Ian Piper (Ely)

It’s the holiday season, many will have recently been or soon be travelling abroad. As well as marvelling at the sights, we will also be struck by how these countries are run, and compare them to life back in home.   It is easy to be jealous of: State pension levels in Sweden Police numbers on…

Read More »

Tech companies that have a business plan of developing a new product, with the aim of an eventual trade sale or IPO exit, will be very familiar with EMI share options. These options give generous personal tax breaks, to help recruit, retain and reward middle management and key workers. Under generic EU principles, such tax…

Read More »

  As we all get used to the Chancellor’s main Budget now being in the Autumn, he still chose to make a few policy announcements in his Spring Statement yesterday. Items of interest to those running technology companies included: Stagnant growth. Despite the ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ strapline for his speech, the…

Read More »

  With numerous businesses currently being forced to sell property under compulsory purchase orders (COP’s), a little known tax rule may be of assistance in enabling you to diversify your investment in your trade into a buy-let-investment without incurring any tax: HMRC guidance HS292 Business asset rollover relief is a long established rule which allows…

Read More »

What’s in it for Tech Companies? Philip Hammond’s second Budget had to steer a precarious path. Within the parameters of slowing UK growth, preparing for Brexit and a lack of spare money, he had to somehow end public sector austerity and continue reducing the deficit. Whilst trying to restore his own political reputation. Not an…

Read More »

  Ely’s largest business park, Lancaster Way, continues to grow from strength to strength. Offering a mix of rental properties and sites for freehold commercial development, more and more start-ups and established businesses are now being attracted to this location. The benefits are obvious:   Based in the vibrant Cambridge ‘shadow’, Situated just outside Ely,…

Read More »

  As we approach the end of the first quarter in the run-up to Brexit D-day, we are now beginning to see what practical steps SME businesses are taking in preparation: Businesses with a significant production source or market presence within the rest of the EU are strengthening their presence there. Creating a subsidiary based…

Read More »

Companies that are developing innovative new products, services or systems have long understood the generosity of the R&D tax relief rules. These give a notional 130% uplift to eligible costs in the company’s corporation tax computation. Such eligible costs include ‘employee costs’, which hitherto has included all ‘reimbursed expenses’. This has always seemed overly generous…

Read More »

As the Summer season progresses, SME businesses local to Ely will be considering whether or not they wish to enter the area’s premier annual business awards competition this year. Those that have entered one of the 12 categories in previous years have benefited from networking with other entrants, free publicity within the Ely Standard over…

Read More »

Post Brexit: What cutting of red tape might SME’s expect? After almost a full year of foreplay, formal Brexit negotiations with the EU will eventually commence next week. Looking ahead one step further, what can SME’s expect post Brexit? And will the UK Government use this opportunity to further advance their stated policy of reducing…

Read More »