New rules that will give more flexibility over how occupational defined benefit pension schemes are managed, according to the government. The government said this will remove blockages that are inhibiting its growth agenda. Approximately 75% of schemes are currently in surplus, worth £160 billion, but restrictions have meant that businesses have struggled to invest them.… Read more…

UK firms are expecting to reduce both output and hiring this quarter, according to a survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Activity has been flat or falling since the middle of 2022, reflecting a prolonged period of stagnation. The survey suggested that sentiment among businesses dipped in the aftermath of the Government’s… Read more…

Small firms fear the new Employment Rights Bill will harm recruitment, according to a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The research shows that 92% of small employers have concerns about measures in the Bill. One of the main concerns cited in the Bill is changes to unfair dismissal legislation, which would expand… Read more…

The UK economy grew for the first time in three months in November, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). ONS figures showed an expansion of 0.1% in GDP after the economy shrank in each of the two previous months. But the figure was lower than economists had expected, with declines in manufacturing and… Read more…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its growth forecast for the UK economy this year. The global institution upgraded its prediction for UK growth to 1.6% for this year from its previous estimate of 1.5%. As well as upgrading its outlook for the UK, the IMF suggested the UK economy would perform better than… Read more…

HMRC is reminding people who pay tax by self assessment of the opportunity to spread the cost of their bill with the Time to Pay facility. More than 15,000 self assessment customers have already set up a Time to Pay payment plan for the 2023/24 tax year to help spread the cost, according to the… Read more…

HMRC could save an estimated 1.7 million hours of call handlers’ time every year if it implemented an automated status tracking system, according to two of the leading bodies for tax advisers and chartered accountants. A joint study by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and ICAEW tracked attempts to contact HMRC across phonelines and… Read more…

The UK government has launched a new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council which brings together business leaders from across the UK to offer advice. The government says the Industrial Strategy will help maintain a pro-business environment to capture a greater share of internationally mobile investment and motivate domestic business to boost their investment and scale up… Read more…

The Chancellor will deliver her Spring Statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 26 March 2025. Rachel Reeves confirmed the date to the House of Commons, telling MPs that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been commissioned for an Economic and Fiscal Forecast to be published on the same day. This is in… Read more…

The UK economy shrank for the second month in a row in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Official figures showed a 0.1% drop in gross domestic product (GDP) for October. The economy had been expected to return to growth following a fall during September. However, the ONS said that activity had… Read more…