New £9,000 Government Business Grant Offered To Support Businesses 

Due to the new national lockdown, the government has announced extra economic support for businesses across the UK.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, informed the country, that the Government is to offer an additional £4.6 billion to help businesses that have been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

This will see the likes of the retail, hospitality and leisure sector get a payment of up to £9000 per business premises in a one off cash grant. The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of restrictions.

This comes on top of the current monthly grant of £3000 and the extension of Furlough till April. Local councils will also receive half a billion pounds to support businesses within their area. 

The Chancellor also stated that £729 million pounds will be made available to the administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to support local businesses and economies. 

The plans for the future remain unclear, but the Government has confirmed that it will perform an audit on its outgoings. A budget will be presented in early March. It is then hoped there will be more detailed information on what the economic response will look like from Spring onwards. 

Can I Apply?

If you’re a business that was forced to close from the 5th of January because of the restrictions, then you can apply. If you were closed between the 5 November and 2 December 2020 then you can also apply. 

You’re eligible if your business:

• is based in England
• occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
• has been required to close because of the national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December 2020
• has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises

However, you’re not eligible if: 

• you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises
• you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of national restrictions
• your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• you have exceeded the permitted state aid limit

How To Apply

Please contact your local authority if you think you’re eligible for the £9,000 Government Business Grant. If you’re unsure of what jurisdiction you fall into, you click the link here. Simply type in your postcode and the results will show at the top of the page. Your local council can provide you with all the information you need regarding support during these unprecedented times. You can also refer back to the Gov website here, which outlines all of the support business can receive.

If you caught our blog post last week, we touched upon the new rules UPS had implemented to ensure diversity in the workplace. Now diversity seems to be on everyone’s mind and with good reason to! Here at Ampios, we believe that there should be no gender inequality in the workplace and more women in leadership roles. That being said, we still have a long way to go. 

Gender Inequality In 2020

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, global gender equality will take another 100 years to achieve. The report found that the largest gender disparity was the Political Empowerment gap, with only 24.7% of the global Political Empowerment gap having been closed in 2020. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There was a significant increase in the number of women in parliaments compared to the last study. Although we have seen noticeable change, there’s still major room for improvement. We can see these steps being taken in Thailand, Spain and Latvia where the number of women in parliament has increased massively. However in 85 of the 153 countries covered in the report, they had never had a head of state leader that identified as female.

With this point in mind, we’d like to point you in the direction of one powerful woman making headlines in politics in 2020. We’re sure you’ve heard of Kamala Harris by now. She made history a few weeks ago when she became the first woman and the first woman of colour to be elected Vice-President of America. This isn’t the first time she’s made history either, in 2017, she became the first South Asian-American senator in US history and the second African-American woman elected to the senate. A pretty big achievement if you ask us.

It’s great to see progression in areas such as politics, but this needs to be replicated and transferred across many sectors. Not only just for women, but for those in ethnic minority groups who are hugely under-represented compared to their white counterparts. 

Gender Equality Across The Globe

If we look to our Nordic Neighbours, Iceland is the most gender-equal country in the world. It’s taken the top spot for the 11th time in a row, closing almost 88% of its overall gender gap. This is then followed by all of the Scandinavian countries with Norway in second place , Finland 3rd and Sweden 4th. 

This poses the question, if these countries can close the gap so significantly, then why isn’t the rest of the world following.

According to The Harvard Business Review, they found that women in leadership positions were perceived as being every bit as effective as men. Women scored at a statistically significantly higher level than men on the vast majority of leadership competencies that were measured. So surely it makes sense to see women in the top percentage when it comes to key decision making roles such as being CEOs. Research conducted by Catalyst in January of this year found that Only 4.9% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 2% of S&P 500 CEOs are women. 

Just a few days ago, a story published by CBS news confirmed the reality that inequality is still rife in our society despite the push to create a fair and cohesive world. The study conducted by Women Political Leaders and Kantar, shows how inequality persists in how society views leadership.

Media and entertainment, natural sciences  and banking and finance were classified as sectors that women were seen as suitable leaders. Despite their apparent success in the banking and finance sector, this is a sector with a huge male presence that dominates top leadership positions. Only 2% of bank CEO positions are held by a woman and only 20% of board seats. 

