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Nearly one in four employees are considering switching from full-time employment to become contractors or freelancers, new research* from Workwell & IPSE shows. The study found 24% of employees would consider making the move to working for themselves with nearly two fifths of them saying they could switch within the next 12 months. Workwell, a leading provider of services to flexible workers and recruiters in the UK and overseas, collaborated with IPSE, a community of over 35,000 self-employed people. They also questioned people already working as contractors, freelancers and those running their own businesses to find out why they had made the move. It found the key motivation was to have more flexibility over how, when and where they work. Around 55% surveyed cited that as their reason for making the move while 45% said they wanted to be their own boss. Just one in five (20%) said they moved because they wanted to make more money while 30% did so because they did not like where they were working. The COVID 19 pandemic was a key factor for 7% who said it had made them reassess what they wanted from life. More than two-thirds (67%) questioned said they had been contracting, freelancing or running their own business for more than four years. Chris Mollan, Head of Accountancy Services at Workwell said: “Contracting and freelancing remains an attractive option for substantial numbers of employees with around one in four considering giving up the security of working for someone else. It is clear that the motivation to switch is more about having increased flexibility in your working life and being to some extent your own boss than it is about earning more." “However making the move does require planning and a clear idea of what you are going to do as well as expert support on a wide range of issues around accountancy and tax efficiency that people in employment will not have had to think about.” Andy Chamberlain, Director of Policy at IPSE, said: “It’s no surprise that self-employnt’s offer of increased flexibility and autonomy in work continues to be an attractive option for swathes of the UK’s workforce." "For many, this could mean turning a passion project or side hustle into a fully-fledged freelance business, whilst for others self-employment offers a sustainable route to work for people managing a long-term illness or caring for others. Despite this, those considering a career in self-employment have been continuously overlooked in this government’s ‘back to work’ drive." “Government must not miss its opportunity to support people in launching a self-employed career, especially when today’s figures show a strong appetite to operate in this way. Simplifying tax rules for the self-employed and more tailored support and resources for new freelancers would not only help them to succeed early in their self-employed careers, but for many years to come”. Workwell’s award-winning accountancy service is designed to help contractors, freelancers and business owners to manage their business easily and tax-efficiently. Clients are supported by their own dedicated accountant and have online accounting to access and manage their accounts easily, from anywhere. It also provides umbrella company solutions for contractors. Workwell enables businesses in the UK and overseas to more easily and compliantly benefit from flexible workforces. Its services for recruiters and end hirers are designed to take away the risk, hassle and complexity of contingent labour supply.

Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons has donated £20,000 to national asbestos-related cancer charity, Mesothelioma UK. Mesothelioma UK’s headquarters is located in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and the funding will help to support the vital work that the charity does in supporting the families of, and patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. Freemasonry in Leicestershire includes nearly 3,000 members, meeting in 80 Lodges spread across 11 centres in the county. Two of these Lodges, Sir John Corah No.7736 from Leicester, and Science & Art No.8426 in Loughborough, have joined forces to support Mesothelioma UK, with the additional help from the Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons’ Charity, a grant-making charity which encourages applications for grants from local charities, funded by the members throughout Leicestershire and Rutland. Colin Ibbetson of the Sir John Corah Lodge, a mesothelioma patient who has benefitted from the support given by Mesothelioma UK, was the instigator of the donation given by the Freemasons, with the assistance of Barry Hasdell and other members of the Lodge including Dr Ilias Macheridis, an occupational disease medical expert who was keen to support Mesothelioma UK having had contact through the charity’s education and awareness activities. Colin said: “The support and expertise of Mesothelioma UK has substantially extended my life, for which I am very grateful.” Liz Darlison, Chief Executive of Mesothelioma UK added: “Although we’re now a national charity with a network of clinical nurse specialists supporting mesothelioma patients throughout the UK, Mesothelioma UK began as a small charity based out of Glenfield Hospital." “We’re proud of our Leicestershire roots and are delighted to receive this generous donation from the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons.”

