24 September 2024

Final call to complete NHBF Quarterly Survey – September 2024

With the new Government forging ahead with changes to employment rights and further wage rises likely next year, we are keen to get your latest thoughts on how business is going.

Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VCQ3H7W

The survey contains tracker questions about business & trading in addition to ones about wage cost rises, business rates reform and specific skills gaps in your business.

The deadline for responses is Friday 27 September at 5pm.

The survey should take around 7 minutes and your responses are strictly confidential.

Thanks very much for taking the time to give us your views so that we can continue to fight your corner.

 

New protections from rogue energy brokers

Energy brokers and price comparison websites will be among those set to be held to account by a new regulatory regime, to provide better protections and save money for consumers and businesses.   

These new government proposals are a response to unacceptable instances of consumers and businesses being scammed by unregulated rogue brokers and other Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs) in the energy retail market.  

  • Government to consult on plans for new protections for consumers and businesses from unregulated rogue energy brokers  
  • New regulations for third-party services in the energy retail market will help consumers get the best tariffs available, whilst promoting decarbonisation and clean energy  
  • Proposals will enhance consumer protection, tackle hidden fees, foster market competition and innovation, and empower consumers to adopt low-carbon and energy-efficient tariffs

Read the full press release here.

 

Crackdown on late payments in major support package for small businesses

The government has unveiled new measures to support small businesses and the self-employed by tackling the scourge of late payments, which according to the Smart Data Foundry is costing small businesses £22,000 a year on average and leads to 50,000 business closures a year according to Intuit QuickBooks.

  • New Fair Payment Code and fresh rules on company reporting and major consultation unveiled as part of a package to tackle late payments
  • Scourge of late payments costs SMEs £22,000 a year with 56 million hours of lost productivity across the economy – acting as a major brake on growth

Read the full press release here.

 

Campaigning for you – Labour Party Conference

NHBF was at the Labour Party Conference on Monday this week in a wet and rainy Liverpool. There was lots of lively debate and we heard from Rachel Reeves the Chancellor and other Ministers during fringe meetings including – Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Small Businesses, Tulip Siddiq, Economic Secretary to HM Treasury and Liam Byrne Chair of the Business & Trade Select Committee in Parliament. We also heard from a range of MPs.

SME4Labour hosted a positive fringe event about delivering growth through skills and how business and government can work in partnership. A key theme during discussions was the need for incentives for small businesses taking on apprentices and the need to focus on SMEs and young people. The Minister for Skills said that DfE were making representations to HM Treasury ahead of the Autumn Budget on 30 October.