Prompt, competitive services & IR35 & guidance

The government-established Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) has been publicising its Small Business Plan that offers tailored funding to smaller businesses.

HMRC have concluded that the Cabinet Office failed to take reasonable care when applying the Off-Payroll Working (IR35) rules. The Cabinet Office has set aside £38.5 million for unpaid Income Tax, National Insurance and interest. A penalty of up to £8.9m could follow.

The Parliamentary Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade Committee has launched a consultation into the difficulties facing new entrepreneurs and how they are supported.

UK businesses are increasingly worried about rising operating costs, with concern over both energy and fuel prices reaching their highest levels since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) began tracking them.

Small UK companies are being asked to develop security ideas and products for Britain’s transport sector with an unusually tight deadline. As the geopolitical situation becomes increasingly dangerous, with sabotage to the UK’s physical and cyber infrastructure by countries such as Russia and Iran increasing daily, new security projects are topping the government’s ‘hopeful’ list.

For Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), the issue of late payments can mean the difference between survival or liquidation. The Department for Business & Trade estimates it costs the economy £11 billion annually, forcing 38 businesses to close their doors every day.

Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers are being warned that significant regulatory change is coming under the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

New research on companies claiming Research and Development (R&D) tax credits shows the value of tax relief support was £8.2 billion, an increase of 5%, while the number of R&D tax credit claims decreased by 17% for 2024-25.