In a market saturated with options, Woofles, based in the picturesque village of Toppesfield, Essex, is standing out by leading a transformative shift in the UK dog harness industry. Their unwavering commitment to enhancing the safety, comfort, and well-being of our canine companions has set them apart as a beacon of change. For years, the pet industry has seen a proliferation of dog harnesses, each claiming to be the best. However, not all harnesses are created equal. Woofles, nestled in the heart of the Essex countryside, recognised this gap and decided to take a stand for dogs' health and happiness. Woofles understands that a dog harness is not just a piece of equipment but an essential companion for your canine family member. They've made it their mission to challenge the status quo and redefine the standards for dog harnesses in the UK. So, What Sets Woofles Apart? Uncompromising Safety: Woofles' primary focus is the safety of your pets. Their harnesses are meticulously designed to ensure a secure fit without restricting movement. No longer do dogs need to endure the discomfort of restrictive harnesses that can lead to injury. Extensive Research and Development: Woofles collaborates with veterinary professionals, including vets, vet physios, and canine hydrotherapists, to develop their products. This unique partnership allows them to create harnesses that promote dogs' natural movement while protecting their musculoskeletal systems. Quality You Can Trust: All Woofles products are crafted from high-quality materials. They are machine washable and built to last, making them ideal for all of life's adventures, from muddy hikes to beachside frolics. Bold and Vibrant Designs : Woofles knows that safety doesn't have to mean sacrificing style. Their harnesses come in a range of bold and vibrant colours, allowing your pup to express their personality. Exemplary Customer Service : At Woofles, customer satisfaction is paramount. They go above and beyond to ensure your shopping experience is nothing short of outstanding. Consistent 5-star reviews across Google, Trustpilot, and Facebook are a testament to their dedication to excellence. Woofles aims to change the landscape of the UK dog harness market by setting new standards for quality, comfort, and safety. Their vision is one where products that endanger dogs' joints, tendons, and muscles are no longer accepted in the UK. It's a vision that aligns with the principles of ethical pet care and responsible pet ownership. Join Woofles in this journey towards a brighter, safer, and more comfortable future for our beloved canine companions. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of dogs across the United Kingdom. Find out more by visiting their website here

The government must end competitive bidding on short-term funding pots for councils and fix the crisis in local audit in a bid to improve the resilience of the country’s public finances, chartered accountancy body ICAEW has said. In a series of recommendations made to the government in a submission and letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement, ICAEW has called for the competitive short-term funding process to be replaced with long-term funding streams to give councils more certainty over future spending. Councils waste time and money submitting bids for relatively small sums, and resources are then wasted in Whitehall assessing the bids. This inefficiency diverts both councils and central government from focusing on delivering for local communities. ICAEW said government must also fix the crisis in local authority financial reporting and audit, which are critical to accountability, governance and effective financial management. Most councils in England are now at least two years behind on completing audits, with a cross-government effort to clear the backlog of 918 delayed audit opinions urgently needed. Additionally, ICAEW has proposed a local public services strategy to urgently address the significant problems in local government that stop councils from delivering the quality of public services that communities need, pushing many local authorities to the brink of bankruptcy and resulting in public money being wasted. Without attention to how local government is funded, meaningful reductions in regional inequalities are not possible. The asks come after a number of councils in England have declared effective bankruptcy, including most recently Birmingham City Council, and amid warnings that 1 in 10 county councils face bankruptcy. A Parliamentary committee will hear evidence on financial distress in local authorities on Wednesday. Other recommendations to support businesses include a strategy to address poor HMRC service standards, providing incentives for investment in net zero-aligned R&D, interventions to address business banking concerns, and boosting investment to address skills shortages and unlock growth. Michael Izza, Chief Executive, ICAEW said: “The structural failures in the local audit system, with nearly a thousand delayed audits, may have serious financial consequences for communities across England." “We hope the Chancellor will use the Autumn Statement as an opportunity to increase the resilience and sustainability of the public finances, with a cross-government effort to clear the mountain of delayed audit opinions to get the system back on track and by introducing long-term funding streams for councils." “A clear strategy is needed to increase the resilience of the UK economy, underpinned by certainty, clarity, stability and the right long-term incentives to influence investment, employment and growth.”

