Museums and galleries are being urged to apply for VAT refunds to support free opening as the Government dusts off a refund scheme last open to new applicants four years ago.
This autumn, any museum and gallery open to the public free for 30 hours a week can apply. It will help organisations boost their finances and open up their collections more regularly.
The VAT Refund Scheme, running since 2001, was last open to new applicants four years ago and is estimated to have refunded as much as £1 billion to museums and galleries.
Arts Minister Lord Parkinson is encouraging museums and galleries which are considering putting on exhibitions for free, as well as institutions already eligible but not currently taking advantage of the scheme, to apply. He said: “The UK’s brilliant museums and galleries can be proud of the huge range of free exhibitions they put on and the role they play in increasing access to arts and culture.
“We want to see even more museums offering free entry, and to support organisations which are providing great opportunities for the public to enjoy.
“I encourage cultural institutions across the UK to apply for the VAT refund scheme so they can help make sure people from all backgrounds get to experience great arts and culture for free.”
Institutions taking part in the scheme are entitled to a refund on VAT incurred on goods and services purchased in order to provide free admission.
Retailers will be looking for alternative products in the wake of the Government decision to ban all sales of peat to amateur gardeners in England by 2024.
Peatlands are the UK’s largest carbon store but only about 13% of our peatlands are in a near-natural state. This degradation has occurred due to drainage for agricultural use, overgrazing and burning, as well as extraction for use in growing media. Bagged retail growing media accounts for 70% of the peat sold in the UK and is frequently misused, for example being used as a soil improver rather than a medium in which to propagate plants. When this extraction takes place, the carbon stored inside the bog is released as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.
Peat extraction also degrades the state of the wider peatland landscape, damaging habitats for some of our rarest wildlife such as the swallowtail butterfly, hen harriers and short-eared owls, and negatively impacting peat’s ability to prevent flooding and filter water. A significant proportion of the UK’s water supply lands or flows through peatlands.
The Government is also launching a new £5 million fund to promote the use of peatlands for sustainable farming. It will support the uptake of paludiculture – the practice of farming on rewetted peatland – which will help further safeguard food security, produce alternatives to horticultural peat and reduce environmental impacts.
Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper said: “Peatlands are precious ecosystems that harbor beautiful and fascinating wildlife, shape the character of iconic landscapes, purify water and help to reduce flood risk. They are also our largest natural carbon stores, locking away over 580 million tonnes. This ban on the sale of peat-based compost and work to phase out use in other areas is an essential step toward protecting these valuable natural assets and allowing for the recovery of degraded areas.”
Pensana, the company developing the rare earth processing hub at Saltend, has appointed Alison Saxby as Independent Non-Executive Director.
Alison is an industry expert with over 35 years’ experience in industrial minerals and metals. Her expertise includes pricing, deep market knowledge, research, and communications, gained through consultancy projects, minerals trading and commercial reports.
She was previously MD at metals consultancy Roskill, where she led the strategic direction of the company’s research and products through a period of growth, with a focus on critical minerals. Prior to that she held roles at Fastmarkets and as an independent consultant.
Alison was recently a member of the UK government’s Critical Materials Global Expert Mission to both Canada and the USA for Innovate UK-KTN, and is working with Edumine to provide educational courses on critical materials. She is the author of numerous publications on critical and other minerals and originally trained as a mineral engineer.
Pensana Chairman Paul Atherley said: “As one of the leading industry experts on critical minerals Alison’s insight will be invaluable for the Board, while her strategic vision will play an important role in supporting Pensana’s growth.
“Building on the recent Saltend ground breaking and Automotive Transformation Fund announcement, Pensana continues to move towards funding and development of the world’s first independent and sustainable rare earth supply chain to support the energy transition.”
Office layouts can be a difficult problem to solve. One person’s preference might be a nightmare for others. Specialists in commercial design and fit out APSS look at some tips on how to boost productivity.
If you follow too many trends, you end up with a stylish office, but with no functionality. So how do you find a realistic balance? Here are six top tips that will guide you towards making sure you end up with something useful rather than unorganised or chaotic.