Global Opinions On Women In Leadership

Another key question was presented to the study group. The study asked if the respondents would feel comfortable with a woman holding some of the highest positions of power within a country. 

Answers in the U.S showed that perhaps progress is lacking, as 69% said they’d be comfortable with a woman as CEO but 62% were comfortable with a woman as head of government. 

However, this shouldn’t be a question we’re asking in 2020. It’s evident that these gender constraints we learn in early childhood right through to adulthood disable us from seeing the sexist myths used to brainwash society. If we deny both genders the tools and platforms to make breakthroughs in any industries then surely we’re denying the human race the right to progress. 

Women Throughout History

It might seem hard to believe in today’s world but it was once illegal for a woman to do many of the things we take for granted every single day. If we roll back the years to 400 BC, you could have faced the death penalty for practicing medicine, a shocking but very real risk women had to face.

If it’s predicted we won’t see gender equality for the next 100 years, let’s see how far we have come over the last 100 years.

Here are a just a few things women couldn’t do but now can (to some extent) 

• Hold property on the same terms as men
• Serve on a jury
• Open a bank account or apply for a loan
• Be refused service for spending their own money in a pub
• Become an accountant or lawyer
• Have a right to equal pay
• Be considered a ‘person’ in the eyes of the law
• Sit In the House Of Lords
• Work on the London Stock Exchange
• Obtain a court order against a violent husband
• Access the contraceptive pill
• Get a legal and safe abortion
• Report Marital Rape

What’s Next For Women In The Workplace

We’ve seen trail blazers pave the way for modern women to take a stand and fight for their rights to get their voices heard which were for so long dismissed and deemed unimportant. Women have been discriminated against for centuries and people are sick and tired of the treatment they still face in today’s world. It’s time to break gender norms and collapse these outdated stereotypes that have been the narrative for most women. No longer are women there to serve and sacrifice.  Women will continue to challenge traditional roles and their work isn’t finished yet. If women can still be forced to wear heels by their employer then we believe this is just the type of encouragement they need. 

At Ampios we believe anyone should have the right to work in top leadership positions, and if women still haven’t gained equality then it’s a battle we stand by. 

If you need help at your business, then we have years of experience in a range of different businesses and sectors. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

UPS Lifts Ban On Beards

In non related coronavirus news.  Global couriering giant UPS has relaxed their rules on dress codes and appearance in the workplace after years of scrutiny. UPS have introduced the new guidelines as part of a bid to celebrate diversity rather than corporate restrictions. The company had previously stated that their values are rooted in diversity and inclusion. However, it seems this hasn’t always been the case.

UPS’ Journey To Become More Diverse

Back in 2018, a man from Derbyshire was rejected for a UPS delivery driver job because of his beard. In an article published by the BBC, the man in question was told in order to be considered for the position, he would need to shave off his beard as this was a company guideline. 

Now two years later, it seems the company has done a U Turn and the new rules will allow hairstyles such as braids and afros. Piercings are also allowed however they should be limited to earrings and small facial piercings. Despite these changes, tattoos are still required to be covered up. 

In previous years, UPS workers were only allowed facial hair if it was for religious or medical reasons. But now all workers can fashion any facial hair they wish, from a handlebar moustache to a beard that Mr Twit al a Roald Dahls ‘The Twits’ would be seen donning.

Now with this progressive and positive news, it poses the question : Should UPS have been allowed to enforce such dress code guidelines for all these years? 

Dress Codes In The UK

According to UK law, it is legal for employers to set whatever rules they want when it comes to dress codes and appearance in the workplace permitting they aren’t discriminatory. 

If you as an employee think your employers dress code is discriminatory, you should speak to your manager. They should address your concern. If the comment isn’t well received you could be subject to unlawful victimisation, which you are protected from under the Equality Act 2010. Should this approach draw no formal conclusions, the Government advises you to follow the HR processes in place at your workplace or follow your trade union representative. You can also contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service or the Equality Advisory and Support Service. 

Dress Codes and Appearance In The Workplace

Dress codes are often set dependent on the industry you work in. It can help to establish the company brand and ethos. By setting a uniform it will make employees look professional and equal. Uniforms often project a corporate image and makes employees easily identifiable. 

