companies house made easy

self-assessment deadline extended

Sole traders, entrepreneurs and other individuals who are required to fill out self-assessment tax returns will not receive a late filing penalty if they make their submission on the 1st or 2nd of February.

schools must develop entrepreneurs

The Forum for Private Business has called for schools to play a leading role in encouraging entrepreneurship amongst young people.

google targets welsh SMEs

Search engine giant Google has announced a 12 month campaign to get businesses in Wales to start using the web.

view all news

The government plans to scrap the fixed retirement age of 65 from October 2011.

By removing the default retirement age and preventing employers from dismissing staff once they’ve reached the age of 65, it is hoped that older workers will continue to work for longer, reducing the economic strain of an ageing population.

However, some employers and business groups are concerned that this will become difficult for companies to manage their workforces, as older workers tend to be at the higher end of the pay scale, and without a default retirement age can continue to work past the age of 65, leaving employers with inflated wage costs.

“For employers, these proposals could make workforce planning and providing some employment benefits, such as critical illness cover, next to impossible," stated John Cridland, Director-General of the CBI.

“A default retirement age helps staff think about when it is right to retire, and also enables employers to plan more confidently for the future. In certain jobs, especially physically demanding ones, working beyond 65 is not going to be possible for everyone.”