East Staffordshire men’s community group is celebrating the next step in building a toolkit to tackle loneliness and isolation, thanks to support from JCB. Rocester and District Men’s Shed has taken delivery of £500 worth of tools to enable members to practise DIY and woodworking skills at their weekly get-togethers. The group’s ten members travel from Ashbourne, Uttoxeter, Stramshall and Denstone, to meet each Wednesday morning for cuppas, chats and making and mending sessions. The Men’s Shed movement is an international organisation founded in Australia to bring men together for making and repairing goods, but mainly for companionship – whether they are retired, unemployed or have disabilities. Founder and chairman of Rocester and District Men’s Shed, Ian Roberts said: "As churchwarden at St Michael’s Church in Rocester my job was to strengthen relationships with the community, and I heard about the Men’s Shed movement." "While there are lots of clubs and groups for women to meet, there was nothing specifically for men to overcome issues of loneliness and isolation - especially in retirement - so in June last year we set up the Men’s Shed in a portable cabin on land behind Rocester Village Hall.” Ian, who took early retirement from JCB ten years ago, but continues to work as a tour guide at The Story of JCB, added: “Up to now members have had to bring along their own tools, but the JCB donation has enabled us to begin equipping the shed with items that everyone can use; we now have a table saw, mitre saw, and variety of hand saws and drill bits." “We are extremely grateful to JCB for their support, and this donation will enable us to grow, welcome more members and really make a difference to the lives of local people in building that sense of community and combatting loneliness.”

Source One Consulting, East Anglia's leading commercial and office interiors specialists, is thrilled to mark its 21st anniversary since its inception in 2002. Founded by Pat and Lisa Lewis, the company has come a long way from its humble beginnings, evolving into a thriving business in the dynamic world of office interiors. In an era where the Internet and mobile phones were far from omnipresent, and advertising was conducted via Yellow Pages and local newspapers, Source One Consulting took its first steps in the business world. The company's first sale, a batch of 10 stacking chairs, was personally delivered by Pat Lewis in the back of his Ford Mondeo. Office layouts and space plans were initially crafted on the kitchen table at home with pen, paper, a scale rule, and a basic calculator. Since then, Source One Consulting has grown and adapted, embracing the latest technology, including sophisticated 3D modelling and CGI software for space planning. Over two decades, the company has become a trusted name in the industry, catering to the commercial and office interiors needs of the East Anglia region. Chairman and Founder, Patrick Lewis, reflected on the journey, saying, "Those early days were anxiety-driven and scary at times. I often questioned myself and wondered if I could make it. But I had a burning desire to succeed and a tremendous motivation in the form of a young family. Looking back at the business plan I wrote back then, I'm proud to have achieved all the original goals I set. I feel extremely fortunate and thankful to have been backed by a great team." Managing Director, Lisa Lewis, emphasized the company's family-oriented values, treating clients as an extension of the Source One family. She said, "Our values have kept us going through both the good times and the more challenging ones. It's what drives us forward each day, and we genuinely love what we do. Seeing my daughters, Chloe and Ellie, join the Source One team has been one of our proudest achievements, creating a legacy that was difficult to envision back in 2002." Despite facing challenges such as the financial crisis and the recent pandemic, Source One Consulting has weathered the storms and emerged stronger than ever. Pat Lewis stated, "We've had to navigate our way through tough times in the business world and personally, but we have collectively handled this with grit and determination." Today, Source One Consulting celebrates 21 years as a successful business with a dedicated team that consistently delivers on their promises. The company actively supports local suppliers and invests in its community. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of our journey so far, and we look forward to the exciting years ahead" Pat Lewis concluded.