In most workplaces in 2020, formal dress code policies are seen to be outdated and most workers adopt what we might call a casual and informal dress code, essentially, wear what you want. The majority of people seem to wear what’s most practical and comfortable for them i.e jeans and a t-shirt and with the majority of working from home this year, even joggers and pyjamas have fallen into that category. There definitely isn’t a one size fits all policy when it comes to dress codes, that’s why it’s best for employers to evaluate their workplace and make the dress code policy applicable to that environment. 

When Are Dress Codes Necessary?

In more common cases, employers introduce these policies for health and safety reasons. This is usually for those working in kitchens, hospitals or when operating machinery. Hair and jewellery are often asked to be covered as well as not wearing baggy clothing or open toed footwear.

All in all, having a dress code is essential for almost all businesses, at the end of the day it’s common sense. You wouldn’t be heavy lifting when wearing a stiletto and you wouldn’t wear nail polish when preparing food. The most important thing is to prioritise staff safety, so establish your guidelines but do not discriminate. 

We’re in a modern era where people are free to express themselves. Some say what we wear does define us, but it can also be an expression or our personality and it’s what makes us who we are. When we like what we wear, we usually feel good. So surely morale and employee mental health are top of the list? We’ll let you decide. 

Align Your Businesses Vision And Strategy With Ampios

If you’re struggling to keep procedures in place and need a fresh pair of eyes to give everything the once over, our team of dedicated specialists can help point you in the right direction. We can work with your people and can help align the overall vision and strategy of your company. If you need to get in touch, we’d love to have a chat. Give us a call on T: +44 (0)333 987 4672 or send us a message via our contact form: https://www.ampios.com/contact/.

Working from home has been second nature to most of us for the past 8 months or so and with the reviews in, it seems we’re all pretty split on the concept. Like most working routines, there’s positives and negatives. No commute, saving money on lunches, more of a lie in. Come to think of it, this sounds like the ideal situation. 

However, a study conducted by the Woolf Institute, has revealed that widespread working from home could lead to more prejudice and an increase in racism. 

Founded by Dr Edward Kessler and Revd Professor Martin Forward in 1998. Their aim was to provide an academic framework and space in which people could tackle issues of religious difference constructively. 

The study surveyed 11,701 people across England and Wales and asked questions surrounding their attitudes towards ethnic, national and religious diversity. To bring these issues closer to home, the institute invited respondents to share their attitudes towards a close relative, partnering someone from a different background. The respondents also explored their own experiences of diversity both at work and within friendship groups. 

BAME In Society

If you followed the news over the summer, during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, then you’ll more than likely be aware of the inequality when it comes to employment, housing and the justice system for Britain’s black and ethnic minority groups.

Despite our seemingly diverse society, it is still evident that these communities are still marginalised and repressed in more than one way and there are still major differences and inequalities within society. 

Over  a 2 year period, the study aimed to understand how people perceive and experience diversity in their neighbourhoods, towns and cities and how this compared nationally. 

Britain’s View On Diversity

The report’s major findings  concluded that on a national level, diversity is good for the UK but workplaces play an important part in bringing people from different backgrounds together. 

Overall, there is a national consensus that diversity is good for society. That being said, people in the North East of England and in Wales, when in comparison to those in London are less welcoming of diversity.

It’s clear to see that 60% of people in England and Wales think diversity has developed too quickly. This same 60% believe that there are too many migrants in Britain and exactly half also believe that ethnic diversity has increased too quickly over the last 10 years. 

Religion And Diversity

When it comes to religion, this is where the positivity and acceptance dwindles. The study shows that as a society we are less comfortable with a close relative marrying someone from a different religious background. The religious group that is most commonly targeted by negative attitudes is those of a Muslim faith, with only 44% of participants comfortable with a close relative marrying a Muslim. 

Friendship And Diversity

In terms of friendships, the picture is a little rosier. The findings revealed that a large majority of people have friendships that are ethnically, nationally or religiously diverse. Three quarters of respondents stated they have at least one friend from a different ethnic background and over two thirds of British respondents reported having non-British friends. Despite this positive evidence, the report found regional differences. Compared to London, people in the North West are the least likely to have ethnically diverse friendships. 

