9 May 2023

This week's update covers the following:

  • Train strikes this week
  • Climate Action for Business programme
  • Webinar: understanding expenses for the self-employed
  • New guidance on managing health and safety at work
  • Slick real time platform data
  • Campaigning for you – working with Ofgem

 

Train strikes this week

More train strikes are scheduled for this week, with one due on Friday 12 May. Saturday 13 May will also be affected.

Free for Members - Download our guide that explains what you can do to reduce no-shows and how to minimise your losses when clients don’t turn up.

 

Climate Action for Business programme

Business in the Community and Be the Business are hosting a series of free workshops that offer climate action advice and training to small and medium-sized business owners in Scotland. You can learn how to develop a climate action plan for your business, measure your carbon footprint and reduce your emissions.

 

Webinar: understanding expenses for the self-employed

HMRC is holding a webinar on business expenses for the self-employed on Wednesday 28 June. The webinar will cover everything from understanding what a claimable expense is for your business to how to claim tax-relief for larger items such as vehicles and machinery.

 

New guidance on managing health and safety at work

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revamped its site on managing health and safety and controlling risk in the workplace. The new site covers a range of topics, including your responsibilities as an employer, and complying with health and safety law. You can complete a survey to help improve the accessibility of HSE guidance.

 

Slick real time platform data

Despite the increases in cost of living, the outlook for UK high street hair and beauty businesses remain incredibly positive according to the latest report by Salon data specialists Slick.

The webinar here explaining the results in their latest update.  It uses data to inform salons and barbershops about how other sector businesses are behaving and what’s going on in the market.

Report highlights include:

-        Salons are putting up prices 5-10%.

-        Businesses embracing digital are thriving; there’s been an increase in online bookings.

-        The cost of cancellations and manage this by having a deposit payment.

-        Clients are shopping around so client retention is key.

 

Campaigning for you – working with Ofgem

NHBF met Ofgem, the energy regulator, last week as part of its Small and Medium User Group (SUG), where we raised current concerns on behalf of the sector, including continuing high energy prices, high security deposits and the issue of businesses currently locked into high tariffs.

Ofgem has written to energy suppliers urgently calling on them to act more flexibly and give more support to businesses on high tariffs. The letter asks for more information on how many businesses are locked into high tariffs, the rates they are paying and what suppliers are doing to support with this ‘existential threat’ to business.

The regulator is also working with stakeholders on an Energy Trade Credit Guarantee Scheme (ETCGS) to help ‘riskier’ sectors secure energy contracts. Ofgem will report on the review of the non-domestic energy market, which NHBF has fed into, in the summer.