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched its popular KaterBake bao (Hirata) buns into wholesale giant Booker. The 50g bao buns are now available frozen nationwide to caterers and food service operators via more than 170 sites operated by Booker. Bao buns, also known as Hirata buns, have become the darlings of the street food scene in recent times. The hand-held sized, steamed and folded, soft and pillowy bread buns are usually served warm filled with slow-cooked meat or vegetables, crunchy salad and pickles, and a sticky sauce. But they can also be served with sweet fillings – making them an extra versatile option for menus and different day parts. Gordon Lauder, MD of Central Foods, said: “We are really pleased to be launching our 50g KaterBake bao buns into Booker, which means it’s even easier for food service and catering customers to get hold of them and serve them in their venues." “Bao buns are bang on trend, convenient and easy to serve, and are perfect for a wide range of menu options from starters, tapas and sharing platters to buffets, event catering and street food style dishes.” The KaterBake bao buns are available frozen in Booker in pack sizes of 30. They are suitable for vegans and vegetarians and come ready-supplied with individual greaseproof paper discs to avoid sticking during steaming/reheating. Central Foods, based at Collingtree near Northampton, is one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors. The company was founded more than 25 years ago and is a catering partner across the whole food service sector, supplying to hotels, restaurants, bars, universities, schools, pubs, care homes, garden centres, leisure outlets and more. It currently sells to over 180 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. For more information about Central Foods visit www.centralfoods.co.uk

This November is set to be M&S’ biggest ever store opening month. Across the month M&S will open nine new stores, investing £80m in sustainable bricks and mortar retail and supporting over 2,200 local jobs across the UK. Kicking off with a major new 65,000 square foot store in Birmingham’s Bullring on Tuesday 7th November, M&S will open at least one store every seven days throughout the month. This also includes two further new store openings, alongside three new M&S Foodhalls and a further three store renewals. The openings are part of M&S’ aim to become the UK’s leading omnichannel retailer, with its store rotation programme at the centre of this ambition. The store rotation programme ensures M&S has the right stores, in the right place, with the right space. The retailer is aiming to rotate from a base of 247 stores to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full line stores that sell its Clothing, Home and Food ranges, while also opening over 100 bigger, better food sites, by FY27/28. At the start of the year M&S set out a c.£500m investment in its store rotation programme and outlined its ambition to go faster in the programme and target delivery in three years instead of five by FY25/26. In the last year M&S has seen strong performances from its recently relocated stores with strong payback on invested capital giving the retailer the confidence to go faster. As part of this headline investment M&S has already relocated to new stores in Leeds White Rose and Liverpool ONE in the summer with both performing ahead of expectations. The relocations also deliver significant environmental benefits. The new Liverpool ONE store for example is a more efficient and modern building which uses LED lighting and a natural refrigeration system which is 55% more efficient than the old store and delivers a 69% reduction in carbon emissions. M&S has also opened a number of new Foodhalls this year as part of its aim to deliver 100 new bigger, better food stores, including Purley Way, Stockport and Clacton. Today’s announcement outlining M&S’ biggest ever store opening month is the next stage of the retailer’s investment and acceleration of its plans. The three new full line stores in Birmingham Bullring, Lakeside Thurrock and Manchester Trafford Centre are all store relocations – part of M&S’ investment to regenerate vacant sites. The three store renewals also mean M&S is nearing over 100 stores in the renewal format. Each store aims to appeal to local families, with customers able to browse in wider, brighter aisles and a clear line of sight across the store. With fresh market-style food halls stocking the full M&S Food range, spacious Clothing, Home and Beauty departments, as well as free car parking to make shopping more convenient for customers. Lakeside and Trafford Centre will also have brand-new M&S cafes. Sacha Berendji, Operations Director: “Stores are key to our business, and we see them as part of our competitive advantage. Increasing numbers of customers are heading back in to stores to experience the best of M&S all under one roof, supported by outstanding service from our colleagues, and we expect this to continue as we head into Christmas." "To deliver our biggest ever store opening month which supports thousands of jobs is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about accelerating our rotation plans so we are in the right locations for our customers.” Alongside store openings, M&S recently announced it is hiring over 10,000 new Customer Assistants to support in its stores over the festive period. The vacancies represent a 40 per cent increase on last year and reflects the additional investment M&S is making in colleague hours to support customers on the shop floor so that the retailer is well set up to support customers as it heads into the festive season.