If your end goal this year is to ensure your staff are productive and happy, you might want to review your office layout and make a few key changes here and there to see if it makes a difference.
Break space
Your staff need a good break away from phone calls and other noise. No one can work tirelessly for eight hours non-stop and still be as productive as possible at the end of the day. There are many studies that show if an employee feels comfortable, they feel more motivated and a lot of that has to do with their immediate surroundings.
All too often, offices lack a decent room where workers can go to refresh their productivity levels and reduce stress. By designating part of the office as a break space and making it comfortable and pleasant, people are encouraged to get away from screens and give their eyes a rest for a bit. In a small office there’s often not the option of getting away but if you have the space then there’s an opportunity to create something uniquely relaxing.
Put together a floor plan that considers employee productivity but also helps people stay focused in the long term.
Natural light
People are drawn to natural light, it makes people feel better instantly. By maximising the amount of sunlight that comes into your office space, it helps keep your staff happier and more productive.
You could even turn off the overhead strip lighting and give your workers desk lamps instead. Accentuating the natural light and cutting out bright and harsh light that can create headaches may be another solution. Those who have been working from home have become used to the freedom of the home office.
In creating your office layout, you’re best considering what you can offer those who have become accustomed to the luxuries of working from home.
After all, if an employee has to endure a daily commute and the expense that entails, what does your office offer, if anything, from what they are already used to at home? Making the office more of a destination, rather than a place associated with stress, pressure and misery is the key.
Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography for APSS
Think motivationally
If the office lacks a definitive style, is not decorated, or doesn’t feel like home, people are less inclined to stay there. Motivation is important and providing a stimulating and diverse space can work wonders. Look out for some motivational posters, put them in some frames and decorate the office with them to give people a boost.
Having rooms dedicated to certain aspects of work means you can increase your productivity. If certain areas lend themselves to get tasks completed by simple means of office design, then why wouldn’t you make this happen? This could be something as simple as having a thoughtful mix of open plan space and more private, designated desks meant for focus and flow states.
Equally, think of the interactions that flow in meeting rooms. Is there a chance of creating adaptable space that lends itself to greater collaboration? Would a formal boardroom style suit your colleagues, or would more relaxed, laid-back options be more preferable for your style of business?
There’s a lot to be said for catering to the kind of business you are conducting. Having workers try to produce great work while in uncomfortable surroundings can be detrimental and could even lead to a downward trajectory for overall stress and productivity levels.
Communal areas
Feeling chained to their desks, all alone, will undoubtedly have an impact both on productivity and wellbeing at work. Create communal areas where people can congregate so they can chat, have a few laughs or even have informal meetings.
The ability to separate off work from informal discussions is also incredibly valuable when it comes to a sense of belonging. Staff do not simply want to chat shop, they might feel the need to socialise, catch up or just have a meaningful break from their desks and work.
After all, regular breaks from screens are good for the eyes, concentration and much more. The sense of freedom your staff have will give them a sense of pride for their work too. If they need to collaborate or work on something that needs private space or room to spread out, then that option should be made available too.
Having a sense of camaraderie among colleagues can create more of an atmosphere where important tasks aren’t seen as a chore, but rather a commonly shared goal. If you can make work less like work, then you have succeeded in your goal to make work a welcoming place rather than a place to drag yourself to on a weekday.
If you want to make some changes, call APSS today or visit our services page to see how we can help with your office refurbishment.
Photo by Steve Smailes Photography www.stevesmailes.co.uk
Eye-watering energy bills could be the final nail in the coffin as small firms struggle to get through winter say many Federation of Small Businesses members.
Martin McTague, the organisation’s national chair, said: “Small businesses are left out in the cold when it comes to energy bills, with the vast majority excluded from the household energy price cap and other protections designed for domestic household consumers.
“We don’t have the luxury to wait until the winter, and inaction from our new Prime Minister could spell the end for many businesses. Plans for urgent intervention must be finalised and ready to go on Day 1, for whoever wins the leadership contest on September 5th.