Diversity In The Workplace

Moving over to workplaces, on the whole, the most are diverse. The workplace allows people from different backgrounds to come together with either a similar interest or shared goal and allows them to work together despite any prejudices they may have. It can break down stereotypes or negative attitudes and gives people the chance to learn from each other, their religion and their cultures. The report strongly suggests that workers are a “safe bet” for integration and cohesion strategies. 

When we take a closer look at the numbers, three quarters of all workers in England and Wales, regardless of ethnicity, work in a setting that is ethnically diverse. Workers in the North East, North West and Wales are 70% more likely than those in London to work only with British colleagues. Workers in the East Midlands are nearly four times more likely than those in London to work only with colleagues from the same religious background. And in terms of age, workers aged over 65 years old were nearly twice as likely to work with only British colleagues.

We can see that to understand each other more, the workplace is a vital area to improve relationships with those from different backgrounds to ourselves. Workplaces have a long way to go, and they don’t just need a multicultural workforce to tick a box, this is a business must have. People need to see representations in all walks of life and understand that they can do the job they want to do despite ethnicity, nationality or religion. 

Your business can help promote diversity by developing anti-discrimination policies and give all employees equal opportunities and fair treatment. By creating an inclusive workplace, you should be giving your people a voice and encouraging them to share their views and opinions. 

How Can Ampios Help You

If you need help improving diversity and inclusion, the team at Ampios can help. We can work with you and your people and their alignment to the vision and strategy. With human resource specialists who know  a thing or two about people, we can bring positive, pragmatic and considered solutions to you by putting employees first. 

To get in touch, click here.

The Green Revolution

Back at the beginning of November, the UK Government announced some of the new measures that will be part of their 25 year environment plan.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, outlined a ten point plan that would bring with it 250,000 jobs. Along with this positive news, came the decision to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. 

Other key missions within the plan are clean hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, zero-carbon transport and offshore wind to push the UK towards net-zero emissions.

What Can Be Done To Save The Planet 

Over the years we’ve become more and more aware of the need to protect and preserve the world we live in. From saying goodbye to plastic bags, cycling or walking when we can and recycling more. 

Thanks to the likes of environmentalists and activists such as David Attenborough , the general public is finally listening and wants to make a change. Humans can’t go on living the way we do, abusing our natural resources and in turn, the other inhabitants that we share this planet with. Thankfully, the Government has listened to this plea and has made a promise to make our future a green one.

With the Prime Minister outlining his goals as simple, surely this shouldn’t be a hard feat for our country. Goals such as cleaner air and water; plants and animals which are thriving; and a cleaner, greener country for all. It sounds like a rather achievable task. Titled the Clean Growth Revolution, the plans are set out to improve our land more sustainably and create new habitats for wildlife, by planting more trees and improving biodiversity.

We can already see the hard work and efforts paying off and with other countries following, hopefully our Government and other nations can create a solution to save the Earth.

The Effect Of Climate Change

According to the UN, we have just ten years left to tackle the climate crisis. From burning forests, floods, rising temperatures, and dying coral reefs, we’ve seen first hand the damage it can cause. If we look back to the beginning of 2020, the bushfires in Australia caused tragic loss for both humans, animals and the natural landscape. Ignited by a severe drought and scorching temperatures, the bush fire season came along much earlier. These fires lost control and burned for extended periods of time. It’s evident that climate change was responsible and the likelihood of this happening again is high, if we don’t stop it.  Nearly three billion animals were killed or harmed during the bushfires, a harsh but stark reality. 

Australia maybe across the globe but we as a planet are united, this is a journey all must come together to combat. So with that in mind, it’s refreshing and comforting to see the plans being rolled out of number 10. 

However this isn’t something we should leave to our leaders to change, we as individuals can make our own impact too.

How To Make Your Business More Environmentally Friendly 

In a post-pandemic world we imagine office spaces to be bustling once again. When we’re back in these spaces, it makes sense for us to do our own bit and make a difference, even if it’s on a small scale.

Now you don’t have to make this a costly venture, there’s many small and achievable things you can do to get your business to reduce its carbon footprint. Here’s a quick round-up.

