Welsh Water Community Fund
The Community Fund is a chance for communities to boost fundraising efforts for good causes in their area. If you live in an area where work is taking place – and you’re fundraising for projects to benefit the community – you could receive funding from Welsh Water up to a value of £1,000.
Priority will be given to those projects where Welsh Water are, or have been, working.
The decision to award funding is entirely up to the discretion of the community panel.
Welsh Water will not take any role in organising an event or manage any risks involved. Community groups will need to undertake their own assessment of risk in relation to any activity or event undertaken.
Once the allocated annual fund has been spent the fund will close until the following financial year.
See: Community fund | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (dwrcymru.com)
Transition to Net Zero Wales
The Welsh Government want your evidence to inform the development of Wales’ decarbonisation pathway to Net Zero. It will also provide an initial step towards potentially developing a Just Transition Framework for Wales.
Globally the world is decarbonising from a fossil fuelled economy. Delivering a just transition will mean, as we move to a cleaner, stronger, fairer Wales, no-one is left behind. The Welsh Government will develop a clear understanding of the impacts of change, positive and negative, and how to make sure these are fairly distributed in society. In doing so, they have committed to learning lessons from the past and building a future for Wales that supports a wellbeing economy.
What is the purpose of the Call for Evidence?
To improve understanding around the impacts and opportunities of the transition, so the Welsh Government can try and ensure it is undertaken in a fair way. The Call for Evidence will inform the development of Wales’s decarbonisation pathway to net zero by 2050. It also provides an initial step towards developing a proposed Just Transition Framework for Wales to be published in 2023.
Who will be affected by a transition to net zero?
Everyone could potentially be affected by the transition, and this is why a call to improve understanding is taking place. There are likely to be different impacts and opportunities across populations and groups of society in Wales including income groups, communities, workers, and businesses.
See: Just Transition to Net Zero Wales | GOV.WALES
Wales Week London 2023
Wales Week London will take place over the period of St David’s Day week in London and is the annual showcase of activities and events that celebrate and promote everything that is great about Wales.
A calendar of events is planned from 19 February to 5 March 2023, with great opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors.
See: Wales Week London
Overseas events
Visiting the market can be a crucial element of winning and keeping business, whether it be visiting or exhibiting at an Exhibition or Trade show or just visiting the market and potential customers. The markets and exhibitions in Business Wales’ programme have been selected to reflect current international developments which present real opportunities for Welsh Businesses.
Exhibiting overseas with Welsh Government can be a very cost-effective way to promote your company, whether with your own exhibitor pod, or as a visitor to the show.
Seize fresh commercial opportunities, expand your partnerships and understand the latest technological innovations at these shows:
- MRO Americas – 17 to 21 April 2023: Atlanta – EOI closing date 26 January 2023
- Paris Air Show – 19 to 23 June 2023 – Register your interest
See: Overseas events | Business Wales (gov.wales)
Age inclusion online workshops for employers
Responsible business network Business in the Community Cymru is offering employers fully funded places for its Age-inclusive Learning Network online workshops. Part of the Age at Work programme, the interactive workshops are ideal for HR professionals or those with D&I responsibilities, who will hear from expert speakers, learn and share best practice, and take away practical actions to implement that will help them to recruit, retain and support over 50s in their own workplace.
Upcoming workshops
Positive Ageing | Wednesday 25 January 2023 10am to 11:30am
Explore how you can support individuals over 50 to adapt their behaviours for a healthier and longer working life and learn how to build a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that perceives ageing positively.
Preparation for Retirement | Wednesday 1 March 2023 10am to 11:30am
Discover how your business can offer support to help its employees gain clarity and feel confident and better prepared for retirement, building a future that is right for them. This session will help employers to support their people through the post 50 stage of their employment journey by looking at providing support for planning for retirement as part of a wider wellbeing strategy.
See: Age inclusion online workshops for employers | Business Wales (gov.wales)
Explore Export Wales 2023
Following a successful event in 2022, the Welsh Government has announced the dates of its annual export conference. Due to strong interest, this year they are delivering two events:
- Thursday 9 March 2023 at Cardiff City Stadium
- Thursday 16 March 2023 at the Village Hotel St David’s, Deeside
The conference will consist of one-to-ones with overseas market representatives, export focussed seminars and an exhibition area.
See: Explore Export Wales | Home (eventscase.com)
Proposed new licensing scheme to level the playing field and improve the standard of visitor accommodation in Wales
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on establishing a statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales.
