The 2016/17 MHA Manufacturing & Engineering Report is now live!

The 5th annual MHA Manufacturing & Engineering report has been released and draws  on the findings from a UK-wide survey which ran throughout the summer. The report analyses national and regional insight from over 560 businesses, of which 80 are from the South Coast, and identifies opportunities, concerns and future developments within the sector.

Feedback from the report was discussed at our latest METALL event, held at South Lodge Hotel on 15th November with Philippa Oldham, Head of Manufacturing & Transport at IMechE, providing her expert commentary to a packed audience of local Manufacturing businesses. A Q&A followed the presentation with areas of discussion including the skills gap, implications of industry 4.0 and what the Government can do to support the sector.

Download the 2016/17 MHA Manufacturing & Engineering report

The report contains a national snapshot covering England, Wales and Scotland as well as regional insights. Expert commentary is also provided by Mike Mychajluk, Member of the Automotive Council Supply Chain Group, Chair of the ICAEW Manufacturing Special Interest Group and Supply Chain & External Engagement at Jaguar Land Rover Limited and from Professor Rajkumar Roy, Director of Manufacturing at Cranfield University.

Launched post Brexit, the report reveals that optimism in the sector is still high and businesses continue to have a positive outlook for the coming year. Survey respondents were from a variety of sub-sectors within Manufacturing and Engineering including Aerospace, Biotechnology, Food and Drink, Metals, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Renewables and Transport to name a few.

Main findings:

• Half of all respondents put skills shortages at the top of their agenda. Most businesses’ want government to expand skills training for the future work-force in Secondary Schools, Higher and Further Education (FE) colleges.
• 68% of respondents believe their main competitors are UK based and 32% said their main competitors are based within their own region of the UK.
• 47% of respondents expect to increase their staff numbers in 2016 (an increase of 8% from last year), with 57% of companies intending to take on apprentices or trainees.
• Of the respondents that anticipate their staff numbers will increase in the next 12 months, over half (59%) need to recruit production staff. However, 41% indicated that they have trouble recruiting skilled machinists/technicians.
• 18% of businesses reported that recruiting appropriately skilled staff is the main barrier to growth over the next 12 months; this is a decrease of 10% from last year which is encouraging, although this may just be a reflection in the shift of concern towards the effects of Brexit.
• Where recruitment is a barrier to growth, 31% of respondents favoured adopting lean manufacturing strategies and 23% favoured automation or further automation as a coping strategy. Shift working or flexible working patterns (25%) was also seen as a viable option.
• When asked about the availability of skilled recruits, only 11% had a positive outlook compared with 49% having a negative outlook.

The Manufacturing & Engineering report was compiled by the Manufacturing group at MHA, our national association of accountants and supported by Lloyds Commercial Banking.

If you would like to discuss the findings of the report in the context of your own business, please get in touch with Chris Coopey, Head of Manufacturing at Carpenter Box, on 01903 234094.

2017-18 Business Growth Grant documentation release delayed

Please note that the release of the 2017-18 Business Growth Grant (BGG) documentation, which was delayed from mid to the end of November, is now delayed until January 2017.

This is because it has been decided that a panel should review the current process.

The amount available next year is £1.25m

Getting the UK "Match Fit" For Brexit 
By Bespoke Accounting 

The Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that his first Autumn Statement will also be his last. In future the main Budget announcements will be made in the autumn rather than the spring. We were not expecting that many tax announcements and many that were made we already knew about. He could not afford too many give-aways as he expects the economy to have a bumpy ride during the BREXIT transition.

There will still be a Budget next March but thereafter the annual Budget will be in the Autumn to allow longer consideration of the announcements and draft legislation before enactment the following summer.

KEY TAX ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Personal allowance to increase to £11,500 in 2017/18, rising to £12,500 by 2020/21
  
• Higher rate tax threshold to increase to £45,000 in 2017/18, rising to £50,000 by 2020/21
  
• National Insurance threshold to be raised to £157 a week for employees and employers
  
• Corporation tax rate to reduce to 17% in 2020
  
• Business tax “roadmap” to continue, in particular new rules for company losses
  
• Insurance premium tax to increase from10% to 12% from 1 June 2017
  

More anti-avoidance measures, in particular a new VAT flat rate percentage for “limited cost traders”

HELP FOR THOSE JUST ABOUT MANAGING (JAM)

The Chancellor made a number of announcements that were intended to help those families that a just about managing, given the acronym - JAM. Raising the personal allowance to £11,500 and higher rate threshold to £45,000 will mean they pay less income tax and keep more of what they earn.

This group will also benefit from the increase in the National Living Wage to £7.50 an hour and the changes to Universal Credit.