Reduce Your Emissions From Road Travel

Throughout lockdown, it seems we’ve all rediscovered the great outdoors and have enjoyed walking. Not only is it good for our own physical and mental health, but it’s good for the environment too. As an employer, you can encourage your employees to cycle, walk or if they live a  little further away, use public transport or car share. This will ultimately result in less cars on the roads, which means less Co2, less pollution and less traffic ! We recommend checking if your local council runs any driving schemes. Salford City Council partnered up with Tusker, in the hope to promote the use of electric vehicles across the city and to promote green travel amongst their employees. They liked the cars so much that they decided to run a Co-Wheels Car Club, where residents of Salford can pay for vehicle use as and when they need it. 

Make Your Office Lighting More Efficient 

We’ve all probably worked in an office when the lighting just hasn’t cut it. It’s either too dark or too bright, there’s never a happy medium. Some employees prefer to work under harsh, headache inducing lighting, whilst others prefer the deep dark abyss. We can’t please everyone but what we can do is make sure you’re not wasting energy or compromising your employees eye health. In an ideal world, we’d all work in oober modern office blocks, with floor to ceiling glass windows, that let in as much natural light as possible, but this isn’t always the case. We suggest changing the lighting across your office to an LED light bulb, this will make a huge difference. Not only do these bulbs let out more light but they also last longer too. That being said, if you’re lucky enough to have even the smallest of windows, just trust your judgment. If it’s bright outside and the office is well lit, there’s no need to turn any lights on. Save yourself the pennies and if you really need an extra light source turn the brightness up on your computer or invest in a desk lamp so you won’t be disturbing your co-workers. 

Recycle

We’ve heard it time and time again but it really isn’t difficult. We suggest, getting separate bins and labelling them. This way, your employees will know exactly what to do with their waste and you’ll have a guilt free conscience knowing you’ve disposed of your waste the proper way. You can find out how your local council recycles here. 

Stop Using Single Use Plastic

This is probably the easiest step you can take. If you don’t provide unnecessary plastics, then nobody will use them. By providing water to your employees via a water cooler then don’t provide plastic cups. Put some cash together and use this to provide your staff with water bottles. Even better, make them branded! That way you’ll be promoting your company and your staff will be getting their daily consumption of h20. 

Save The Trees And Use Less Paper

We’re all guilty of it, using unnecessary amounts of paper. Trees are arguably our most important natural resource so we should be actively trying to reduce our consumption of paper. There are devastating impacts of using paper including deforestation, not to mention the colossal amount of energy needed to produce it. With demand of paper expected to double from 2005-2030, maybe now’s the time to start going paperless. 420 million tons of paper corresponds to two pieces of paper for everyone on Earth every hour. If you want to see even more shocking statistics then we suggest you visit the World Counts website. The site publishes real time statistics on the environmental impact of paper production. If this doesn’t encourage you to make a change, we don’t know what will.

There are plenty of things you can make a start on by printing double sided, using scrap paper, sharing documents digitally to buying recycled paper . We’ve all got to start somewhere!

How Ampios Can Help You To Become More Environmentally Friendly

So there you have it, our top 5 tips to make your business just that little bit greener. We see it as a starting point. There are many more steps you can take but it’s baby steps for now. If you’re interested in improving the overall operations and systems of business, we have people that can help. Our team of experts can help you put your best (green) foot forward and start to implement these changes. Want to contact us for a quick chat? You can do so here. 

Since the UK was placed into lockdown at the beginning of March, we’ve seen restrictions come and go. With the country now leaving its second national lockdown, areas across the land are preparing to enter a new tiering system with further restrictions to be announced. This news means there’ll be more of us working from home yet again. Government guidelines still state, for those who don’t work in healthcare, hospitality or non essential retail, then you should be working from home if you can.

Over the summer months, we saw lots of people coming up with inventive ways in which they’d been working from home. We’ve seen people completely revamp their spare room and create a zen working space, to nifty contraptions that allowed workers to enjoy a spot of sunbathing whilst working at the same time. Hats off to that person.

But now with Winter ahead of us, working from home maybe different for a lot of us. Most crucially, the change in weather. There’s only so many layers we can put on before we start to look like the Michelin man.

That being said, working from home has helped people in many ways. They’ve got to spend more time with family and friends, they can make actual tasty home made lunches, you can put whatever radio station you like on and you can even work in your underpants. The list is endless. However, whilst some of us may have been easily saving money, we could have been forking out costs in other areas.

What Does The Claim Cover?

We’re talking water bills, heating, electricity, internet, phone bills and continents insurance. So to combat these extra costs, you can apply for tax relief. Before you go any further, you might want to check if you’re eligible first. You can do so here.

