May 31 2017 SSE create fund to help Perthshire start-ups Categories: Technology Scottish Southern Energy have recently set up a £250,000 entrepreneurial fund available to start-ups in the Perthshire and Highland regions. Entitled the Griffin and Calliacher Enterprise Fund, it will provide new and existing small companies access to grant funding up to £20,000. SSE community fund manager Marianne Townsley said “For the first time small businesses more
May 24 2017 How can you protect your construction business from bad debt? Categories: Property & Construction Bad debts are a problem that affects most businesses, irrespective of size or sector; however the issue is particularly problematic for smaller firms who often have to incur upfront costs, many of which don’t have sufficient cashflow to survive. Small firms in the construction sector are particularly affected by bad debts, with 29% of owners more
May 15 2017 TIGA concerns over UK Games funding Categories: Technology TIGA, the trade association that represents the video games industry, have recently carried out research that says that UK games businesses are struggling to get access to institutional equity finance. 89% of respondents who had tried to obtain equity funding from an investment fund had failed to do so. TIGA CEO Dr Richard Wilson said, more
May 9 2017 NatWest Legal Benchmarking Report Categories: Professions NatWest recently issued their 2017 Legal Benchmarking Report including financial data from 269 small and large firms, including 82 Scottish firms and a combination of partnerships, LLPs and companies. Despite the economic and political uncertainties experienced in 2016, not least the impact of Brexit, legal firms have in general achieved improved performance under most financial more
May 7 2017 Losses are not forever Categories: Agriculture A recent tax case heard before the Upper Tribunal has confirmed that sideways loss relief cannot be claimed by farmers in the sixth year of loss making, even for commercial trades carried out full time. This ruling reinforces legislation often referred to as the “hobby farming” rules. Sideways loss relief is useful to taxpayers who more
May 2 2017 Funding for Construction Businesses Categories: Property & Construction A recent search of funding opportunities available to Construction companies in Scotland produced 100 possible options. The Scottish Government’s website www.mygov.scot/funding-opportunities can search for potential funding options tailored to your business. The site is relatively easy to navigate and provides useful guidance. Each funding option has three useful stages. Stage one called “Before you Start”, more
Apr 26 2017 Major study highlights importance of self-catering business in Scotland Categories: Leisure The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), of which EQ are delighted to be Trade Supplier members, have published a major study which demonstrates the value of the self-catering sector to the Scottish economy. The study’s key findings include that there are approximately 17,000 self-catering let properties in Scotland which cater for 3.4 million visitor nights more
Apr 11 2017 Apprenticeship Levy Update Categories: Property & Construction The new Apprenticeship Levy begins from 6 April 2017. This will have to be paid by businesses that have an annual wages bill of over £3m but it is important to note that all businesses, regardless of size, will be able to benefit from the fund. The process for claiming the levy in Scotland will more