Opus Insights
Insights
Tax, compliance and business commentary, updated as the rules change.
Showing 1–24 of 24 articles in Business Support
Faster planning decisions for small businesses
Businesses planning improvements to their premises could benefit from changes to the planning system intended to reduce delays and make straightforward applications easier to process.…
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New support for growing businesses
Ambitious businesses looking to expand may benefit from a new Government programme designed to help promising companies overcome some of the difficulties associated with rapid growth.…
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Easier access to public contracts
Smaller businesses may find it easier to compete for public sector contracts following new Government proposals intended to reduce unnecessary paperwork and simplify the process of dealing with public…
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New opportunities to recruit young talent
Businesses experiencing difficulties recruiting suitably qualified employees may benefit from new Government plans to expand apprenticeships, work experience and vocational training across several imp…
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New proposals could change self-employment rules
Businesses that engage freelancers, contractors and other self-employed workers may need to review their arrangements following a new Government consultation aimed at tackling bogus self-employment an…
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Could businesses get more choice over software?
Most businesses now depend on several software systems to manage everyday activities such as email, accounting, document preparation, customer records and internal communication, and as these systems…
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Late payments: Is your business at risk?
Late payment of invoices remains one of the most persistent problems facing UK small businesses, and recent research suggests the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. 60% of UK small and medi…
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Business confidence rises but is it time to invest?
Business confidence across the UK is showing signs of improvement, although many smaller businesses remain reluctant to commit money to new investment.…
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New digital rules for tracking waste
A new system for recording waste movements came into operation on 1 October 2026.…
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Are grid delays holding back investment?
A business may have the finance, premises and customers for an expansion project, yet still face another obstacle: obtaining enough electricity.…
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Could better workplace health reduce staff losses?
When an employee develops a health problem, the consequences can extend far beyond a few days of absence. The Government published an update to its Keep Britain Working programme on 23 September, sett…
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Interest rates may not be coming down soon
Businesses waiting for cheaper borrowing may need to reconsider their plans.…
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Is your business ready for a cyber incident?
Cyber security is sometimes treated as a problem for large organisations with specialist IT departments. In reality, smaller businesses can be particularly vulnerable because they often have fewer res…
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New funding opens for growing businesses
The British Business Bank has launched a £210 million investment fund to help smaller businesses in the South East of England start, develop and grow.…
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When can a trading loss generate a tax refund
Making a trading loss whilst not ideal can sometimes generate a tax refund. If you are a self-employed individual or a member of a trading partnerships, a trading loss can potentially be set against o…
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Could company dividend rules be changing?
The Government has announced plans to consider major changes to the rules governing when companies can make distributions to shareholder.…
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Predevelopment costs on major developments
Businesses planning major infrastructure and development projects should be aware of a new government consultation on the tax treatment of predevelopment costs.…
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How Is Your Business Performing?
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that conditions remain challenging for many UK businesses.…
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Could your business survive a cyberattack?
Cybercrime is no longer a problem that only affects large organisations. Increasingly, small and medium-sized businesses are becoming targets because criminals often see them as having weaker security…
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Are your employment policies ready for workplace reforms?
Employment law continues to evolve, and businesses should keep a close eye on forthcoming changes that may affect the way they recruit, manage and retain staff. Although many of the proposed reforms a…
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Could better digital skills transform your business?
Technology is changing the way businesses operate, and the pace of change is only increasing. While large organisations often have dedicated IT departments, many small businesses still rely on traditi…
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Why successful businesses prepare before conditions improve
Economic uncertainty has affected the confidence of many small business owners. Rising costs, changing customer demand and pressure on cash flow have led some businesses to postpone investment until c…
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Five practical ways to reduce business energy costs
Energy costs remain a significant overhead for many UK businesses. Although wholesale prices have eased from the exceptional highs seen in recent years, uncertainty in global energy markets means pric…
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Will your next finance application succeed?
Many successful businesses eventually reach a point where additional finance is needed. Whether the objective is purchasing equipment, expanding premises, recruiting staff or improving cash flow, acce…
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