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Business finance and grants articles

Read our latest features and articles on business finance and grants.
Displaying 1-30 of 62 results
A group of people sat down round a table having a meeting
ICAEW Member Insights: April 2024
  • Article
  • 30 Apr 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Optimism is rising but members yearn for certainty and stability to help them make business decisions, with labour market issues, late payment and access to finance among the key concerns.
Long Exposure over the Lagan River over to the Custom House in Belfast, Northern Ireland city skyline
Take your first step in finance with ICAEW CFAB
  • Article
  • 06 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Looking to secure a job in the financial sector? Two professionals working in Belfast explain how completing the ICAEW Certificate of Finance and Business helped them build fulfilling careers.
Next government must act to renew UK economy, says ICAEW
  • Article
  • 07 Feb 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
ICAEW has outlined the actions needed to boost productivity and ensure the UK economy is resilient in future. ICAEW’s Manifesto calls for the revitalisation of support for start-ups, improved access to labour and a simplified, digital tax system.
Bounce Back Loan data pilot examines sole trader fraud
  • Article
  • 17 Jan 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
The government is setting its sights on unincorporated businesses that fraudulently took out Bounce Back Loans during the pandemic.
UK government responds to Treasury Committee venture capital reliefs report
  • Article
  • 25 Oct 2023
  • ICAEW
The response suggests that the current sunset clauses for the enterprise investment scheme (EIS) and venture capital trusts (VCTs) will be extended beyond 2025. However, the response also pushes back on some of the committee’s other recommendations, including extending the company age and funding limits for these schemes.
Commons Treasury Committee calls for greater diversity of venture capital investment
  • Article
  • 09 Aug 2023
  • ICAEW
The House of Commons Treasury Committee’s report into venture capital investment schemes recommends better support for female-led businesses and those outside the South East of England.
NAO highlights COVID-19 business support counter-fraud failures
  • Article
  • 23 Mar 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
The government should use lessons learned from the COVID-19 business grant schemes to improve contingency planning and build resilience for responding to future national emergencies, spending watchdog concludes.
Government’s ‘Scale-Up Britain’ ambition under the spotlight
  • Article
  • 27 Feb 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
Is the government’s bold vision for a UK Silicon Valley at odds with how start-ups and scale-ups are being managed at policy level?
EY reveals support strategy to boost fintech start-ups
  • Article
  • 13 Feb 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
With explosive growth forecast for the fintech sector, we meet Mark Jannetta, the head of EY’s UK FinTech Lab, to find out how the Big Four firm is looking to help start-up fintechs get to the next stage.
Report highlights local authority procurement weakness
  • Article
  • 17 Jan 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
Inefficiencies, poor processes and skills issues present potentially significant risks to public money and service, Grant Thornton warns.
ICAEW pays tribute to Lord Young
  • Article
  • 15 Dec 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
The architect of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Start Up Loans Scheme, which have been instrumental in providing funding to thousands of fledgling businesses, has died aged 90.
Changes for Limited Partnerships on the horizon
  • Article
  • 13 Dec 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill’s requirements for Limited Partnerships could affect many private fund managers. George Metcalfe, a partner at law firm Freeths, explains what the proposed changes mean in practice.
Options for finance: is crowdfunding a viable route for SMEs?
  • Article
  • 06 Dec 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
With the economy in choppy waters, crowdfunding continues to be a funding method for businesses that want to swim against the tide, but it’s by no means an easy fundraising option.
MPs call for end to competitive bidding for local authority funding
  • Article
  • 16 Nov 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
A major report by the Public and Constitutional Affairs Committee describes governance and funding arrangements for local government in England “ineffective”.
Digital skills and levelling up at the heart of UK Digital Strategy
  • Article
  • 13 Jun 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
The new UK Digital Strategy includes plans for developing digital skills, Levelling Up infrastructure and finance options for fintech startups.
PAC slams BEIS for ‘open goal to fraudsters and embezzlers’
  • Article
  • 17 May 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
The Public Accounts Committee says there was insufficient effort to prevent fraud and error in the distribution of business support grants and loans, adding ‘billions and billions to taxpayer woes’
Person doing sums with pen, paper and a calculator
ICAEW: “insufficient” fraud prevention for COVID-19 grants
  • Article
  • 29 Apr 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
ICAEW calls for the government to learn from COVID-19 business support grants by investing in BEIS’s counter-fraud capability and addressing the assurance gap in grants distributed through local authorities.
NAO: BEIS lacks “reliable estimate” of fraud in COVID-19 business grants
  • Article
  • 09 Dec 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
The cost of fraud in COVID-19 business support scheme grants is estimated at £1bn but the NAO has warned that the total could be even higher amid data quality and assurance concerns.
Event highlights funding innovation successes and the pivotal role of accountants
  • Article
  • 11 Nov 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
The importance of innovation investment and the role of chartered accountants in driving meaningful ESG strategies were among the subjects touched on at last week’s Annual Reception of ICAEW’s Corporate Finance Faculty.
Chart: COVID support schemes are ending, but what continues?
  • Article
  • 29 Sep 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
The furlough and self-employed support schemes come to an end today, as does the VAT reduction for hospitality and tourism to 5%, which is increased to 12.5% tomorrow. ICAEW has produced a timeline for the schemes that remain.
Access to funding: are angels still out there?
  • Article
  • 25 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
Angel investors withdrew from any new funding in 2020, but things are looking up in 2021.
How the pandemic created the perfect ‘seed stage’ environment
  • Article
  • 23 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
COVID-19 has encouraged more global investment, with European venture capital investments at a record high.
Starting a business? Speak to an accountant
  • Article
  • 19 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
Startups should not be put off by the initial cost of professional advice, which could pay dividends later on, says tax expert Peter Miller.
Investing in a startup is 'like buying a house'
  • Article
  • 17 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
While pitch decks, stats and credibility all play a part in attracting startup investment, the process still relies on a certain amount of gut feeling, says Jonathan Hollis, founder of Mountside Ventures.
Tax-relief schemes make startups a better investment proposition
  • Article
  • 16 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
Many entrepreneurs will be concerned with their own tax affairs when launching their startups, but if they are looking to attract outside finance they may also want to consider the tax position of their prospective investors so they are able to offer a better investment proposition.
Venture capitalists ready to support high-growth businesses
  • Article
  • 13 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
Dr Keith Arundale, Senior Visiting Fellow at the International Capital Market Association Centre and Non-Executive Director of Henley Business Angels, considers the prospects for venture capital firms
A group of hands coming together, each holding a little pile of soil with a seedling growing out of it.
Issuers, investors and the planet: abundantly served
  • Article
  • 11 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
An FCA-regulated crowdfunding platform that enables the public and others to invest directly – even as little as £5 – in opportunities they care about has to be good for everyone.
Micro-business funding: a regional perspective
  • Article
  • 05 Aug 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
There is no shortage of funding for micro-businesses, but the nature of that funding is not always appropriate, according to Martin Macey, Fund Manager at the FSE group.
Tax Administration Framework Review - Powers and safeguards
Make better use of existing HMRC powers, urges ICAEW
  • Article
  • 13 Jul 2021
  • Richard Jones
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty has called on HMRC to make better use of the rights it already has to investigate tax affairs and shift the perception of how it handles enquiries, before the government considers granting additional powers when reforming the UK’s tax administration system.
UK immersive tech sector stands poised for explosive growth
  • Article
  • 11 Jun 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
A new overview of the UK’s immersive technology scene has highlighted the potential for exponential growth and appetite for investment in the sector.
Displaying 1-30 of 62 results
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