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Whyatt Pakeman chartered accountants cautiously optimistic about Autumn Statement

Bristol-based chartered accountants Whyatt Pakeman is urging businesses to carefully study the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement to see if they can benefit from any of his announcements. Among the measures declared by George Osborne that could have major repercussions for small and medium sized businesses include a £40 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme where the Government _ Read more

Employment law set for major reform

Business Secretary Vince Cable has set out plans for major reform of employment law. The package of measures, announced on 23 November, include an overhaul of employment tribunals, expected to deliver £40 million a year in benefits to employers. There will also be a call for evidence on whether the 90-day minimum consultation period for _ Read more

Self-employed set to benefit in health and safety shake-up

Government plans have been announced for a major reduction in health and safety rules, with the first changes taking effect from January. An immediate consultation will begin abolish large numbers of health and safety regulations, with the intention of scrapping the first rules within months. From 1 January, a new challenge panel will be introduced, _ Read more

‘Real time’ pilot on way for PAYE

A major change to the way that employers submit information on tax and national insurance for their employees is to begin next year with a pilot programme. Following consultation on Real Time Information (RTI) – under which employers will report tax and national insurance deductions at the same time as they pay their employees, rather _ Read more

£95m boost for small businesses

Small and medium sized businesses in England are set to benefit from £95 million in government investment. The government funding, announced on 10 November will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) considering investing in new capital assets. The government expects the funding to unlock around £500 million of new investment and create at least 4,000 _ Read more

New taskforces to target tax cheats

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched five new taskforces around the country to tackle tax evasion in sectors including fast food, property rentals and scrap metal dealing. Announcing the taskforces on 7 November, Exchequer Secretary David Gauke said honest businesses had nothing to worry about but warned: “We will not tolerate those who break _ Read more

Employers offered help on training

A £250 million plan will be launched in the new year, designed to give businesses the power to design, develop and purchase vocational training. Announcing the scheme on 17 November, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I know times are tough – especially for young people – who are trying to get their foot in the door _ Read more

New service set to cut costs of IP court cases

A new small claims service is to be introduced at the Patents County Court (PCC), helping small and medium-sized businesses to protect their copyright, trade marks and designs. With small firms often put off enforcing their intellectual property (IP) rights by high costs, the new process, which is set to be operational by next November, _ Read more

The Autumn Statement

29 November 2011 Despite warnings this week that the UK was likely to slip back into recession, Chancellor George Osborne has said that the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) latest annual growth and borrowing figures do NOT predict this happening. However, the figures do show that the bust was deeper and had an even bigger _ Read more

Whyatt Pakeman warns transport firms to “buy now”

Bristol accountants Whyatt Pakeman Partners is advising businesses in the transport and freight industry who are considering making investments in new plant and machinery, to do so now while generous tax allowances are still available. The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), a capital allowance which enables business owners to write off 100% of their qualifying capital _ Read more