fertilisers. Yet, spreading slurry when there is no crop or soil requirement, often due to insufficient storage capacity, can cause significant pollution in rivers and waterways, as well as wasting a valuable resource and increasing costs for farmers. Open slurry stores and broadcast spreading also release large amounts of ammonia which harms vulnerable species and damages human health. The grant will enable more farmers to go beyond existing storage requirements, supporting better compliance with regulation and more effective use of organic nutrients. It is part of the government’s commitment to tackle nutrient pollution at source and grants will continue to be prioritised in areas near protected sites with ammonia pressures in nutrient neutrality catchments. This comes as Defra and Natural England continue to support developers and local planning authorities to mitigate the impact of nutrient pollution from wastewater from new housing developments and enable sustainable development to proceed.

Minimum wage rates to increase as Government accepts Low Pay Commission’s findings

Stuart Pearcey
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Minimum wage rates to increase as Government accepts Low Pay Commission’s findings
The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on minimum wage rates to apply from April 2024. The rates recommended by the LPC are set out below, and represent the first time the rate has increased by more than £1. This will be the largest-ever increase in the minimum wage in cash terms, and the first time it has increased by more than £1. The size of this increase is driven by the strength of pay growth across the economy, which is forecast to continue into next year. Low Pay Commission Chair Bryan Sanderson said:”The National Living Wage has delivered an improved standard of living to thousands of people who care for our children and elderly, work in farms and shops and at many other essential jobs. These efforts over the lifetime of the NLW mean over £9,000 p.a. more to a full time worker without any increase in unemployment. “This hasn’t been easy for employers, with the economy facing a range of unprecedented challenges in recent years. The high degree of political and economic uncertainty has made assessing and forecasting the performance of the economy, and therefore our task, very difficult. It is a tribute to my fellow Commissioners that we have continued to achieve consensus. “Our new recommendation of a National Living Wage of £11.44 attempts to steer a path through this uncertainty and achieve the government target of two-thirds of the median wage, an outcome which if accepted would position the UK at the forefront of comparable economies.” He said the Commission had heard evidence from employers across the UK about the pressures they faced. Costs in most sectors have continued to rise, and uncertainty has made it difficult to plan for and invest in the future. Small and medium-sized businesses report the greatest concerns, and firms in low-paying sectors are more worried about reduced consumer demand, costs of energy and the cost of labour than firms in other sectors. “At the same time, the low-paid workers we spoke to this year painted a picture of growing hardship. Those on the lowest incomes have felt the rising cost of living most sharply. We heard accounts of foodbank usage and indebtedness as targeted support introduced last year began to fall away,” he added. “We believe our recommendation will restore the real value of the NLW, which has been eroded through the recent cost of living crisis. Our judgement is that this increase will not cause significant risk to employment prospects.”

Companies gear up to reduce employee flexibility next year, says report

Stuart Pearcey
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Companies gear up to reduce employee flexibility next year, says report
Almost two-fifths of companies are gearing up to reduce flexibility for their employees next year, according to a study from independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham. This could see as many as 588,000 businesses planning to offer reduced flexibility to working arrangements, with one in seven offering less flexibility to the places they work (i.e. home vs. the office). Moreover, 15% say they plan to offer less flexibility to working hours. As CIPD’s recent flexible and hybrid working report also finds that three-fifths of employees currently have flexible working arrangements in their role, Barnett Waddingham’s findings suggest the emergence of a ‘New Front’ in the war for talent; a balancing act between employees who increasingly value flexible working, and employers who, in some cases, seem to be backtracking on these arrangements. However, despite many businesses planning to offer less flexibility, a substantial number still recognise the importance of flexible working in meeting employee expectations. Approximately 31% of respondents stated that they had introduced more flexibility to their staff in the past year, with a third doing so because they were concerned people would leave if they didn’t. Julia Turney, Partner at Barnett Waddingham, says: “The findings from this research shed light on the complex situation employers are facing with flexible working. From speaking with business leaders, it’s clear that employers are keen to realise certain benefits of office working; whether that’s improving productivity, creativity and culture or simply to justify spending on training.”   “For most employees however, flexibility is no longer seen as a ‘perk’, but a fundamental consideration for their career. And whilst it’s natural for businesses to seek ways to optimise productivity, it’s equally vital to acknowledge that the workforce’s expectation have shifted significantly, and any changes could impact morale or even see resignations.   “Looking ahead, employers must engage in thoughtful and informed decision-making on this topic, backed up by hard analysis. Only by opening conversations with their workforce, and regularly collecting data will they be able understand where on the sliding-scale of working flexibility they need to sit.”

Richmond building contractor saves historic Dales limekilns

Stuart Pearcey
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Richmond building contractor saves historic Dales limekilns
Richmond building firm Staley Stonework have restored one of Westmorland’s most important 19th century industrial sites, the Smardale Gill limekilns near Kirkby Stephen. It means the Grade II-listed stone structures can be removed from Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register. The kilns had been one of ten Scheduled Monuments and 74 Listed Buildings in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to be classed as ‘at risk’. Major repair work was carried out between May and October this year by Staley Stonework following structural surveys completed by Mason Clark Associates of York.  The project was led by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, as part of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The restoration of the kilns is described as a ‘significant achievement’ in a progress report on the National Park Authority’s annual work programme. Senior Historic Environment Officer Sarah Whiteley told the Dales Archaeology Day conference: “The kilns were built in the mid-19th century and appear on the 1857 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of the area.  They were built initially for the production of lime used in the construction of Smardale Gill viaduct, then in the production of lime for steel making in Barrow and Darlington. They are part of a wider complex of industrial features here, which includes quarries, railway sidings, an incline plane tramway and engine house, representing what was formerly a major commercial lime producing operation. “Hopefully we have maintained the significance of the kilns by doing this work, and have increased understanding of the monument.”
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