“Imagine a small retailer has to come up with another £22,000 a year to keep the lights on when they are already wrestling with the jobs tax hike, rampant inflation and supply chain disruptions. And how is a fish and chip shop supposed to cope with a £52,000 increase in utility costs, at the same time as their customers find themselves with less disposable income because of their own rising energy bills? Not to mention the independent laundrette considering calling time on the decades-long business after being told they need to pay £8,800 more a year for gas and electricity.
“We’ve also heard examples of big energy firms refusing to supply small businesses out of concern they could go bust, and some even ask for £10,000 upfront costs
“We’ve been pitching to the Government feasible policy levers they can pull:
Direct help for small businesses with bills. This could be done through the business rates system, accompanied by a discretionary pot of money to be issued by local authorities. It could alternatively be directly applied to energy bills;
Temporary reduction of taxes on energy. For example, the higher-threshold rate of VAT could be reduced from 20% to 5%. The lower threshold and domestic rate of VAT could be reduced from 5% to 0%. A VAT reduction should also help combat inflation;
Help to Green Vouchers should be introduced. Modelled on the Help to Grow Digital scheme, Government should introduce a voucher scheme to support businesses to decarbonise, with £5,000 vouchers that can be spent on environmental goods and services. This would help businesses reduce their need to buy energy from the grid, lower bills, and improve our energy security; and
Extend the price cap to smallest businesses. The smallest businesses need consumer protections in the same way as individuals do. They are more akin to domestic customers when deciding on their energy provider, ranging from lack of expertise in purchasing energy to poor bargaining power.
“More widely, cost pressures could be eased through a reversal in the recent national insurance hike. Increasing the threshold of small business rates relief to £25,000 would take 200,000 businesses out the rates system and help reduce overhead costs.
“The cost of doing business crisis underpins the cost of living crisis. Inaction won’t just lead to spiralling prices but to a generation of lost businesses, jobs and potential.”
Between February 2021 and August 2022, FSB estimates that bills have risen by 349% for electricity, and by 424% for gas over the same period. This is based on an assumption of a 30,000 kWh annual consumption in London. For a business in that situation, it would imply that an electricity bill has increased from just over £4,700 to just over £21,200, and a gas bill has increased from just under £1,350 to just under £7,050 over that period.
Private healthcare insurance broker Intelligent PMI Ltd has appointed Jackie Hamilton as Business Development Manager.
Jackies’ responsibilities will include working with business owners to help source them the most appropriate medical insurance for their team and working with new Affiliate Network partners. The new Affiliate Network offers businesses the opportunity to offer PMI to their client base using the expertise of the team at Intelligent PMI.
Director Kieran Maguire said: “As we push forward with our growth plans, developing B2B relationships is an important strategic priority. Private medical insurance is becoming one of the top employee perks to offer. Having the right cover in place means that business owners have peace of mind that their business and employee have access to the best possible medical care, avoiding lengthy NHS waiting lists and minimising downtime. We are confident that Jackie will work tirelessly in this new role to develop relationships and promote the Intelligent PMI brand within the SME sector.”
With over 25 years in commercial roles, Jackie brings a wealth of experience to the team. Jackie’s previous roles have included BDM for Purple Vouchers and Visual Group Doncaster which will provide a strong background for Jackie to promote private medical insurance policies and the Intelligent PMI Affiliate Network to the businesses across the UK.
On Monday 5 September the proposed devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire will undergo its first public scrutiny.
This will be the first opportunity for councillors and stakeholders to discuss and address the details of the proposed devolution deal.
The proposed devolution deal, which if agreed, will secure significant investment in York and North Yorkshire and draw down new powers from central government. The deal was provisionally signed in York on Yorkshire Day, 1 August 2022, by the Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark MP, City of York Council leader Councillor Keith Aspden, and North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les.
The proposed deal seeks to create a directly elected mayor, leading a new combined authority, with powers to invest an additional £540 million in transport, housing, and education over the next 30 years. The deal could also see over half a billion pounds transferred from central government to York and North Yorkshire and invested in local priorities. If agreed, this would be the first city and rural region to see devolution on the scale enjoyed by the core city regions, including South and West Yorkshire.
