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The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act is here

The Act contains a number of measures which together represent significant change for companies and Companies House customers. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act received Royal Assent in March 2015. It’s expected to be implemented to the timescales set out here. The measures that affect companies aim to: reduce red tape increase the quality […]

BCC: UK inflation set to remain low for foreseeable future

Chief Economist David Kern comments on the inflation figures for January 2016. Consumer Price Index rose by 0.3% in the year to January 2016, up from 0.2% rise in the year to December 2015 The main contributors to the small rise were motor fuels, food, and alcoholic beverages. This was partly offset by falls in […]

Funding for innovative South and West Wales regional health program announced

The Welsh Government has awarded £1.2m to support an innovative new collaboration in South and West Wales. A Regional Collaboration for Health, known as ARCH, is a partnership between Abertawe Bro Morgannwg  and Hywel Dda university health boards and Swansea University, which also includes local authorities, the Swansea Bay City Region Board and other key […]

Blackpool refinances lighting PFI contract

Blackpool Council has renegotiated its street lighting and traffic signals contract in a move that will save £157,000 a year. In partnership with its service provider, Community Lighting Partnership (CLP), the council has refinanced its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract through SMBC and Nord LB Banks to achieve savings of £3m over the remaining 19 […]

£21m finance package to expand SMEs in Wales

Economy Minister Edwina Hart has announced £21m of new finance to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Wales expand and create or safeguard more than 1,800 jobs. The money will be distributed to Welsh businesses through two Finance Wales funds and the Welsh Government’s new £5m Repayable Fund for SMEs, which offers repayable finance […]

Manufacturing Plan to boost industry

Bespoke support and a new Centre of Excellence to help Scotland’s manufacturers innovate and expand have been announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Supported by £70 million of investment, a new strategy for manufacturing – A Manufacturing Future for Scotland – outlines how government will work with industry and with higher and further education institutions […]

Port Talbot Enterprise Zone proposals

Port Talbot could be designated as an Enterprise Zone by Welsh Government in a step to further assist the area against the impact of the Tata Steel announcement. Economy Minister Edwina Hart said the creation of an Enterprise Zone was a proposal being considered by Welsh Government to provide further potential support and investment to […]

New Cyber Security Consultancy Services agreement

The Crown Commercial Service and Communications-Electronic Security Group have developed an agreement for CESG Certified Cyber Security Consultancy services. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has worked with the Communications-Electronic Security Group (CESG) to develop a new central route to market for the public sector to buy CESG Certified Cyber Security Consultancy services. The resulting Cyber […]

Help to Buy creates surge in new homes built and bought

New research has found that 43% of new homes built under the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme since 2013 would have not been built without introduction of the scheme. A newly published report also found that 82% of buyers under Help to Buy: equity loan would not have been able to purchase their home […]

New investment in mental health services

An extra £1 billion will be invested in mental health care by 2021 and a million more people will get mental health support. The announcement follows the publication of a report by the Mental Health Taskforce, chaired by Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind. The taskforce has reviewed mental health care and has set out […]