The Treasury Committee has urged the government to provide assurance that it is not ‘flying blind’ into a potential Emergency Budget this September. In a letter sent to Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Mel Stride, Chair of the Treasury Committee, asked whether the Treasury is working with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on a forecast to be published with any potential Emer ...

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to increase the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates 'immediately' in order to guarantee decent living standards for families. Research carried out by the TUC found that UK poverty levels are 'likely to get worse' if ministers continue to hold down pay. Additional financial support for families announced by the Treasury ...

On behalf of all at Ward Williams, we offer sincerest condolences to the Royal Family following the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. We pay tribute to her lifelong dedication and service. ...

Here at Ward Williams we subscribe to a weekly delivery of fruit to each of our offices. The business case for providing fruit in the workplace is strong.  Providing fresh fruit to staff is the most cost-effective employee benefit which in turn increases staff productivity and promotes staff health and wellbeing. Most of the fruit is sourced from the UK and Western Europe to ...

New R&D legislation was published on 20 July 2022. Changes being introduced from 1 April 2023 will affect: companies claiming Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC). small or medium enterprises (SME) R&D relief. companies that have made a Patent Box election. Whilst there are currently no major structural changes, the following are now confirmed: ...

All employers are required to pay their staff either the National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) or National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The Living Wage Foundation is a charity that campaigns for improved rates of pay for those on low wages, with accredited employers, including many charities, committed to paying their staff at pay rates o ...

The director of a Manchester pizza takeaway who fraudulently claimed a £20,000 bounce back loan has been jailed for two years. Abdulrazag Zagroba, 54, from Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 24 June 2022 where he was sentenced to 24 months before Recorder Hudson. This was the first successful criminal prosecution of a bounce bank loan fraudster for the I ...

Details have been published of how the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief Scheme will work. The scheme only applies to England, and it will only apply for the 2022/23 financial year. The scheme will provide a 50% reduction in business rates for eligible properties up to a limit of £110,000 per corporate group. Eligible occupied properties are those which are ...

For the eighth year running Ward Williams will enter a team of 4 into the Weybridge Rowing Regatta which will take place this year on Friday 5th August. The regatta is organised by Weybridge Rowing Club, along the River Thames. The Regatta was created as a community initiative for local businesses to meet, network and compete in a sporting environment. There are 24 teams and ...

New climate-related disclosure requirements come into force for accounting periods beginning on or after 6 April 2022. Only a handful of charities though will be caught by these requirements, those which are limited companies and have more than 500 employees and have incoming resources of more than £500 million. These requirements, which are based on recommendations made by the ...