SUMMER 2022 ROUND-UP Chancellor must put small firms front and centre In the face of steep inflation, fast-rising energy bills and staff-hiring pressures, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling on the Chancellor to do more for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In his Spring Statement in March, Rishi Sunak adopted one of the FSBs top asks: uprating the Employment Allowance to 5,000 to help small employers with National Insurance costs. Together with a cut to fuel duty, and measures on business rates, net zero and energy investment, this has given embattled businesses some crucial breathing space, says the FSB. ROUND-UP If the government is to achieve its levelling up ambitions, however, the FSB believes community small firms and sole traders must be put front and centre of reforms. It is urging the Chancellor to give further help in his Autumn Statement, and would like to see: more firms taken out of the business rates system; SME research & development Accreditation to investment incentives the Good Business protected; and Charter can help your business stand out from greater action on the crowd and it is now late payment, which open to firms with fewer destroys thousands than 50 employees. of firms a year. To find out more, click here The FSB also argues that small businesses should be able to access the same help as consumers when dealing with energy suppliers and trying to reduce their energy use in the push for net zero. If you are a small business struggling in these difficult times, the FSB has a suite of support that you may find useful. Credit: Karen Woolley, development manager, Federation of Small Businesses Image: iStock.com / Rawpixel Fair competition The Commonwealth Games start in Birmingham on 28 July, and businesses in the Midlands are gearing up for what they hope will be a very busy time. But be careful not to commit any offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 or the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988. For further information, see TSBN Spring 2022. Nick Harrison, CEnTSA regional policy coordinator Are you ready for UKCA? From January 2023, manufacturers and importers selling within GB must ensure their goods are marked with the new UKCA mark and comply with its associated UK conformity assessment. ROUND-UP For further information, contact your local Trading Standards team, who may be able to offer more business-specific advice or signpost you to other government guidance. Many of you who, pre-Brexit, considered yourself an importer will now be a manufacturer for the UK market. The government has created several guidance documents on how the changes will affect certain sectors. There is also guidance on the use of the UKCA and CE marks, and more general information about placing goods on the EU market. Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards officer For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service