The chancellor will extend the furlough scheme until the end of September when he makes his Budget speech later.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Pandemic helps Zoom triple revenues
Zoom’s revenues more than tripled in the last quarter as millions of people continued to use its platform to keep in contact with colleagues, friends and relatives during lockdowns.
Steakhouse chain asks staff to ‘lend 10% of wages’ amid Covid crisis
Restaurant staff at the Tomahawk Steakhouse chain have been asked to lend the business a tenth of their wages in order to help it through the latest lockdown.
Rishi Sunak to offer ‘help to grow’ training for SMEs
The bosses of small businesses are to be invited back to school to brush up on their management skills, under plans to be announced in the budget designed to help close Britain’s productivity gap with rival nations.
Bitcoin could be the new currency for global trade, Citibank says
Bitcoin moved higher yesterday, recouping several days of losses as Wall Street analysts hailed a “tipping point” for the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
Halfords to repay £10m Covid furlough cash after strong sales
Halfords has committed to repaying all the £10.7m in furlough money it received from taxpayers, thanks to stronger-than-expected sales during the latest Covid lockdown.
Labour tells Chancellor: Don’t raise corporation tax now
Labour could back the Conservatives’ plans to raise corporation tax over the course of this parliament, the shadow chancellor has said.
The beginning of the end of working-from-home: Canary Wharf says ‘gradual’ return to office will start from March 29 expecting all staff to be back
The chief strategist at London’s Canary Wharf has said thousands of workers are expected to return to offices as Covid restrictions are eased in the coming months.
Half of UKs cash machines ‘face closure’
Half of Britain’s cash machines could close within two years unless banks are forced to support them, experts have warned.
Debt looms for another 500,000 households despite state coronavirus help
Hundreds of thousands of people will be tipped into serious debt this year even if the furlough scheme is extended, say economists.
Rishi Sunak sets out his case for tax increases in this weeks budget
Rishi Sunak has laid the groundwork for tax rises after he said it was time to “level with people” about the problems facing the economy.
MPs call on Chancellor to support pubs recovery by cutting beer duty
A group of Conservative MPs is calling for a reduction in the tax paid on beer in next week’s Budget.
Rishi Sunak urged to allow tax refunds for Covid losses
MPs are calling on Rishi Sunak to allow businesses to offset pandemic losses with a corporation tax refund as pressure mounts on the chancellor to prioritise incentives for investment over tax rises in his budget on Wednesday.
Lack of online offering costs Primark £1.6bn in lost lockdown sales
The owner of Primark said yesterday that the latest lockdown would cost the chain £1.6 billion in lost sales, but it struck an optimistic note about prospects when shops reopen.
Network Rail chairman predicts 10% reduction in train need post pandemic
Around 10% fewer train services should run once the country opens up again, compared to the pre-pandemic timetable, the chairman of Network Rail has said.