Tag Archive for Boris Johnson

By Timothy Adler on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

Businesses have criticised government for a national insurance hike of 1.25 per cent each for both employers and staff – a combined 3 per cent rise – as firms are only just recovering from the pandemic.

Economists have warned the £11bn national insurance contribution (NIC) hike will create unemployment and stifle future job creation.

The new health and social care levy will generate in total £14bn a year, which falls to a net £12bn of income as some will be paid by public sector workers. About £11bn will come from NICs and £600m from increasing tax on dividends.

Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Business owners who have done all they can to retain and support their staff during the pandemic are now being punished for that loyalty with an £11bn increase in NICs, which essentially serve as a jobs tax.”

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, said: “Of all the options available to the Government, it is disappointing that increases in national insurance have been chosen because of the impact on lower paid workers and small businesses … despite all

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How much national insurance hike will cost your business

by Timothy Adler • September 8, 2021 • 0 Comments

By Timothy Adler on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

Economists have warned the £11bn national insurance contribution (NIC) hike will create unemployment and stifle future job creation.

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Government positive about small business Brexit transition voucher

by Timothy Adler • October 21, 2020 • 0 Comments

Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Michael Gove has responded positively to the concept of a Brexit transition voucher to help small businesses get through Brexit.
The Cabinet Office minister, who is in charge of Brexit preparations, has said the concept of a Brexit transition voucher for small businesses which need to buy new equipment or pay for services would be looked at and required “intense conversations”.
Federation of Small Businesses, which posed the question about a Brexit transition voucher to Mr Gove, has long supported such a scheme. Last month FSB chairman Mike Cherry described transition vouchers as “a sensible way forward” – set sums which could be spent on expertise, tech and training.
>See also: Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, business rates return in April
Last month FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: “Given that small firms have been flat out managing coronavirus-linked disruption for the past six months, the Government needs to step in with substantial financial support to assist with transition preparations.”
The Cabinet Office minister was speaking yesterday during a conference call with 250 company leaders and business groups.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also on the call and reportedly made positive noises about help for small

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What new Covid restrictions mean for small business

by Timothy Adler • September 23, 2020 • 0 Comments

Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Boris Johnson outlined the latest set of Covid restrictions this afternoon, significantly tightening laws for small business in England ahead of a second wave.
The latest set of Covid restrictions, which will become law, threaten any small business that does not comply with fines. Shop assistants in retailers could, for example, be fined £200 for not wearing a facemask behind the counter.
Mr Johnson warned that the new regulations, which underpin the rule of six – preventing any more than six people congregating – will be in place for the next six months.
>See also: Rishi Sunak to extend government coronavirus business support
The new clampdown will be a blow to pubs and restaurants, which from Thursday, September 24 have to shut at 10pm. That means close completely, not last orders.

All pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table service only and must close at 10pm
Staff and customers in pubs, bars and other indoor hospitality must wear facemasks when not eating and drinking
Retail staff and all users of taxis and minicabs must wear face coverings
Covid-secure guidelines for retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors will become law. Businesses will be fined and forced to close if they breach the

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What new Covid restrictions mean for small business

by Timothy Adler • September 22, 2020 • 0 Comments

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Boris must ‘act now’ to save businesses from going under

by Timothy Adler • September 15, 2020 • 0 Comments

Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
The British Chambers of Commerce has written to Boris Johnson urging him to “act now” to avoid “significant levels” of businesses going under.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, president of the BCC, said the government needed to provide more support for businesses suffering local restrictions alongside a comprehensive stimulus package, including reducing national insurance costs.
Baroness McGregor-Smith wrote: “If the government wishes to avoid mass unemployment, significant levels of business failure, and long-term economic scarring in our communities, we urge you and your colleagues to act now.”
See also: 150 UK small business grants to apply for right now
The government has extended some Covid-19 support measures, such as awarding grants worth £1,000 to small businesses that find themselves in lockdown, but it has so far resisted calls to prolong the furlough scheme or to extend the availability of state-backed coronavirus business interruption loans beyond the autumn.
The BCC’s full suggested fiscal stimulus package includes:

Reducing the cost of employment by expanding the National Insurance Employment Allowance for 18 months from £4,000 to £20,000 and raising the threshold for employers’ National Insurance contributions from £8,788 to £12,500
Rates relief to all of the hardest hit sectors and their immediate supply chains –

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All non-food retail to shutdown apart from chemists – Boris Johnson

by Timothy Adler • March 23, 2020 • 0 Comments

Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Boris Johnson has announced a shutdown of all retail apart from food shops and chemists this evening.
The retail shutdown affects tens of thousands of retail businesses across Britain in a bid to stop the rampaging spread of coronavirus.
From now on people will only be allowed to leave their home for shopping for necessities, said Johnson, singling out clothes shops and electrical retailers as non-essential retailers.
The prime minister added that the public will be allowed out for exercise once a day and that police will have the power to intervene where necessary.
Boris Johnson said: “From this evening you must stay at home … at present there are no easy options … in this fight, we can be in no doubt that every one of us is enlisted … the people of this country will rise the challenge”.
>See also: What does the latest Treasury stimulus mean for small business?
Government moves to stop businesses being evicted
The government has stepped in to stop businesses being evicted for non-payment of rent, giving small businesses a three-month lease forfeiture moratorium.
This means that if businesses are unable to pay commercial rent due to the coronavirus shutdown, they will have a