A round up of business news including; information on new support services, grant funding, success stories, advice and information and dates for your diary.






Four million still to file ahead of Self Assessment deadline
24 January 2022
Four million customers are yet to submit their completed Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax owed ahead of the deadline on 31 January, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned. More than 12.2 million customers are expected to complete a tax return for the 2020/21 tax year. HMRC is urging the millions of
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Help to Grow: Digital launches for applications
21 January 2022
The government’s Help to Grow: Digital scheme – designed to support smaller businesses in adopting digital technologies so they can grow – has opened for applications. Under the scheme, eligible businesses can now receive discounts of up to £5,000 off the retail price of approved Digital Accounting and CRM software from leading technology suppliers.
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Farmers can now apply for a share of £25 million for high tech machinery
20 January 2022
Farmers and growers in England can apply for grants ranging from £35,000 up to £500,000 are available to invest in productivity-boosting equipment such as driverless tractors, robots that harvest, spray crops and weed, and automated milking systems.
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Mobile Boost Scheme
13 January 2022
Are you a business struggling with poor indoor mobile coverage? Connecting Devon and Somerset may be able to help. The Mobile Boost Scheme aims to upgrade indoor 4G coverage in “not-spot” areas. Businesses and households can apply for a voucher of up to £1200 towards the cost of one of a number of mobile signal booster options from
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HMRC gives Self Assessment taxpayers more time to ease COVID-19 pressures
07 January 2022
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is waiving late filing and late payment penalties for Self Assessment taxpayers for one month – giving them extra time, if they need it, to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay any tax due. HMRC is encouraging taxpayers to file and pay on time if they can, as the
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The search is almost over for the South West’s most outstanding small businesses
06 January 2022
Britain’s biggest business representation group the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) launched it’s 2022 ‘FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards’ in August 2021 which will culminate in both regional and national finals this year. This month the excitement is building as the closing date for entries on 16 January fast approaches. Small businesses throughout the South
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Don’t forget to declare COVID-19 grants on your tax return
15 December 2021
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment customers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020/21 tax return. More than 2.7 million customers claimed at least one Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) payment up to 5 April 2021. These grants are taxable and customers should declare them on their 2020/21 tax return
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Less than a month until full customs controls are introduced
13 December 2021
Traders should be aware that a number of things are changing from 1 January 2022. There are changes to customs declarations, border controls, rules of origin – for imports and exports, postponed VAT accounting and commodity codes.
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The Growth Hub Service for All: Thrive
09 December 2021
A new business support programme has been launched offering a range of business training and support services for the self-employed and small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay. Up to 600 businesses will be supported through the Heart of the South West Growth Hub’s new Thrive programme. The programme is part
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Government levels playing field for SMEs on Small Business Saturday
07 December 2021
In support of Small Business Saturday, the government has published a ‘Selling To Government Guide’ which will give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) essential information on how to bid for and win government contracts. This government is intent on giving smaller businesses better access to the £50 billion worth of public contracts, which can include
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