If you’ve been working from home on a regular basis for all or part of the week then you can apply. Even if it’s just been a singular day, you can still apply and get one whole years tax relief. Bear in mind that you can only claim tax relief if your employer has enforced these rules, if you’ve chosen to work from home, you won’t be able to claim.

How Much Can I Claim?

You can claim £6 a week, here are the two ways in which you can:

Employers can pay you £6 a week extra tax-free. Employers can give you an allowance up to this amount and what they give you is free from tax. But with businesses struggling, this might not be the best option.

Instead you can claim tax relief on £6 a week. If your employer won’t pay expenses for your extra costs but you have them, then you can ask for the amount to be deducted from your taxable income. HMRC says that claims in line with the employers’ payment will not need to justify that figure so you won’t need to prove it.

If your expenses exceed £6, then you’ll have to prove it with receipts.

How Can I Claim?

To get your claim in, HMRC has launched a microservice that anyone can access who has an internet connection. When you make your application, this service will automatically apply the whole 2020/21 tax year’s relief via your tax code.

You’ll need to have your Government Gateway ID at the ready so make sure you have an account, if not, you’ll need to create one.
However, unlike usual tax rebates, you won’t get a cheque for this money. Essentially your tax code is changed, so you’ll pay less tax for the rest of the year.

So there we have it. There’s no need to wait to put in your claim, do it today. It’s straightforward and super easy. If you have any questions about your tax obligations or want to know more about tax relief, call us on 0333 987 4672. Alternatively, fill in the form on our contact us page and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

As we’re sure you will have seen or heard on your news feeds, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the furlough scheme has been extended and will remain open until 31 March 2021.

The news comes as it was announced the UK was to be plunged into a one month lockdown affecting businesses up and down the country. Employees are eligible for 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, similar benefits also apply to the self-employed, with  an income support grant due to be increased from 55% to 80%. This already fragile and volatile situation has hopefully given businesses some peace of mind for the winter months, as the government aims to protect millions of jobs and keep unemployment down. 

The Economic Effects Of The Global Pandemic

From shutting down businesses to the country entering another recession, one we haven’t seen on such a scale ever before. It’s fair to say the pandemic has effected the country’s economy hard. With coronavirus cases on the up and with the closure of businesses impacting us once again, the government predicts that GDP will fall again by the end of November. 

Policies such as the furlough scheme are designed to keep businesses afloat and keep people employed. If cases of the virus continue to surge, then it’s likely that the economy could take years to recover.

If the government continues to spend more than it’s earning, this will leave the country in more debt than it’s currently in, which could be considered as a worse case scenario. The government has chosen to stand by supporting workers and businesses but that has come at a cost. It’s likely that these measures are going to cost over £200 billion this year. 

On the 25th November The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will present its latest outlook for the economy, this will be presented alongside the government spending review. 

How To Get Furlough Support

To find out if you’re eligible for government support, please visit the government website where you can find out how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave. Keep in mind that claims for furlough days in November must be submitted by the 14th December.

So that’s the all important day that you must put in your diary. We also recommend using the business support finder to see what support is available for you and your business, you can do so here.  Please follow this link and answer the questions as directly and thoroughly as you can. 

With this ever changing situation, things are likely to be on the move again. It’s expected that the policy will be reviewed again in January, so we would strongly suggest keeping a close eye on the situation.

Who Can Claim Furlough

For an individual to be placed on furlough, they mustn’t be able to do their job because either the workplace is closed or there isn’t enough work for them. Similar situations could be that someone in their household has to shield. Anybody who is a full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contract employee can be furloughed.

What Does It Mean If I’m Placed On Furlough

If you’re put on furlough by your employer then it’s very similar to gardening leave. You will still receive your pay check from your employer and you will still contribute taxes but you won’t be working for your employer during your furloughed period. So to put it simply, you will be getting paid not to work. However there is a catch. If you earn over £2,500 a month ,then you will not qualify for 80 per cent of your salary. Should this apply to you, your employer could choose to make their own direct contributions to your salary, or alternatively you can gain support through other systems such as Universal Credit.

How Can Ampios Future Market Service Help You

If you need help and want to Find Out More about Ampios Future-Market Service or have questions directly relating to furlough, please get in touch, we are happy to talk this through with you in more detail.

