Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
January 7, 2021
If you're self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) find out if you can use this scheme to claim a grant. The scheme has been extended. If you were not eligible for the first and second grant based on the information in your Self Assessment tax returns, you will not…
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Self Assessment deadline: less than one month to go
January 5, 2021
Around 5.4 million Self Assessment customers have less than a month to complete their tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced today, ahead of the deadline on 31 January. HMRC expects 12.1 million tax returns to be filed this year. Around 55% have already filed their returns, with more than 6.2 million choosing to…
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Time is running out to get ready for end of Brexit transition
December 22, 2020
With less than two weeks to go until the Brexit Transition period ends, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging traders to complete crucial preparations needed to trade with Europe from 1 January. This month, HMRC has sent 250,000 letters and emails to VAT-registered traders urging them to get ready for the new trading rules.…
Read MoreLatest CJRS Official Stats to 31 October published
December 21, 2020
Today, CJRS figures have been updated for a seventh set of official statistics. Applications for the 3rd SEISS grant opened on 30 November, so there are no official stats currently available on this portion of the scheme. We expect they will be available for the first time in January. The CJRS data released today provide…
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China represents a key market for South West Med Tech & Bio Pharma firms
December 15, 2020
THERE’S never been a better time for South West Med Tech & Bio Pharma companies to conquer the Chinese market says a Somerset company helping UK firms partner with China (December 2020). Bridgwater-based Aspen Waite China UK (AWCUK), which has Beijing and Shanghai offices, says from 2020 to 2050, China’s national health expenditure will increase,…
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Securing local jobs for local people - Sedgemoor signs a key Local Labour Agreement
December 15, 2020
“A real ray of sunshine - amongst the gloom of the recent news of national redundancies” – that was a quote from Cllr Gill Slocombe, Sedgemoor’s Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment and Growth – as she endorsed a Local Labour Agreement with Gravity. This agreement paves the way to secure local benefit and social value…
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Latest letting at Bridgwater Gateway speculative industrial units
December 15, 2020
-- Grant Westfield to take 5,381 sq ft Unit 1603 -- Bristol, 08 December 2020: – Another speculatively developed Grade A industrial unit at the £150 million Bridgwater Gateway business park has been let by Colliers International. Unit 1603, which totals 5,381 sq ft, has been leased to Grant Westfield, an award-winning company with a…
Read MoreSouth West taxpayers urged: Don’t miss the Self Assessment deadline!
December 8, 2020
With the busy festive season approaching, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is calling on the South West’s one million Self Assessment customers not to miss the 31 January deadline. The 2019-20 tax return can be finalised at any time up to the deadline but HMRC is encouraging customers to complete it early to allow for…
Read MoreSurvey results for Bridgwater Vision
December 8, 2020
Following last year’s announcement that Bridgwater was one of the places selected to bid for up to £25m from the Towns Fund towards its regeneration, the Bridgwater Town Board launched a community survey to gain local views on the Board’s thoughts on future priorities. The survey closed on 23rd October and there were 317 responses…
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Councils back Stronger Somerset proposal which now heads to Government
December 8, 2020
Somerset’s four District Councils have overwhelmingly backed the Stronger Somerset proposal for a fresh start for the county. At Thursday’s Full Council meetings, councillors voted 149 in favour and 24 against across all four Districts to submit the full proposal to central government, with support drawn from across the political spectrum. Central government has invited…
Read MoreStronger Somerset Poll
November 26, 2020
Poll reveals that twice as many residents would back Stronger Somerset than One Somerset as districts’ plan for a better future is finalised More Somerset residents would back Stronger Somerset as the right solution for a better future than Somerset County Council’s vision for a single council according to the early results from an independent…
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Latest CJRS & SEISS Official Statistics published
November 26, 2020
Today these figures have been updated for a sixth set of official statistics. The CJRS data provides analysis of claims up to 30 September, from applications submitted to HMRC by 31 October. It once again contains data by Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency, and includes a snapshot of flexible furlough figures, broken down by region…
Read MoreCapital Gains Tax changes that Self Assessment customers need to know about
November 25, 2020
Time is running out for anyone who sold a second home during 2019-20 to declare it on their Self Assessment tax return. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding customers that they have until 31 January 2021 to declare any profit made from selling a UK residential property, which was not their main home, during…
Read MoreSouth West leads with renewable & sustainable energy innovation
November 25, 2020
THE SOUTH West is working with Chinese investors and partners to become a world-leading sustainable energy innovation cluster it has been revealed this month (November 2020). The region is leading on innovative renewable energy relationships with China says a Somerset company that is assisting UK innovators to partner with Chinese companies. Bridgwater-based Aspen Waite…
Read MoreAdditional Restrictions Grants Scheme - Open For Covid-19 Affected Businesses in Sedgemoor
November 25, 2020
Sedgemoor District Council has opened its ‘Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) Scheme’ to support more of the businesses affected by the latest limitations on trading during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The new grant scheme is part of a package of measures announced by the government to assist businesses told to close their premises because of national…
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Expert export advice for Somerset businesses
November 25, 2020
Somerset’s Local Authorities are raising awareness of the new opportunities emerging for local companies to export goods and services. The South West is one of three areas chosen in the UK to benefit from the Export Growth Plan funding with a range of support provided ahead of the EU transition period as part of a…
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