25 October 2022
This week's update covers the following:
- NHBF EGM set to take place
- Help us to help you – Engagement survey 2022
- Energy: New support for small businesses
- Skills: Apprenticeship webinars for SMEs
- Energy consumption survey from BEIS - survey deadline extended
NHBF EGM set to take place
The NHBF will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on Sunday, 13 November, to approve a series of urgent technical changes to the Rules.
The NHBF is a registered society governed by the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The NHBF's Rules must comply with the requirements of the Act, and any change must be verified and approved by the FCA. Changes to the Rules cannot come into effect until the FCA has approved them.
Following a Governance Review in 2021, the NHBF's Rules were completely reviewed and revised to bring them up to date and ensure that they reflected best practices in order to remove the need to make piecemeal changes to the Rules each year.
The revised Rules were approved by the Membership at the AGM in November 2021 and submitted to the FCA. However, the FCA raised several technical issues that must be addressed before it approves them. The proposed amendments will resolve these issues. The FCA has already confirmed that it is satisfied with the proposed changes, and the revised version of the Rules will come into effect as soon as Members approve the amendments.
Please help us by registering your vote, either online or in person.
Help us to help you – Engagement survey 2022
As we navigate through the remainder of a challenging year, the NHBF would like to understand how it can best support the industry in the upcoming critical months and throughout 2023.
Your views are invaluable, and we will use your answers to help us improve the range of services and communications we offer to the industry at this critical time.
We thank you for participating in this survey and helping us support the industry's recovery. Please complete the survey by 30 October 2022. Your responses are confidential, and we will not share any individual responses in a way that you can be personally identified.
Complete this survey if you are an NHBF Member.
Complete this survey if you are a non-member.
Energy: New support for small businesses
Energy regulator Ofgem has introduced vital new guidance for microbusinesses, as well as advice on Third Party Intermediaries and guidance on the Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme, to support small businesses through the energy crisis.
Skills: Apprenticeship webinars for SMEs
Are you aware of the many benefits that hiring a young apprentice can bring to your business? Do you know about the range of support available to you?
The Department for Education (DfE) will run a series of webinars this autumn to support SMEs in their apprenticeship programmes, focusing on recruiting and supporting young people.
Energy consumption survey from BEIS - survey deadline extended
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is seeking further details about your energy consumption. As announced by the Government, support for Businesses has begun with the energy relief scheme. The survey request by BEIS is looking for further details to see if our sector should benefit from additional support after the initial six-month period. In addition to the information you provided through the State of the Industry survey, this is a really important opportunity to show how vulnerable the sector is to rising energy and business prices. The NHBF urges Members to participate in the survey and have your say on the key issues affecting our industry.