If you have found your business in financial difficulty, without the necessary cash flow, you may have also found that your bank is no longer providing support. But don’t worry, there are alternative finance options out there to help you. 

Alternative Finance 

The growth of alternative finance in the last few years has provided businesses with the option to obtain finance from many other sources, not just the traditional banks. 

While there is a wide range of alternative finance providers available to businesses, navigating this marketplace isn’t easy. A middleman who knows the market can be a useful ally to have – they know the ‘sweet spots’ of the different lenders and can match lenders with the financial needs of your business. 

What is the Solution?

Alternative finance solutions vary depending on your need. Some are very short-term, others are longer. The aim of using one is to fix the funding problem – you need to try to avoid just deferring it for a while. 

Possible solutions include:

• Cash flow loans to cover VAT, Company Tax and Professional Indemnity fee payments.
  These loans provide cash to cover those quarterly or annual outflows of cash from your business that are lumpy and could otherwise cause a cashflow problem. 
• Commercial loans to provide your business with financial headroom.
  This could simply convert your current, short-term debt into medium-term debt to give you some headroom in your cash flow; or provide additional debt to boost your working capital. 
• Sale and leaseback.
  This would inject cash into your business from assets you already own. This is especially useful if the assets have previously been purchased for cash. 

In summary

A range of solutions are out there and can rescue your business from financial difficulty. Remember, not all alternative finance solutions or providers will be appropriate for your business or cash flow problem, so it is important to find the right one for you. 

What should you do next?

Having somebody alongside you who has experience and expertise in the alternative finance market would be invaluable. If you need help or advice with your funding problem, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Ampios. 

Alan Wilson – Specialist in Banking Relationships & Borrowing Arrangements 

Why It’s Time To Move Your Business Online

The internet as we know it has been around for about 25 years, so we’re no stranger to the digital world. With the declining high street facing higher rental costs and lack of footfall, could it be time to move your business online? 

Well, it looks that way. Over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more businesses leave their physical premises behind and establish themselves online. 

Some might be a little sceptical, and that’s to be expected. But since the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps the internet should be more of a friend than foe. It’s where we do a large portion of our communicating, if not all of our communicating. Thanks to tools such as Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams we can all stay connected at the touch of a button. 

If you didn’t think having an online presence pre 2020 was necessary, then you might want to think again. According to data from Statista, here in the UK, we have the most advanced e-commerce marketplace in all of Europe. Looking more closely at individual sectors, manufacturing and wholesale were the two key players that generated the highest e-commerce sales for the whole of 2018. We think that’s something worth talking about. 

If this is a short-term fix, or perhaps a better way of doing business long term, it’s still a step worth taking. 

From March to July, the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible for businesses to trade and operate in a physical setting, so we did what we had to do and that was to adapt. Whilst we may have had some freedom over summer, the winter is creeping up on us and with a second nationwide lockdown upon us, it’s time to act now.

If like many other business owners, you don’t have a plan in place to become digitized, then maybe we can help.

How To Move Your Business Online

If you’re in the retail sector, this might seem like an obvious call to action, a website can be the most crucial thing you can do. There are plenty of benefits, however, we understand that not everybody owns a shop that can easily replicate their business on an ecommerce platform.

Now if you’ve been following the news as of late, then you’ll have seen the many ways that other business owners have gotten creative and kept their customers engaged online. 

First things first, think about your products and offerings. What services do you offer and what do your customers want from you? We believe almost any business can transfer to the online realm. If you’re a lawyer, personal trainer or therapist, businesses have the capacity to share documents and data from clients to holding meetings online, all thanks to technology.

So, What Do You Need To Do? 

The first step you should take is to create a digital presence, if you haven’t done so already. You must create a website. This will act as a virtual business card. This is the first point of call, as this is the very first thing potential customers see when viewing your business for the first time. So if your office is shut and there’s no sign of you online, it’s more than likely people will look elsewhere and even go with your competitors! So, create a website. If you don’t have the budget to pay for a developer there are plenty of free DIY website builders that you can utilise. We would recommend WordPress, SquareSpace, or Wix. 