The primary aim is to establish a level playing field for all visitor accommodation businesses operating in the sector. The concern around the lack of a level playing field has been a long-standing area of discussion with concerns certain parts of the sector do not meet or comply with their statutory obligations.
The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in Welsh communities.
See: Statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales | GOV.WALES
Remaining resilient in a shrinking economy
Despite a small growth in the economy in November of 0.1%, the UK has been struggling under the weight of high inflation and rising borrowing costs. Most economists are predicting a contraction in the economy in the next six months. Conditions are likely to remain challenging for businesses and individuals alike, so now is a good time to focus on resilience.
Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress — such as business, workplace, and financial stressors. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences.
So what actions can you take now to remain resilient to any downturn in the economy?
Here are a few suggestions to help you think about your business:
- Review your Budgets and set realistic and achievable targets for 2023/24.
- Be careful with ‘can’t pay’ customers and get rid of ‘won’t pay’ customers.
- Review your debtors list and chase up overdue invoices (if appropriate).
- Offer existing debtors extended payment terms and/or discounts (if applicable).
- Make sure your terms of business contain explicit payment terms.
- Assign responsibility to one individual for invoicing and collections.
- Agree extended payment terms with all suppliers in advance (if applicable).
- If appropriate, review banking facilities and discuss future needs.
- Put extra effort into making sure your relationships with your better customers are solid.
- Review and flow-chart the main processes in your business (e.g. Sales processing, order fulfilment, shipping etc) and challenge the need for each step.
- Encourage team members to suggest ways to streamline and simplify processes (e.g. sit down and brainstorm about efficiencies and cost reduction).
- Review your staffing needs over the next few months.
- Review your list of products and services and eliminate those that are unprofitable or not core products/services.
Establish your key performance indicators (KPI’s) and measure them on a weekly basis, e.g.:
• Sales Leads generated,
• Orders supplied/fulfilled,
• Cash balance,
• Stock Turnover,
• Debtor Days,
• Gross Profit, and
• Net Profit.
The good news!
The important thing to remember is that the vast majority of people will not lose jobs, the majority of businesses won’t fail and, eventually, we’ll recover. (NatWest Bank, Key economic predictions for 2023).
Talk to us about your business; we have many clients who have changed the way they do things and some really innovative stories to share with you!
Statutory Pay Rates from April 2023
The UK Government has published the proposed statutory rates for maternity pay, paternity pay, shared parental pay, adoption pay, parental bereavement pay, and sick pay from April 2023.
The rates normally increase each April in line with the consumer price index (CPI) and the increase normally occurs on the first Sunday in April, which in 2023 is 2 April.
See: Benefit and pension rates 2023 to 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Research & Development (R&D) Tax Relief Reform Consultation Launched
The UK Government has launched a consultation to simplify the UK’s R&D tax relief system.
The 8-week consultation, which runs from 13 January to 13 March 2023, sets out proposals on how a single scheme could be designed and implemented. This would replace the two R&D tax relief schemes currently in place – the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) and the small and medium enterprises (SME) R&D relief.
A scheme modelled on the current RDEC for SMEs would also give decision makers in smaller companies clearer information, which will help them set budgets for R&D. In contrast, for those claiming SME tax relief in the current setup, the exact amount of money their firm will receive can only be known with certainty at the end of accounting period.
This is part of the government’s ongoing R&D tax reliefs review, and follows changes announced at Autumn Statement 2022 where the generosities of the two R&D tax schemes were broadly aligned, with the Chancellor pledging to work with industry to understand how to provide further support for R&D-intensive SMEs.
Government spending on R&D is aimed at stimulating private sector investment which is why it is increasing investment to £20 billion a year by 2024-25.
See: R&D Tax Relief Reform Consultation Launched – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
From pensioners to teenagers, HMRC reveals who files a tax return
HMRC has revealed that more pensioners filed a tax return for the 2020 to 2021 tax year compared to young people.
Overall, those aged 65 and over accounted for 16% of individuals who submitted a tax return, whereas 16 to 24 year olds made up 2.7% of total filers.
The new data is part of analysis by HMRC into the demographic data of the Self-Assessment population. The findings also show:
- people aged 45 to 54 were the largest group of filers, accounting for 24% of all tax returns submitted;
- more than 294,000 16 to 24 year olds filed a return; and
- 62% of those who submitted a return last year were men, compared to 38% who were women.
The data also showed that almost 146,000 people submitted their tax return at the earliest opportunity between 6 and 11 April 2021.