The Universal Credit taper rate will be cut from 65% to 63% from April 2017 which will mean that fewer benefits will be clawed back as claimants’ income increases. The planned reductions in the overall benefits caps will however go ahead.

CORPORATE AND BUSINESS TAX CHANGES

Many of the corporate tax changes had already been announced and are set out in the business tax "roadmap" which details the government tax strategy for the life of this Parliament and beyond.

The currently 20% corporation tax rate is planned to fall to 19% from 1 April 2017 and then to 17% on 1 April 2020. The government is committed to keeping the UK corporate tax rate the lowest in the G20 and there is talk of a rate as low as 15% in the future.

The Chancellor raised concerns that there continues to be a rise in tax-driven incorporations as there are still tax savings compared to unincorporated businesses operating at a similar level of profit. That may suggest that the government is still considering the introduction of a new “look through entity” suggested by the Office of Tax Simplification so that the tax treatment will be the same, thereby creating a level playing field.

The new flexible corporate tax loss rules announced in the spring budget have been subject to consultation and will go ahead from 1 April 2017.

CAPITAL ALLOWANCES

From 23 November 2016 to 31 March/ 5 April 2019, businesses will be entitled to a 100% First Year Allowance (FYA) for the cost of installing electric charge-point equipment for electric vehicles. This measure is intended to complement the 100% FYA available for low CO2 emission vehicles and to encourage their uptake.

HIGHER RATE TAX RELIEF FOR PENSIONS CONTINUES

There has been much speculation that the government would further limit tax relief for pension contributions by removing higher rate tax relief. That measure would save the country £34 billion in tax but the only change announced concerns a new lower limit on amounts that can be saved in a pension when individuals have started drawing down from their private pension.

Currently the net effect of pension tax relief for a higher rate taxpayer is that saving £10,000 in a pension costs £6,000. The taxpayer pays £8,000 into their pension and the government tops this up by £2,000 with a further £2,000 deducted from the individual’s income tax liability, reducing the net cost to £6,000. For additional rate taxpayers the net cost would be just £5,500.

Remember that there is currently an annual pension input limit of £40,000 which caps the combined contributions by an individual and his or her employer. For those with high income this is tapered and can be as low as £10,000.

One new pension restriction that was announced was a measure to limit pension “recycling”. Those individuals who have started drawing down their personal pension will in future only be able to reinvest up to £4,000 in their pension.Please contact us if you want to discuss pension planning further.

SALARY SACRIFICE RULES TO BE TIGHTENED UP

Many employers now provide flexible remuneration packages that allow employees to give up some of their contractual salary in exchange for benefits in kind. This can have the effect of saving tax and national Insurance contributions for both the employee and employer, particularly where the benefit provided is exempt from tax.

These tax and NIC advantages are to be withdrawn from 6 April 2017. Arrangements involving pensions, childcare, Cycle to Work and ultra-low emission cars will be excluded; existing arrangements will be protected for a transitional period until April 2018, and existing arrangements for cars, accommodation and school fees will be protected until April 2021.

The Chancellor has announced a wider review of the taxation of benefits, with the intention of making this area ‘fairer and more coherent’. This appears likely to have a significant effect on any employee who is in receipt of benefits from their employer.

OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT CHANGE

MAKING GOOD

An employee who repays to their employer, or ‘makes good’, the cost of a benefit, avoids a tax charge. As previously announced, from April 2017 such making good will have to take place by 6 July in the following tax year if it is to be effective.

CHANGES TO TERMINATION PAYMENTS TO GO AHEAD

As announced in March, from April 2018 termination payments over £30,000, which are subject to Income Tax, will also be subject to employer’s NIC. Tax will only be applied to the equivalent of an employee’s basic pay if their notice is not worked. The first £30,000 of a genuine termination payment will remain exempt from tax and NIC.

“ABUSE” OF THE VAT FLAT RATE SCHEME

The VAT flat rate scheme is a simple scheme that enables small businesses to calculate and pay their VAT based on a flat rate percentage of total takings rather than deducting input tax on purchases and expenses and deducting that from total output tax on sales in the period. HMRC believe that the scheme is being abused by certain traders who have minimal costs who charge 20% VAT to their customers and then pay a lower percentage over to HMRC.

The flat rate percentage varies depending on the nature of the trade, ranging from 4% for food retailers up to 14.5% for IT consultants and labour only construction workers. A new 16.5% rate will apply from 1 April 2017 for businesses spending less than 2% of their turnover or less than £1,000 per year on goods, excluding capital goods, food, vehicles and fuel. Any business affected will almost certainly be better off returning to the normal VAT system with effect from that date. If you are currently using the flat rate scheme please contact us to check whether this change is likely to affect your business.