Wix and Squarespace are both drag-and-drop website builders. There’s plenty of different design themes to choose from and they’re very easy to use. Whereas WordPress gives you the WordPress website building software plus web hosting in one product. It’s simply down to how user friendly you find each platform, so get testing! You want your website to be accessible for both you and your customers. It needs to be easy to navigate. Keep your website fresh and updated with new, exciting and relevant content. You want each website visitor to know exactly who you are and what you offer. 

Next, take a look at your social media. As well as creating a website, social media posts can ensure a maximum reach and an even easier way to interact with customers. Particularly as more and more people get in touch with a business via a social media platform rather than picking up the phone. We would recommend finding out who your customer is. By identifying your customers age, gender and location, this can help to identify who your target audience is. This will then give you a better understanding on what platforms your customers use and how you can implement them. If you’re a B2B or B2C company, it’s best to do your research. You may find that only one social media platform works for you. It might even be worth taking a look at your competitors and seeing how they use social media, this can help point you in the right direction. 

So What’s Next? 

So get your thinking caps on, this is the time to be interactive with your customers, hold events online via webinars or online summits to even creating your first podcast. 

With so many of us home working from home, now is the time to take the plunge and move your business online. If you have any questions our skilled team of experts at Ampios can lend a helping hand. Get in touch here. 

If you’ve been following the news as of late, then you’ll know all about the US election. Our friends across the pond maybe over 4000 miles away but the result could affect us more than we know.

People might be quick to dismiss this momentous political event, however with Brexit looming over our heads and with no deals in place as of yet, perhaps the UK needs to pay a little closer attention to our American neighbours.

As it stands, the US and UK are currently in the midst of negotiating a trade deal in the hope that it will make it easier and cheaper to buy and sell goods. It’s been reported that a UK-US trade deal would aim to lower taxes paid on imported goods. But what would this mean for us? To put it simply, this should hopefully keep prices down in the UK and make it easier to sell things to the US.

What Does The US Think About Brexit

If we rewind to 2016, during the referendum campaign, one of the major selling points of Brexit was that the UK and US would form a trade deal. It’s evidently clear that Donald Trump has many opinions on Brexit. In a tweet the now 45th president of the United States sent out to his 164.6K Followers, he stated the following “They soon will be calling me mr brexit.” Now interpret that as you wish. He’s already made it blatantly clear that he favoured a no deal Brexit, should the UK government be left unsatisfied by the terms laid out by the EU. 

Fast forward one year to and we’re now in 2017. Mr Trump outlined that he would ensure a quick trade deal between the two countries. However three years later and we’re no closer to said deal. Whereas, if we compare this view to his predecessors views, we know that Obama had a contrasting view. He famously said that the UK would be at the “back of the queue” for any trade deal with the US if voters in the UK decided to leave the EU and we all know how that played out. 

What Would A US-UK FTA Agreement Mean For the UK? 

Based on this information it’s clear to see that not every world leader holds the same views when it comes to negotiating trade deals. With this in mind, should Joe Biden take over the reigns and become the next president of the United States, this could be subject to change even further. The presidential term doesn’t start until next year, meaning a deal isn’t likely to be agreed until after this has passed. 

We already know that Biden has specifically outlined that the UK must honour the Good Friday Agreement or there will be no trade deal with the US. That being said, there is no telling what will happen, other than another long wait.

What we do know is this. The UK has claimed that a Free Trade Agreement with the US will represent significant opportunities throughout the economy from agriculture, to professional services. We could see benefits such as higher wages, better jobs and more choice and lowers prices for regions in the UK.

It’s been predicted that a UK US Free Trade Agreement could increase trade between both countries by £15.3 billion and increase UK workers wages by £1.8 billion. There could be a particular benefit for Small and Medium sized businesses across the UK. Similarly,  professional services, food processing and car manufacturing are said to be the sectors that could also reap huge benefits. 

How Can Ampios Help You Prepare For A New Trade Deal?

A change in the White House could mean a complete re-evaluation of the discussions that have already taken place. Like many, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the presidential election to see what the result may bring.

If this all seems very overwhelming, don’t worry you’re not alone. Here at Ampios, we offer a Brexit-Planning Review and Brexit-Planning Service. Talk to us and explain what you’d like to achieve. We can then conduct a review and hold an informed conversation and agree what needs to be done. If you need help preparing for Brexit, you can find out more here.