Once the deal has been discussed by Scrutiny on Monday 5 September, it will brought to the Council’s Executive meeting on Thursday 15 September, where senior councillors will consider the details of the deal, governance arrangements, and proposed consultation. It will then be considered by Full Council to decide whether to proceed and undertake the statutory consultation on the proposed deal.
Leader of City of York Council, Councillor Keith Aspden, said: “This is a major milestone and given the significant investment and powers this devolution deal can potentially bring to York and the wider region, it is undoubtedly a historic moment for our city.
“Devolution represents a real opportunity to secure investment on a new scale and put towards local priorities, from progressing crucial work on BioYorkshire, delivering York Central, or helping us become England’s first carbon negative region. This proposed deal could unlock 30 years of investment to improve economic prosperity and long-term opportunities for all of our residents and businesses.
“If agreed by Full Council, we will be undertaking a consultation later this year to seek residents and businesses views on this incredibly important matter. I look forward to discussing the details of the deal and the opportunities ahead with residents and businesses over the coming weeks and months.”
Helen Simpson OBE, chair of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “More local powers, decision making and funding can only help deliver our ambitions for the region. Devolution presents an incredible opportunity for York and North Yorkshire and we are pleased the process has reached this landmark stage.
“Public scrutiny of the proposed devolution deal is another step towards delivering long term investment into York and North Yorkshire.”
Carolyn Frank, FSB development manager for York and North Yorkshire, said: “Federation of Small Businesses members generally welcome the opportunities that devolution brings, and want to see joined up thinking in both local and national government, and pro-small business thinking and strategies that create the right economic conditions for them to achieve their ambitions.
“The transfer of power to local government through devolution ensures decision making is made with their businesses in mind, and their communities.
“We know that small businesses are at the heart of the economy in York and North Yorkshire, the biggest employers overall in the private sector, and they want to see skills and infrastructure improvements prioritised, so that they have a skilled workforce to call on, and so that they are well connected with opportunities to trade locally, nationally, and internationally.
“Stronger private and public sector partnership through devolution will give small businesses a bigger voice and a chance to make the change they want for the local area, as community and business leaders.”
Vice-chancellor of the University of York, professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “Devolution secures significant investment and powers for our region, which will help us to address many of the challenges we face locally and ignite innovation and growth.
“The support for BioYorkshire outlined in the deal will play a crucial role in delivering the benefits of devolution. It will boost the partnership’s ambitious green agenda to create jobs, lift the regional economy and support North Yorkshire’s goal to become one of the first areas in the UK to be carbon negative.”
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has sold the Punch Bowl Inn, a well-known gastro pub-restaurant in Cleethorpes, for the first time in 34 years to Lancashire-based pub company, Trust Inns.
The Punch Bowl Inn is a popular venue amongst locals and visitors of the North East Lincolnshire seaside town and has hosted many events and weddings over the years. The pub is located along the town’s North Promenade and features a 120-cover bar and restaurant, an entertainment area with a pool table and a large function room.
The previous owners, Bernard and Sheila Stafford can now retire following the successful sale. They said: “After nearly three and a half decades, we felt the time was right to retire and allow for younger blood to invest further in the pub and begin a new chapter.
“The Punchbowl has been a huge part of our lives and we’ve had many fantastic years here. We really enjoyed owning the business and would like to thank all our loyal customers for their support, especially throughout such a tough final period, with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Punch Bowl Inn will now join Trust Inns’ estate of over 500 pubs across the UK and will be run as a managed house investment.
Mark Brown, Managing Director of Trust Inns, said: “We’re very glad to be adding The Punch Bowl to our expanding portfolio in Yorkshire. Our broker, Sam Ashton – senior business agent at Christie & Co was a pleasure to deal with and we’re excited to be taking advantage of the coastline tourism trade here.”
The shareholders of Lincolnshire/Norfolk-based John Deere dealership group, JW Doubleday, have entered an agreement with Ben Burgess for the sale of the business.
