Centric HR have been appointed as a ‘Gateway Provider’ on the government Kickstart website to help employers based anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. We will manage, through robust financial and governance processes, the process from the starting point of application through to funding and wrap around care for the kickstarter. We have compiled a list of questions and answers below to advise and assist in the correct procedure. The government introduced the new Kickstart Scheme in Great Britain, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit…

In the ‘Wealth of Nations’ written in 1776, Adam Smith argued that taxation should follow the four principles of. Fairness Certainty Convenience Efficiency These principles form a solid basis for taxation today; however, they are not always followed. Sometimes, taxes hit certain categories of taxpayers or kinds of consumption whilst leaving others relatively untouched.  In other words, what I would call ‘relative unfairness’. A good government should levy taxes whilst minimising negative effects on the economy. Taxes can have significant effects, altering the decisions that individuals and businesses would make if the taxes were not in place. They can also…

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced his ‘new winter economy plan’ to support businesses and jobs as restrictions to our movements across England come into play in the fight against Covid19 – probably for six months. The Chancellor has already confirmed that the usual November Budget is cancelled and he has outlined support which will kick in from November 1 – the day after the existing furloughing scheme ends. The key phrase seems to be that support is now targeted at businesses which can offer ‘viable jobs’. This seems to mean companies that can employ people actively working at least a third…

The Prime Minister has set out plans to transform the training and skills system, making it fit for the 21st century economy, and helping the country build back better from coronavirus. Adults without an A-Level or equivalent qualification will be offered a free, fully-funded college course – providing them with skills valued by employers, and the opportunity to study at a time and location that suits them. This offer will be available from April in England, and will be paid for through the National Skills Fund. A full list of available courses will be set out shortly. Higher education loans…

Over 80,000 volunteers tested in England between 18 and 26 September as part of the country’s largest study into COVID-19. Interim results from the fourth report of the country’s largest study on coronavirus rates of infection have been published today. The study examines levels of infection in the general population in England by testing over 150,000 participants each month over a 2-week period. Over 80,000 volunteers out of 150,000 have been tested so far between 18 and 26 September. Findings show infections increased substantially across the country before the R rate fell to around 1.1, suggesting the growth of infection may be…

The largest brownfield regeneration site in the South West has been purchased by BCP Council following a successful £5 million Local Growth Fund investment from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Situated in Hamworthy, on the waterfront at Poole Harbour, the 40 acre site was left vacant following the closure of the former Holes Bay power station in 1994. Being in close proximity to Poole town centre, the commercial Port of Poole and neighbouring residential areas, it has since been designated as an important area for future regeneration and investment by the council. Now in the ownership of the local authority, thanks to…

A new digitised investment platform, the Elevate investment network, has been launched by the GS Verde Group. The Elevate investment network will sit within the Verde Corporate Finance business of the multi-discipline Group and help to support growing businesses across the UK in raising investment via the private equity markets. Elevate is a regulated digital and digitised fintech platform that will connect business founders seeking investment, to a UK wide network of experienced investors.   It will enable businesses with scale-up potential to be presented to registered investors, unlocking a far-reaching network and providing the GS Verde Group with the…

The first ever hydrogen powered train had its first trial on the UK mainline in Warwickshire yesterday, 30th September. The new train, which is set to revolutionise rail travel, is a big step forward towards the UK’s net-zero targets. Tees Valley is set to host the UK’s first hydrogen transport hub, bringing together industry and academia to help create hundreds of green jobs. The £23 million ‘Hydrogen for Transport Programme’ will see the funding of new hydrogen refuse trucks and a hydrogen refuelling station in Glasgow. Trials of the train, known as HydroFLEX, which have been supported with a £750,000 grant from…

HR specialist Laura Callahan and her growing team have supported so many business owners in Oxfordshire and beyond this summer that they’ve moved to their first office. The specialist team of Willow HR have moved to the High Street in Shrivenham as Laura expands her company to help business owners who are either thriving due to Covid19, or facing challenges. Laura (37) is well known in the county and also as a supporter of the national organisation Single Mums Business Network, as she was a single mum for several years. “Covid19 has changed life for all of us, personally and in…

Winning a business award is a very appealing concept – the shiny trophy, the adulation from the audience, the motivation created for the team and the amazing promotional prospects. Business owners and marketing teams are always testing and perfecting ways to raise brand profile, increase awareness, win and retain clients and build team cohesion. Winning a business award can really boost team morale, drive competitive advantage and secure trust in your business. So how do you go about winning? Lack of confidence is an often-cited problem, alongside limited time and resources. Businesses need to understand what benefits will be derived…

Chippenham, United Kingdom – 10 September, 2020 – Denise O’Leary was named the winner of a GOLD Stevie® Award in the Best Business Book category in The 17th Annual International Business Awards® today. She was also a Bronze Stevie® Award winner for her company Purpol Marketing within the category Company of the Year – Advertising Marketing and Public Relations – Small. The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small – are eligible to submit nominations. The 2020 IBAs received entries from organizations…

Local transport hubs in the Portsmouth city region will receive almost £56 million from the Transforming Cities Fund to transform how residents use and access the city, Transport Minister Baroness Vere has announced today, 28th September 2020. The money will help overhaul local transport links to boost the local economy, opening up jobs, services and giving residents greater access to the city. Funding will go towards a range of key local projects including the much-needed relocation of Gosport bus station and taxi rank and the development of new and upgraded walking and cycling routes. The Ryde transport hub in the…

Award-winning super food brand Creative Nature have launched their latest allergen free baking mix – delightfully crumbly Cornbread. Julianne Ponan, Creative Nature’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to be introducing our new delightfully crumbly Cornbread baking mix.  This was a natural next step for us and shows that we’ve been working hard in the background developing new products during the pandemic.  Like our other products it’s free from the top 14 allergens, is nutritious and vegan friendly.” Creative Nature whose HQ is in West Molesey, is already well established in the ‘free from’ food market. In 2018 the company won the national…

This week SME Today are delighted to meet Internationally Renowned Entrepreneur and Life Coach Camilita Nuttall.  Camilita has an incredibly inspirational and motivating story which we have asked her to share in her own words.   Camilita you are a famous global entrepreneur coaching some of the world’s biggest names in Media, Politics and Business, please tell us about your amazing journey. “I grew up extremely poor in Trinidad (Caribbean). I slept on the floor, had no shoes to go to school and had to work with my mom from the age of 10 in the coffee fields. I saw other…

10 million People in England and Wales have download the new NHS COVID-19 app, so far, 6 million of whom did so on its first day (Thursday 24 September). The app forms a central part of the NHS Test and Trace service in England and the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect programme – identifying contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus. On Sunday 27 September at 12pm, there had been over 10 million downloads across compatible Google and Apple devices in England and Wales. In addition, the app has received a warm reception from those downloading it with…

New legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today, to ensure compliance and reduce spread of COVID-19. From Monday 28 September, people across England will be required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. Fines for those breaking the rules start at £1,000, increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders Support is now available for people on low incomes who are unable to work from home while self-isolating through the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment. Local Authorities will be working quickly to set up the Test and Trace Support Payment…