Soaring corporation taxes of up to 25%, shrinking allowances and new advance payment rules will hit more than 40% of UK businesses with year ends between December 2023 and March 2024, seriously affecting cash flow and investment, a leading business tax expert is warning. Mark Pryce, corporate tax partner with Azets, said that businesses with taxable profits of £1.5m or more are required to pay forecast tax in advance of the year end, which now include accelerated QIPs (Quarterly Instalment Payments) starting just months into their financial year ends under two complex QIP regimes. The thresholds for inclusion in these regimes have remained static for 23 years and are well behind inflation rates. “We are already seeing the new corporation tax rates of up to 25%, an increase of 31.58%, which are now affecting many UK businesses and time is running out in which to reduce the impact,” said Mark Pryce. “The new measures, which came into effect on 1 April 2023, are compounded by shrinking allowances and advanced payments plus the arrival of new ‘Associated companies’ rules targeting group businesses. Group businesses include not only private equity backed companies where the overall PE investment structure will need to be assessed for additional potential associates, but also many family businesses.” He added: “The Treasury will gain billions of pounds from UK businesses but the cost to the economy of this new ‘Pull and Push’** tax policy will force many to take on additional borrowing to fund their tax bills, reduce staff wages and cut costs with innovative projects being the obvious targets.” Mark Pryce is urging business owners to take advantage of the capital allowances regime by investing in their businesses and reducing the cash tax impact: “The new expensing regime allows relief of 100% on certain new and unused plant but there are also opportunities to benefit from tax incentives by investing in qualifying assets. However, due to the complexity of some of these incentives it is easy to fall foul of HMRC and incur significant charges and penalties." “HMRC looks favourably on well laid out tax computations detailing the cost analysis with facts documenting and supporting claims, but a grim view is taken of unsubstantiated and arbitrary allocations and where the paperwork is not robust. Effective use of Annual Investment Allowances and the new capex expensing rules speeds up tax relief. The timing of spend and ensuring correct documentation is therefore crucial.” Concluding Mark said: “2024 is shaping up to be an onerous tax year on a scale that most have never experienced and for which few are prepared. It is important that businesses avoid the urge to cut costs to pay tax and instead focus on investing to reduce tax and to prioritise their capital expenditure before their financial year ends. Any businesses concerned about the new tax regime should seek advice sooner rather than later.”

Laura Woods was named Sports Presenter of the Year at the Broadcast Sport Awards for her work fronting ITV’s coverage of England Women’s international matches as well as her presenting role for the channel at both FIFA men’s and women's World Cup Finals and the FA Cup. Laura’s ITV presenting colleagues Mark Pougatch, who fronts both football and rugby on the channel and Ed Chamberlin, the main presenter of ITV’s racing coverage, were also nominated in the Sports Presenter of the Year category. Laura, who continues to present ITV’s coverage of England Women qualifying and friendly matches as well as the FA Cup, said: “For a presenter to win an award like this, they need a safe and encouraging environment to flourish in and that for me has been ITV. So I’d like to thank the amazing production team we have for making every day so much fun and for putting their hearts and souls into their work behind the scenes. I’m so grateful to be a part of this family. This award means the world to me.” As well as Laura’s award, there were a number of nominations for ITV talent and programmes at this year’s event. ITV was nominated for Sports Broadcaster of the Year and Sports Content of the Year [Quadrennial] for its FIFA World Cup 2022 coverage. Seb Hutchinson was nominated for Sport Commentator of the Year for his work on both the womens and mens FIFA World Cups, England Women’s internationals and the FA Cup. And Roy Keane was nominated for Pundit of the Year for his role on the ITV team covering the Qatar World Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield. Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora were nominated in the same category for their roles on ITV’s The NFL Show [Jason’s nomination also included recognition of his work on Sky’s NFL coverage]. ITV shows Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2023 and Goodwood Revival were also nominated in the Sport Entertainment Programme of the Year category.