In line with John Deere’s dealer of tomorrow strategy, Ben Burgess will formally acquire the Doubleday Group with all employees and existing Doubleday depots across Lincolnshire & Norfolk operating as part of the Ben Burgess group.
Founded in the early 1970s by John Doubleday the business has remained family owned, successfully growing for over 50 years and becoming a core part of the agricultural community. In 1982, the business became a main dealer for John Deere – as Deere was first growing its UK presence. JW Doubleday operates from locations in Swineshead; Holbeach, Kings Lynn and Old Leake. The company employs 54 staff.
Ian Doubleday-Collishaw, grandson of the founder, said: “This decision has not been taken lightly but we the Doubleday family, were determined to protect the future of our loyal team and the longevity of a reputable John Deere dealer across our trading area. We believe this is the correct decision for everyone involved.
“Ben Burgess share Doubleday’s values for providing premium brands backed by expertise and excellent standards of customer service. The combination of our joint processes, dedicated teams and the infrastructure already in place at Ben Burgess will deliver the best value to both our team and customers. We are confident the level of service you our customers are accustomed to will continue undisrupted.
“My family and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated team and our loyal customers, many of whom we consider our friends who have supported us throughout our 40 years as a John Deere dealer.”
Ben B Turner Dealer Principal at Ben Burgess said: “The Doubleday family have built a highly successful, strong and customer focused business over the past 50 years and were adamant that they wanted to pass their legacy over to a family business that shared the same values. We are enormously proud that they have chosen Ben Burgess to continue their outstanding work.
“The combined business will strengthen our position in the industry and enable the future investments required in facilities and technologies to proactively support our customers, offer greater opportunities and security to all our employees whilst continuing to grow in a responsible and sustainable manner. This growth will give the company a strong platform to enable our business to continue building on the great legacy of these two-family businesses.
“We aim to conclude the deal by the end of September to facilitate a quick and smooth transition for the benefit of all our staff and customers.”
Almost a quarter (23%) of individuals looking to change career would consider working in financial services, making it the joint most popular sector alongside professional services for individuals considering a career change according to new data from KPMG UK.
The desire to change career appears to be trending across the UK’s workforce, with over a third (35%) of workers throughout the economy considering new careers because of the rising cost of living, up from 31% during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The three most popular reasons why individuals would consider a career in financial services include high salary and bonus expectations (58%), a good work life balance (43%) and that the topic sounds interesting (36%).
However, despite being an aspirational sector to work in, a significant proportion (42%) of Financial Services workers will be looking to change career themselves within a year, down slightly from 44% in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among Financial Services workers looking for a new career, 30% want improved salary and benefits, 23% want more job security and 20% want more flexibility regarding working from home arrangements.
Karim Haji, head of Financial Services at KPMG UK, said: “Given the rising cost of living and the broader economic uncertainty, it makes sense that many individuals will be considering their current roles, career choices and where they live and work.
“This will provide a great opportunity for Financial Services firms to target talent, but also make sure that they are better demonstrating the benefits of working in the sector and their improved proposition for employees. Doing so will help firms attract and retain the best talent.
“Encouragingly, the number of financial services workers looking to change career has dropped slightly since the Covid-19 pandemic. Many financial services firms have already offered pay rises to their employees, but as important to many are the other benefits which firms have invested in to boost personal fulfilment, such as more training, mobility and development opportunities.
“In the competition for talent, Financial Services firms should consider extending the scope of their search to include non-traditional pools of talent which can help boost diversity and inclusion. This could mean investing more in return-to-work, military transition, apprenticeships or school leaver programmes.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many Financial Services firms have also made positive changes to their working practices, including dropping some of their more conservative employee policies in line with other sectors. This will go some way in tackling outdated perceptions of the industry and help to attract a more diverse workforce.”
The main reason why individuals wouldn’t want to work in financial services is because they don’t know enough about the sector or what job opportunities there are (32%). Long hours (23%) and the belief that the topic sounds boring (29%) were other prominent reasons why individuals would not want to work in financial services.
Karim added: “There is a huge diversity of roles within the financial services sector, and I’d encourage prospective applicants to do their research and not be put off by old fashioned stereotypes.”
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