AGP Executive Report
Last update: 3 hours agoSME Tax & Rates Pressure: The Federation of Small Businesses has urged Chancellor John Healey to use the 28 October Budget to cut the cost of doing business, calling for a big jump in England’s 100% Small Business Rate Relief threshold (from £12,000 to £25,000), plus lower employment taxes and a Statutory Sick Pay rebate for smaller employers. R&D Relief Update: HMRC says UK R&D tax relief hit £8.2bn in 2024-25, up 5% year-on-year, but claims fell 17% to about 40,325 as the system shifts toward larger applications and compliance forms introduced in 2023 continue to bite. Local Procurement for SMEs: North East Lincolnshire is inviting bids for £750,000 of SuDS and parking works at St Ives Crescent (deadline 21 October 2026), with SME participation encouraged. Tech for Construction SMEs: Northampton software firm Web Alliance launched WACRAD, a simpler project/people/costs platform aimed at construction SMEs moving off spreadsheets. Business Support Events: HSBC UK’s free “Strategies for Success” event in Glasgow features Sara Davies MBE and SUR Group’s chief executive, aimed at helping small firms scale. Community Business Spotlight: A Lowestoft café, Brew & Bites, has been shortlisted for the UK Small Business Awards, while a Chorley mortgage adviser marks 10 years and 500 five-star Google reviews.
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