More than 12 million people are expected to file a Self-Assessment tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year. Anyone yet to submit theirs has until 31 January to complete it, pay any tax owed or set up a payment plan, or risk having to pay a penalty.
See: From pensioners to teenagers, HMRC reveals who files a tax return – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Innovation Loans Future Economy competition – round 8
Innovate UK (IUK) is offering up to £25 million in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Loans are for highly innovative late-stage research and development (R&D) projects with the best potential for the future. There should be a clear route to commercialisation and economic impact.
Your project must lead to new products, processes or services that are significantly ahead of others currently available or propose an innovative use of existing products, processes or services. It can also involve a new or innovative business model.
Innovate UK are particularly interested in projects that focus on the future economy areas included in the Innovate UK plan for action.
You must be able to show that you:
- need public funding,
- can cover interest payments, and
- will be able to repay the loan on time.
You can apply for a loan of between £100,000 and £2 million to fund your project’s eligible costs.
Round 8 of this competition closes for applications on Wednesday 8 March 2023 at 11am.
If your business is interested in taking advantage of the government grant support available and would benefit from support and assistance from an IUK experienced organisation please get in touch with us.
New Landscapes: Catalyst Research & Development Grant Scheme
Applications for the next round of New Landscapes: Catalyst Research & Development Grant Scheme are now open.
The New Landscapes: Fashion, Textiles and Technology Catalyst R&D Grant Scheme will provide five collaborative grants of up to £6,000 cash and up to £15,000 in-kind support to proposals that:
- Grow global networks to enable development of practice, experimentation and testing of sustainable design and production solutions that inspire positive environmental change.
- Support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to exchange methods of designing and producing in a more sustainable and socially engaged way.
- Support young designers to become advocates for sustainable, ethical and socially engaged fashion, textiles and related technologies.
The closing date to apply is 6 February 2023.
Greater control for taxpayers using repayment agents
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is changing the way taxpayers who use a repayment agent can receive overpaid tax to protect them and raise standards among repayment agents.
HMRC will introduce legislation to change the way repayment agents are paid for their services and better protect customers from the unscrupulous tactics used by some operators. This means stopping the use of legally binding ‘assignments’ as part of claiming an Income Tax repayment, which could only be cancelled if the agent and taxpayer both agreed to do so. This can be challenging for customers who become dissatisfied with their agent, or who simply wish to take over managing their own claim.
Under new arrangements, if a taxpayer chooses to use a repayment agent to reclaim overpaid tax and wants it sent to the agent, they will need to make a nomination, which they can cancel at any time. The new process will make it easier for taxpayers to stay in control of their repayments.
See: Greater control for taxpayers using repayment agents – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Employers should prepare for a warmer future
It might sound strange when we are in the middle of Winter just now, but science shows the planet is getting warmer and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising businesses to think how they need to adapt to warmer working conditions for their staff.
Employers have a legal obligation under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to assess risks to the health and safety of workers. They must review the risk controls they have in place and update them if needed. This includes risks from more frequent extreme weather such as heatwaves.
While there is no maximum temperature for workplaces, all workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable temperature in the workplace.
See: Heat warning: Employers must prepare for a warmer future | HSE Media Centre
The Improving National Workplace Health and Wellbeing Event 2023
Between 2019 and 2021, there has been a 38% increase in reported cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety, according to the Health and Safety Executive. With the Bank of England predicting a recession at the end of 2022 through to 2023, increased pressure on public services and its workforce is likely. Taking steps to improve staff health and wellbeing is therefore essential to maintaining workforces and continuing to deliver effective public services. This is a key time for professionals across the public sector to come together and share best practice, tips and resources for supporting the wellbeing of public sector employees.
- In 2020/21 there were an estimated 822,000 workers affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety (Health and Safety Executive).
- In 2021 the Royal Society for Public Health found that people who switched to working from home exercised less (46%) and developed musculoskeletal problems (39%).
- 41% of employees surveyed in 2021 experienced work-related mental health issues last year (BITC).
At The Improving National Workplace Health and Wellbeing Event 2023 you will hear the latest guidance on creating a workplace that promotes the health and wellbeing of all staff. You will be able to engage with best practice case studies on improving work-life balance, developing a whole organisation approach to health and wellbeing, and developing policies to support staff mental health.
The event takes place on the 2nd of February 2023 online.
See: Improving National Workplace Health and Wellbeing (healthatwork.uk)