£2billion in land assets set to be unlocked 

Public property valued at over £2billion is set to be unlocked in the next five  years throughout the Greater Brighton City Region, creating the potential for over 1,300 new jobs and over 1,200 new homes in the Region over the next 10 years. 

The investment laying the groundwork to make this a reality comes from the Government’s One Public Estate programme - an innovation in encouraging collaboration with a place-based focus between land owning public sector bodies. Investment of £280,500 will be made into the Region in the 2016/17 financial year, with a further £316,500 due to be invested in 2017/18.

Eight key sites will now be driven forward:

Springman House, Lewes: bringing together the key blue-light services into a single location, thereby unlocking the regeneration of the North Street Quarter to deliver new homes, employment floorspace, subsidised workspace for the creative industries, a new healthcare centre, an underground car park, completion of the flood defences for Lewes and a range of public realm improvements

Worthing Civic Centre: a mixed use development incorporating a new, integrated multi-disciplinary primary and community care hub in the heart of Worthing, transforming the delivery of non-acute health care in the town

Brighton General Hospital: redevelopment of the site to include a new health and care campus, new housing and a range of community uses

Dyke Road Barracks, Brighton: potential redevelopment of the site to deliver a smaller territorial army barracks alongside mixed use development (pending MoD approval at the time of writing)

Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Hub, Brighton: the consolidation of siloed services into a new community hub, releasing some sites for affordable housing and student accommodation.

Madeira Terrace, Brighton: reconstruction of the Terrace, including the introduction of innovative commercial and leisure uses

Preston Barracks, Brighton: development of a primary and community healthcare hub, allowing for the release and disposal of existing assets

Preston Circus Fire Station: optimising the layout to meet its operational uses and identifying alternative uses for the remaining areas

In the One Public Estate programme, land owning public bodies - such as local authorities, healthcare and emergency services - are being encouraged to use their property as a catalyst for economic growth and transforming public service delivery.

The intention is that they will achieve this through identifying surplus assets which could be made available for housing and local regeneration, co-locating their services to make better use of space and drive service improvements, and actively seeking out opportunities for joint working to improve customer experience.

In the process, each agency and authority will generate capital receipts from the sale of their identified land and property assets, creating income streams to invest directly into their communities.

Daniel Humphreys, Chairman of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and Leader of Worthing Borough Council, comments:

“I am very pleased to see our case for investment has been backed by the Government. In thinking innovatively about land and property, and by working in true partnership, we are looking at building new homes, new workspaces and community facilities, stimulating our City Region economy and supporting our growing population.

“Now that we have had the green light, the Economic Board has established a Strategic Property Board which is determined to ensure that we demonstrate our absolute commitment to following this programme through and transforming our Region.

“As Leader of Worthing Borough Council, I am delighted to see the vote of confidence in our plan to create a Civic Healthcare Hub in the heart of the town, a move which will provide new opportunities for accommodation, positively and permanently transforming the health, wellbeing and housing opportunities in the heart of Worthing.”

Councillor Warren Morgan, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, adds:

“This announcement is good news for Brighton and Hove, and for the wider City Region. We are demonstrating that we can think creatively and innovatively about the future of our places and public services, and how we drive economic growth that benefits everyone.

“The six sites identified in the City offer us a chance to overcome some of the obstacles we face and think differently about our plans to boost housing, employment and public services in the city.”

Councillor Andy Smith, Leader of Lewes District Council, adds:

“The investment into the Springman House site will help us to deliver our regeneration ambitions for the District, alongside our emergency service partners who are also keen to make the most of this opportunity.

“The regeneration of the North Street Quarter is key not only to delivering homes and employment space, but also to completing flood defences for the town and creating a wide range of public space improvements.”

The One Public Estate investment will fund a range of activities including programme and project management across the eight identified sites, feasibility studies and public consultations.

By 31st December, maps of all publicly owned land, together with an estimate of the value of each piece, will be published online. Further information, including details for where to find this land value information, will be made available in the next few weeks.

The Autumn Statement in detail 

2016 has certainly been a tumultuous year, with Britain’s decision to leave the EU continuing to have an impact on both the economy and many UK businesses. 

The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, acknowledged ‘sharp challenges ahead’ for the economy as he presented his first fiscal statement exactly five months after the UK’s historic vote to leave the European Union.

The main summary on the economy and spending is slower growth, higher inflation, weaker tax receipts and higher borrowing. The latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) confirmed an increase in borrowing, now expected to reach £68.2bn this year. Economic growth is expected to slow over the next two years. Overall, the ‘Brexit effect’ is expected to impact on economic growth to the tune of 2.4%.