Aldi has confirmed it will close all of its stores on Boxing Day in line with previous years, to once again thank its colleagues for all their hard work. Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket will close on the 25th and 26th December and reopen as usual on Wednesday 27th, so customers can pick up their New Year essentials. Opening hours will vary in the build-up to Christmas, with Aldi operating extended hours to ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day. Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “We recognise that Christmas is an important time for many of our colleagues, and keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day gives them more time to spend with their families. “Customers will have plenty to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas, with more of Aldi’s brand-new Christmas ranges arriving in stores over the next few weeks.” The supermarket also recently announced it is recruiting 3,000 store roles to bolster its team ahead of the festive period, with roles including Store Assistants, managerial positions and cleaners. Starting pay for Store Assistants at Aldi is an industry-leading £11.40 per hour nationally, and £12.85 per hour inside the M25. Aldi also remains the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid breaks. Those interested in applying for a career with Aldi can visit www.aldirecruitment.co.uk

Family businesses generated more than a quarter of the UK tax bill in 2021, new research can reveal. The research published by the Family Business Research Foundation and PwC UK reveals how much the UK’s family businesses are contributing in tax receipts. This is the first report of its kind, exploring in depth the tax contribution of family firms and analysing the breakdown of all taxes contributed. In 2021, the family business sector as a whole is estimated to have contributed £225 billion to UK public finances. This represents 27% of government receipts from all taxes in the UK. Out of this £225 billion, £74 billion was contributed in taxes borne - those that are a direct cost to the company - and £151 billion in taxes collected, such as income tax and employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs). For every £100 of turnover, family businesses in the study contributed an average of £18.50 in taxes. As part of the research, the tax contributions of 44 firms were analysed. The research found that the largest proportion of taxes generated were people taxes (43%). Products taxes were next highest (37%), followed by profit taxes (12%), property taxes (6%) and planet taxes (2%). The greatest contribution to the Exchequer from study participants is through employment taxes, 43% of the Total Tax Contribution. Corporation tax accounted for 10% of the tax contributed by study participants. In the UK, family firms employ around 14 million people. For every person employed by the companies that took part in the study, £11,468 was generated in employment taxes. The largest element of value distributed by family firms in the study was to employees in wages (41%), followed by amounts generated in taxes (34%) showing the valuable contribution made by family firms through employment and to the Exchequer. Andy Wiggins, Partner and Total Tax Contribution leader at PwC UK, said: “This is the first time we’ve prepared a Total Tax Contribution report for the Family Business sector." "Alongside the incredible impact family businesses have on the public finances, one of the key messages coming out of the report is the importance of investing in employees. Family Businesses are taking advantage of the apprenticeship levy, which demonstrates the importance family leaders put on developing careers and supporting local communities.” Sir Michael Bibby, Chairman, Family Business Research Foundation, said: “We are pleased to be able to share this new study, which marks a step forward in producing more robust evidence on the overall economic impact of the UK’s family businesses. This report presents new evidence on the contribution that the family-business sector makes to the UK’s public finances– to the tune of £225 billion in 2021." “For the first time, through this research, we can see a full breakdown of the taxes being generated by family firms. This not only highlights their enormous contribution but will also help policymakers model the impact of any changes they propose in the future for the family business sector." “Employment in family firms and the generation of employment taxes are important ways they contribute to the economy – as our previous research shows, family firms employ around 14 million people in the UK. It is also interesting to note the comparatively higher value distributed to employees by family firms.” Emma Suchland, UK Private Business Leader & Tax Partner at PwC, said: "This research is the first time we’re able to clearly see the economic impacts and contribution family businesses have on the UK economy. A significant number of businesses were analysed from the wide and diverse spectrum of UK family businesses, who continue to provide employment and training opportunities, with a positive impact on local communities all whilst contributing substantial amounts to the economy." "Through our work with family businesses, and our global Family Business Survey, we understand how important it is for businesses to be trusted by their customers and contribute to their region, employees too and this research goes some way to provide the evidence."