Do you have an analogue business in a digital age? November 10, 2016 UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are weathering the tempest that 2016 has blown their way, remaining ambitious, while providing a sturdy backbone for our economy during this period of uncertainty. It will surprise few that websites, social media and online marketplaces are a conduit to success, and a driving force behind increasing revenues in [...]
Here’s what Brexit might do to your tax bill June 23, 2016 If the UK votes to leave the EU today, tax experts are advising that it could result in a shakeup to certain parts of the tax regime – although exactly how is not quite certain. Will a Brexit vote result in a complete overhaul of tax as we know it? While some taxation rules might be ripe for a [...]
Axe the tobacco tax escalator: Punitive taxation of smoking is just fuelling the black market February 15, 2016 When tobacco duty goes up, as it invariably does every year, anti-smoking groups either celebrate or moan that it hasn’t gone up enough. Determined to force people to quit smoking, they ignore the impact increasing prices have on the UK’s 8m smokers, many of whom are from poorer backgrounds. The lack of empathy for adults [...]
Blame complex tax rules and a lack of competition for the airport VAT debacle August 19, 2015 I arrived back from holiday at Heathrow last week. After I picked up my bags, I went through customs and I saw some stewardesses walking through a passageway that avoided the arrivals duty free shopping area. I had everything I needed, so I decided to skip the shops and go through the passageway to head [...]
Is this the future of property? Rob Ellice on why you should let your home online June 25, 2015 We ask Rob Ellice, CEO of easyProperty why it's a good idea to rent your home online. What would you say is the core business ethos behind easyProperty? easyProperty wants to make selling and letting properties as affordable, convenient and transparent as possible. We help landlords list their properties on the big online property portals [...]
Budget 2016: George Osborne’s speech in full March 16, 2016 George Osborne has just revealed the Budget for 2016. There was good news for businesses with corporation tax being sliced and business rates being reformed – but bad news for smokers and students who hate maths. Mr Deputy Speaker, Today I report on an economy set to grow faster than any other major advanced economy in [...]
July Budget 2015: From benefits caps and child tax credits cuts to pension and inheritance tax changes, here’s what to expect July 7, 2015 Tomorrow, George Osborne takes to the despatch box for his first truly Conservative Budget – indeed, the first majority Conservative Budget since 1996. The chancellor is notoriously good at trailing the contents of his Budgets before he stands up – so what do we know so far? Read more: Budget live – all the key announcements [...]
George Osborne likes to think the unthinkable: Now he should abolish the Budget March 16, 2015 It’s a well-known saying that “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”. So calling for George Osborne to take to the despatch box tomorrow and announce that he’s abolishing future Budgets – in turn, greatly diminishing the Treasury’s power – might seem a fanciful plea. In truth, it’s about as likely as Ed Miliband offering journalists the [...]
Morrisons profit halves in fight to win shoppers September 11, 2014 MORRISONS appeased investors yesterday by hiking its dividend payout by five per cent despite the troubled supermarket group reporting a plunge in first-half profits. Underlying pre-tax profits fell by 51 per cent to £181m in the six months to 3 August – its lowest in eight years – after Morrisons slashed the price of thousands [...]
Park Hyatt New York: First major NYC hotel in over 10 years November 16, 2014 It takes big bucks to open a new luxury hotel in Manhattan – and even bigger cojones. Clearly, the idea has not been tempting for some time. New York’s last mega-launch was the Mandarin Oriental in 2003. Eleven years and one recession later, confidence has finally returned to the Big Apple – and, [...]