The Statement at a glance:

• Reduction in corporation tax rate confirmed
• New £23bn National Productivity Investment Fund
• Personal allowance to increase as planned
• Significant changes to Flat Rate VAT scheme
• National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage to rise
• Autumn Statement to be abolished, and Budget moved from Spring to Autumn 

Autumn Statement : uncovered - November 2016

There were no significant surprises, but instead the promise of investment in infrastructure projects in housing, transport and digital technology with the aim of increasing the UK's productivity in the immediate post Brexit period.

In terms of significant changes in taxation, a consultation is to take place on "equalisation" of tax for incorporated and unincorporated business, which is likely to result in increased taxation for entrepreneurial companies and their owners.

You now need to identify the likely impact of the changes announced on your own circumstances... and this is where we can help.

Autumn Statement uncovered will guide you through the impact of Wednesday's changes... alternatively, simply pick up the phone and speak with your usual Kreston Reeves contact for something more bespoke, or email enquiries@krestonreeves.com for further information.

To download Autumn Statement uncovered click here

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Gillian Fielding 

Gill Fielding is an international motivational speaker, businesswoman, presenter and author.  Despite being born into a poor family in the East End of London with humble beginnings, she is now a self-made multi millionaire who enjoys the fruits of financial success as much as sharing her knowledge on wealth creation, financial education and investing skills to help others succeed.  Gill amassed her wealth with land & property, stocks and business investments.  She owns and co-owns a variety of businesses today including The Wealth Company and is a published author.

Gill was featured on ‘Secret Millionaire’ for Channel 4 and was a business expert on The Apprentice – You’re Fired show.  She has been a  financial commentator for the BBC, ITV and CNBC as well as appearing in a variety of other TV shows around the world. She is currently a financial expert for the BBC and hosts a monthly phone-in for BBC radio.

In her career, Gill has held many high profile positions in business life including Citicorp, being the Chief Executive of a financial services group specialising in tax free savings vehicles, was the Chair of a Unit Trust Trade Association, Director on the board of an ethical Unit Trust (with Lord Brian Rix)  and was an adviser to the Inland Revenue on tax free savings.

At the show, Patron of Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce Gill will talk about how she started from humble roots in London's East End and discovered and used her own resources to eventually achieve financial freedom for herself and her family.

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Darren Gearing  

Up until very recently Darren was an international deluxe Hotelier whose career spanned extended periods in the UK, USA and Asia working for the Marriott and award winning Shangri-La Hotel groups. Most recently he was based at the Shangri-La at the Shard as Executive Vice President where he oversaw 16 hotels globally, all including the development and opening of this Iconic London Hotel as depicted in the TV show "The Hotel in the Clouds". Darren is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

A native of Sussex, he now has entrepreneurial interests in a Sussex based plant hire business, in Worthing's Beach House and Corner House pubs and an active Hotel consultancy with large investors. For the immediate future Darren will assist his partners in growing these businesses in London and the South East, they are actively seeking further "opportunities" in Sussex.

At the show, Darren will talk about his time spent working for a Asian group out of Hong Kong, then relocating back to the UK and opening the Hotel at the Shard. How did the transition process work changing from working in a corporate environment to now working for ones self.

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Shaa Wasmund MBE 

Shaa Wasmund MBE is one of Britain's most highly regarded female entrepreneurs and was named in early 2016 by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in the UK. 

She is an international best selling author and award winning businesswoman, who the Institute of Directors voted one of the most connected women in Britain. Her first book, Stop Talking, Start Doing was the #1 Best Selling Business Book in the UK for 14 months in a row, breaking all records. Shaa’s experience is incredibly diverse.

Whilst still at University, she became the world’s only licensed female boxing promoter, working alongside Don King to put on 22 World Title fights. Shaa then started working with Sir James Dyson from around his kitchen table and helped build Dyson into one of the most recognised brand names in the world.

 In 2015 she received an MBE (Member of The British Empire) Award from the Queen for her “services to business and entrepreneurship”. Today, in addition to running her own successful online educational businesses (shaa.com), she is also an acclaimed international speaker, having spoken alongside the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk and Tim Ferris. And in 2016, The Guardian newspaper named Shaa’s events as one of the Top 10 Events to attend as a small business owner.

Shaa will be sharing how she’s had her most successful and happiest 2 years in business yet!

At the Better Business Show, 2nd February 2017 - Shaa will talk about how to:

- Make Money From The Skills, Expertise and Knowledge You Already Have
- Grow Your List With Zero Marketing Budget
- Build predictable, recurring online revenue of £5k a month
- Grow an audience of raving fans and repeat buyers
- Create, market and sell online courses to monetise your audience
- Automate your business to run itself and make money around the clock
- To build a business to live life on your terms and totally smash 2017!

Shaa's purpose is to help as many people as possible, build businesses they love and which deliver them what she says is her most valuable asset: FREEDOM.